Michelle, a woman smiling and playing with bubbles outdoors in golden sunlight. Copyright Wattle Tree Therapy.

Hello!

I'm Michelle,

Senior Occupational Therapist with Wattle Tree Therapy.

For more than 16 years I've been a Paediatric OT, and I genuinely love it. I'm also a Mum. I understand the beautiful mess of parenting; the joy, love, challenges and all the dirty laundry that it brings.

A woman with brown hair smiling, sitting outdoors in a garden with plants and trees around her during the day. Copyright Wattle Tree Therapy.

I'm passionate about supporting children in their earliest years, the years when they’re growing into their unique selves, and learning skills for life.

Kids thrive if parents and educators are also supported, and this is an important part of my work.

A woman with long brown hair and earrings, smiling, playing a game with a young girl on the floor. They are seated on a patterned rug, with a puzzle spread out on a cloth. Copyright Wattle Tree Therapy.

My Story

For the first 12 years of my Occupational Therapy career, I worked for SA Health, with kids aged birth to 18 years and their families, in Aboriginal Health.

After having my own children, I created Wattle Tree Therapy. This enabled me to work as a Paediatric OT, flexibly around my new priority: raising my wonderful kids.

I’ve always been a sensitive person. And becoming a Mum, I experienced sensory overwhelm; all the noise, touch, and mess affected me.

I sought an assessment and discovered that I have auditory processing differences. My hearing is fine, it’s my brain that processes sound differently. I struggle to concentrate, regulate and hear speech in noisy environments. I used my OT knowledge of sensory processing to help me function better in everyday life.

Through this I became interested in how sensory regulation can support parents and educators. Adults have an important job - to regulate themselves, and co-regulate with kids. Sensory regulation can be a powerful and practical way to do this.

I value evidence-based practice and strive to translate research into practical supports for children, families and educators.

The Official Stuff

    • Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) - University of South Australia

    • Registered with AHPRA (Allied Health Practitioner Regulation Authority) 

    • Registered Medicare Provider

    • Current Working with Children Check 

    • Current RRHAN-EC (Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect - Education and Care) Certificate, required for visits to education settings like preschools and schools

    • Current Foundations of Child Safety Training Certificate, required for visits to early childhood education and care settings

    • Current Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide Clearance  

  • Living Skills

    • Toilet Time - Debbie Atkins (Occupational Therapist)

    • Learning to Conquer the Wees and the Poos - Rebecca Khan (Occupational Therapist)

    • Sleepwise - Annie O'Connell (Occupational Therapist)


    Sensory

    • Kids Yoga Teacher Training - YogaKids SA

    • Traffic Jam in My Brain - Gen Jereb (Occupational Therapist)

    • Toileting, Interoception & Nutrition: An Evidence-Based Approach for Promoting Toileting Success and Independence - Kelly Mahler (Occupational Therapist)

    • Sensory Interventions for Children with Autism - OT Australia

    • Overstimulation and Sensory Overwhelm in Motherhood - Dr Ashurina Ream (Psychologist)


    Play

    • Play for Learning and Learn to Play - Karen Stagnitti (Occupational Therapist)

    • Play and Playfulness: What's the Difference - OT Australia

    • Therapy Interventions to Support Developmental Outcomes for Young Children with Developmental Delays and Disabilities - Flinders University

    • Nature for Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Children - Nature Play SA


    Executive Functioning

    • Executive Functioning: A clear path to intervention - Kidlink Occupational Therapy

    Parenting and Mental Health

    • Certificate in Infant Mental Health (10 week course) - Child, Youth and Women's Health Service

    • Feeling Attached: Parent and Infant Mental Health - SA Health

    • Perinatal Mental Health - SA Health

    • Building Resilience and Managing Stress - SA Health

    • Introducing Marte Meo - Australian Association for Infant Mental Health

    • Relationship-based signs of perinatal mental health challenges: Recognise & respond - PANDA

    • Maternal and infant sleep and mental health: Connecting the dots - Australasian Sleep Association

    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - South Australian Mental Health Training Centre

    • PND & Neurodivergent Parenting in the Baby Years  - Yellow Ladybugs

Text reading 'safe space for everyone' surrounded by a laurel wreath of green leaves.

You are safe here, no matter your neurotype, disability, family structure, gender, sexuality, culture or religion.

Chat with me

I’m glad you made it this far. Reach out with any questions and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.