93 Wells Road, Chelsea Heights VIC, Australia
Occupational Therapy ACCREDITED Dietitian Sleep Consultant
Occupational Therapy ACCREDITED Dietitian Sleep Consultant
Paediatric Therapy and Consultancy Services
Achieving Sensational Development
our play & learning space
OUR services
Occupational Therapy assessment & intervention
Occupational Therapy assessment & intervention
Occupational Therapy assessment & intervention
Occupational Therapists (OTs) play a vital role in paediatrics by helping children develop the skills they need to grow, learn, play, and participate in daily activities optimal to their individual abilities.
The term OCCUPATION essentially means jobs or role that we do and these shift and evolve across the lifespan. Occupational Therapis
Occupational Therapists (OTs) play a vital role in paediatrics by helping children develop the skills they need to grow, learn, play, and participate in daily activities optimal to their individual abilities.
The term OCCUPATION essentially means jobs or role that we do and these shift and evolve across the lifespan. Occupational Therapists work with individuals to support skills across 3 domains.
1) Self-Care (physical life-skills and emotional-wellbeing)
2) Learning/Productivity
3) Play/Leisure.
Occupational Therapists support a child’s development and independence, particularly when challenges—whether physical, cognitive, sensory, or emotional—interfere with daily functioning.
Developmental Areas OTs Help With
Paediatric OTs support a broad range of developmental and functional areas, including:
1. Fine Motor Skills
- Grasping and manipulating objects (e.g., holding a pencil, using scissors)
- Hand strength and dexterity
- Hand-eye coordination
2. Gross Motor Skills
- Balance and coordination
- Core strength and posture (especially for seated activities)
- Motor planning (knowing how to move the body in a coordinated way)
3. Sensory Processing
- Helping children who experience sensations differently to most
- Teaching self-regulation and coping strategies
- Designing sensory-safe and inclusive learning and social environments
4. Self-Care and Daily Living Skills
- Dressing, feeding, grooming, toileting
- Promoting independence in daily routines
5. Cognitive and Executive Functioning
- Attention and focus
- Problem-solving and memory
- Following multi-step instructions
6. Social Thinking and Play Skills
- Turn-taking, sharing, and group participation
- Imaginative and cooperative play
- Managing emotions and frustration tolerance
7. School Readiness and Functional Academics/Life-Skills
- Pencil grasp and handwriting
- Focus, looking, listening
- Organisational skills and classroom behaviours
social senses groups
Occupational Therapy assessment & intervention
Occupational Therapy assessment & intervention
Keen to support your child's social learning and play-interaction skills? Sense OT is excited to offer the return of our Social Senses programs within our upcoming July 2025 school holiday program!
6-10 year olds
school senses groups
Occupational Therapy assessment & intervention
school senses groups
Let's GetSet4Prep!
Sense OT is excited to announce we will be hosting our GetSet4Prep program this September school holidays AND Term 4 TUESDAYS 10-week program - express interest today!!
Contact us at [email protected] for more information.
food senses groups
SLEEP senses parent workshops
school senses groups
Calling all 6-9year old fussy eaters! Come join in our nutritious, delicious and educational cooking lessons with Sam, our Dietitian, to explore nutrition and learn about why our bodies and brains need certain foods, learn food preparation skills, and have some hands-on fun exploring a variety of nutritious foods. Tune-in to your tastebud
Calling all 6-9year old fussy eaters! Come join in our nutritious, delicious and educational cooking lessons with Sam, our Dietitian, to explore nutrition and learn about why our bodies and brains need certain foods, learn food preparation skills, and have some hands-on fun exploring a variety of nutritious foods. Tune-in to your tastebuds for a sensory adventure!
Food SENSES returns July included within our school holiday program!
Contact us at [email protected] for more information.
SLEEP senses parent workshops
SLEEP senses parent workshops
SLEEP senses parent workshops
Jessica is currently taking bookings for Sleep Consultancy intakes.
Does your child have trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep? Inconsistent or chaotic bedtimes routines? Sleep deprivation affecting mood, behaviours and focus?
Sleep consultancy service include:
- Sleep assessments
- Individualised sleep plans
- In home & telehealth supports
Contact us at [email protected] for more information.
developmental playgroups
SLEEP senses parent workshops
SLEEP senses parent workshops
Term 3 2025 Play SENSES enrolments now open. Limited places. Weekly program facilitated by our OT team.
Mondays 9:30am-11:00am
Minimum 4 children - maximum 6 children.
