OUR PEOPLE
We’re a team of allied health professionals with a shared goal of empowering children and their families
Meet the Team
Kate Coleman
DIRECTOR + OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Kate has been working as an Occupational Therapist with children and their families for over 10 years.
She is passionate about a family centred service and using a coaching style to help empower families to support their children to participate every single day. Kate has completed further training to provide feeding and mealtime therapy.
Kate has worked with children and families with a wide range of needs, including learning difficulties, genetic conditions, autism and neurological conditions.
Neville Coleman
DIRECTOR + EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST
Neville is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) who has experience working with adults and children under a range of health, disability and participation needs.
Neville enjoys using fun and motivating ways to support his clients to feel good about exercise whilst building endurance, strength and developing gross motor skills.
Chelsea Monaghan
Allied Health Assistant
Chelsea is our Allied Health Assistant, providing therapy and support services to our children and families.
Chelsea has a training background as a School Learning Support Officer (SLSO) and supporting kids to thrive in their learning and developmental goals.
Chelsea works with our allied health therapists to deliver agreed therapy and support goals in our rooms, as well as in homes and schools.
Cherie McCafferty
REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST
Cherie is a registered Psychologist providing psychology services to Koru Allied Therapies. She is a board approved clinical supervisor and has over 15 years of experience working with children, adolescents and adults with a wide range of presenting problems.
Cherie works from a varied framework of therapies including CBT, ACT, Trauma-Focused CBT, Circle of Security, Narrative Therapy, Play Therapy and Art/Craft Therapy. She is a qualified Mindfulness and Meditation Therapist.
Cherie has completed further training in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Suicide Intervention, Mental Health First Aid and Resilience.
She is passionate about psychology, diversity and inclusivity.
Fiona Gordon
Accredited and Practising Dietician – Savouring Nutrition
Fiona is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian with Dietitian Australia, graduating from the University of Wollongong in 2008.
Fiona is passionate about helping families navigate mealtimes and enabling children to foster a positive relationship with food while getting the nutrition they need to grow and thrive. She works with families and children throughout the Illawarra with a range of disabilities, food intolerances and eating difficulties including ARFID. Fiona works from a neurodiverse affirming framework ensuring that all brain differences are accommodated, and all food preferences are accepted without judgement. Her goal is to help adults feel confident in feeding their children and take the stress out of family mealtimes.
Amber Jackson
CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIST
Amber is a recently
graduated creative arts therapist who is specialised in providing Dance and
Movement therapy. We are excited to announce she will be providing her services
to Koru Allied Therapies. Amber is a member of the Australian, New Zealand and
Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA).
Amber enjoys utilising her Allied Health skills to support a range of therapeutic goals. Goals are individualised and can include: emotional identification and regulation, developing social skills, communication and connection with others, increasing body awareness, supporting self-expression and creativity, development of motor skills and developing a positive sense of self.
To learn more about this
Allied Health discipline follow the link below:
Teagan Hartley
ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT
Teagan started with the Koru Allied Therapies team in April 2022 as we prepared for the opening of our Koru Allied Therapy Hub.
Teagan keeps the team organised and the hub running. She’s the backbone to our therapy team and the welcoming face for children and families.
Taylah La Monica
ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT / ALLIED HEALTH ASSISTANT
Taylah has recently completed her HSC as well as Cert III in Allied Health Assistance. She is hoping to continue her education in Occupational Therapy.
Taylah joins us on a casual basis to welcome our clients through the door and assist our Allied Health Staff where possible.
JOIN OUR TEAM
Opportunities are now available for allied health practitioners to join our team. We’d love to hear from you!
About Koru Allied Therapies
Koru Allied Therapies was formed by Kate and Nev in October 2021. After moving to the South Coast in 2020 with their young family, they began providing mobile therapy services in the local area. It became clear that services were limited and there was a need to attract and provide more local health services.
Our vision is to ensure that the families we support spend more time on accessing appropriate and professional care, and less time commuting between appointments across the Illawarra!
By joining together, Kate and Nev form the basis of a multi- disciplinary team. Using a client and family-centred approach, they are passionate about empowering individuals and their families to take control of their own goal setting and achievements.
OUR INSPIRATION
Drawing from Nev’s New Zealand and Māori heritage, the Koru was identified as being a perfect embodiment of Kate and Nev’s shared values and approach to health care. An integral motif for Māori, the Koru signifies the unfurling of a new fern frond from it’s base, or Growth through Strength and Stability.
Our Values
