Zander is an Occupational Therapist passionate in working with children and families. Zander has an interest in wholistic approaches which aren’t ‘traditional OT’. Zander enjoys looking at emerging fields and how the best of these tools can be tailored to an individual. He supports the use of neuro affirming and lived experience perspectives. Zander will be on the golf course or local coffee shop when switching off. He loves his pet Groodle, Greg!

Shan, the face behind the scenes. After completing a B. Social Science at University of Newcastle, Shannen has worked in the field of Child Protection for a number of years before establishing Hunter Coast Therapy alongside her husband Zander and their fur child, Greg.

Shannen is currently completing additional studies in Counselling with a particular interest area on children and adolescents who have experienced trauma.

Shan’s interests include art, the beach, dogs, and being Zander's golf caddy.

Greg opened Hunter Coast Therapy with his human mum and dad. Greg has taken over the role of head honcho and is often found on-site or working from home. 

Greg is always up for pats, treats and any attention he can get his paws on. 

When away from the office, Greg enjoys going to the park to see his fur friends, long walks on the beach and morning coffee dates catching up with the locals. 

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Greg is proudly the HCT mascot and always keen to meet our beautiful families.

Jess is a seasoned administrative professional with a strong background in both management and recruitment. Her expertise extend to navigating change management and implementing efficient procedures. Essentially, she's a master at streamlining operations and building high-performing teams.

Jess is a passionate advocate for creating a welcoming and supportive environment. She thrives on building strong relationships with colleagues and providing exceptional, personalized service to our Hunter Coast families. 

With a keen interest in OT you may find Jess on the other side in the coming future.

Zeb is an enthusiastic clinician that places an emphasis on a fun, and a personalised approach to therapy. He has a natural knack for connecting with young people and is committed to creating a safe space where they can feel at home.

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Zeb has a keen interest in addressing developmental challenges and has taken time to development his skills and knowledge in the paediatric occupational therapy space. 

Hayley has just recently graduated her final year of Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. Now with Hunter Coast Therapy as a registered OT. Prior to this Hayley has worked as an allied health assistant for over 2 years.

She has a love for working with kiddos and their families, especially those with functional goals.

When away from the office, Hayley enjoys spending time with her family and friends, attending live music, baking and paddleboarding.

Jack has a natural talent for working with kiddos who have challenges with motor skills, attention and regulation, particularly those who experience BIG emotions. The kiddos at HCT absolutely adore the creativity and humour which Jack brings into each and every session. Jack has just recently graduated with a B. Occupational Therapy. Prior to this Jack has worked with Hunter Coast Therapy in an Occupational Therapy Assistant role.

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When outside of the office, Jack loves being outdoors and moving his body. He has played sport all his life but is passionate about soccer and basketball.
 

Extra fun fact about Jack: His dad was nearly the 5th member of the Wiggles.

Rachel is a passionate pediatric therapist specializing in the developmental needs of children aged 2-8. With a strong focus on early intervention, child-carer relationships, and developmentally focused therapy, Rachel brings six years of valuable experience to her practice. Her expertise lies in supporting children who face challenges with their social and emotional wellbeing. A dedicated advocate of the DIR-Floortime approach, Rachel integrates this methodology into her therapeutic practices to foster meaningful interactions and developmental growth. Growing up in Halifax, Canada, Rachel is also a mother of two, and she loves indulging in chocolate and pizza. Her personal and professional experiences uniquely position her to empathetically connect with both children and their families.

As a dedicated Paediatric occupational therapist, Leah brings a heartfelt commitment to helping children achieve their full potential through personalised therapy interventions. With a background in recreation in the disability sector, Leah focuses on promoting independence and enhancing quality of life for children facing developmental challenges.  Leah believes in the power of recreation as a therapeutic tool, integrating play and recreational activities into therapy sessions to create engaging and enjoyable experiences that motivate children to participate actively in their treatment plans.

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Outside of work, you will find Leah camping or at the beach with her family.  She also enjoys photography, bush walks and painting.

