Meet the Coomera team
The Early Start Australia Coomera team provide occupational therapy, and speech pathology services to support children and their families.
Amy Engelbrecht
Practice Principal and Occupational Therapist
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
Registration number
- AHPRA OCC0002295889
Amy is the Practice Principal of Coomera Early Start Australia.
She immigrated to Australia with her husband and two busy boys in 2019 and has been with Early Start Australia since July of that year.
Since being in Australia Amy has furthered her skillset to support families through attending a wide variety of training including SOS feeding, toileting and Sounds-Write literacy program.
Amy has been a dedicated paediatric occupational therapist for over 15 years and has a passion for supporting children to reach their goals, whether at school or in their daily lives at home.
Amy supports children to develop their skills and achieve their goals as well as improve their perseverance, grit and determination.
Her therapy sessions are a safe space for children to overcome obstacles and try ‘hard things’ so children are encouraged to grow both their skill set and their self esteem.
Areas of interest
- Giftedness
- ADHD
- Sensory integration
- Executive functioning
- Visual perception
- Building independence in daily skills
Andrea Pittman
Occupational Therapist
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (2022)
Registration number
- AHPRA OCC0002652525
Andrea is a dedicated occupational therapist who is passionate about supporting children to develop their skills and independence.
She is especially passionate about supporting children to develop their social skills and thereby develop their friendships and social interactions.
Andrea’s sessions are always fun and interactive making her therapy room a safe and enjoyable space to learn and grow.
Areas of interest
- Social skills
- Fine motor skills
- Youth/teenage age group
Lindsay Phillips
Occupational Therapist
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, Occupational Therapy (Hons)
Registration number
- AHPRA OCC0002707773
Lindsay is a passionate occupational therapist with over 20 years experience.
She has worked in both the UK and South Africa prior to immigrating to Australia in 2023 and has vast experience in working within mental health, education and disability sectors.
She is dedicated to support children to increase their skills and grow their independence through appropriate play-based activities.
Areas of interest
- Visual perception
- Executive functioning
- Dyslexia
- Infants and prematurity
- Sensory integration
- ADHD
- Reflex integration
- Cerebral palsy
Emily Martin
Occupational Therapist
Registration number
- AHPRA OCC0002758246
Emily is a new graduate occupational therapist at Early Start Australia in Coomera.
Emily has a background in early childhood and care and allied health assistance (AHA), she brings a comprehensive understanding of child development and therapeutic interventions to her practice.
Emily’s experience has provided her with valuable insights into supporting children and adolescents in developing essential skills for daily life.
Areas of interest
- Social skills
- Fine and gross motor
- Executive functioning
- Youth/teenage age group
Kristi Brinkman
Occupational Therapist
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Health Science
- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Hons)
Registration number
- AHPRA OCC0002776664
My name is Kristi Brinkman, a new graduate occupational therapist at Early Start Australia.
I am passionate about helping others to be able to do the things they need, want or have to do within their daily lives – for children most of their learning is through the therapeutic use of play to learn new concepts and grow into the people they deserve to be!
I believe that through using my clients interests, along with my own (which include board games, video games, arts and crafts and building new things) that therapy sessions can be tailored, motivational and fun.
Areas of interest
- Social skills
- Gross motor
- Imaginative play
- Youths aged 12-25
Aimee Sullivan
Occupational Therapist
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
Registration
- AHPRA OCC0002440705
Aimee is an occupational therapist who has worked at the Early Start Australia Coomera clinic for the last 3 years.
During her time at ESA, Aimee has worked with a wide range of children with differing diagnoses; specialising in autism spectrum disorder.
Aimee is passionate about working in early intervention and with children with complex presentations.
Aimee has additional qualifications in using DIR Floortime in therapy and she works within this model of practice daily.
Aimee works closely with her families to ensure that therapy practice and strategies are tailored to suit the child’s individual needs across each of their differing environments.
Areas of interest
- Early Intervention (ages 0-4 years)
- Play skills
- Parent coaching
India Clarence
Occupational Therapist
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Social Science Psychology at University of Sunshine Coast
- Master of Occupational Therapy at Bond University
Registration number
- AHPRA OCC0002619594
Indi is an occupational therapist at Early Start Australia Ashmore and Coomera with a wide range of experience working with children and families in the clinic, community and home environment.
She has experience in implementing prep readiness groups and social groups.
Indi has experience working with a range of conditions including ASD, ADHD, DCD, global developmental delay, intellectual impairment, and specific learning disorders.
Indi has completed a Bachelor of Social Science Psychology at the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2019 and then went on to complete her Master of Occupational Therapy at Bond University on the Gold Coast in 2022.
Areas of interest
- Rural and remote work
- Gross and fine motor skills
- Daily living skills and building independence
- Early intervention
Gemma Bowie
Speech Pathologist
Professional memberships
- Speech Pathology Australia Certified Practicing Membership
Gemma is a passionate speech pathologist who works with children and teenagers of all ages.
She uses a neurodiversity affirming and strengths-based approach to work with all her clients.
In particular, Gemma loves working with alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), literacy, language disorders, and selective mutism.
Gemma has participated in specialist training for AAC, Gestalt Language Processing, Responsive Feeding, and the Sounds-Write literacy program.
Areas of interest
- AAC
- Gestalt Language Processing
- Literacy
- Language disorders
- Selective mutism
Rhiannon Reid
Physiotherapist
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy
Rhiannon graduated from Griffith University with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and has worked in private practice ever since helping clients of all ages and abilities to meet their goals.
When not working hard, Rhiannon can be found reading a good book, heading to the gym or for a walk with friends, or hanging out with her cat Coco, watching the footy (AFL) or netball (go Lightning!).
Deborah Johnson
Practice Manager/Lead Administrator
Deborah is the Practice Manager/Lead Administrator at our Ashmore and Coomera clinics.
Deborah has worked in the allied health administration field for over 4 years and has a background in early childhood education and care.
She loves spending time between both clinics, getting to know all our wonderful families, and supporting the clinics with day-to-day admin support and service coordination.
Deborah is family-oriented and enjoys spending her weekends with family and close friends. When she isn’t at work, Deborah enjoys getting out into nature for scenic walks, grabbing a coffee with friends, and spending time reading.
Lauren McIlwraith
Administrator and Allied Health Assistant
Lauren is an Administrator and Allied Health Assistant at the Coomera clinic.
Lauren has had 22 years experience working in childcare, from a trainee to room leader for many years.
Lauren has a passion for supporting children and their families.
Lauren has a interest in helping children become the best version of themselves through a focus on strength, independence, self confidence and building social skills that will help them in their young lives.
Getting to know the families is a very important part of therapy to Lauren.
Lauren feels building a professional relationship with the clients and their families allows everyone to feel more comfortable and this results in more valuable therapy for everyone.
When Lauren is not working, she enjoys spending her weekends with her family.
This always involves watching her kids play sport and also going to the beach to enjoy a day in the sun.
Shannon Barber
Allied Health Assistant
Shannon is an enthusiastic Allied Health Assistant at our Coomera clinic.
Shannon supports children with their speech pathology goals, developing their skills through fun and meaningful activities.
Shannon is passionate about animals and conservation.
She loves working with children and her kind, gentle and supportive attitude encourages children to thrive.