Occupational Therapy can help to give your child the greatest opportunity in life, particularly in those early years of development. Happy Dots is a privately owned Paediatric clinic located in the Hunter Region (Cardiff), which offers a friendly, professional and sensory based approach for children of varying conditions, aged between 2-18 years of age. We strive for sensory & play based therapy that is FUN! We are also proud winners of the Best Health Improvement Service in the Hunter for 2020.
Occupational Therapy addresses activities of daily living that your child may be having difficulty with. Our personalised and multidisciplinary approach allows for children to reach their maximum potential across a range of different environments.
Our Occupational Therapists can provide:
• Sensory based therapy to help regulate emotions
• Clinical assessments to help with diagnosis and support
• Assistance with restricted diets & fussy eating
• Assistance with Handwriting difficulties
• Strategies to support sleep
• Strategies to best support behaviour
• Coordination of fine & gross motor skills
• Self Care assistance (eating, dressing, toileting, etc)
• Play skills (including joint attention & concentration)
• School Readiness skills & more.
Happy Dots aims to provide friendly, professional and exceptional service to suit children of all abilities. Our therapists are trained to engage children in innovative, fun, motivating and age-appropriate activities to meet child and parent/carer goals. Services and programs are also individually designed to improve independence within home and school environments and to identify a child’s current developmental milestones, skill levels and functional barriers. We then provide family-friendly strategies and sensory based interventions to facilitate the development of skills and functional performance for skill development in everyday activities.
Happy Dots has a purpose built therapy clinic offering a welcoming, well equipped and safe environment in which children have the opportunity to work one-on-one with the therapist to achieve their goals. We also offer home & school visits as a part of our professional service.
At Happy Dots, we proudly embrace and support the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring inclusivity and respect for all.
Sensory processing is our ability to detect, integrate and process information from our senses and then perform appropriate actions in relation to this information. If a child is over reacting, under reacting or fluctuating in how they register this input it will directly impact their ability to attend to tasks. To be effective sensory processing must be efficient. Sensory Integration refers to the process of creating efficient sensory pathways and connections in the central nervous system. Experts agree that until about seven years of age the brain is most active in the development of these pathways.
All children are learning to process sensory information and children with more apparent disabilities such as hearing or visual impairments may not receive, perceive, organize or interpret information accurately, however, many children also have difficulties with this
which are not so obvious.
A difficulty in sensory processing may result in an inability to regulate sensory input. These include: sensitivity to sensations, inconsistent or confused responses to situations, disorganized behaviours, poor peer interactions, immature social/emotional development,
reduced self-esteem or self-control and poor academic development.
At Happy Dots, we are able to work collaboratively with you and your child to develop a functional sensory diet that will assist in keeping their sensory system calm, but alert. For more information on how a sensory diet may benefit your child, please contact us.
Happy Dots strives to maintain a client-focused approach where children and families feel validated in their concerns, supported in difficult times, encouraged to be proactive and inspired to facilitate change.
We are motivated to facilitate and empower our staff and the families that access our service to reach their potential because we care about helping others achieve their goals and dreams.
At Happy Dots, we aim to create a brighter future for all children and their families.
Play is a powerful tool in therapy with children. Children naturally do most of their learning during play, they learn about themselves and the world around them, about relationships with others, and about the expression and management of feelings all through active exploration in playful activity. Play is fundamental to the learning and development of all children.
Play-based therapy utilises enjoyable and child-directed activity to assist children with challenges. Therapists modify these child-directed activities in a playful manner to provide appropriate challenge for the child, and to achieve therapeutic outcomes whilst the child engages in play.
Play is also highly meaningful and motivating. When an activity is meaningful, the child is likely to be more driven, work harder, and persist in a way that they would not in an activity that they find uninteresting or overly challenging. Activities that are meaningful bring about greater memory and learning of the experience than do activities that are less meaningful.
Play-based therapy at Happy Dots incorporates families into therapy sessions where appropriate. Through including families in play-based therapy sessions, family members have the opportunity to enjoy time together whilst achieving therapeutic outcomes. These sessions also provide an opportunity to model activities that can then be taken home to extend the activities and strategies from therapy sessions into everyday life.
Everything has intent. We have a passion for improvement and a commitment to learning and growth. We care for our clients, and are committed to WOW. We are empowering and high performance.
We are innovative, creative, engaging, and flexible. We are always extending horizons and kicking goals. We create the right place to be for endless possibilities. We are solutions focused and capacity building. Practice makes progress. Uno is more than just uno!
