Our everyday lives are filled with sensory experiences, from the clothes we wear and the foods we eat to the sounds, sights, and movements around us. I have always been fascinated by the different ways children experience and respond to these sensory inputs, and how this can influence their participation, confidence, learning, and engagement in everyday activities. This curiosity led me to develop a strong interest in sensory integration, which remains one of my favourite areas of practice today.

Early in my career, I worked within an intensive paediatric therapy model that provided opportunities to support a large number of children and families with diverse strengths, goals, and support needs. Working with new children every few weeks exposed me to a wide variety of presentations and developmental challenges, allowing me to quickly build experience across many areas of paediatric occupational therapy while learning alongside an experienced multidisciplinary team.

I have experience supporting children and young people from as young as 1 to 18 years of age across a broad range of developmental areas, including:

• Sensory processing and regulation

• Emotional regulation and self-awareness

• Executive functioning and organisation skills

• Feeding and mealtime challenges

• Fine motor and handwriting development

• Gross motor development

• Play and social participation

• School readiness and school-based challenges

• Daily living skills and independence

• Retained reflex integration

• Car Seating and Mobility Equipment Difficulties

My honours project focused on developing an intervention program to support successful transitions into school for children with ADHD, which further strengthened my interest in neurodevelopment, executive functioning, and participation within educational settings.

I take a neuro-affirming and family-centred approach to therapy, recognising that every child has their own unique strengths, interests, and way of experiencing the world. I believe that children achieve their best outcomes when families, educators, therapists, and children themselves work together towards meaningful goals that support participation across home, school, and community environments.

Throughout my career, I have supported children with a wide range of developmental differences, disabilities, and support needs, including:

• ADHD

• Autism

• Cerebral Palsy

• Global Developmental Delay

• Angelman’s Syndrome

• Prader-Willi Syndrome

• Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome

• CVI

• Feeding difficulties

• Executive functioning challenges

• Emotional regulation challenges

• Sensory processing differences

• Genetic conditions, including rare genetic syndromes

• Other complex support needs

While sensory integration is a particular area of interest, I enjoy the variety that paediatric occupational therapy offers and feel privileged to support children and families through all stages of their developmental journey. I am passionate about helping children build confidence, develop independence, and participate in the activities that are meaningful to them.