Simone is a bubbly and enthusiastic paediatric therapist. Simone loves working with kiddos and their families to help them reach their greatest potential and engage in life to the fullest.

Simone has completed additional training in developmental trauma, SOS feeding therapy, and handwriting assessment and treatment. With a specific interest in working with children with functional goals, developmental delay, and developmental coordination disorder, Simone loves to utilise the magic of play, gross motor games and a child’s favourite activities, to watch them flourish with their skills and confidence to engage in life in a manner that is meaningful and personalised to them.

Outside of work, Simone loves hiking, camping, canyoning, sport, and anything to do with snow or unicorns.

Sarah is a dedicated speech pathologist who loves working alongside families to support their child's communication. 

Sarah has experience working with children from 0-18 years and particular interest areas in early intervention, speech and language development, social communication, trauma-informed care, and neurodiversity affirming practice.

Sarah is a bilingual speech pathologist and enjoys working with culturally and linguistically diverse populations.

Sarah takes a child-led, family-centred and play-based approach to therapy sessions.  

Tahlia is a vibrant and skilled speech pathologist, she has an infectious laugh and builds rapport and long lasting relationships with the people she supports. Tahlia prides herself on working in naturalistic environments with families 

Tahlia has a passion with early childhood intervention, (2-8) with a special interest in speech sound disorders and school-aged language.

Tahlia is trained in Hanen it takes two to talk and more than words. Tahlia is also certified LAMP trained for Augumentative and Alternative Communication devices. 

Outside of work you’ll find Tahlia at the gym, beach or a casual stroll through the markets. 

Hamish is currently in his last year studying a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at the University of Newcastle. Hamish has a natural knack for assisting children and their families, particularly those with specific needs such as functional goals, PDA profiles, and motor skill difficulties. Outside of his professional time, you will likley find Hamish socialising with friends and indulging in rounds of golf.

Hamish is currently on his final 10-week university placement.

He will be back shortly with a Bachelors degree loading before he is a fully fledged OT!

Bri graduated from Newcastle University with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Hons) in 2016. Bri has worked in paediatrics and neurological physiotherapy since graduating – a combination of clinic and community-based. Bri loves working across both environments to support children and families to incorporate what we do in the office into their everyday routines. Bri is passionate about therapy being fun and engaging, so its something that kids and families look forward to doing rather than feeling like they 'have' to do.

When Bri is not working Bri describes herself as your classic physio, loving all things physical activity – a fiend for yoga, pilates and running.

Grace is an enthusiastic occupational therapy assistant and a recent graduate of Occupational Therapy from the University of Newcastle. She is passionate about helping children, teenagers, and adults achieve their chosen goals, making therapy fun and meaningful by incorporating clients' interests into sessions. Grace has a keen interest in neurorehabilitation, addressing fine and gross motor challenges, and supporting the social and emotional well-being of children and adolescents.

Outside of work, Grace enjoys hiking and camping with friends and family, swimming, and spending time with her Labrador Ellie 

Allyciah, one of our Allied Health Assistants, is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at the University of Newcastle, now in her second year of study. With a strong passion for working with children, Allyciah demonstrates a strong commitment to enhancing her expertise within the occupational therapy field. While still on the journey to achieve full qualification as a therapist, Allyciah arrives to each session with a vibrant and optimistic spirit. Outside of work, you can often find her enjoying walks with her border collie Indii, swimming or reading by the beach, or socialising with friends.

Fran is passionate about supporting families, guiding parents to find confidence when they feel unsure or stuck. With a perceptive and playful approach, she brings flexibility and compassion to every relationship, helping children & families thrive. Fran has been an Occupational Therapist for over 20 years and draws on her own family’s personal experience to enhance her practice. This led her to explore evidence-based interventions to support their eldest son, resulting in certifications in Project ImPACT (Improving Parents as Communication Teachers) and Early Start Denver Model therapy.

As a local, Fran cherishes the outdoors and loves spending time in her favourite spots, with family and friends. Whether she's walking the dogs, painting, reading, seeing a band, enjoying a movie or a good TV series at home. Fran’s love for life & connection shine, making her a patient & empathetic therapist.