SENS Motion Device: Parent Help Guide

During our 8-Year Kids Checks, ORIGINS is introducing the opportunity for parents and children to be fitted with the SENS motion device which that will measure you and your child's sleep and physical activity for seven days.

ORIGINS has introduced the SENS motion device - a wearable device that measures sleep and physical activity for 7 days.

A new addition to ORIGINS' 8-Year Kids Checks, the SENS motion devices will be offered to both you and your child to gain a greater understanding of sleep and physical activity levels of Australian families.

After receiving consent from both you and your child, our paeds team will apply the palm-sized, thin, stick-on device the upper thigh, and instructions will be provided to you on how to remove the device at home.

This guide provides some helpful information regarding the SENS motion activity monitor that you and/or your child will be wearing for the next 7 days.

Can the SENS motion device be worn in the shower or when swimming?

Yes, the SENS device is designed to be able to be submerged in water and is safe to wear whilst in the shower, swimming or completing any daily activities. There is no need to worry about keeping the patch dry.

What should I do if the adhesive patch falls off before we finish our 7-days of activity monitoring?

The patch is designed to remain on for 7-days, however there is a possibility that the patch may lose adhesiveness due to different skin types (e.g. excessive sweat or oils from skin). Should the SENS motion device fall off- please record when the device has fallen off or been removed in your ‘SENS sleep diary’ alongside the time and duration that the patch was not worn by you and/or your child.

We have provided you with an additional patch or adhesive sticker to reapply the SENS device. Please place the SENS device in the same location that the patch was originally placed by an ORIGINS staff member (e.g. the outer side of the thigh, above the knee). The round part of the SENS device should point towards the knee like this image.

Why do I need to record my awake and asleep times in the sleep diary?

Recording your awake and asleep times in the sleep diary helps us to interpret the data that is received from the SENS motion device. By receiving information on the time, you went to bed and started your day we can help improve the accuracy of the data we receive and provide you with a report of your data once your period of activity monitoring is completed.

What do I do with the SENS motion device once I’ve completed 7 days of activity monitoring?

Once you and your child have completed wearing the SENS motion device (the date written at the top of this letter). Please remove the SENS motion device ‘like a band aid’ and peel the adhesive patch off. If the patch is particularly sticky or difficult to remove- you can wipe one of the adhesive remover swabs (provided to you) over the patch to help with removal.

When removing the patch please remove the ‘sensor’ located inside the patch for both you and your child. The sensor (A) removed from the patch (B) should look like this.

Who do I contact if I have any further questions?

Please feel free to contact us on (08) 6375 6300 or email ORIGINS@thekids.org.au with your query and a member of our team with get back to you as soon as possible.

First published Friday 10 April 2026.