Clients and team are like family. We are collaborative and value diversity. We work AND win together. We are empowering safe, secure, open, and honest. “It takes a village to raise children…you’ve got this!” We celebrate wins and are filled with gratitude.
We are fun, enthusiastic, and passionate. Kids love coming to our clinic spaces. We find and work with flow. We play with purpose and take PLAY seriously!
Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Clinic Director/Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Rachelle, BAppSc (OT) Hons, is the owner and clinical director of Happy Dots. Rachelle graduated from the University of Sydney in 2009 achieving first class honours, and has since shown a strong passion and desire to work with children.
Rachelle has experience in providing therapy to children with a range of varying conditions, predominantly Autism, along with other conditions such as Sensory Processing Disorder and ADHD. Rachelle has experience in working across a variety of different environments such as clinic, home, school and in the community.
Rachelle’s main role involves business development & client relations, to ensure everything runs as smooth as it can at Happy Dots. Rachelle also spends time working closely with her team to ensure they are mentored and guided in a way to ensure great outcomes both personally & professionally.
Rachelle has built and expanded the company over the last 10 years, whilst raising children. In her spare time you will find Rachelle anywhere near the lake/beach, drinking coffee & spending time with friends & family.
Co-Founder
Josh brings a vast array of skills and experience to Happy Dots, and is often found behind the scenes, or with a tool belt on building & expanding our clinics.
During his early career, He spent ten years in the Royal Australian Air Force as an Aircraft Technician, where he served in multiple rescue missions, and is a returned serviceman.
In addition to his duties within Happy Dots, Josh also ran a successful financial planning & mortgage broking business, being voted as one of the top 20 financial planners within his dealer group.
His most recent achievement is a Master’s degree in Business, which he earned whilst owning two businesses and raising three children. The various concepts learned in this degree allows Josh to provide direction and support to key areas relating to business.
Josh’s favourite activities include; Spending time with family, playing guitar, property investment, and building cars.
Practice Manager
Dee is our super star practice manager who handles all things day to day in keeping the business running as smoothly as possible. Dee is a true Novocastrian and has worked in various administration roles for more than twenty years. Dee is a mother of two teenage sons and enjoys spending most weekends as a soccer mum.
Dee looks forward to working and supporting the Happy Dots team and loves helping people get the best out of everyday, seeing people leave with a smile and a refreshed positive attitude.
You will find Dee will make you feel very welcome and do all she can to assist you.
Administration Lead
Amanda is Newcastle born and bred, has a gorgeous 15yr old daughter who shares her Mum’s passion for living life to the fullest!
Family and friends are very important to Amanda and she likes nothing more than spending time catching up with them, that’s when she’s not playing tennis or tap dancing!
Having previously worked in Childcare for 10+ years, it was time for change, so she entered the “health” industry working for a wonderful Chiropractor and for an inspirational exercise Oncology centre.
Amanda works from Mondays & Thursdays.
She is looking forward to saying hello next time you’re at the clinic.
Receptionist
Meet Simone, one of our wonderful Receptionists who is a Novocastrian born and bred in Newcastle.
Simone has worked in reception/administration roles throughout her entire working career, with the last 3 years in a children’s healthcare setting.
Simone is very excited to be given this wonderful opportunity to join the Happy Dots team and continue to support the young children and their families that come through the clinic.
"Family is my everything. I have two incredible daughters that make me feel so proud to be their mum and a grandson who is simply the light of my life!"
Receptionist
Bio coming soon!
Receptionist
Michelle was born and raised in Newcastle and brings over 35 years of administrative experience across a variety of roles, predominantly within the Education and Health sectors. Her extensive background has equipped her with strong organisational skills, exceptional attention to detail, and a strong commitment to supporting teams and clients alike.
Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending quality time with her family. She is married with two children, Jordy and Lincoln, and loves supporting them in their sporting pursuits. Michelle and her husband also enjoy travelling in their caravan on long weekends, always accompanied by their much-loved dog, Spud.
HR Support Specialist
Bio coming soon!
Administration Assistant
Bio coming soon!
Clinical Lead / Senior Paediatric OT
Sarah has a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy from the University of Newcastle. Graduating in 2011. Sarah has experience in working across a range of functional issues and diagnosis’ including Sensory Processing issues, Autism, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, ADHD, Tourettes Syndrome, anxiety and global developmental delay.
Sarah is passionate about working collaboratively with families and their teams to support better outcomes for her clients. She has a particular interest in sensory processing issues and it’s impact on diet and fussy eating, anxiety and trauma informed practice.
