OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY - Key Persons
Chris has over 30 years of experience in the customer service, health (with a nursing background) and work & safety sectors.
She has spent the past decade working in the disability sector across a broad range of areas and responsibilities. Chris takes great pride in providing excellent customer service and have been recognised for this both internally and externally with customer service awards.
In her spare time, Chris loves to swim in both ocean and fresh water having grown up near the mighty Murray River. She also enjoys reading and has participated in the same book club for many years with a wonderful group and diversity of books! Chris also enjoys spending time going to the theatre, and sharing wonderful experiences with family and friends.
Courtney is a driven and ambitious individual currently pursuing her studies in occupational therapy at Australian Catholic University, where she is in fourth year. With her unwavering dedication and genuine enthusiasm for her field, Courtney has established herself as an exceptional student, earning well-deserved recognition in the form of an Executive Dean's commendation letter for her outstanding academic performance.
Courtney has acquired valuable experience in various clinical and community settings. She has worked in an acute hospital team, as well as a Palliative care unit on the Northern Beaches.
In more recent times, Courtney has excelled as an Allied Health Assistant, specializing in working with children. Through her role, she has facilitated interventions and conducted engaging groups focused on enhancing social skills, promoting school readiness, and improving handwriting abilities. This hands-on experience has ignited a deep passion within Courtney to help children and their families overcome obstacles and achieve their goals, solidifying her commitment to paediatric occupational therapy.
Outside of OT, Courtney has a keen interest in Nutritional medicine, Muay Thai boxing, outdoor sports, reading, and yoga."
Ella completed her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy degree at Australian Catholic University. She passionate about working with children and helping them reach their goals.
Ella has worked in two paediatric private practices, seeing clients with a diverse range of needs. She also had a wide range of experience working with adults with brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, degenerative illnesses, and other neurological conditions. Ella has volunteered with kids through her church for the last 10 years in a variety of roles and she is passionate about supporting children reach their full potential.
In her spare time Ella loves reading, going to the beach, planning her next trip, and spending time with her friends.
Fernanda is a friendly and enthusiastic Occupational Therapist. She completed her bachelor's degree in 2013 at the University of Sao Paulo. Her research project was published at the OT journal of the University of Sao Paulo and was about inclusion of children with disability in mainstream schools.
Fernanda was sponsored by the state of Sao Paulo to complete post-graduate research in neurology and physical rehabilitation in 2014. She has also completed post graduate training in autism spectrum disorder and DIR/Floortime model.
Fernanda's interest in children with additional needs began when she was in High School. Fernanda completed volunteer work in a supportive school. Since then, she has been passionate about assisting people to develop their best version of themselves.
Fernanda arrived in Australia in 2018 and has been working with people with diverse needs here since then. Fernanda is fluent in Portuguese and English.
In her spare time, Fernanda loves going to the beach, playing outdoor sports, doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Yoga and meeting with her friends. Her biggest passion is travelling and experiencing different cultures.
Georgia is an Occupational Therapist with a friendly and calm demeanor, and a creative approach to her work. She is deeply committed to helping children achieve their full potential. Before completing her studies at the Australian Catholic University, Georgia gained extensive experience working with children through various volunteer opportunities, student placements, and as an allied health assistant at Occupational Therapy Helping Children.
With her extensive experience working with pre-school aged children, Georgia enjoys using a play-based approach in her therapy. In addition to her work with young children, Georgia has a strong passion for working with tweens and teens, both within her occupational therapy practice and in the wider community. Her focus is on promoting motivation, confidence, and independence among this age group.
At present, Georgia divides her time between working at a clinic and a nearby Catholic primary school. She has amassed considerable experience working with primary-aged students, teachers, and support staff within the education system. Georgia acknowledges the importance of working with a child's support network to achieve positive outcomes.
Georgia provides services to clients who have various challenges, such as autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing difficulties, ADHD, intellectual disability, selective mutism, genetic conditions, and social and emotional difficulties. She is dedicated to enhancing her professional skills and has taken courses in:
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Sensory Processing Disorder
Handwriting
DIR Floor Time
Emotional Regulation
As an OT, Georgia enjoys being able to mix her creativity and knowledge to get the most out of every session. She recognises that each child, and family unit are unique and loves collaboration with parents and carers.
