Meet the Team
Anita Collins
Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy)
Anita’s experience extends to managing a diverse caseload working with toddlers to adults in aged-care and helping people across the life-span with various physical, developmental, sensory processing and social/behavioural difficulties. This includes working with children & adults with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, ABI, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, Global Delay and various learning difficulties. Anita has built the Grace Children’s therapy practice over the past 13 years in the Sydney Hills District with a passionate team of paediatric occupational therapists.
"I am energetic and enthusiastic about assisting children and families reach their goals and potential. My goal is to create an environment where children flourish and feel supported as well as develop a team of highly professional and knowledgeable therapists".
At Grace Children’s Therapy, Anita encourages setting individual goals and designing therapy programs to meet a child’s individual needs, learning style and level. We aim to nurture their goals in a supportive environment, for positive outcomes and for happy, confident children. We always try our best to advocate for the children & ensure children and families feel comfortable at our fully equiped occupational therapy practice or in their community visit.
"I endeavour to keep supporting my team to work towards improving their knowledge and developing themselves professionally so we can continue to achieve great results and help children feel accomplished."
Ly
Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy)
Ly is a dedicated therapist with a keen interest in working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder and children with handwriting and learning difficulties. Ly uses a play based approach to involve children & motivate them to achieve their goals. Ly devotes time to working closely with parents and school teachers to ensure that children are able to transfer skills learnt within the sessions into home and school environment.
Ly has an interest in helping families develop positive mealtimes. Within the SOS feeding therapy protocol, Ly works with children that present as "fussy eaters" or "problem feeders". The goals of this program include developing eating skills, reducing anxiety towards food & improving mealtimes. The feeding program focuses on developing fundamental skills for eating that can be then generalized to the home and school environments. Ly co-facilitates this program with our nutritionist, Simone.
Karen
BAppSc (OT) Hons; Grad. Cert in Educational Studies (Sensory Disability Specialisation)
Karen’s experience expands 20 years working with people across the lifespan from babies to adults with various physical, neurological, developmental, sensory and social/behavioural difficulties. Karen is a passionate therapist in the field of sensory disability. She has worked with children, adolescents and adults with vision and hearing impairments on a range of everyday living goals. Her range of clients includes those with sensory impairments, learning difficulties, sensory processing disorder, autism and developmental and motor coordination disorders.
Karen comes with hands on experience in providing intervention and advocacy services under the Governments NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) funding initiative. Karen is passionate about working alongside families and sees each child as uniquely different. She uses a functional fun play-based approach so that children realise their potential. Karen takes an evidence-based approach to working towards their functional goals.
Ashleigh
BAppSc (OT)
Ashleigh completed her Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy), graduating her final years with distinctions. Ashleigh captures the values and culture of Grace Children’s Therapy in her therapy sessions & displays a deep understanding of the importance of achieving functional goals and progressing children towards participation in all aspects of daily living. Ashleigh has completed post graduate training in sensory processing disorder, praxis, advanced play skills and emotional regulation. She has extensive experience in fine motor, pre-handwriting, and handwriting skill development, and has assisted in the creation of resources used in a government-run school readiness group. Ashleigh has a special interest and experience in sensory disorder therapy, ASD development, and promotion of play skills, and looks forward to assisting children to participate wholly in their interests. Ashleigh is a creative therapist & incorporates her imagination & creativity into all therapy sessions whilst still keeping it goal focused & functional.
Koko
BAppSc (OT)
Koko is an enthusiastic Occupational Therapist who enjoys working with children and feels privileged to help them to find their strengths and to achieve their goals.
Koko has experience working with people from different age groups and cultural backgrounds and across various environments including, preschools and classrooms. Koko has previously worked with children with developmental coordination disorder, ADHD, social/ emotional behavioural difficulties, difficulties with sensory processing, and children with trauma backgrounds.
Koko has always found joy in helping others and has also volunteered her time at specialist schools, Non-government organisations and specialised paediatric development centres.