Contact us at [email protected] for more information.
inclusive education consultancy
inclusive education consultancy
inclusive education consultancy
- DIP (Disability Inclusion Profile) consultation including onsite student observation, teacher interview, and adjustment recommendations report to support school funding applications.
- Customised on-site professional development seminars for your education team. Learning topics include: sensory processing and classroom implications, trauma-i
- DIP (Disability Inclusion Profile) consultation including onsite student observation, teacher interview, and adjustment recommendations report to support school funding applications.
- Customised on-site professional development seminars for your education team. Learning topics include: sensory processing and classroom implications, trauma-informed practices, fine motor development and implications for handwriting, neuro-affirming practices within the classroom, nutrition across pre-school and primary school ages, fussy eating, positive behaviour support strategies, Social Thinking, gross motor skills and postural control for class learning...
parent support & eduCATION
inclusive education consultancy
inclusive education consultancy
Our Team
Katrina
stephanie
stephanie
Occupational Therapist
Mondays - Thursdays
Meet Katrina!
Katrina is a mother to three young children, the founder of Sense OT, and Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist.
Katrina completed her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in 2008. A dream in the making to become a Paediatric OT since she was 14 years old!
Over the past 16+ years Katri
Occupational Therapist
Mondays - Thursdays
Meet Katrina!
Katrina is a mother to three young children, the founder of Sense OT, and Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist.
Katrina completed her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in 2008. A dream in the making to become a Paediatric OT since she was 14 years old!
Over the past 16+ years Katrina has worked in a combination of private practice and non-for-profit disability agencies, both nationally and internationally, joining the journeys of hundreds of young children (0-18 years) and their families.
Prior to graduating from La Trobe University, Katrina worked for various paediatric disability agencies as a personal carer and recreational/respite program leader.
Since graduating, Katrina's Melbourne-based OT roles have included: Developmental Playgroup Facilitator and Coordinator, Private Therapist, Early Childhood Intervention Key Worker, and Disability Inclusion Support Consultant. In 2011 Katrina ventured overseas chasing her working-abroad lived-experiences in Canada as she secured a Case Manager and OT liaison role at Children's Autism Services of Edmonton, then moving into a Consultant role within the Edmonton Public School Board supporting inclusive education throughout rural Alberta, Canada, before returning home in 2012.
In 2021 Katrina joined Monash University in a part-time role as an OT Teaching Associate, supervising 3rd and 4th year OT Students in their clinical placements.
Sense OT was established in 2021!
Katrina strives to provide a friendly, approachable, and professional service for her clients, and is passionate about helping families and educators better-understand each child's unique sensory and learning profile, with intention to support optimal inclusion for each young person in their homes and learning environments.
Katrina’s professional development and interest areas have seen her participate in the following learnings:
- Neurodiverse-affirming practice (Learn Play Thrive)
- Paediatric First Aid & CPR
- Supporting clients with a PDA profile
- ADHD/ASD Inclusive Classrooms
- DIR Floortime (Stanley Greenspan)
- Sensory Processing & Emotional Regulation (Winnie Dunn, Genevieve Jereb, Lisa Scott, Suzanne Wakefield, Tina Champagne)
- Handwriting and Fine Motor
- Interoception (Kelly Mahler)
- Zones of Regulation (Leah Kuypers)
- Social Thinking (Michelle Garcia Winner)
- Positive Behaviour Support
- Mental Health Professionals Network: Paediatric Special Interest (Autism) and Engaging Parents of School Aged Children
- Best Practice in Early Childhood Intervention, Family Centred & Strength Based Practice, Inclusive Learning
- Making Sense of Mealtimes: Engaging Your Senses (Gillian Griffiths & Dr. Denise Stapleton)
- Autism & ADHD Conferences: Edmonton 5th Annual Conference (Winnie Dunn, Emily Rubin), Asia Pacific Autism Conference, Brisbane QLD, ADHD Conference VIC.
- Paediatric First Aid and CPR 2024
stephanie
stephanie
stephanie
Occupational Therapist
Mondays - Fridays
Meet Steph!
Steph joins us as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist, graduating her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy with honours at Monash University.
Steph brings with her a history of interest in childhood development and health, completing both a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Teaching, f
Occupational Therapist
Mondays - Fridays
Meet Steph!
Steph joins us as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist, graduating her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy with honours at Monash University.
Steph brings with her a history of interest in childhood development and health, completing both a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Teaching, followed by a Diploma of Nursing. Her passion for supporting the development and wellbeing of young people with additional needs led her to pursue her career in Occupational Therapy bringing her to Sense OT! Steph leads our Play SENSES and Social SENSES programs and provides individual assessment and therapy.