Holly is our warm and dedicated Practice Manager. She is from Canada and has been in Australia since 2015. Holly has completed her Bachelor's degree in Sociology with a minor focusing on Family and Child studies. She worked as an in-home social worker prior to moving to Australia where she was a live in Au Pair. Holly fell in love with Australia and decided to make it her forever home.
After five years of working as a Practice Manager in the dental industry, Holly joined Occupational Therapy Helping Children. She decided it was time to transition back to her passion of working with children and families. Holly is excited to have the opportunity to help families work towards their goals by assisting the team in any way she can.
Outside of work, Holly enjoys trying a new recipe, hanging out with her dog and socializing with friends. She loves to travel, explore new places and is always up for adventure.
Izabela is a fun, energetic and enthusiastic Occupational Therapist. She is from Brazil and has been in Australia since 2017, fluent in both English and Portuguese.
Izabela completed her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy degree at the Federal University of Minas Gerais- Brazil, in 2015. In 2019 Izabela completed her process to become an internationally-qualified Occupational Therapist.
Izabela is committed to her professional development and attends an Occupational Therapy study group fortnightly. She has completed many workshops, such as DIR/Floortime, Sensory processing, Interception, Feeding, among others.
Izabela is experienced in paediatrics in settings such as hospitals, clinics, school, community environment and home services. Working with children has always been her passion as she loves seeing children develop and reach their fullest potential.
Izabela is passionate about all areas regarding children development and has a special interest in sensory processing, handwriting, social skills and fine/gross motor development.
In her spare time she enjoys exercising, cooking, going to the beach and spending time with friends and family.
Jamie is a compassionate and lively Occupational Therapist who is passionate about children's mental health and physical well-being. She graduated from the Australian Catholic University with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy and has been part of the Occupational Therapy Helping Children's team since 2018.
Jamie's love for paediatrics arose from growing up in a large European family, allowing her to learn the importance of working collaboratively with families. This admiration has become an integral part of Jamie's practice, as she highly value's the therapeutic relationship between the client, parent, and therapist.
To further advance her therapeutic knowledge, Jamie has completed courses in DIR Floortime, Zones of Regulation & Social Thinking, Parent Coaching Training, Treating Trauma and a Study Group with OT Master's where she was able to advance her professional development and implement a variety of intervention forms into her practice.
Jamie has experience in working with a diverse range of clients and areas of support including:
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Oppositional Defiance Disorder
Global Developmental Delays
Intellectual Disabilities
Sensory Processing
Genetic Disorders i.e. Fragile X Syndrome, Down Syndrome, 22Q Deletion Syndrome
Physical Disabilities i.e. Hypermobility, Low Tone
Mental Health i.e. Anxiety
Parent Coaching
Jamie is also one of our clinical supervisors, having completed Michelle Bihary's course in Professional Supervision. Her aim is to provide unique-tailored professional development to not only her supervisee's, but also use this knowledge to empower her families achieve their goals during the therapeutic process.
Kandice has worked in the Disability sector for 18 years in a variety of leadership, corporate administration and support worker roles. She feels super blessed to have worked with and supported some amazing individuals.
Kandice is a passionate and dedicated individual who is committed to making a difference in the lives of others through her work in the disability sector. She is a strong advocate for bridging the gap for those with disabilities and empowering them to take control of their lives.
In her spare time, Kandice enjoys reading, going to the beach, going to watch to live music, and catching up with friends. Her two children are her absolute world, and she loves to take them on weekend trips and explore new places. She also loves trying new food dishes and binge-watching a good TV series. Kandice is an inspirational and dedicated professional who is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of others.
Larissa is a curious and enthusiastic person. She completed her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy degree in 2009, and has been working in the paediatric field since then.
Larissa arrived in Australia in 2016 and has been working with children with diverse needs since then. She's fluent in Portuguese and English.
