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READY, SET....

SCHOOL!

Fun • Functional • Focused

In Term 4, Koru Therapies will be offering a School Readiness Program for children starting Kindergarten in 2027. This group is run and supported by our Occupational Therapy and Therapy Assistant Team, and is designed to gently prepare your child for the transition to big school—through play, movement, and connection.

What to Expect:

🎨 Weekly themes like Under the Sea and Dinosaurs, packed with fun, hands-on activities and games
💪 Opportunities to build gross motor, fine motor, and pre-writing skills
🤝 Focus on social readiness—sharing, turn-taking, group participation
📘 Take-home feedback for parents on your child’s progress and development

Group Details:

  • 🗓 Weekly sessions across Term 4 — Tuesday 13 October to Thursday 17 December

  • 📅 Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays

  • ⏰ 9:30–11:00am

  • 💰 $85.64 per person, per session

  • 🧸 All resources and equipment provided

  • 🍎 A snack is provided — please tell us about any allergies at intake

  • 👧 Group minimums apply

We are now taking expressions of interest for Term 4, for children starting Kindergarten in 2027. Places are limited and group minimums apply — register your interest and we will confirm days and cost once numbers are known.

Illustration of a smiling child waving, welcoming families to the Ready, Set…School! program
✉️ Register Your Interest
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
Spring school holiday programs at Koru Allied Therapies, 28 September to 9 October — Koru Explorers, Little Rollers bike skills and Handwriting Helpers. Expressions of interest now open.

Spring school holidays, 28 September to 9 October — Koru Explorers, Little Rollers, Handwriting Helpers and our new social sports group, Active Connections. We’re taking expressions of interest now.

SEE THE PROGRAMS
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

Ruby Campbell

Allied Health Assistant (AHA)

Ruby joins Koru as an Allied Health Assistant (AHA), working across our clinic rooms and the wider community. Unbelievably multi-faceted, Ruby brings a vibrant and uniquely versatile skill set to her therapy support—blending structural learning, creative movement, and practical life skills into every session.

With a natural ability to connect with kids of all ages, she helps break down complex tasks into engaging, achievable steps. Collaborating closely with our multidisciplinary team, Ruby is passionate about helping children find their rhythm, build real-world confidence, and celebrate the small wins along the way.

Ruby Campbell, Allied Health Assistant at Koru Allied Therapies, Kiama Downs

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

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 and EPs so care is consistent across environments, and she loves celebrating the small wins that build confidence and participation over time.

Profile photo coming soon — Koru Allied Therapies team member

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

Taylah La Monica

allied health assistant

Taylah has answered the calling of our clinical team, becoming a dedicated Allied Health Assistant (AHA) , working two days a week alongside her full-time university studies as a second-year OT student. Already a firm favorite with the kids, Taylah brings an absolute wealth of clinical enthusiasm to her sessions across both the clinic rooms and the wider community.

Equipped with her Cert III in Allied Health Assistance, she is incredibly passionate about helping children build real-world independence. Alongside supporting our multidisciplinary team, Taylah also brings her signature positive energy to facilitating our group holiday programs, creating spaces where kids can connect, play, and build lasting confidence.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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
Let’s Connect on LinkedIn

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