Acacia Therapy - Allied Health
Senior Occupational Therapist: Ella Sloss
Ella is a registered Occupational Therapist who completed a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (honours) through James Cook university in Townsville. Ella is a Darling Downs local who grew up on a property near Dalby, Qld. She has experience working with both paediatric and adult clients in a private practice setting and is passionate about helping individuals achieve their goals and improve their quality of life through meaningful activities. Ella takes a collaborative strength-based, client-centred approach to therapy and believes it should not only be effective, but fun and engaging for her clients! In her downtime, Ella enjoys spending time with her dogs and horses, gardening, baking and being in the outdoors.
Growing up in a rural area has driven Ella’s passion for providing services to rural and remote communities. Ella understands the unique challenges that living in rural areas can pose and she strives to ensure everyone, regardless of their location, has access to the best possible occupational therapy support through a rural outreach program. Ella is also currently training her labradoodle, Daisy, to become a therapy dog to work alongside her in the future.
Senior Speech Pathologist: Nicola Brown
Nicola is a registered speech pathologist who graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours). Since graduating in 2018, Nicola has worked with paediatrics and young adults across Education and Private Practice settings. After spending a few years sweating it out in tropical North Queensland, Nicola is excited to return to the cooler climate that South East Queensland has to offer.
Nicola is passionate about supporting all children to communicate and working with families to unlock their child’s potential. She has completed professional development in the Lidcombe Program, Nuffield Dyspraxia Program and Infant Feeding Foundations. She has a strong interest in early language development, speech sound disorders, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and fluency (stuttering).
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Clinical Manager (Occupational Therapist): Louise Edwards
Louise is a registered occupational therapist who has worked in a variety of clinical settings across Queensland and NSW. Over the duration of her career, Louise has gained experience across a range of settings including hospitals, federal government and non-profit organisations. Early in her career, Louise recognised a special interest in community based neurorehabilitation and has predominantly worked with children and adults with physical and developmental disability such as cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, stroke, developmental delay, neurodegenerative conditions and genetic syndromes. Louise particularly enjoys providing hippotherapy (equine assisted therapy) to children, with her partner Brin (photographed).
In addition to supporting people to develop skills in their day to day life, Louise has extensive experience with equipment prescription including supporting clients with complex equipment needs.
Louise has also worked as a lecturer at the University of Sydney in the area of physical rehabilitation. Louise is passionate about supporting education and learning within the area of occupational therapy and supporting new graduate therapists to develop high quality clinical skills.
In January 2016, Louise established Acacia Therapy, so she could return to providing community based occupational therapy support to children and adults within the local community. Louise endeavours to support her clients so that they may continue to Live how they like, Learn what they need, and Growinto the person they choose to become.
Occupational Therapist: Ellen Davies
Ellen is a registered occupational therapist who graduated from the University of Queensland with a Master of Occupational Therapy.
Ellen enjoys working with families to apply evidence-based interventions that have been tailored to meet the needs and interests of each client. She has interests in neuro-affirming practice, play therapy and mental health. Ellen is a Melbournian who has recently made Toowoomba home. When not at work, you will find Ellen gardening, bouldering or fussing over her cat.
Senior Occupational Therapist : Helen O'Connell
Helen is a registered occupational therapist who is passionate about working with children and families. She completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy (Honours) at the University of Queensland in 2008 and since this time has worked across a number of settings in the Darling Downs area, working predominantly in the area of paediatrics.
Helen has completed and utilises a range of professional development activities focusing on occupational therapy for children and families, including the Sequential Oral Sensory (S.O.S) Approach to feeding, Circle of Security and DIR Floortime, in addition to a range of courses relating to sensory processing. She has a passion for working with families to reflect and problem solve through presenting behaviours using sensory processing ‘lens’ to promote a child’s ability to engage in what is important to them – to live, learn and grow.
Call us today on (07) 46 001 343 or email us: info@acaciatherapy.net
Practice Manager: Callum Edwards
Callum has a Bachelor of Social Science and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) - majoring in sustainable business. He is a Toowoomba local and provides the day-to-day business support at Acacia Therapy.
Callum has a special interest in maintaining a sustainable business model that ensures Acacia Therapy can provide high quality support that is unique to the local Toowoomba and Darling Downs community.
Occupational Therapist: Kellie Smith
Kellie is a registered occupational therapist who completed a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at Southern Cross University. Kellie grew up on the Gold Coast and enjoys spending time with friends and family, walking her dog, picnics in the park, hiking and playing netball.
Kellie is excited to use a family-centred approach when working alongside clients to enable them to achieve their goals and participate in meaningful activities.
Admin: Kristel Fisher
Kristel is our qualified Allied Health Assistant and works with our Occupational therapists and Speech Language Pathologists. She loves working with our team to support our clients in achieving their individualised goals and believes in providing the highest quality of client care and support in a compassionate environment whilst making therapy fun and meaningful.
Kristel likes travelling to new places with family and friends. She enjoys being creative, learning new skills and working collaboratively with clients and staff.
Kristel holds these certificates - Certificate III in Business Administration, Certificate III In Individualised Support (Ageing) and Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistant.
Our Team
Senior Occupational Therapist: Kristen Hill
Kristen is registered occupational therapist who completed a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Kristen began her career working in aged care and the community.
Kristen is passionate about taking a client centred approach in therapy to facilitate the independence of her clients.
Occupational Therapist: Adam Marchesi
Adam is a registered occupational therapist who completed a Bachelor of Health Science/Master of Occupational Therapy at Charles Darwin University. Adam is passionate about working collaboratively with families to support clients to identify and work towards achieving goals, promote independence, and increase participation in meaningful occupations.Adam has lived in a range of different places around Australia prior to settling in Toowoomba. In his spare time, Adam enjoys being in nature, spending time with family, gardening and making coffee.
Speech Pathologist - Holly McHardy
Holly is a registered Speech Pathologist who graduated from the University of Queensland. With her academic background she has a passion for helping others and supporting individuals with their communication and providing them with a voice. She believes in the power of collaboration and working closely with clients and their families to create tailored strategies.
Holly grew up in the Toowoomba area and outside of her professional life enjoys spending time with her dogs, baking, reading and soaking up the sun at the beach. She values the importance of balance and brings a warm, approachable energy to both her personal and professional life.