Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (First Class Hons)

Director & Senior Occupational Therapist

From the very beginning, Emily knew that she wanted a career working with children. Not only is she a passionate Paediatric Occupational Therapist. She is also a devoted caregiver to her brother diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and a mother to her baby girl.

Emily gained her Occupational Therapy degree at the University of Queensland, achieving First Class Honours. She has since gained more than 9 years of experience dedicated purely to paediatrics, specialising in the assessment and treatment of children with a range of disabilities. Emily is also invested in equipping herself with the latest globally-regarded and evidence-based certifications (see qualifications below).

Emily worked in a wide range of clinical settings as an OT. She started her journey with the Department of Education Queensland servicing rural primary schools, this was followed by providing therapy with Autism Queensland, the State’s peak autism body. She then moved to Hong Kong and worked in a Not-for-Profit Early Intervention team, specialising in the treatment of children under 5 years old.

During this time she became one of the few OTs who have completed training in Ayres Sensory Integration (SIPT). Receiving her training directly from Dr. A. Jean Ayres first-generation students (CLASI), Emily’s certification means she is trained in the gold standard for performance testing and interventions of sensory integration. She also received certifications for Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, Therapeutic Listening & Wilbarger Therapressure Brushing Protocol.

Emily then moved into private practice, working at SPOT, Hong Kong’s leading Children’s Therapy Centre. As part of this role, she was also the on-campus OT at the Australian International School, Discovery Bay International School and Japanese International School. She continued her post-graduate training and gained certifications in DIR®/Floortime Model and Handwriting Without Tears.

Emily returned to Australia in 2021, moving to Sydney. She continued to work in private practice and completed further training to help older children with Autism using Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP Approach). Here, Emily also gained qualifications in Professional Supervision Training and mentored paediatric Occupational Therapy students and new graduates.

What sets Emily and Child Led Therapies apart is her holistic and collaborative approach, working as a team with the child, caregivers, teachers, parents, and healthcare professionals. Together, Emily believes they can create a lasting impact on a child's overall well-being and quality of life. This is why Emily is committed to empowering and equipping caregivers through education. She has completed many caregiver workshops and shares her knowledge with thousands of followers online through her Instagram platform @OTwithEmily (see her Instagram posts below).

Emily takes great pride in her innate ability to skilfully involve children of all ages in therapeutic activities that are both meaningful and enjoyable. She is an expert at tailoring therapy sessions, considering each client’s unique strengths and needs. Her approach nurtures children towards greater independence and fostering their confidence in their own abilities.

If you would like to book an online therapy appointment or find out more information, please contact us.