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OUR PEOPLE

At Koru Allied Therapies, we’re a Paediatric Allied Health team in Kiama Downs, who care deeply about supporting children and families. By bringing together different skills and approaches, we help kids grow in confidence and thrive in everyday life. Whilst we are based in Kiama Downs, our allied health services also support families across Kiama, the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions.

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Meet the Team

Clinical Team

Kate Coleman

DIRECTOR + OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Kate Coleman, Occupational Therapist and Director at Koru Allied Therapies in Gerringong

Neville Coleman

DIRECTOR + EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST

Neville Coleman, Accredited Exercise Physiologist and Co-Director at Koru Allied Therapies in Gerringong, NSW

Ebony Poort

Occupational Therapist

Ebony Poort, Occupational Therapist at Koru Allied Therapies in Kiama Downs, NSW

Amber Jackson

Creative Arts Therapist

Amber Jackson, Creative Arts Therapist at Koru Allied Therapies Kiama Downs

Chelsea Monaghan

ALLIED HEALTH ASSISTANT

Chelsea Monaghan, Allied Health Assistant at Koru Allied Therapies in Gerringong

Deb Hanslow

EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST + ALLIED HEALTH ASSISTANT

Deb, Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) and Allied Health Assistant at Koru Allied Therapies in Kiama Downs, NSW, currently studying a Master of Occupational Therapy

Sunny Apete

allied health assistant

Fiona Gordon​

Accredited + practising dietitian

Fiona Gordon, Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) with Dietitians Australia, contractor at Koru Allied Therapies in the Illawarra

Client Services + Administration

Teagan Hartley

Client Services + Administration

Teagan Hartley, Administration & Client Services at Koru Allied Therapies in Gerringong

Taylah La Monica

Client Services + Administration | Allied Health Assistant

Taylah La Monica, Client Services & Administration at Koru Allied Therapies; Allied Health Assistant as required

Katelen De Coster

Client Services + Administration 

Katelen De Coster, Client Services & Administration at Koru Allied Therapies in Kiama Downs, NSW, studying a Bachelor of Exercise Science

JOIN OUR TEAM

Opportunities are now available for allied health practitioners to join our team. We’d love to hear from you!

SEE CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES

Professional Bodies

Occupational Therapy Australia logo – professional membership body for occupational therapists

National body for Occupational Therapists in Australia. 

 

Visit ESSA — Exercise & Sports Science Australia

Peak body for Exercise Physiologists and Sports Scientists.

 

ANZACATA logo – Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association

Association for Creative Arts Therapists in Australia, NZ & Asia.

AHANA logo – Allied Health Assistants’ National Association Limited

National body representing Allied Health Assistants in Australia.

AHPRA logo – Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

Regulator of Registered Health Practitioners across Australia.

Disability SPOT logo – professional community of Speech Pathologists, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists

Not-for-profit hub for disability seminars, networks & support.

Koru Allied Therapies, Kiama Downs - Brand Mark

About Koru Allied Therapies

Koru Allied Therapies was founded in 2021 with a clear vision: to create a paediatric allied health service that feels local, accessible and supportive. From the beginning, our team has been committed to offering professional care close to home, reducing the need for families to spend hours commuting across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven for appointments.

As a multidisciplinary team, we take a family-centred approach, working alongside children and their families to set meaningful goals and celebrate every achievement. Our passion lies in helping kids grow in confidence, develop functional skills and thrive in everyday life — all while making quality paediatric allied health care easier to access across our region.

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Your Paediatric Allied Health Kiama Downs Team

Here for Families Across Illawarra & Shoalhaven

Cathedral Rocks Kiama Downs coastal landmark near Koru Allied Therapies

Looking for Paediatric Allied Health Kiama Downs support? Our team at Koru Allied Therapies is here to help children and families thrive. With a focus on genuine care, strong values and expertise, we proudly work with families in Kiama, the Illawarra and Shoalhaven to make everyday life more confident and connected.

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OUR INSPIRATION

Drawing from Nev’s New Zealand and Māori heritage, the koru was chosen as the symbol of Koru Allied Therapies because it reflects the values at the heart of our team. An integral motif in Māori culture, the koru represents the unfurling of a new fern frond — growth through strength and stability — and continues to guide the way we approach paediatric allied health care.

Our Values

GROWTH
Providing a safe space for children and families to find growth towards their goals
Providing a safe space for children and families to find growth towards their goals
Development
Providing education and support to work towards developmental milestones in play, gross and fine motor skills at various lifestages
Providing education and support to work towards developmental milestones in play, gross and fine motor skills at various lifestages
Stability
Both physical and emotional stability, giving our clients the confidence they need to complete everyday tasks
Both physical and emotional stability, giving our clients the confidence they need to complete everyday tasks
LEARNING
Understanding and adapting our approach to an individual’s learning style to support skill acquisition
Understanding and adapting our approach to an individual’s learning style to support skill acquisition
COMMUNITY
Being community-minded; bringing the community together in a safe place to educate and bring awareness to differences and disabilities
Being community-minded; bringing the community together in a safe place to educate and bring awareness to differences and disabilities
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Our Values

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.

 
Let’s Connect on LinkedIn

Neville Coleman

DIRECTOR + EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST

Neville Coleman is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and Co-Director at Koru Allied Therapies. He supports children, teens and adults to build movement confidence, strength and endurance so everyday life, work and sport feel more achievable.

