Occupational Therapy Sunshine Coast

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• Our Team

Our Team

Sam Kennedy – Occupational Therapist

I support people with disability by helping them build meaningful skills, increase independence and engage more fully in daily life. At the heart of my practice, I am a relationally-informed therapist, which means I focus on building strong, safe and trust-based relationships as the foundation for all therapeutic progress.

My passion lies in working with children and young people with complex support needs, including autism, intellectual disability and sensory processing differences. I believe that when we create connection first, meaningful growth naturally follows – whether it’s developing engagement in daily life, emotional regulation, or everyday functional skills.

I love seeing someone feel understood, succeed in something new, or begin to believe in their own capabilities.

Outside of work, I love beach walks, camping and soaking up the sunshine. I also enjoy a good coffee, reading and spending time with friends and family.

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Mac Barnett – Occupational Therapist

I’m an early career Occupational Therapist. I enjoy working across all areas of disability, including equipment prescription, early childhood development, emotional regulation, social participation, school access and daily living skills.

I’m passionate about building a strong rapport with my customers and ensuring their goals are at the heart of our therapy. I collaborate with customers, families, support systems and other professionals to take a holistic, customer-centred approach.

The best part of my job is seeing customers hit their goals, no matter how big or small – what we like to call “smilestones!” Knowing I’m contributing to their progress towards independence and meaningful participation is what motivates me, and of course, the coffee downstairs is a bonus!

Outside of work, I love to surf, play golf and rugby union, go camping and enjoy any outdoor activities with friends whenever I get the chance.

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Charlotte Di Leo – Occupational Therapist

I became an Occupational Therapist because I wanted to make a positive difference in people’s lives. I love supporting individuals to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

At Northcott, I work closely with customers, their families and caregivers to find creative solutions that help them engage in meaningful activities while also promoting health, wellbeing and independence.

I have experience working in community health with NDIS participants, supporting individuals with a variety of diagnoses.

The best parts of my job are interacting with customers, the variety each day brings, advocating for my customers and seeing them gain confidence and independence.

Outside of work, I enjoy being active outdoors, spending time with my family, going to the beach, cooking and working on creative projects at home.

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Bree Grentell – Occupational Therapist

I’m an Occupational Therapist who loves building personal connections with children and their families, and being part of major milestones, challenges and wins.

I specialise in paediatrics, with most of my customers ranging from 6 months to 18 years old. I have experience with a wide range of ages and abilities, with a particular interest in physical disability, assistive technology and vehicle modifications. My areas of focus include social skills, emotional regulation, self-care, domestic tasks, community access and fine and gross motor skills.

I take a holistic approach to problem-solving and personalise my support to each customer. I enjoy working within a multidisciplinary team, as I believe that customers achieve the best outcomes when the whole team works together.

Outside of work, I stay active by going to the gym and playing sport. My favourite way to unwind is on the beach with a good book, spending time with my dog and husband.

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Nikky Maidment – Occupational Therapist

As a senior Occupational Therapist, I walk alongside incredible individuals on their journey towards independence and confidence. I believe in the power of early intervention to set strong foundations for life. I love spending time on the floor with kids, being part of that process.

I take a coach and relationship-based approach to help build skills and understanding. I work alongside kids and their families to support and empower them to reach their potential, while problem-solving any barriers that might be in the way.

I have experience in the paediatric disability sector, working across community, clinic, and education environments. I’m passionate about helping kids understand their unique sensory and regulation needs, expand their personal connection skills and find creative solutions to everyday challenges. I work closely with families to ensure therapy fits seamlessly into daily routines and habits, always using a neuro-affirming and trauma-informed approach to my practice.

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Georgina Turner – Therapy Assistant

I’m a Disability Support Worker for Programs and a Therapy Assistant for the Clinical Team. I have experience working with children and young people with various disabilities and have a particular passion for supporting those with autism.

My qualifications include an Advanced Diploma in Children Services. I am passionate about fostering positive, strength-based relationships, as I believe connections help young people feel safe, secure and supported. By creating this environment, we enable young people to develop essential life skills for the future while of course bringing laughter and fun into the program space!

Outside of work, I love animals. A fun fact about me is that I previously worked training assistance dogs for children with disability.

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How our occupational therapy services can support you

NDIS occupational therapy builds your capabilities to take part in many of the activities of daily living and gain a rewarding new level of independence.

Start your journey to build the skills and confidence you need to live more independently and get the most out of life. Occupational therapy can empower you to build your independence and perform a wide range of daily tasks at home, at school, in the workplace or out in the community. Our personalised services offer you expert support and care to achieve your goals, whatever they are.

You may want to learn new skills around the house, like washing, ironing and cleaning. Or take the bus to the shops so you can buy groceries. You might be looking for assistance and resources to confidently take part in school or get a job. Or even join a community group, enjoy a hobby, and make new friends.

Our experienced occupational therapy team will work closely with you, your family, carers, teachers, support workers and employers to achieve the best possible results. We understand your circumstances are unique and everyone works at their own pace. This is why our occupational therapy service is tailored just for you.

Our occupational therapy locations in Queensland

Northcott Brisbane North

Northcott Brisbane South

Northcott Gold Coast

Northcott Sunshine Coast

Northcott Logan

Northcott Ipswich

Northcott Toowoomba

Develop a range of practical skills

Build your skillset to open a new world of independent living including: 

• Self-care skills such as toileting, dressing, showering and daily skills such as preparing food will enable you to tackle your daily routine with ease
• Improving fine motor skills to make tasks like tying shoelaces, handwriting, and using everyday objects possible
• Strategies for learning, problem solving and organisational skills to build confidence at school or in the workplace
• Development of play supports cognition, supports young children to enjoy creative play, and build a satisfying play repertoire
• Effective social skills are important for people of any age to build meaningful connections, make friends, take turns, and enjoy fulfilling relationships.

Move around different environments

We’ll work with you on mobility goals, so you can enjoy a more independent life and safely participate in daily tasks. This might include assessment, trial and recommendation for equipment – such as specialised seating, wheelchairs, commodes and hoists.   We can also recommend changes to your environment that might help you – from minor changes like rails and ramps, to bathroom and vehicle modifications.

Create effective strategies to use every day

With the right strategies, you’ll be able to master many of the activities of daily living, and manage the way your senses might influence your behaviour. You’ll feel more confident when taking part in activities that matter most to you.  This may be in your own home,  school, the workplace  or as an active member of the community.

Understand how you process information

By understanding how you process different sensory information – such as sound, touch, sight, taste and smell – you can learn useful strategies to manage sensory sensitivities in a variety of settings.

Get more time and support to achieve your goals

You can achieve your goals faster by working with an Allied Health Assistant (AHA). An AHA works under the guidance of your occupational therapist, supporting the program your therapist has created for you. The affordability of an AHA gives you more time to work on your goals. Our AHA’s are either qualified with a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistant, studying their undergraduate degree to become Allied Health Professionals, or both.