Hi! I’m Emma (or Em if you prefer) and I am the Practice Manager, Therapy Assistant and English Tutor at Stretchy Minds Paediatric Occupational Therapy. 

I completed my Bachelor of Education (Honours) with a Bachelor of Arts at Monash University in 2019. I studied literature, linguistics and psychology throughout my Arts degree, and developed a keen interest in poetry, how our language works in the world and in our brains, and how our minds develop and learn. I worked as a high-school English and EAL teacher between 2020-2023 (teaching year 7 through to VCE), before taking an ‘adult gap year’ in 2024 where I travelled, did my yoga teacher training and tumbled deeper into the wonderful world of Occupational Therapy here at Stretchy Minds.  

I am also a yoga teacher across a few yoga studios, including MVMT by Stretchy Collective - our yoga and Pilates studio here at the clinic. As you can tell, I am a busy person with a busy brain (and usually a song stuck in my head)! When I take the time to slow down, you’ll find me at home amongst my many houseplants, cuddled with my cat and a cup of tea or baking in the kitchen, or disappearing off on adventures around the world with my partner or sister.

Practice Manager, Therapy Assistant & Tutor

Emma Burgess

I have a deep passion for supporting young people to thrive in their own unique ways. When I was in the classroom, I had the advantage of teaching and learning with young people of all neurotypes. I have witnessed how what is happening in our brains, minds and bodies is reflected through behaviours, emotions, interconnectedness, our understanding of ourselves and who we want to be, and our relationships with school, work and the world around us. My goal in the classroom was to support the young people I had the opportunity to be with to better understand how their brains worked, how they play a part in the world around them, and to leave their time with me feeling confident in who they were.

I bring a holistic approach to my roles as Therapy Assistant and Tutor, and believe learning is a shared experience – I am constantly learning alongside my clients. I love to learn who each individual is to ensure I can adapt what I do to best support them. With specialisations in Gifted Education, EAL and training as a teacher’s aide before my teacher studies, I am grounded with understanding to work with young people of all abilities in their learning. I have the added advantage of guidance from our wonderful OTs, who provide me with plans, goals and strategies to support the clients I work with.

Having taught high school English from year 7 to year 12, I provide insight into the schooling system for my clients so we can ‘hack the system’. This includes supporting executive functioning skills that are important as we progress through school and into life beyond school like organisation, time management, cognitive flexibility, and managing workload. I also support young people to advocate for themselves in different contexts and develop confidence and independence in who they are and communicating what they need. I also continue to be incredibly passionate about teaching and sharing my knowledge of English, literature and how we learn to support young people with their own learning. This includes writing, grammar skills, task planning, study habits, among so much more.

With my background in yoga, I integrate movement and regulation strategies into my work, and I love helping young people to find their inner and outer balance.

Special Interests and Clinical Experience

  • Traffic Jam in my Brain – Genevieve Jereb

  • 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training – House of Om, Bali

  • 20-hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training – Yoga Renew

  • Youth Leadership Academy Australia Conference 2022 and 2023 – Youth Leadership Academy Australia

  • Mental Health First Aid – Monash University

  • Sexpectations Facilitator Training – Monash Residential Services

  • Peer Support Program Training – Peer Support Australia

  • Seven Steps to Writing Success – Highlighting Writing

  • Inspire Local Leaders – Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership

  • Koorie English Online – Department of Education, Victorian

  • Framework for Improving Student Outcomes (FISO 2.0) – Department of Education, Victoria

  • Victorian Teaching and Learning Model online and in-house training (including HITs and HIWS) – Department of Education, Victoria

  • Certificate III in Education Support – GO Tafe

Certification, Further Education, and Professional Development

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