Our Team
Nicola Stampa (Castlemaine)
Managing Director & Principal Occupational Therapist
Nicola completed a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) at The University of Melbourne with a focus on Developmental & Behavioural Psychology before deciding to follow in her mother Clare’s footsteps and become an Occupational Therapist, completing a Masters of Occupational Therapy at La Trobe University.
Nicola has completed a Professional’s Certificate in the ‘DIR Floortime’ model, a play-based and relationship-focused approach with strong evidence for supporting children with ASD and a range of social-emotional challenges. She has completed further training in the CPS model with Dr Ross Greene, the CO-OP approach for co-ordination challenges and Kim Barthel’s ‘Becoming A Behaviour Detective’. She is a certified provider of the Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP). Nicola has also trained as a Teacher of Children’s Creative Dance & Yoga at Mangala Studios and so brings her passion for music, movement and creativity to her work as an Occupational Therapist.
Nicola is now only providing mobile therapy services to Castlemaine and surrounding areas on Mon, Wed & Thurs. She continues provide supervision and training to our clinical team.
Sophie McNally
Occupational Therapist
Sophie is qualified with a Bachelor of Science (majoring in Psychology and Psychophysiology) and a Masters of Occupational Therapy from Swinburne University. Prior to becoming an Occupational Therapist, Sophie gained experience working with children experiencing a range of disabilities as an Allied Health Assistant. Sophie is enthusiastic about being able to provide therapy in a creative, fun and child focused manner to enable children to engage more fully in their lives.
Sophie has completed further training in the ‘Handwriting Without Tears’ approach and Mona Delahook’s ‘Beyond Behaviours’, as well as a ‘Tuning Into Kids’ facilitator. She has completed a Professional’s Certificate in the DIR Floortime model, a play-based and relationship-focused approach with strong evidence for supporting children with ASD and a range of social-emotional challenges.
Sophie works at the clinic on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. She provides mobile therapy services on Fridays and fortnightly on Thursdays.
Nikita Shastri
Occupational Therapist
Nikita completed her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) at Monash University. She is an enthusiastic person who loves working with children and their families to build therapy intervention into everyday routines, and to help empower children to achieve their goals and dreams.
She is committed to providing evidence-based and strengths-based therapy in an engaging and fun learning environment to deliver the best possible outcomes. Nikita is a certified CO-OP therapist, Tuning Into Kids group facilitator and has completed other courses in Social Thinking, handwriting intervention, sleep, toilet training, and Kelly Mahler’s ‘interoception curriculum’.
Nikita works at our Box Hill clinic Mondays, Tuesdays. She provides mobile therapy services on Wednesdays.
Isla Borland
Occupational Therapist
Isla is qualified with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy from Australian Catholic University. She is enthusiastic about utilising music, play and creative approaches when working with children and their families to build their independence and confidence, and to help empower them to reach their goals.
She has completed further training in executive functioning, PDA, and utilising cognitive-based therapy frameworks to deliver creative arts interventions that address specific learning and developmental needs of children.
Isla works at our Box Hill clinic on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. She provides mobile therapy services weekly on Wednesdays and fortnightly on Thursdays.
Sarah Roediger (Castlemaine)
Early Intervention Specialist
Sarah is qualified with a Bachelor of Teaching and Masters of Art Therapy, with over a decade of experience working with children in areas including teaching, case management, community development and crisis support.
Sarah is dedicated to creating a nurturing and supportive environment for children and families. Sarah has completed professional training in the DIR Floortime approach. Working alongside parents, caregivers, and other service providers to foster an atmosphere conducive to learning, growth, and overall well-being. She is passionate about employing creative methodologies such as movement, music, play and art, while collaborating with children and their families.
Sarah provides mobile early intervention services to Castlemaine and surrounding areas on Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays.
Georgina O’Connor (Castlemaine)
Speech Pathologist
Georgina (Georgie) is qualified with a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Masters of Speech Pathology from La Trobe University. Georgie is compassionately committed to helping children and families overcome challenges and find genuine wellness through playful & supportive interactions.
Georgie has completed a Professional’s Certificate in the DIR Floortime model, a play-based and relationship-focused approach with strong evidence for supporting children with ASD and a range of social-emotional challenges. She has facilitated parent education programs such as It Takes Two to Talk and Circle of Security reflective circles. She has also completed further training in SOS feeding, narrative therapy, Hanen, colourful semantics, Ross Greene’s CPS Model, Augmented & Alternative Communication (AAC), Tracks to Two Ways Learning and nature-based connected play.
Georgie has also completed her children's yoga teacher training and so brings her love of yoga, dance, music and nature into her work with children and families.
Georgie provides mobile therapy services on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in Castlemaine and surrounds.
Clare Edgecome
Senior Clinical Supervisor & Occupational Therapist
Clare Edgecome graduated with a B.Sc (Occupational Therapy) from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She has completed extensive training in Sensory Integration Therapy (SI) including techniques such as Therapeutic Listening. She is also trained to use the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding. She is trained in ‘DIR Floortime’ therapy, a treatment technique specifically developed for children with ASD.
As the OT team’s senior clinical supervisor, Clare shares her expertise through in-service training, coaching, seminars and supervision. Please note that Clare is working in a supervisory role only and not available for appointments.
