Our TEAM
co-founder, director, occupational therapist
Lara
Lara is an experienced Occupational Therapist with over 15 years of clinical practice in Disability, Aged Care, and Community Therapy. As co-founder and director of The Place, she is dedicated to providing hands-on support to individuals of all ages with diverse needs.
Her knowledge encompasses Mental Health, Disability, and Neurodiversity, with a focus on ADHD and Autism. Lara offers practical support in areas such as Capacity Building, Living Skills, Functional Assessments, Family-Centred Therapy, and Therapeutic Play. She also addresses emotional regulation and sensory processing needs, providing guidance on Equipment and Assistive Technology to enhance daily living for her clients.
Lara has led large allied health teams supporting NDIS participants, concentrating on behaviour support and complex support needs. She is committed to evidence-based therapeutic interventions and provides support across multiple settings—clinic, school, home, and group environments—ensuring that care is accessible for everyone, including through Telehealth options.
As a mother of a neurodivergent child, Lara brings both personal insight and professional knowledge to her practice. She understands the unique challenges and strengths of neurodivergent individuals and is passionate about creating tailored, inclusive strategies that empower clients of all ages to reach their full potential.
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Co-Founder, Director,
Family Educator
liz
Liz is a passionate and experienced family educator, support specialist, and leader in the human services sector, with over 15 years of experience driving innovative programs and empowering families. Her extensive career includes leading large-scale operations and managing complex challenges with confidence, care, and resilience.
Liz has led Australia’s first nationwide NGO after-hours program, ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals around the clock. With a Master of Business Administration (specialising in Strategic HR Management) and a Bachelor of Human Services, Liz combines her strategic expertise with a compassionate, person-centred approach to supporting families. Liz is currently studying a Masters of Autism and Neurodiversity.
Liz’s professional accomplishments are complemented by her lived experience as a proud parent of a neurodivergent child. This personal connection fuels her passion for neurodiversity and empowers her to create meaningful, neuroaffirming relationships with families. She blends her professional knowledge with personal insight, fostering understanding, resilience, and empowerment for parents and caregivers.
At The Place, Liz leads our family support services, offering guidance to families navigating life’s challenges. Whether through education, practical strategies, or simply walking alongside parents on their journey, Liz is committed to helping families thrive.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
THERAPY DOG DAISY'S PERSONAL ASSISTANT
jASMINE
Jasmine is an occupational therapist who’s as down-to-earth as they come and passionate about helping people live their best lives. Growing up in a small country town, she knows firsthand the value of community and is all about supporting rural and remote families to thrive.
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With experience in community-based OT and a special love for working with kids, Jasmine brings a neuroaffirming approach to her practice. Whether it’s supporting sensory needs, boosting mental health, or finding the perfect piece of assistive technology, she’s all about practical solutions that make a real difference.
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Outside of work, Jasmine’s love for animals shines. She spends her free time riding horses and hanging out with her two dogs—one of whom is training to be a therapy dog (and already winning hearts everywhere!).
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Jasmine’s friendly, approachable vibe and commitment to making a difference make her a perfect fit for families looking for support, guidance, and a bit of fun along the way. She’s here to help build stronger, more connected communities—one goal (and wagging tail) at a time!
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
professional toddler wrangler (aka super mum)
steph
Steph is an occupational therapist who’s all about connection, play, and practical strategies that actually work for kids and their families. She takes a neuroaffirming, family-centred approach — whether that’s supporting sensory needs, boosting independence in daily routines, or helping parents feel confident in their child’s journey.
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Clinically, Steph has supported neurodivergent children and young people with goals around emotional regulation, daily living skills, and school participation. She works closely with families, teachers, and other professionals to create tailored strategies that play to a child’s strengths. She has a particular interest in supporting parents through coaching and collaborative problem-solving, making sure therapy feels achievable, meaningful, and woven into everyday life.
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With experience across hospital and community settings, Steph knows how to adapt quickly, think on her feet, and still keep therapy fun and meaningful. As a parent herself, she gets that family life is busy and messy — and she loves working alongside caregivers to find solutions that fit real life (not just the textbook).
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Growing up in a small country town, Steph values community, authenticity, and a good laugh. When she’s not in OT mode, you’ll probably find her wrangling her toddler, experimenting with pottery that occasionally looks intentional, or planning her next travel adventure (ideally somewhere with less laundry).
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speech pathologist
life-long learner, part-time thrill seeker
holly
At The Place, we love great humans who bring passion, warmth, and a deep sense of community to their work—and that’s exactly what Holly does.
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Growing up in a small country town in NSW, Holly knows firsthand the power of connection and the magic of small communities. She believes speech therapy should be accessible, practical, and fun, with a focus on real-world communication, neuro-affirming practice, and a dash of sensory play to support engagement and learning—not just for individuals, but for the families and communities that support them.
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Holly is passionate about AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) for kids and teens, early language development, and supporting parents and communities through education and advocacy. She takes a strengths-based approach, making sure every person she works with feels heard, valued, and supported in ways that truly fit them.
Holly also loves to learn and has a knack for detective work—if she doesn’t know the answer, she’ll find out! Whether it’s staying on top of the latest research, problem-solving tricky communication challenges, or working alongside families to tailor the best support, Holly is always up for the challenge.
