Meet The Team

Kate is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist and Early Intervention Therapist with over 20 years of experience working with children and young adults with a wide range of speech, language, feeding and communication needs.

Kate obtained her Master of Speech and Language Pathology from Macquarie University before beginning her career in Canberra as Centre Manager at The Shepherd Centre. During her time in Canberra she also worked for Therapy ACT in early childhood, school aged assessment and autism assessment, diagnosis and intervention teams. Since moving to the Milton-Ulladulla area she has spent a number of years in the not-for profit sector working with children and families before beginning her own venture.

Kate has more recently completed additional training in infant and child and adult feeding, mealtime management plans, alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), Neurodiversity, Autism & ADHD, the impact of trauma on parenting and child development and Key Word Sign. She is also a trained facilitator for Envisage®, ‘Bringing Up Great Kids®’ parenting program , SibWorks program and ‘Tech Talkers®’ communication partner training for parents, educators and carers.

Kate is also a current member of the Shoalhaven Council, Inclusion & Access Advisory Committee, The Australian Group Supporting Communication Inclusion (AGOSCI), Professionals and Researchers in Early Childhood Intervention (PRECI) and Services for Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH). Kate provides inclusion and access support as a volunteer with Disabled Surfers Association, Milton Ulladulla ArtFEST and Wanderer Festival. She has also been a speech pathology mentor with the Beyond Borders program with The Trinh Foundation Australia, supporting early career speech pathologists in Vietnam.

Kate is the joint owner and director of Milton Therapy and Learning Centre (Milton and Sanctuary Point).

Kate is also the mother of four children and grew up herself in a neurodivergent family.

Michelle Lauchlan is an accomplished Registered Occupational Therapist with a Master of Occupational Therapy and a Bachelor of Science of English Education. She has presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Annual Conference in 2018. Michelle possesses extensive certifications and skills in:
Sensory Integration: Astronaut Training, Certified Sensory Gym Practitioner, Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) Certification, Therapeutic Listening, and Quickshifts.
Feeding: Beckman Oral Motor Trained Professional, Certified SOFFI Professional, SOS Basic & Advanced Feeding Approaches (Level 1 & 2), including specialised workshops on supplemental tube feeding, GERD, and Feeding on the Autism Spectrum.
Handwriting: Certified Size Matters Handwriting Program Therapist and Level 1 courses in Handwriting Without Tears (HWT).
Diverse Approaches: Autism Swim Certified Provider (Aquatics Certification), Conquering the Wees and Poos, DIR Floortime (DIR-Proficient) Provider, Executive Functions Consultant, and Key Worker/Family Liaison Training. She is also a Certified Autism Travel Professional, and can support families in navigating travel with confidence and accessibility.
Her broad experience includes working with preschool, primary and high school students in various school, community and clinical settings in the US and Australia, and now provides early intervention and therapeutic services in person and via telehealth. Michelle’s diverse interests and training supports her ability to provide person-centred therapeutic sessions that respect individual differences and strengths.

Simon is a Specialist Educator with over 20 years working in schools in the ACT and NSW in classroom and school leadership positions. Simon has worked with children with disability and their families in the education system for many years with a strong focus on inclusion.

Simon completed his Bachelor of Medical Science at University of Wollongong before completing his Diploma of Education (also at UOW). He is a trained facilitator of the MacqLit literacy program, the Rock and Water® psychophysical social skills program, PEERS® social skills curriculum as well as the Best of Friends® and Secret Agent Society® social skills programs. He has completed Autism specific training with Positive Partnerships (ASPECT), and the ‘People 1st Program’ (PIP) for supporting respectful relationships, protective education and sexuality education. He has recently completed training with Family Planning NSW on providing sexuality and reproductive health education for people with disability.

Simon has completed a Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies at Flinders University with studies in Behaviour Support and Autism.

Simon is the joint owner and director of Milton Therapy and Learning Centre (Milton and Sanctuary Point)

Simon is also the father of four children.

Mia is an experienced manager who has worked in a broad range of industries including; healthcare, childcare, communications, hospitality, retail, veterinary services and advertising. After many years of working in other industries, Mia’s lived experience of having a sibling with a disability and her desire to help others drew her to the healthcare sector.

During her Bachelor of Business degree at UTS in 2015, Mia completed an internship with the Fred Hollows Foundation, volunteered in Cambodia to develop a social enterprise and, when completing her marketing capstone subject, was awarded a certificate of appreciation as one of eight students that provided the best report for strategic insights and market research for the Haymarket Chamber of Commerce. She was awarded the UTS Social Outcomes through University Leadership (SOUL) Award – a leadership and volunteer program that builds students’ social leadership attributes through the completion of 90 hours of community volunteering and skills training in social justice, communication, leadership, and project management.

