Bachelor of Applied Science
(Occupational Therapy)

Intermediate DIR® Floortime™ provider

Dale graduated from the University of Sydney in 1991. Dale initially worked within a variety of mental health settings prior to working in paediatric practice. Since 1995, Dale has worked in a wide range of paediatric settings both here and in the United Kingdom, including community health, private practice and early intervention.

Dale has a special interest in working with children and their families utilising the Sensory Integration and DIR®/Floortime™ models and is passionate about providing this within an interdisciplinary framework. Dale has trained to the intermediate level in the DIR®/Floortime™ Model. Dale continues to expand her knowledge through a wide range of ongoing conferences, seminars and mentoring within paediatric occupational therapy.

Dale has three gorgeous children Jamie, Eliza and Robert.

Bachelor of Speech Pathology

Intermediate DIR® Floortime™ provider

Emma graduated from the University of Queensland in 2004 and has had extensive experience working in community health settings with pre-school aged children in country Victoria, Early Childhood Intervention settings working with pre-school aged children with autism and developmental delays, as well as in private practice. In 2008, Emma travelled to the US to train in the DIR®/Floortime™ Model of Intervention for children with developmental delays and disabilities. In 2011, Emma again travelled to the US where she completed the DIR® C 1 Certification, DIR®/Floortime™ program. Emma continues to expand her knowledge of DIR®/Floortime™ through ongoing mentoring and attendance at professional development seminars.

Emma is a certified Hanen provider and is a trained provider of the Therapeutic Listening Program. Emma is also trained in the Lindamood Bell Approach to phonological processing and language comprehension. Emma has specialised experience and a passion for working with young children who present with autism, developmental delays, language disorders and social language difficulties.

Emma has two gorgeous daughters, Mary and Kate.

Bachelor of Science (Human Communication Science)
with First Class Honours

Intermediate DIR® Floortime™ provider

Kirsty graduated with First Class Honours from Curtin University in Western Australia in 2003. Since then, Kirsty has gained experience working with children in a diverse range of clinical settings, including private practice, community health and Early Childhood Intervention. Kirsty also has extensive research experience, having worked on the Looking at Language Study at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Western Australia, and the Early Language in Victoria Study (ELVS) at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Victoria.

Kirsty is passionate about helping children with additional needs and their families and has a strong interest in working with children with autism, developmental delays and language disorders. Kirsty is an internationally recognised Intermediate DIR®/Floortime™ provider, having completed the DIR® B Certification in the US in 2011 and the DIR® C1 training in 2013. Kirsty has integrated the DIR®/Floortime™ model into her clinical practice since 2008.

Kirsty is a mother to three young daughters, Hannah, Georgia and baby Charlotte.

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

Anna graduated with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy from LaTrobe University, Melbourne in 1997. For 15 years, she has enjoyed working with both adults and children in Australia and the United Kingdom. Her career spans a wide range of settings – from hospitals and rehabilitation centres to community health services, special and mainstream schools, the disability sector and early intervention. In 2009 Anna obtained a Graduate Certificate of Health Promotion, being passionate about the concept of ‘Health for All’.

Anna loves working with children and families, and is trained in the Sensory Profile, 1-2-3 Magic and Emotion Coaching, strength based practice, the Alert Program (How Does My Engine Run?), and the Wilbarger Sensory Defensiveness (Brushing Protocol). Anna has completed Stages 1 and 2 of the DIR® Floortime™ training. Anna is particularly interested in working with children with Autism, developmental delays and sensory integration issues.

She has one gorgeous little boy of her own, and finds it hard to contain her enthusiasm for play, music, and learning in everyday activities and routines.

Bachelor of Speech Pathology

Courtney graduated from the University of Queensland in 2006. She has worked with children from infancy to adolescence who present with Autism, complex developmental needs, language disorders and social language difficulties.  Courtney has worked in a range of settings including the disability sector, Family and Early Childhood Services, and mainstream and special schools in Australia and the United Kingdom.  She has experience working in transdiciplinary teams with other professionals including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Psychologists, to support a holistic and integrated service for the children and families she works with.

Courtney is trained in a variety of therapy programs including Hanen (It Takes Two to Talk and More Than Words), Learn to Play Therapy and Social Thinking and has an interest in augmentative and alternative communication systems. Courtney is dedicated to working with families to ensure positive and functional outcomes for their child. 

Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Speech Pathology

Clare completed her Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Australian Catholic University. Throughout her studies, she worked in a variety of settings including community health, hospitals and schools. Clare became passionate about working with children and their families and has gained experience working with children with speech, language and literacy delays. Clare is a practising member of Speech Pathology Australia and attends regular professional development courses. Clare is trained in the Hanen- More than Words program.

Clare is passionate about working with children who present with autism, developmental delays, language disorders and social language difficulties. Clare values family centred practice and believes strongly in building interactions by ensuring therapy is motivating and fun. Clare has previously worked as a therapy assistant prior to finishing her studies and as a piano teacher for young children and teens.

Bachelor of Speech & Hearing Science
Master of Speech-Language Pathology

Linda earned her Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and Master’s from the University of Iowa. Linda was a travel (locum) therapist working in outpatient clinics, schools, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities before finding her passion for early childhood intervention in 2010. Using principles from The Hanen Centre and the DIR®/Floortime™ program, Linda’s therapy approach puts the child’s primary caregivers in the lead at home and lets the child’s interests and needs guide each session.

Linda has served children with a variety of diagnoses, including Down syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy, brain injury, and developmental delays. She’s trained in PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) and has experience with other augmentative/alternative communication methods.

Linda immigrated to Australia from the U.S. in 2017. Raising her two young children, Madeline and Arthur, has made her a better clinician.

Bachelor of Science (Honours in Psychology), Master of Occupational Therapy

Nimesha completed her Bachelor of Science (Honours) at Monash University and Master of Occupational Therapy at Swinburne University. Prior to beginning her Master of Occupational Therapy, she worked as an ABA therapist. During this time, she found her special interest in working with children and learnt about occupational therapy. Throughout her studies and work, Nimesha has gained experience in working with a variety of children, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, and sensory difficulties.

Nimesha is a member of Occupational Therapy Australia and registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. She receives regular mentoring and professional development training, and utilises the vast number of resources at Kids Connect Therapy. Nimesha is passionate about working with children and their families using a strengths-based and family-centred approach. With these approaches, she strives to ensure children are working through their goals in a fun and motivating environment.

Bachelor of Health Science, Master of Occupational Therapy

Cindy completed her Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Occupational Therapy at Swinburne University of Technology. During her studies she worked in a range of different settings including Early Childhood Intervention Service, community services and in aged care services. Within these settings, she worked with a wide variety of clients ranging from children to the elderly.

Cindy loves working with children and encourages a strengths-based approach, which supports the child and family’s ability to continue development by encouraging growth and competency building over time. She also acknowledges the importance of family centered practice, working in collaboration with children and families, when implementing Occupational Therapy interventions.

Cindy has also worked with a range of children with developmental delays, sensory processing disorders and behavioural disorders. Cindy has worked with the children to improve and develop their learning and strategies in areas such as behaviour management, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, social skills and emotional regulation through play-based therapy. Cindy has previously worked in an Early Childhood Intervention Service that utilised the DIR®/Floortime™ Model.

Cindy is passionate in providing the best service for her clients, keeping up to date with the clinical practices and professional development through continual mentoring.

Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), Graduate Diploma of Professional Psychology, Master of Occupational Therapy.

Stephanie completed her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne before completing her Graduate Diploma of Professional Psychology and Master of Occupational Therapy at Monash University. During her studies, she worked in a primary school outside school hours care setting and as an ABA therapist. During this time, she found her interest and love for working with children with special needs. After graduating as an Occupational Therapist, Stephanie moved to the United Kingdom where she worked in a special needs school in London where she gained experienced working with a wide variety of children including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Downs Syndrome, intellectual disabilities and sensory processing difficulties. Stephanie worked with these children across a variety of skill areas, such as fine and gross motor skills, sensory regulation, independence activities and handwriting. In the United Kingdom, Stephanie attended several professional development courses, including Yoga for Special Needs, DIR floortime and Zones of Regulation.

Stephanie is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation agency and regularly participates in professional development and mentoring opportunities to ensure best practice. Stephanie focuses her practice on a strengths-based approach and recognises the importance of family-centered practice in order to provide the best outcomes for the children that she works with. Stephanie enjoys helping children to work towards their goals in a fun and exciting way that is tailored to each individual child. 

