The Story.
While mainstream occupational therapy for children has beneficial effects to help develop the necessary skills they need to participate in everyday activities, the delivery of these programs present some limitations and disadvantages for participants.
The sessions are primarily held indoors, in clinical settings that lack stimulation and expose children to synthetic/chemical substances. Parents/carers also face long wait times to access occupational therapy, overwhelm with frequent appointments and program models without clear objectives.
Working in a hospital for over a decade, Adele loved helping people but felt disenchanted by the stark environment and lack of outdoor time. She sympathised with the frustrations and overwhelm of parents/ carers that appointments presented and becoming a parent only added a further layer of understanding.
Seeing children participate in nature immersion cultivated the idea to reimagine traditional occupational therapy methods by incorporating the healing powers of the natural environment with a goal-orientated, back-to-basics approach.
Adele Hopper
Mother Earthed Founder
Adele is a safeguard of sacred childhood occupations.
Adele is passionate about partnering with nature to take assessment and therapy to the outdoors. She graduated with a Bachelor in Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) from the University of Sydney in 2010. She spent the first decade of her career working across a split caseload of both complex inpatient and outpatient paediatrics within an acute hospital setting. She undertook a senior position during this time where she was able to empower and lead a team of highly skilled colleagues, ‘teach on the run’ and foster a wider multidisciplinary harmonious culture.
Lovingly bringing 3 of her own children into this world, Adele was soon reminded of the importance and benefits of connecting children with nature from an early age. For some time, Adele curated pop-up nature playgroups and a platform to access free nature play inspiration to invite community to share in the joy of engaging in experiences that incorporated the natural elements.
In 2021, Adele was approached by a dear friend and forever work wifey, Jessica Warner to bring the philosophy of TimberNook to the rugged bush of the Southern Sydney region; land of the Dharawal People. Adele co-directs TimberNook alongside Jess, offering a plethora of group nature-based enrichment programs for children where they have enough time, space and freedom to engage in transformative play opportunities.
Adele has been honoured to work with leading figures in the occupational therapy, allied health and medical world. She is always excited to meet new people and is privileged to work with some of the biggest experts - the parents themselves.