His sessions combine playful, goal-focused activities for kids with evidence-informed exercise and conditioning for adults. Neville’s key areas include musculoskeletal rehab, persistent pain, deconditioning, return-to-work/sport, and general fitness. He collaborates closely with Koru’s therapy team, GPs and other clinicians, and works in a calm, neuro-affirming way so people feel safe and supported.

Neville Coleman, Accredited Exercise Physiologist and Co-Director at Koru Allied Therapies in Gerringong, NSW
Learn more about Exercise Physiology
Let’s Connect on LinkedIn

Ebony Poort

occupational therapist

Ebony Poort is an Occupational Therapist and proud local, bringing a calm, neuro-affirming approach to therapy. Her sessions are play-based and practical, with a focus on regulation, attention, fine motor skills and social connection so progress shows up at home, school and in the community.

Ebony is developing further skills in DIR Floortime and LEGO®-based therapy and loves tailoring activities to each child’s interests and energy. She works closely with families, teachers and our clinical team to set clear, achievable goals and simple home strategies that fit real life.

What she enjoys most is seeing children grow in confidence—celebrating the small wins that add up over time and helping them participate more fully in the things that matter to them.

Ebony Poort, Occupational Therapist at Koru Allied Therapies in Kiama Downs, NSW
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Let’s Connect on LinkedIn

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.

Amber Jackson, Creative Arts Therapist at Koru Allied Therapies Kiama Downs
Learn More about cREATIVE aRTS thERAPY

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. 

Chelsea Monaghan, Allied Health Assistant at Koru Allied Therapies in Gerringong

Deb Hanslow

Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) + Allied Health Assistant (AHA)

Deb Hanslow is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and Allied Health Assistant at Koru Allied Therapies, currently completing her Master of Occupational Therapy. With a background in dance teaching, gymnastics coaching and swim instruction, Deb helps children build confidence, develop functional skills and take part in the activities they love.

She works from a neuro-affirming, strengths-based approach and is passionate about inclusive sport and recreation programs that support kids of all abilities to learn, grow and thrive.

Deb, Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) and Allied Health Assistant at Koru Allied Therapies in Kiama Downs, NSW, currently studying a Master of Occupational Therapy

At Koru, Deb also facilitates group, holiday & hydrotherapy programs, learn more by clicking the buttons below:

Body Rockers children’s movement and fitness therapy group – Koru Allied Therapies
Koru Explorers school holiday therapy program – outdoor adventures and skill-building for kids at Koru Allied Therapies
Aquatic Acrobats water-based therapy program for kids – Koru Allied Therapies

Want to swap ideas on kids, therapy, and all things movement? Let’s connect on LinkedIn.

lETS CONNECT ON LINKEDIN

Sunne Apete

Allied Health Assistant (AHA)

Sunny Apete joined Koru after a successful student placement and now provides calm, practical therapy support across clinic, home and school settings. Working alongside our clinicians, she helps children work towards their goals through play-based, everyday activities and keeps things simple for families with clear communication and easy home strategies. Her style is warm, patient and child-focused, so sessions feel welcoming and achievable.

Based on the NSW South Coast, Sunny supports our families south of Kiama, including Nowra, Bomaderry and the wider Shoalhaven. She coordinates closely with our OTs, EPs and Creative Arts Therapist so care is consistent across environments, and she loves celebrating the small wins that build confidence and participation over time.

Fiona Gordon

Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)

Fiona Gordon is an Accredited Practising Dietitian (Dietitians Australia), graduating from the University of Wollongong in 2008. She supports families and children across the Illawarra with mealtime guidance and a positive, neurodiversity-affirming approach to food. 

Fiona commonly assists with disabilities, food intolerances and eating difficulties, including ARFID, focusing on confident feeding, reduced stress at mealtimes, and practical nutrition that helps children grow and thrive.

Fiona Gordon, Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) with Dietitians Australia, contractor at Koru Allied Therapies in the Illawarra

Teagan Hartley

ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT

Teagan joined Koru Allied Therapies in April 2022 as we prepared to open our Therapy Hub. She keeps the team organised and the hub running smoothly, coordinating bookings and supporting families with a friendly, efficient approach. As part of our admin and client services team, Teagan works closely with clinicians and fellow admin to ensure clear communication and a great experience from first contact to ongoing care.

Teagan Hartley, Administration & Client Services at Koru Allied Therapies in Gerringong

Taylah La Monica

Client Services & Administration | AHA |

Taylah is part of the Client Services & Administration team at Koru Allied Therapies, welcoming families and keeping bookings and communication running smoothly. With a Cert III in Allied Health Assistance and ongoing OT study, Taylah also supports clinicians as an AHA when needed, helping sessions run efficiently and ensuring a positive experience for children and families.

Taylah La Monica, Client Services & Administration at Koru Allied Therapies; Allied Health Assistant as required

Katelen De Coster

Client Services & Administration

Katelen De Coster is part of the Client Services & Administration team at Koru Allied Therapies. She welcomes families, manages enquiries and bookings, and keeps communication running smoothly.

Katelen is studying a Bachelor of Exercise Science with an interest in becoming an Exercise Physiologist, bringing a practical, movement-aware perspective to her client support role.

Katelen De Coster, Client Services & Administration at Koru Allied Therapies in Kiama Downs, NSW, studying a Bachelor of Exercise Science

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.

 
Kate Coleman, Occupational Therapist and Director at Koru Allied Therapies in Gerringong
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