Sarah also had a passion for play and it’s power to teach a range of skills in early
intervention. She enjoys being creative and personalising therapy, making it individualised and fun. Sarah works across both our Cardiff & Williamtown clinics.
Team Leader / Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Megan graduated from Charles Sturt University, Albury, with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in 2019. Megan has experience working in rural and remote NSW as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist. Throughout this role, she has gained valuable experience working with children who have had a wide range of difficulties throughout their daily lives. She has worked extensively with these children and their families to assist them in being able to achieve all of their goals.
Megan has a special interest in feeding therapy and assisting children to learn to engage with new foods and develop a safe and healthy relationship with food and eating.
She enjoys assisting children and their families to achieve their goals and develop a level of independence that they may not have thought was possible. Megan enjoys seeing the joy and excitement on a family member and child’s face when they complete a new activity or learn a new skill.
Outside of work Megan enjoys going to the beach and indoor rock climbing.
Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Lauren joins Happy Dots following her relocation from Melbourne to Newcastle, with experience in supporting children across a variety of settings including within the clinic, kindergarten and school. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Master of Occupational Therapy Practice gained from La Trobe University, Melbourne. Her professional journey also includes a background in graphic design.
Lauren is a caring and compassionate therapist who is experienced in supporting children with varying presentations and support needs including those with developmental delay, autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, and motor coordination difficulties. Lauren particularly enjoys working with preschool and early primary school aged children.
Lauren is trained in evidence-based approaches such as the Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance (CO-OP), and has completed additional training in DIR Floortime, and Learn to Play. Lauren is passionate about adopting a goal directed approach and values collaboration with families, educators and other health professionals within the child’s care team, whilst tailoring therapy to meet the unique needs of each child and family.
Outside of work, Lauren enjoys running, exploring Newcastle’s scenic beaches, and spending time with her friends, family, and energetic puppy, Arlo. A self-confessed foodie, she’s always on the lookout for great local dining spots and loves discovering everything her new city has to offer.
Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Melissa is a paediatric occupational therapist with over 15 years of experience working with children and their families. She is passionate about helping children reach their potential through meaningful, goal-focused therapy that supports both the child and family.
Melissa brings a wealth of experience in conducting comprehensive assessments and developing individualised intervention plans to nurture each child’s development. She values connection, creativity, and play-based learning to engage children in building skills and confidence. Through parent coaching, Melissa empowers families with practical strategies to support their child’s growth in everyday life.
Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Grace graduated from the University of Canberra with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in 2022. Grace grew up on a farm in rural NSW and moved to Newcastle for a lifestyle change.
Grace completed her first year as an OT in a private paediatric clinic in Canberra. During her studies, Grace has completed clinical placements in a hospital setting as well as in a community role in far western NSW.
Grace values establishing strong relationships with each child and their families and is motivated by building confidence in children to ensure they always feel a sense of belonging in all aspects of life.
In her spare time, Grace enjoys walks, going to the beach, exploring the coast and seeing her friends.
Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Dani is a new graduate Occupational Therapist with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) from the University of Newcastle. A lifelong learner Dani completed a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Newcastle in 2000 and a Diploma of Remedial massage in 2015. She has been working in various social work, community development, and remedial massage positions over the last 20 years, though most people are interested in the massage roles and how she can fix their shoulder pain.
Whilst working as a massage therapist, she developed a passion for understanding the nervous system, sensory processing, trauma, and the body. After meeting some incredible OTs, she decided she needed to study Occupational Therapy with a particular interest in sensory processing and sensory-based intervention.
She is passionate about embracing neurodivergence, understanding sensory processing and sensory profiles, and learning more about trauma-informed and neurodiverse-affirming practice. She has gained experience through her studies working in preschools and private paediatric practice and working with indigenous communities.
When she is not at work, you will find her reading, dancing the 5 Rhythms, walking around Glenrock, and playing with her dogs. She is also a big fan of Harry Potter, Dr Who, Star Trek, and all things Marvel.
Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Emma is an enthusiastic new addition to the Happy Dots Occupational Therapy team, joining as a Graduate Occupational Therapist after completing her studies at Newcastle University in 2024. During her four years of university, Emma gained valuable experience through placements in private paediatric centres, public hospitals, and schools. These experiences ignited her passion for empowering children to achieve independence and confidence in pursuing activities that are meaningful to them.
Outside of work, Emma enjoys staying active by going to the gym, catching up with friends, and camping, which help her stay creative and energised. She is excited to meet her new clients and their families and is committed to making a positive impact in their lives.
Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Lily is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist who graduated from the University of Newcastle in 2025 and has been passionate about paediatrics from the very beginning. She loves the energy, creativity, and joy that come with working alongside children, and she’s always been drawn to roles where she can make a positive difference in a young person’s day.
Having previously worked at Happy Dots as a Therapy Assistant, Lily already feels right at home. Her time in both placement and work settings has given her plenty of opportunities to learn, play, and grow with the children she supports.
Now stepping into her role as a qualified Occupational Therapist, Lily is excited to continue her Happy Dots journey. She can’t wait to cheer on her clients, collaborate with their families, and help each child discover what they’re capable of.
Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Amber graduated from Charles Sturt University recently (2024) where she studied Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. Amber is from Port Macquarie and have relocated to Newcastle to be closer to family and join the Happy Dots team.
Prior to studying Occupational Therapy, Amber completed two years studying Bachelor of Nursing. However, interactions with Occupational Therapists during her studies led her to make the change to study Occupational Therapy. Amber have completed a range of placements within hospitals and the community, but her private paediatric placement in her final year of studies is what inspired her passion for working in paediatrics. Amber value working alongside clients to reach their goals and collaborating with families and clients to foster independence. Outside of work Amber enjoy being outdoors and reading.
Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Rachael is a graduate Occupational Therapist with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) from Griffith University, completed in 2025. After completing placements on the Gold Coast and in Newcastle, she brings experience from her community paediatric placement, supporting children across clinic, home, school, and kindergarten environments.
Rachael is passionate about helping children build confidence, independence, and meaningful skills through playful, goalfocused, family-centred therapy. Outside of work, she enjoys partner dancing, beach walks, gardening, and exploring Newcastle with her partner.
Team Leader / Senior Paediatric Speech Pathologist
Rebecca graduated from The University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) in 2015. Rebecca has experience working with children and their families across many areas of speech pathology practice, including speech, language, fluency (stuttering), literacy, voice, and Augmentative and Alternative communication (AAC).
Rebecca is passionate about working as a team with families, health professionals and educational professionals, to ensure each child reaches their potential. She enjoys incorporating each child’s interests into speech pathology sessions to ensure therapy is functional and fun.
Rebecca has a special interest in working with neurodiverse children and their families and children with complex communication needs. Additionally, she has extensive experience in providing whole class and whole school supports in the areas of school age literacy and language.
Rebecca also has training & certification in the Hanen it Takes Two to Talk’ program (supporting parents of young children with language delays), Lidcombe Program for Stuttering, Sounds Write, Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display (PODD), Proloquo2Go training, and Taking Mats program.
Outside of work Rebecca enjoys hiking with her friends and spending time with family.
Paediatric Speech Pathologist
Madison is a passionate Speech Pathologist joining the team as a graduate after completing her studies at The University of Newcastle in 2025. During her studies, she gained valuable
experience supporting children with a variety of communication needs across clinics, schools
and community settings.
She has a particular interest in early language and literacy development, and helping
children build confidence in their communication skills. Madison is passionate about creating
fun, engaging and family-centered sessions that make therapy enjoyable while celebrating
each child’s unique strengths to support their growth.
Madison is excited to meet her new clients at Happy Dots and looks forward to supporting
children and their families to reach their goals, and making a positive difference.
Paediatric Speech Pathologist
Kate graduated from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) in 2021. Kate has experience supporting children with a variety of communication difficulties across a range of therapy settings including in-clinic, telehealth, preschools and primary schools.
Kate has a particular interest in speech sound disorders and early literacy development. Kate also enjoys facilitating group programs targeting school readiness, language development and social communication skills.
Kate is passionate about collaborating closely with families, educators, and health professionals to provide holistic therapy for her clients. Kate values the importance of individualised and client-centred therapy end enjoys implementing a fun and creative approach to her speech pathology intervention.
Kate also has training & certification in the
Hanen it Takes Two to Talk’
program (supporting parents of young children with language delays).
Paediatric Speech Pathologist
Chelsee is a passionate Speech Pathologist who completed her Masters of Speech Pathology
at Latrobe University in Melbourne. She is deeply committed to supporting children and
families through strengths-based, neuro-affirming, and evidence-based practice.
Chelsee has a special interest in early intervention and loves supporting young children with
a range of communication needs and developmental differences to build their confidence.
She enjoys enjoys working across early language development, phonological literacy and
speech sound disorders.
Her therapy style is engaging, playful, and purposeful. She values building strong,
collaborative relationships with families, educators, and multidisciplinary teams. She
believes meaningful progress happens when everyone feels empowered and supported!
