Nat is a dyslexic AuDHDer person and is a mum of three children. She is a quirky, creative, nature lover and an electronic dance music enthusiast, who is a passionate advocate for the disability & mental health community.

He is currently working at Gold Coast University Hospital in Queensland as the Allied Health Team Leader for a secure mental health rehabilitation unit. Previously he has worked in the NDIS in Australia but the majority of his 34 years’ experience as an occupational therapist is in the UK, primarily in the mental health field. John is currently a convener for the mental health special interest group for OTA.

In 2023, Laine completed her PhD, which explored ways to support families of picky eaters, with a particular focus on Occupational Performance Coaching. She now supervises honours and HDR students, with research interests spanning parenting, education, psychosocial disability and First Nations health.

She is recognised nationally for her expertise in assistive technology, home modifications, and complex functional assessments, and for equipping OTs with the clinical knowledge needed to navigate the NDIS with confidence. As founder of Verve OT Learning and facilitator of the 12,000-member NDIS OT Community of Practice, Sarah is dedicated to advancing professional excellence and clinical capability within the occupational therapy profession.

He later served as its International Editorial Director in San Francisco. Returning to Australia in the early 2000s, he worked in publishing, then returned to OT to run a successful paediatric clinic in Melbourne, before transitioning to online practice during the COVID-19 pandemic due to his Type 1 Diabetes. He now specialises in Sensory Assessment and Intervention for individuals with complex needs, particularly where Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, and Mental Health intersect, and is the founder of SensePlanner.com.

She has over 20 years’ clinical and research experience. Her clinical work and research focus on occupational therapy interventions and work with people living with dementia, with a particular emphasis on implementation of interventions in real-world contexts and supporting inclusivity for people from diverse groups. She also provides COPE (Care Of People with dementia in their Environments) program training to occupational therapists across Australia.

She graduated from Western Sydney University in 2024 with First Class Honours and received the University Medal. Grace has clinical experience across acute and community aged care, medical, surgical, and neurology caseloads. Grace completed her honours research on sensory interventions for older adults with dementia, which sparked her passion for evidence-based practice and aged care. She is particularly interested in improving care outcomes for hospitalised older people through interdisciplinary collaboration, research, and knowledge translation. As a new graduate in acute care, Grace offers insights into early-career challenges, and some of the current clinical gaps in acute care settings.

Caroline completed her PhD at The University of Sydney in 2018 focused on supporting the sensory needs of autistic children. She is currently a Senior Lecturer in occupational therapy at Western Sydney University. Her research and teaching focuses on co-designed initiatives and innovative technologies to improve the lives of people with disability and other vulnerabilities. Caroline is an honorary allied health researcher within the South Western Sydney Local Health District (NSW Health) and serves on the Board of Directors for Macarthur Disability Services.

a digital tool designed to bridge the gap between face-to-face sessions and embed therapy interventions into everyday life. Laura is passionate about digital innovation in allied health and how technology can extend the impact of clinical intervention and improve outcomes for all.