More recently, Mia has completed a Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management with UTS which deepened her understanding of the healthcare sector, organisational management in healthcare and managing quality and risk in the healthcare sector. In 2022 she attended the Shoalhaven Childsafe Conference. She has also completed further professional development via Sydney University’s Centre for Continuing Education including Advanced Leadership and Practical Management and Mentoring Skills for Leaders. Mia has a strong connection to the Shoalhaven, in particular the Milton Ulladulla area where she was born. She is passionate about providing high quality healthcare services to support families and our local community.

Meg is an experienced and passionate Certified Practising Speech Pathologist and Early Intervention Therapist. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team having practiced for over 14 years. Meg has worked in government, not-for-profit and private sectors. She is constantly learning and has been recently expanding on her knowledge of sleeping, breathing, feeding and augmentative and alternative communication. Meg also loves working with educators in early childhood settings and primary schools. Meg currently works part-time at our Sanctuary Point centre.

Anna is an experienced Certified Practising Speech Pathologist and Early Intervention Therapist. She completed her Master of Speech and Language Pathology at Macquarie University over 5 years ago. Anna has been expanding her knowledge of augmentative and alternative communication, neurodiversity and trauma and feeding with additional training. Anna has experience working in the government and private sectors working with both children and adults. She is passionate about supporting families and works full-time at our Milton centre.

Elizabeth brings a wealth of knowledge with experience working as a Speech and Language Pathologist in US schools. After moving to Australia some years ago with her husband and children , she worked as an allied health assistant while completing her Master of Speech and Language Pathology at the University of Canberra. Elizabeth has a strong interest in augmentative and alternative communication and is rapidly increasing her knowledge and experience. Elizabeth is now working full-time at our Sanctuary Point centre as a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist and Early Intervention Therapist.

Amy has a background in early childhood education and has worked in various roles including managing early childhood centres for over 15 years. She has a passion for working with children and families to work towards their therapy goals. She recently completed her Bachelor of Speech Pathology and is eager to expand her knowledge as a speech pathologist entering the profession as a new graduate. She enjoys arts and crafts (crochet, drawing) and spending time outdoors with her family, especially fishing and swimming.

Sophie is an experienced AHPRA Registered Occupational Therapist and Early Intervention Therapist. Sophie completed her Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of Canberra over 5 years ago. Sophie loves sharing her understanding of sensory processing with families. She has also more recently completed extensive training in sensory integration assessment. She is working part-time at our Milton centre.

Casey is an experienced and passionate AHPRA Registered Occupational Therapist and Early Intervention Therapist who has experience working with adults, families and children. Casey has also more recently completed extensive training in sensory integration assessment and feeding assessment and intervention. She grew up in the Shoalhaven and loves living in the Milton Ulladulla area and is currently on leave.

Mia grew up in the local area and has recently graduated with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy from the University of Canberra. After completing a clinical placement with TLC in 2023 and then working with us as an allied health assistant while studying, we are were lucky enough to have her join the TLC therapy team, working full time as a Registered Occupational Therapist. Mia has a true love for the outdoors and enjoys taking her occupational therapy into nature. Mia is a Surf Life Saving volunteer and currently holds her Silver Medallion Lifesaving Award. She particularly enjoys her time spent in the ocean and is looking forward to sharing that with her clients.

Bonnie is a passionate and experienced Registered Occupational Therapist who has recently moved to the South Coast from Sydney’s Northern Beaches where she began her career working with children and families. Bonnie uses a strengths based and family centred approach to help her clients and families reach their goals and potential. Prior to becoming an Occupational Therapist, Bonnie worked as an Allied Health Assistant, a School Learning Support Officer (SLSO) and as a surf instructor which all provided invaluable experience. Bonnie loves to spend time in nature and outdoors, especially surfing, playing a range of sports, going to the beach, going for bush walks and spending time with family and friends. She is working full time at our Milton centre. 

Jess is a passionate OT who has recently relocated with her family to the beautiful South Coast. She holds a Bachelor of Health Science and Masters of Occupational Therapy from Western Sydney University and has a foundation in mental health Occupational Therapy, previously working extensively with teens and adults who have complex mental health needs. During her studies, she had the opportunity to complete research around mental health for teenagers with disabilities and is so excited to be shifting her area of practice into the paediatric space. She has a passion for building meaningful connections and is excited to be partnering closely with children and their families/carers to create practical, empowering strategies that support children in developing their independence, confidence, and everyday skills. She is a mother of two young girls and loves spending time with her family at the beach, reading books and playing touch football.

Joh is a passionate child psychologist and play therapist. She brings an international perspective to her practice, having worked in diverse settings including schools, private practice, and with trauma survivors and refugees. She has a deep commitment to nurturing the well-being of children and has had the privilege of working across various cultures and contexts, including the lush landscapes of Bali, Christmas Island, Nauru and Jordan. She is now nestled in a little beach town on the beautiful South Coast of NSW, Australia. On top of that, she is the proud mother of three incredible children who are full of spunk, love and willpower. Joh works on the team part-time.

