When therapy meets rugby

Sense Rugby was founded in October 2015 by Paediatric Occupational Therapist, Carlien Parahi and Australian Rugby Sevens Olympian, Jesse Parahi.

Sense Rugby is a rugby based Occupational Therapy program designed to help kids who usually find it difficult to be part of a sports team. There are many reasons why kids may struggle to find success and enjoyment in sport. We are here to help you get to the bottom of it and send them on their way to success. Most of the kids we work with live with some of the following developmental delays and conditions:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• ADHD

• Down Syndrome

• Dyspraxia

• Sensory Processing difficulties

• Emotional Regulation difficulties

• Behavioural difficulties

• Gross motor delays

• Fine motor delays

• Learning difficulties

• Resistance, avoidance or an issue with confidence when it comes to sport

• Differences in social skills

Some of the goals families have when they join a Sense Rugby program include for their kids to:

• Have fun!

• Develop their confidence and self-esteem

• Find a regular activity that can be their own

• Learn a new skill that gives them a great community to belong to for life

• Find a way to get the movement they seek in an appropriate environment

• Make friends

• Learn how to follow instructions, wait their turn and be part of a group

• Learn how to manage their emotions

• Improve their ability to self-regulate

• and many more!

Sense Rugby has a few key values that help us help kids. We always have an experienced Paediatric Occupational Therapist present to help the kids achieve success in the activities. We utilise a child’s strengths and their motivation to help them to participate and we focus on creating a positive successful social experience first and foremost.

We’d love for your family to join our community and become part of the team!

Our Founders

Carlien Parahi

Carlien is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist based in beautiful Bulli in the Northern Illawarra. Carlien spends her days helping children and their families to get to the bottom of learning, developmental and social-emotional delays.

She has significant experience in helping parents to understand more about and help children to overcome or improve Sensory Processing Disorders/difficulties, delays in gross motor or fine motor skill development, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Social-emotional difficulties, ADHD and many more.

Carlien has a special interest in sport and its many uses; particularly as a therapy tool to improve social skills, emotional regulation, coordination and Sensory Processing. Her empathetic nature and knowledge in child development has helped hundreds of children become more successful at their daily activities.

Follow Carlien on Instagram

Jesse Parahi

Jesse hails from Avoca on the Central Coast and currently lives with Carlien and their little girl Mieke in Bulli. Jesse debuted for the Australian Sevens Team in 2010 and spent the following 10 years playing rugby sevens professionally all over the world. He played at two Commonwealth Games, winning a Bronze medal in Glasgow and captaining the Australian side for the Gold Coast games. He became an Australian Olympian in Rio in 2016 and celebrated 50 caps in Sydney in 2020 with his family and friends.

Jesse retired from professional rugby in 2020 and now dedicates his time to developing Sense Rugby and working as a Therapy Assistant with children and families in the Illawarra.

Jesse thoroughly enjoys sharing his passion for rugby with the kids he works with. He is an advocate for the positive difference that being part of a team made for him while growing up and he wants all kids to be able to experience the same. His kind, gentle and fun nature makes him a perfect fit for Sense Rugby!

Follow Jesse on Instagram

Sense Rugby in the press