Since commencement at Grace Children’s Therapy she has completed post graduated training in emotional regulation, advanced pretend play skills and sensory processing disorder.
Koko uses a strength-based approach and uses her clients’ interests to engage her clients and reach their functional goals. She holds the belief of every child matters every day and she is excited to have joined Grace Children’s Therapy to work with children and their families.
Bethany
Bethany is an Occupational Therapist with a love of nutrition. Hence, she has joined our feeding therapy team too after completing her Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding therapy training with Grace Children’s Therapy.
Bethany works on a range of functional goals with the children that she sees using her patient, calming and empathetic manner to boost their confidence. From handwriting, social skills, gross motor planning and self-regulating strategies, Bethany finds so many ways to put the fun into helping children reach their functional goals.
Bethany has a strong interest in continuous professional development and since her commencement with Grace Children’s Therapy has completed numerous post graduated training programs including SOS Feeding, sensory processing disorder, toileting, advanced pretend play skills & emotional regulation.
Amanda
BAppSc (OT),Hons
Amanda has joined the Grace Children‘s Therapy team with her Bachelor Applied Science in an Occupational Therapy (Honours). Her sessions are full of positivity and goal-oriented objectives.
Amanda works in collaboration with families and she enjoys getting to know each child and their family and tailoring her approach to each family’s needs. Amanda also values using innovative ways to keep her therapy sessions interesting and ensure that each child is motivated to engage in therapy.
Amanda has completed a range of post graduate training programs including Advanced Pretend Play, sensory processing disorder, essentials of praxis & additional training in emotional regulation.
Sadeqa
BAppSc (OT)
Sadeqa is a fun and energetic therapist and enjoys helping children achieve their functional goals to improve their everyday living and their relationships with others.
Sadeqa has experience working with children with ASD and developmental delay. She uses a play-based approach to therapy incorporating a range of intervention strategies to ensure she is meeting the learning style of the child for optimal results from her therapy plans. Sadeqa is trained in Sensory Processing Disorder and has completed a range of post graduate training programs including Advance Pretend Play Evaluation and Intervention, Emotional Regulation and Essentials of Praxis.
Sadeqa works in collaboration with families to work on the child’s and family’s needs whilst providing the skill base to use in their daily lives. She uses evidence-based practice to enable children to participate in daily activities in the home, community and in school settings to ensure children’s lives are meaningful and inclusive.
Rachel
BAppSc (OT)
Rachel is enthusiastic and passionate about working with children and has a strong interest in working with those with ASD, intellectual disability and global developmental delay. Rachel likes to bring creativity to her sessions whilst still remaining sound in evidence & working towards progressing children to meet their functional goals and improve their participation in activities of daily living.
Since commencing with Grace Children’s Therapy Rachel has completed a range of post graduate training programs including Emotional Regulation, Advance Pretend Play Intervention and Evaluation, Essential of Praxis and training in sensory processing disorder.
Rachel advocates for inclusion and supports the development and practice of skills, allowing children to recognise their potential and explore their individuality. Her experience extends from clinic based therapy to working within preschool and vacation programs providing support individually and within a group setting.
Kelly
Kelly is a fun and enthusiastic Occupational Therapy Assistant and currently working towards her Occupational Therapy degree at Western Sydney University. Her sessions are full of creating new, engaging ways to ensure that a child’s functional goals and needs are being met, while increasing independence and participation.
Kelly thrives off working with others, particularly with children and their families, to meet their needs and goals. She advocates for inclusion, functional progression, and individuality with her clients by tailoring each session to the child’s needs and interests. Kelly believes in maximising the potential of each client through their strengths and providing confidence through their day-to-day activities.
Since starting at Grace Children’s Therapy, Kelly has completed training programs such as Essentials of praxis and sensory processing disorder and continues to work through a range of additional therapy courses & programs as part of her learning and development at Grace Children’s Therapy. She has experience in working with children with physical and developmental disabilities to fulfil their goals of fine motor and gross motor development, self-care, handwriting, social skills, and emotional regulation.