WHO WE ARE
JUSTINE SHIRCORE
Justine is an experienced paediatric occupational therapist who is passionate about supporting children to develop their skills to feel successful and confident in a range of environments. She also has a strong belief in supporting both the child as well as their family through education and modelling of strategies through play. Justine works hard to provide a therapy space where children and their parents feel nurtured, connected, safe and calm so that they have the capacity to take on new skills and strategies provided during therapy groups.
For the year of 2022, Justine travelled around Australia in a caravan with her family which reinforced for her, first hand, what research tells us about the importance of spending time in nature for a child’s regulation, emotional and physical growth. It provided her and her family with a sense of calmness, joy and creativity which promoted confidence and success in every-day activities.
Justine has worked as an occupational therapist for over 10 years, specialising in early intervention for children with neurodevelopmental differences through play-based therapy. She has had experience working in government and not-for-profit organisations and has spent four years working in a private practice where she built strong connections with her clients and families.
Justine has a particular interest in working with children with neurodevelopmental differences like autism and is also invested in working closely with their families. She actively seeks out professional development opportunities to keep up with current and emerging evidence. Justine has experience working in the following areas; autism, ADHD, intellectual disabilities, global developmental delay (GDD), down syndrome, undiagnosed social emotional development difficulties, speech and language delays, gross and fine motor delays and mental health disorders including anxiety.
Justine maintains a current Australian Health Practitioner Agency (AHPRA) registration and is also a member with the Developmental Occupational Therapist (DOT WA) organisation.
Justine and her husband have two children and a fur baby. They love spending precious time together outdoors, particularly at the beach and really enjoy spending quality time with their family and friends.
KAHLIA WINGFIELD
Kahlia is an experienced paediatric occupational therapist who is passionate about seeing her clients grow, develop and thrive. Kahlia has worked with children for several years and has strong and unique skills in helping children and adolescents with struggles such as autism, ADHD, intellectual disabilities, global developmental delay (GDD), undiagnosed social emotional development difficulties, speech and language delays, gross and fine motor delays, mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, gender dysphoria and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Kahlia brings compassion, strong assessment and therapeutic skills and works closely with parents, teachers and children’s support systems to help them thrive in all environments. Kahlia realises that a child does not exist in isolation but within their environment, which may be made up of people, places, beliefs and systems. She loves doing therapy in her clients natural environment.
Kahlia maintains a current AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Agency) registration, a member with the Developmental Occupational Therapist (DOT WA) organisation and is OTA (Occupational Therapy Australia) Mental Health endorsed.
Kahlia is empathetic, caring, and a big kid at heart, so enjoys channelling her playful and silly side to support engagement with the kids and adolescents she works with. Kahlia loves that working as an occupational therapist challenges her to be flexible and problem solve on a daily basis to provide the best support and care for each individual. It’s clear when you meet Kahlia, that work is play and play is work! When Kahlia is not “at work” you might find her doing something creative, in the outdoors, practicing mindfulness through yoga or going for a walk with family or friends.
SARAH MCGARRY
Sarah has been an occupational therapist for 14 years. During this time Sarah has enjoyed both clinical and research roles, completing a PhD in 2013.
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Combining both her research and clinical skills, Sarah is driven by a profound passion to support the wellbeing of children and adolescents. The research that Sarah conducted aims to not only inform best practices but also reflect a deep commitment to advocating for the needs of neurodivergent individuals. In Sarah' clinical practice, Sarah aims to foster an environment of acceptance and understanding with a neuro-affirming ethos, valuing each individual's unique neurotype.
Sarah is a mother of two children and she enjoys nothing better than spending time out in nature with her family, camping and creating arts and crafts with flowers. Sarah is grateful to practice OT on Whadjuk Nyoongar Boodja (Perth, WA). Sarah is grateful for the kookaburra she see's every day, for his laugh and cheeky presence.
MOLLY BUTLAND
Molly is a certified practicing counsellor who has a strong interest in nature based therapy intervention. Molly focus's on the mental health of her client's through a holistic approach which uses family intervention, client advocacy, trauma-informed, and mindfulness-based practices for young and neurodiverse people. Molly practices through a neuroaffirmative and trauma-informed lens and prioritises 2 child-led and person-centred experience for each client.
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Molly has first-hand and extensive experience working within the neurodiverse family unit and assisting children in building their self-confidence, identity, and independence. In her spare time, Molly loves urban gardening, studying local species of mushrooms, op-shopping and hanging out with her ragdoll cat, Abby!
CATH FITZHARDINGE
Cath is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience working in rural, remote and urban settings. She understands that meaningful access to nature is essential for humans to thrive and is a critical determinant of health and wellbeing. Cath supports children, families and organisations to embrace nature connection, health and wellbeing through meaningful occupation (e.g. nature W play) to foster resilience, confidence, curiosity and kindness.
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Having grown up in small WA country towns, Cath deeply values the richness and connection that being, and playing outdoors brings to children, particularly to those living in busy urban environments. Cath shares this passion with her children, their friends and all the children and families she works with, and is so grateful to be living, playing and learning on Whadjuk Nyoongar Boodja (Perth, WA).