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

Natalie completed her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) degree at Monash University. Prior to working as an occupational therapist, Natalie worked as an Allied Health Assistant within a hospital setting. Natalie begun her occupational therapy career working within a hospital and rehabilitation setting where the majority of her caseload consisted of adults. Natalie always had the passion for working with children after she spent time observing an occupational therapist assist her younger cousin to participate in everyday activities. Prior to working at Kids Connect Therapy, Natalie worked as a mobile occupational therapist where she visited children at home, school or kinder. Natalie has worked with children of all ages and with varying diagnoses.

Natalie has completed professional development courses such as managing emotions, sensory processing, fine motor skills and Learn to Play. Natalie is passionate about working with children and their families using a family-centred approach. Natalie strives to ensure every session is playful and fun for the child while targeting their individual goals. 

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

Courtney completed her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy with Honors at Monash University. During her studies, she worked in a variety of settings including paediatric mental health, adult and paediatric rehabilitation, working in a primary school for five years, and working with children with disabilities. Her experiences, have allowed her to grow her knowledge and passion for early intervention and family centred therapy, to support a childs’ mental, physical and social growth.

Courtney works closely with families, to tailor and integrate strategies into a childs’ home and school environment. Courtney is a member of Occupational Therapy Australia and registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. She receives regular mentoring and professional development training.

Courtney is passionate about working with children who present with Autism Spectrum Disorder, developmental delays, Social Language Disorders and children with additional needs. Courtney is a dedicated clinician who values building a rapport with children and seeing a child achieve their goals and milestones.

Bachelor of Speech Pathology

Michaela completed her bachelor of Speech Pathology at Australian Catholic University. While studying, Michaela gained experience in hospitals, aged care and rehabilitation clinics, but especially enjoyed her time working in mainstream and specialist schools, supporting children with speech and language delays, intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder.

Michaela has previously worked as part of a multidisciplinary team, providing intensive intervention to school aged children. Following her time working alongside occupational therapists, psychologists and music and drama therapists, Michaela incorporates creativity and play into evidence-based intervention ensuring sessions cater to the individual needs of children.

Michaela regularly attends professional development courses to expand her clinical knowledge and is a practicing member of Speech Pathology Australia. Michaela believes building strong relationships with clients and their families is key to helping them achieve their goals in a fun and functional way. 

Bachelor of Speech Pathology

Madeleine completed her Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Linguistics) and Graduate Diploma of Professional Psychology at Monash University, before completing her Master of Speech Pathology at the University of Melbourne. Prior to beginning her Master of Speech Pathology, she also volunteered as a play therapist for a young boy with Autism Spectrum Disorder for two and a half years, sparking her interest in ASD. During her studies she worked in a range of different settings including community health, not-for-profit, telehealth, aged care, and private practice – including a rural placement in the paediatric community health clinic at Wodonga Hospital in Albury-Wodonga. Within these settings, she worked with a variety of clients ranging from children to elderly as well as a range of diagnoses including ASD, speech and language delays, developmental delay, intellectual disabilities, down syndrome, hearing impairment, ADHD, sensory processing difficulties, cerebral palsy, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. 

Madeleine enjoys working with clients of all ages but finds the most joy working with children and families. She values working together with families on goals that are meaningful and important to them in ways that are fun and creative. She also enjoys learning and expanding her skills through professional development. Madeleine is a practicing member of Speech Pathology Australia.

Lucy is a passionate and committed Practice Manager who works with the administration team to provide a warm and supportive environment for families.

Lucy is able to assist families and their children by making appointment bookings, providing information on funding options and giving advice around relevant therapy programs. Lucy has worked in administrative roles for many years, both with children and the elderly.

Lucy has a passion for helping families and strives to make each family at Kids Connect Therapy feel welcome and well-supported as soon as they walk through the door. Lucy enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Melinda is a proud and busy Mum with three adult children

Melinda has previously worked in the disability sector and prides herself on providing excellent customer service and administration knowledge. Melinda is a motivated and enthusiastic member of the Kids Connect team.

Her outside interests include reading, ballet, movies and socialising with friends and family.