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Outside of work, Holly is always up for an adventure—she’s even been skydiving! When she’s not exploring new ideas, she’s immersed in a great book, enjoying time with friends and family, or doting on animals.
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Holly brings expertise, kindness, and a love for what she does to The Place. We’re stoked to have her on the team, and we know our families will love working with her!
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speech pathologist
word warrior, world wanderer
francesca
Francesca has spent the last five years working as a Speech Pathologist across Australia and the UK, supporting everyone from tiny tots saying their first words to adults finding their voice again after stroke. Her experience covers early language, speech, AAC, feeding, and hospital-based care — but her true passion lies in working with kids and families.
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In her sessions, Francesca brings plenty of fun, play, and creativity. She loves helping children grow their speech, language, and feeding skills, while also giving parents and caregivers simple, practical strategies to use at home. She believes therapy works best when families feel confident, supported, and part of the adventure.
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Francesca is trading the Gold Coast for Toowoomba to join our Place family, and she’s excited to meet the amazing kids, families, and community here on the Darling Downs.
When she’s not in the clinic, you’ll probably find Francesca out exploring. She’s travelled to over 30 countries, worked at American summer camps, lived in Italy as an Au Pair, and these days she’s happiest road-tripping in her campervan and hunting for hidden gems close to home.
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speech pathologist
communication builder & Dad joke teller
nathan
Nathan is a paediatric speech and language pathologist who supports children and their families to reach their personal and NDIS goals. He believes communication is at the heart of connection and works in partnership with families through engaging, client-centred, and evidence-based approaches.
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A proud dad to three beautiful and energetic girls, Nathan’s own lived experience of having a daughter with Down syndrome inspired him to pursue speech pathology. Seeing the incredible impact her therapy team had in her early years showed Nathan just how powerful speech pathology can be — and it’s part of what makes him someone very special to the families he now supports.
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Nathan has a particular passion for food therapy. He works closely with families to support feeding and mealtime challenges, helping children feel safe, confident, and positive about food. Alongside this, he has strong interests in early intervention, supporting children with speech and language differences, helping children discover the right assistive communication tools, and fostering early literacy for school-aged children. Nathan is an accredited Sounds-Write and Hanen practitioner and enjoys weaving these evidence-based programs into therapy to create the best outcomes for each child.
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Before becoming a speech pathologist, Nathan spent over 15 years working as a teacher, deputy principal, and principal in rural and remote Queensland communities. This experience gave him a deep understanding of how children learn in diverse settings, the importance of family and community connection, and the unique strengths and challenges of regional life — all of which he now brings into his therapy practice. In 2023, he was awarded the Southern Cross University Speech Pathology Australia Prize for outstanding academic achievement.
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Outside of work, Nathan loves gardening, fishing, playing golf, and spending time in nature with his wife and three daughters.
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We are so lucky to have Nathan with us at The Place as part of our village.
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allied health assistant
self-proclaimed sports fanatic
harry
Harry brings a wealth of experience and energy to The Place team! Currently studying Exercise Physiology, Harry has spent several years working with Queensland Health across various departments, including at the Children’s Hospital in Brisbane. His diverse background equips him with the skills and compassion to provide outstanding support to our clients.
Harry’s AHA supports include:
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Therapy Support – delivering tailored, neuroaffirming programs under the guidance of our allied health team.
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Goal-Based Activities – helping clients build independence and confidence through motivating, functional activities.
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Outdoor and Active Sessions – blending movement and therapy to make sessions fun, practical, and meaningful.
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Social and Life Skills Practice – supporting everyday routines, communication, and independence in ways that matter most to clients and families.
When Harry’s not working, he loves staying active through rock climbing, running with his dog Cocoa, and spending time in nature. He also enjoys woodworking, riding motorbikes, and has even run a half marathon! If that wasn’t enough, Harry can solve a Rubik’s cube—a testament to his problem-solving skills and determination!
Fun fact: Harry is also the co-owner of Violets and Vases, a local florist, alongside his beautiful wife.
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allied health assistant
highfields local, early learning legend
judy
Judy is one of those truly special people who feels like part of the fabric of the Highfields community. For almost 20 years, she has been a much-loved kindergarten teacher, supporting countless children and families during those important early years. Her warmth, patience, and gentle manner are well-known, and she has played a huge role in shaping not just little learners, but also the sense of connection that makes Highfields such a great place to raise a family.
This year, Judy is completing her studies in Occupational Therapy — and we are thrilled that she will officially step into her new role as an OT with The Place next year. In the meantime, she is bringing all of her experience and heart to her role as an Allied Health Assistant, where she continues to make every child feel safe, capable, and celebrated.
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A mum of adult children, Judy understands the joys and challenges of family life at every stage. She loves to travel and explore, and her curiosity about the world shines through in the way she engages with children — sparking their own sense of wonder and confidence.
Families who know Judy describe her as calm, compassionate, and endlessly resourceful. We’re so lucky to have her on our team, and we can’t wait to see her flourish in her next chapter as an OT.
therapy dog
the heart of the place
daisy