Tom has recently completed his Bachelor of Social Work and is a registered social worker with The Australian Association of Social Workers. He is passionate, in particular, about empowering young men, strengthening communities, and positively impacting the well-being of his clients. Tom has previously worked as support worker where he provided compassionate care and support to children and their families in out-of-home care. He also assisted clients with daily activities, advocating for their rights and needs, and fostering positive relationships. Prior to this Tom worked as a personal trainer and also completed a placement as a Workshop Facilitator and Men’s Mental Health Advocate where he connected with men of all ages, providing guidance, coaching, and support via rapport building and positive role modelling. Tom utilises a strengths-based approach to empower young men through mentoring, ensuring their overall well-being and development and works part-time at TLC.

Kylie is a registered counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association. She brings with her a wealth of experience from navigating neurodiversity as a parent for the last decade. Kylie has firsthand knowledge of the intricacies of Autism and ADHD, and the complex umbrella of challenges as well as strengths that can accompany diagnosis. Kylie has firsthand experience caring for a family member who lost their life to Motor Neurone Disease, giving her a broad understanding of the complexities of grief and loss, and of managing diverse disability care needs. With her empathetic nature and diverse skill set, Kylie is dedicated to supporting and empowering individuals as they navigate life’s challenges.

Music Therapy

Amy is an experienced and passionate Registered Music Therapist and Early Intervention Therapist. She has worked previously as a music teacher and is currently working remotely as a Registered Music Therapist with sessions available via Telehealth. She enjoys working collaboratively with the TLC team and works with both children and adults. Amy has worked previously in different settings including specialised school ‘Giant Steps’ in Sydney, disability day programs and group homes.

Alana is an experienced early childhood educator who brings energy, enthusiasm and a wealth of experience working with younger children as well as teens and young adults and their families. Her previous roles in early childhood settings have included ‘Inclusion Support Educator’ for children with disability. She supports our Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists and Early Intervention team in delivering a range of programs and also enjoys creating therapy resources for our families and therapists. Alana is also currently completing her Master of Autism and Neurodivergent Studies at University of Wollongong, as part of this degree she will become Milton TLC’s first Registered Developmental Educator at the end of this year. The whole team at TLC is loving that Alana is sharing so much of her learning with us all. Alana grew up in the local area and is now bringing up her young, active family here.

Barney is an experienced Allied Health Assistant who is working part time at Milton TLC. Barney brings energy, calm, a love of the outdoors and the ocean and a wealth of experience working with children, teens and young adults and their families. His previous roles have included ‘Disability Support Worker’ for 9 years and teaching swimming and water safety for 22 years. Barney has run the SurfSquad Ocean Safety Program for 19 years and is so passionate about making the ocean accessible and safe for all. Barney and his wife moved to the area many years ago and are now bringing up their young family on the south coast.

Marie has over 12 years teaching in Schools for Specific Purposes (from early childhood thru to high school students) and over 11 years experience as a support worker, team leader and manager for respite and community access programs working with children and adults. We are so lucky to have an allied health assistant with Marie’s level of education, knowledge and skills. Marie is deeply committed to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and is well-versed in systems such as LAMP, Proloquo2Go, TouchChat, BoardMaker, low-tech visual communication systems, and switches. In addition, Marie is a fluent Auslan user. She looks to a neuro-inclusive approach to behaviour support by bringing together communication, sensory regulation and emotional regulation. Marie has completed professional development/additional training in AAC, Orientation and Mobility for the blind and vision impaired, Sensory Processing Disorders and Trauma Informed Practice.  

Renate is an Allied Health Assistant at our Milton centre. Having worked as an early childhood educator, adult educator, and behaviour support practitioner, Renate has over 30 years of experience sharing the learning journey with children, parents, carers and educators. She is also an accredited Positive Parenting Practices (Triple P) Trainer – Level 4, and a Circle of Security Parent Facilitator. Renate has a particular interest in facilitating self-regulation and coaching parents and carers. Families and TLC team members alike, truly appreciate our lively and often enlightening conversations.

Mandy is a very experienced receptionist and administrator who loves that this role allows her to support so many families in the area she grew up in. Mandy provides much of the behind the scenes support for TLC and recently completed her Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping.

Michelle and her family settled in the Ulladulla area 6 years ago and has been working in reception/ admin for 10 years. Michelle has experience in the health and manufacturing sector and is excited to bring that knowledge to TLC.

Rebecca (Bec) brings extensive experience from her career in retail management, spanning marketing, administration and customer experience. She has a strong passion for creating welcoming, positive customer experiences and building community, and is excited to bring these strengths to MTLC. Bec recently moved to Milton from Sydney and is looking forward to supporting local families in her new hometown.  

Therapy Dog

Hagrid was in training to become a drug detection dog but his calm and gentle nature meant he was much better suited to the therapy dog life. He provides lots of support and cuddles to our families and the TLC team. Hagrid loves fish based treats and chest scratches. He is undergoing his training to be a therapy dog with help from ‘Becky the Dog Trainer’ in Bawley Point and often gets specifically requested by children and adults to attend assessments and intervention sessions. Hagrid has been struggling with skin allergies so is on leave at the moment.