Steph’s professional development and special interest areas include neuro-affirming care, ASD and ADHD, sensory processing, Interoception and emotional regulation, independence in self-care skills through developing organisational systems and routines.
Steph enjoys connecting with families to further develop understanding of neurodiversity through her neuro-affirming lens.
Steph enjoys working with children in schools, assessing functional fine motor and handwriting skills as well as supporting optimal desk posture for all students.
Steph has recently updated her Paediatric First Aid & CPR and shares a passion for neuro-affirming practice to support our young people.
Steph's professional development and interest areas have seen her participate in the following learnings:
- DIR Floortime relationships-based model of practice
- Relationships-based models for practice.
- Neuro-affirming practice within education
- Social Thinking
- Zones of Regulation
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and evidence-based interventions
- Interoception and emotional regulation
- Basics of trauma-informed practice
- Paediatric First Aid/CPR
During Steph's downtime she enjoys spending time with her husband and family, reading books, and playing video games. Steph's technology and gaming knowledge sees her clients forming relatable connections with her, particularly with the upper primary and early secondary school-age clients.
Steph brings her bubbly personality, strength-based attitude, strong work ethics, and organisation skills, along with her warm communication skills toward her clients and their families.
Samantha
stephanie
Samantha
Dietitian
Mondays & Wednesdays
Meet Sam!
Sam joins us as an Accredited Practicing Dietitian, graduating with her Master of Dietetics from Deakin University in 2022.
Since then, Sam has developed a keen interest within the paediatric field and invests her career developments toward her special interests in evidence-based feeding therapy, t
Dietitian
Mondays & Wednesdays
Meet Sam!
Sam joins us as an Accredited Practicing Dietitian, graduating with her Master of Dietetics from Deakin University in 2022.
Since then, Sam has developed a keen interest within the paediatric field and invests her career developments toward her special interests in evidence-based feeding therapy, taking a hands-on approach that involves food exploration through food-play and cooking to help fussy or restrictive eaters increase their food repertoire and improve their overall nutrition. Sam is also passionate about supporting families to make mealtimes less stressful and more enjoyable to facilitate positive mealtimes as well as healthy eating routines.
Sam values a holistic approach to nutrition, believing that all foods fit, and that small, realistic changes are key to sustainable, lifelong good nutrition.
Sam has completed further studies in paediatric nutrition through the RCH Certificate in Paediatric Nutrition & Dietetics and has trained in the AEIOU approach to feeding which prioritises autonomy and independence at mealtimes.
Sam has completed her motivational interviewing training.
Sam's Paediatric First Aid & CPR are up to date.
Outside of her role, you'll find Sam spending time with her dog (Nola), completing another arts/crafts project or gaming!
Come and meet Sam! She is friendly, easy for talk to, passionate and professional. Welcome to the team Sam, we are thrilled to have you on board at Sense OT.
To book an appointment with Sam, please contact our team at [email protected] today.
jessica
jessica
Samantha
Sleep Consultant
Fridays & Weeknights
Meet Jess!
We are so lucky to have Jess on board with us at Sense OT offering sleep-support for our families. Jess is an experienced Sleep Consultant who has been supporting hundreds of families across Australia for 4 years now. Jess is very passionate about the topic of sleep and has completed the Sle
Sleep Consultant
Fridays & Weeknights
Meet Jess!
We are so lucky to have Jess on board with us at Sense OT offering sleep-support for our families. Jess is an experienced Sleep Consultant who has been supporting hundreds of families across Australia for 4 years now. Jess is very passionate about the topic of sleep and has completed the Sleep With Disability course. She enjoys keeping up to date with latest research within the paediatric sleep realm. Alongside this, Jess is a paediatric nurse who has worked across a range of settings including acute, rehabilitation, practice nurse within a GP clinic, and more recently has spent the past 5 years supporting children with disabilities within the school-system.
Outside of these roles Jess is a mum to her three children.
Jess is friendly, easy to talk to, and prides herself on her ability to join families to support their sleep goals, working at the unique pace each family-unit requires, one step at a time towards improved sleep for all. Jess works closely with caregivers to address a wide variety of sleep-related issues impacting the well-being and development of infants and toddlers up to adolescents. We value Jess’s holistic approach, and we are sure you will too.
Jess is currently taking initial consultations. Initial consults are available Fridays, then after hours weekday follow-up appointments will be scheduled directly with Jess via appointment only.
josie
jessica
josie
Allied Health Assistant-OT
Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays
Meet Josie!
