At the heart of my work as a Speech and Language Therapist is building communication and self-expression through connection, and being an ally to and advocate for the neurodivergent community.
I love my job because children find fun and excitement in the everyday and continually challenge us as adults to see things in a different light. Supporting young people to develop their autonomy and become more confident in their ability to share their wants, needs, thoughts, feelings, and ideas brings me a lot of joy and motivates me to continue to grow my own knowledge so that I can help our families as best I can.
I have a strong focus on learning through play, exploration, and collaboration. Our young people flourish when they have opportunities to engage in interest and play-based learning which is supported in an environment that prioritises trust and safety in relationship. A key part of this relationship is also ensuring that that what we work towards as a team (family, therapists, educators) is purposeful and meaningful for the child and their support network within the frame of their own lives.
I’m from New Zealand, and before moving to Brisbane, I worked in special education schools in London, supporting children with a range of learning needs and diagnoses, including Autism, Global Developmental Delay, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Intellectual Disability, and Attachment Disorder. I have completed training in Key Word Sign, Sounds-Write, Autism Level-Up, supporting Natural Language Acquisition (Gestalt Language Processing), neuro-affirming approaches to learning, psycho-sensory interventions in trauma-informed practice, and co-regulation and sensory safety.
Outside of IOT, I like spending time outdoors, listening to podcasts, and trying out new baking recipes.