While in Brazil, Larissa worked with children with developmental delays, learning and handwriting difficulties, sensory processing disorder, ASD, ADHD and with other neurological and mental health conditions. In addition, she worked closely with Speech Therapists, which helped her to improve the understanding about Alternative and Augmentative Communication.
Larissa is certified in Sensory Integration by CLASI, which is a very comprehensive approach that links the child's functional participation with sensory processing and sensory-motor skills.
She also has completed a vast number of workshops about different therapy approaches, such as DIR/FLOORTIME, Interoception, and sign language. In addition, she completed two post-graduation courses in Neurology and Learning Difficulties and Disorders.
Larissa's main interest is in sensory integration, fine and gross motor skills, social communication and to see children flourishing in all contexts of life.
In her spare time, she loves going to the beach, meeting with friends, going to the snowy mountains or travelling around.
Laura completed her Occupational Therapy degree at Australian Catholic University. Ella enjoys being an Occupational Therapist because she gets to be part of helping children grow and achieve everything they can. She is enthusiastic about finding creative and fun ways to teach children new skills.
Laura has had previous experience as a disability support worker and has worked with children of all ages and their families to develop fine motor skills, gross motor skills, social skills, and emotional regulation. Laura has experience working with children with Autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, and intellectual disabilities. She also has spent time volunteering with children across age groups to support participation in community activities.
Outside occupational therapy, Laura loves to swim and spend time outside in the sunshine. She enjoys travelling and is always planning her next adventure!
Job Titles:
- Founder, Director & Senior Clinician
- Helping Children 's Founder and Director
Lisa Hughes is Occupational Therapy Helping Children's Founder and Director and one of its Senior Clinicians. Lisa has enjoyed an extensive career working in children's occupational therapy in both Australia and the USA and has 30 years' of Occupational Therapy experience.
Lisa has been a pioneering figure in Australia's paediatric occupational therapy space, starting Occupational Therapy Helping Children in 1994 and being one of the first Sydney-based OT practices to introduce occupational therapy holiday groups for kids.
Lisa is passionate about being able to provide the best possible care for her clients and their families. She strongly believes that every child should have access to the very best help and support they need - and she goes out of her way to ensure this for all of the children and families who come to us.
Her philosophy, and that of the practice, is to help each child holistically and individually. This is done by looking at how the challenges each client is facing impacts them in the different areas of their life and tailoring an approach that best suits their needs. This has been aided by the vast amount of specialist training she has undertaken throughout her career, which she uses to tailor the approach she uses for each child she helps.
Thanks to her extensive expertise, Lisa has been asked to present many talks, courses,
Mahek is completed her Bachelor of Applied Sciences (Occupational Therapy) Honours from the University of Sydney. During her Honours degree, Mahek was involved in developing and testing the Healthy Start App, a cutting-edge application designed to support parents in monitoring healthy lifestyles in their children. With one and a half years dedicated to research, Mahek is committed to delivering evidence-based practices during her therapy sessions. She remains up-to-date with the latest and emerging research and attended the Occupational Therapy Australia Exchange in Melbourne last year to enhance her skills.
Mahek is passionate about working with children and has a wealth of experience in paediatrics. She derives immense satisfaction from seeing children gain confidence as they overcome challenging tasks, and she firmly believes in providing family-centered therapy. Mahek understands the importance of building rapport and trust with both the child and family to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Mahek has undertaken several courses to advance her clinical knowledge, including:
• Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE)
Mahek's interests extend beyond her profession. She loves trying new recipes and socializing with friends. She also enjoys traveling and has set a goal to visit all the countries in Asia. When not exploring new countries, Mahek likes to take short getaways up the coast and spend time with family. Mahek is excited to share her passion for her profession as a supervisor of Occupational Therapy Students and Allied Health Assistants.
Job Titles:
- Occupational Therapist
- Allied Health Assistant
Paige is a second year occupational therapist student at ACU. She's always had a passion for working in paediatrics. This interest in working in the paediatric field was ignited further during her observational day placement at OTHC in her first year of studying.
Because of Paige's positive experience at OTHC in term 3 2022 she volunteered through OTHC to partake in the sense rugby program and loved every moment.