Josie joins us with a wealth of professional and life experience as she completed her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in 2010 in Chile, South America, her home country. Josie's clinical profession saw her supporting children and adults in hospital, community, and education s
Allied Health Assistant-OT
Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays
Meet Josie!
Josie joins us with a wealth of professional and life experience as she completed her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in 2010 in Chile, South America, her home country. Josie's clinical profession saw her supporting children and adults in hospital, community, and education settings. For the past 5 years, since moving to Australia, Josie has been studying English and working in various disability support roles with children and adults with a variety of occupational support needs. Josie will join us at Sense OT in a senior Allied Health Assistant position supporting our clients' occupational goals, while continuing working toward her goal of having her OT qualifications transferred to Australia - lucky us!! Josie will assist some of Katrina's clients by implementing OT-goal focused session plans with your child in their homes, education settings, or at our clinic.
Josie is passionate about mental health and well-being for all ages, supporting strong safe relationships for our clients to support developing emotional regulation strategies for optimal engagement and enjoyment in childhood play, learning and self-care skills. Josie shares an interest in human rights and diversity-inclusion.
Josie loves venturing local parks and beaches with her young family, and she enjoys being creative with a wide range of art and crafts, as well as recycling and horticulture.
Josie’s professional development and interest areas have seen her participate in the following learnings:
- Paediatric First Aid & CPR
- ADHD/ASD Inclusive Classrooms
- Intersectoral working and social participation in mental health
- Dialectical behaviour therapy, DBT (a form of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy)
- Family centered Health Promotion
- Bach flowers therapy (Complementary therapy)
We very much look forward to having Josie on board with us at Sense OT!!
Kelly
jessica
josie
Administration & Client Supports
Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays
Meet Kelly!
Kelly joins us to support our current and future clients within the role of Administration and Client Supports.
Kelly's past career experiences include over a decade within corporate customer relations, accounts and administration assistance, as well as consumer s
Administration & Client Supports
Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays
Meet Kelly!
Kelly joins us to support our current and future clients within the role of Administration and Client Supports.
Kelly's past career experiences include over a decade within corporate customer relations, accounts and administration assistance, as well as consumer services officer. It's safe to say that our team are thrilled to have Kelly on board!
Kelly supports our team at Sense OT on a part-time basis, assisting with referral enquiries, managing service invoices and billing queries, and navigating our waitlist.
Kelly brings her positivity and solutions-focused mindset along with her passion to grow her career within the paediatric allied health sector.
Kelly shares her first-hand experience and appreciation for early intervention therapies and she has a special interest in inclusive education, in particular developing literacy and communication skills in our young clients.
Outside of her role with us at Sense OT, Kelly is mum to her two young children and she enjoys volunteering at a local primary school in the reading-recovery program.
Welcome Kelly
Chad
Chad
Chad
Education Specialist
By appointment only
Meet Chad!
Chad graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Applied Science, majoring in Physical Education and Biological Sciences with Honours First Class at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
Chad furthered his studies at the University of Melbourne, completing his Master of Instructional Leade
Education Specialist
By appointment only
Meet Chad!
Chad graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Applied Science, majoring in Physical Education and Biological Sciences with Honours First Class at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
Chad furthered his studies at the University of Melbourne, completing his Master of Instructional Leadership in 2018. Chad's early years in teaching saw him working in diverse settings, including both the public and independent sectors, with experiences in classrooms as well as physical education. Here, he took a special interest in adaptive, positive, and inclusive teaching strategies.
Chad manages a team of emerging and established Education Specialists. His role includes coaching and upskilling his team's knowledge and application of therapeutic teaching strategies, with a focus on safety within learning, as well as inclusion. Chad's teaching and leadership roles within schools has included both forensic health and youth justice facilities, as well as mainstream education settings. Chad has managed a state-funded program delivering safe approaches and strategies essential for children living in out-of-home care, returning to their education setting. Chad works closely with external youth supports including Department of Families, Fairness, and Housing.
Chad's role at Sense OT includes leadership and operations support, as well as active consultation for professional development to our therapy team. Chad is an integral behind-the-scenes support for our team and our clients.
Chad's professional development and interests have seen him participate in:
- Positive Psychology within schools
- Trauma Informed Practice within schools
- Neuroscience and childhood development
- Inclusive and Safe classroom structures
- Therapeutic teaching and calm classrooms
- Quality engagement and teaching strategies
- Physical Education and wellbeing
- Instructional Leadership
- Leadership coaching and supervision
- Motivational interviewing