VIC Divisional Council

Occupational Therapy Department Manager and NDIS Transition Lead, Austin Health.

Rachel is an occupational therapist with expertise in mental health. She has worked in various positions across the mental health sector in both Australia and the United Kingdom, and has a particular interest in eating disorders. She is currently employed in two roles, as the Occupational Therapy Advisor at North Western Mental Health and an academic role at Deakin University.

She has been involved in leading service transformation, driving culture change and building workforce capability. Rachel is a systems thinker and has a particular interest in how the structure of health services impacts on a person’s ability to receive the right treatment at the right time. Currently, Rachel is completing her PhD exploring the acceptability of an integrated approach to eating disorders service delivery in Victoria.

Catherine completed her Occupational Therapy degree at Latrobe University and her Master of Clinical Leadership at the University of Tasmania. She owns a rural based private practice, which specialises in the disability and aged care fields.

Her vision is for local therapists helping local people in their own communities, and providing opportunities for connection, belonging, and participation. She also works as a Disability Liaison Officer at Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton.

Her clinical interests include rural health, assistive technology, home modifications and chronic pain.

Catherine joined the Divisional Council to contribute to the profession, and to provide a rural perspective to the work being undertaken.

Alex is passionate about the role of OT in mental health, and has worked across varied mental health settings in Victoria including inpatient, residential, community, eating disorders services and private practice. Alex is currently the Chief Occupational Therapist at Inner West Area Mental Health Service.

Workforce Development and Innovation Lead Occupational Therapy Austin Health. Janice has a strong management background and over 15 years of clinical experience. Her interests include leadership development & high performing work practices for the occupational therapy and allied health sector.

Molly is an Occupational Therapist who completed her Occupational Therapy Degree at Deakin University in 2019. She is currently employed with WHR Allied Health, a private practice based on the Surf Coast.

Molly has a variety of roles, including facilitating peer meetings with the Graduate Occupational Therapists, where they are encouraged to share their experiences in their new roles and provide support to one another as they begin their career. Molly is also part of the WHR Allied Health NDIS Practice Standards Group that meets quarterly to review the practice standards, identify where these are being met by the organisation and recognise opportunities for improvement within the organisation.

Molly’s areas of interest include Autism, Intellectual Disability, Assistive Technology, Wheelchair Prescription, and the Nervous System (trained to administer the Safe and Sound Protocol). Molly joined the VIC Divisional Council to provide the perspective of a therapist who recently commenced their career, thereby bringing further diversity in experience to the council.

Dave thrives on encouraging positive approach to risk and supporting participants through clinical use of self. Dave works with young adult and adolescent cohorts supporting mental health, self-regulation, employment, study, travel, budgeting and secure accommodation, as well as Supported Independent Living and supporting safe relationships.

Dave feels very fortunate to support a variety of participants to work towards their many different goals while also working alongside his two horses, three mini goats and dog (Pokey), to provide a unique therapy approach. He currently participates in ongoing psychotherapy education to ensure a competent and holistic approach to complex and comorbid diagnoses.

Kieva Richards is a registered occupational therapist with experience in community occupational therapy, assessment of function impacted by both physical or mental health issues and grounding in research techniques.

Kieva is interested in ensuring a holistic approach to health that considers the client’s environment (including the healthcare system); capabilities (including factors specific to any diagnosis); and support systems to allow client’s (and their families) to achieve satisfactory occupational performance, engagement and overall enhanced well-being. As an occupational therapist and change agent, I feel that our efforts should be aimed at recognizing and removing or minimizing occupational injustices that can create barriers with the goal of enhancing the quality of life of all key stakeholders. 

Over the past 9 years Lauren has founded and led the Allay Occupational Therapy team as the Principal OT. The team has grown to be an innovative, resilient team of 31 OTs and 1 AHA. Collaborating with clients and stakeholders across regional, rural and metropolitan Victoria to provide sustainable OT services empowering kids, adolescents and adults.

Lauren has over 15 year’s experience in private and public hospitals, community teams and clinics. Lauren has focussed in mental health, neurodevelopmental conditions and driver assessments. Aiming always for a deep understanding of the way a client functions in their occupations, relationships and regulations, to build a meaningful recovery journey.

Whilst working across senior roles collaborating with executive teams and multi disciplinary teams in public health; and designing a practice at Allay including leadership, experienced and graduate OTs. Translating principles from OT into compassionate and wise leadership to support OTs to thrive under a resilience model for job satisfaction and meaningful work roles.

Finding opportunity in further study after Degrees in OT and Psychological Science, continued learning about occupational science completing the Masters in Advanced Occupational Therapy.