In Paige's free time she lives an active lifestyle participating in sports, going to the gym, going to the beach or for walks with friends. Paige is involved in weekly netball and soccer competitions in her local community. Paige also has lived by the beach her entire life and loves to swim or surf any moment she can.
Paige is enthusiastic about working with OTHC and can't wait to support children and families to reach their goals.
Phoebe is an enthusiastic, kind and patient Occupational Therapist who has a passion for helping and motivating others. Prior to her completing her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, she completed a Bachelor of Health Science at Sydney University.
Phoebe currently works both in the clinic and at an independent private school. She has extensive experience working with pre-schoolers, school aged students, teachers and support staff. Phoebe highly values the teacher and therapist relationship and recognises the importance of working within a multi-disciplinary team.
Phoebe has worked with a range of children with developmental delays, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Down Syndrome, Learning Difficulties, sensory processing and social and emotional difficulties. She has completed further training in the areas of: -
Job Titles:
- Occupational Therapist ( on Maternity Leave )
Rebecca is a warm and dedicated Occupational Therapist who aims to ensure that her client's therapy journey is a positive experience.
Rebecca completed her Masters of Occupational Therapy at the University of Sydney, having initially completed a Bachelor of Medical Science (Neurobiology) degree at the University of New South Wales. During her studies Rebecca also worked for Sense Rugby as a Rugby Leader on the Northern Beaches, and as admin support at a local psychology practice.
Rebecca's passion for understanding the brain and, her love for working with children drove her decision to specialise in paediatrics. Her experience with Sense Rugby and working alongside psychologists has given her a solid foundation for a family-centred approach to Occupational Therapy.
As and OT, Rebecca enjoys working with all children to support them to achieve their goals in a fun and playful way. She strongly believes that significant others such as parents and teachers are an integral part of a child's journey, and enjoys working collaboratively with all individuals.
Rebecca has completed training in:
- The Traffic Jam in my Brain by Gen Jereb
- The Social Thinking Curriculum
- Basic Level DIR-Floortime approach
- Parent Coaching Training
She continues to build on her knowledge to be able to provide quality therapy to all her families.
Rebecca was born and raised on the Northern Beaches and loves the beautiful, relaxed nature of the area. She enjoys spending time with her own family, including her dog. She also enjoys playing sport, cooking and curling up with a good book.
Robyn is OTHC's one-woman organising dream who keeps everyone and everything in order and running smoothly - from client communication to calendar management, organising the team to the accounts, Robyn's got it covered!
Robyn spent over 15 years working in the legal industry before she transitioned to the children's medical space working with two paediatricians. She then joined OTHC because of the opportunity to help others, work with children and have fun in a business with a ‘client first' philosophy.
Robyn's favourite part of being our Practice Manager is helping our clients. As a mum herself, Robyn knows how comforting it can be to have a friendly voice at the end of the phone when you've got a concern regarding your child. It makes her day when she's able to help and reassure anyone who felt lost or concerned before they got in touch.
When she's not keeping OTHC sailing smoothly, Robyn enjoys spending her time with her husband and two daughters, running with her sister (they're training for a half marathon!) and catching up with friends.
Talia is a current occupational therapy student at the Australian Catholic University. Before beginning her studies as an OT, Talia achieved an Undergraduate Degree in Science (Cognitive and Brain Science) at Macquarie University and a Graduate Certificate in Science (Neuroscience) from the University of New England. Talia's passion for understanding the brain and experiences within the qualifications guided her towards becoming an OT. It presented a field where she could integrate her knowledge of neuroscience with her love of helping and working directly with people.
Before commencing at OTHC, Talia has had previous experience as a support worker, participating in Sense Rugby and several community outreach programs. She was also fortunate enough to spend time working with Royal Far West, the ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders (CCD) and Cochlear's Global HQ. Here she was able to gain hands-on experience in therapeutic interventions and scientific studies.
Outside of OT, Talia has a keen interest in animals, previously working as a veterinary nurse for several years and in the marine department at Taronga Zoo. She also enjoys sport, reading, listening to podcasts and spending time with her dog.