Get To Know Us on Instagram!

Clinical Director 

& 

Principle Speech Pathologist

Meet Nava!

Nava graduated from the University of Sydney with a Master of Speech Language Pathology. She is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist, and a member of Speech Pathology Australia. Nava is the founder and director of Little Steps Therapies.

Nava has worked as a Speech Pathologist in both government, not for profit, and private sectors. She has provided assessments and therapy for children in clinic, preschools and home settings. Nava has also provided therapy and rehabilitation for adults in a hospital setting.

Nava is extremely passionate when it comes to working with her clients and their families to build the skills needed to communicate. She has a special interest in working with children who have disabilities. 

Nava is also a Clinical Educator who enjoys teaching Speech Pathology University students and guiding them through their placements at Little Steps Therapies.

Nava has received additional professional development and training to become a certified practitioner in:

- Hanen: It Takes Two To Talk

- Sounds Write 

- Shape Coding

- DIR Floortime

-Derbyshire Language Scheme

- ASD From The Inside Out

Outside of the clinic, Nava loves spending time with her family, travelling, eating chocolate, and trying new dessert recipes.

Clinical Manager 

& 

Senior Occupational Therapist 

Meet Cassie! 

Cassie is a qualified Occupational Therapist registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).  Cassie studied Occupational Therapy at the Australian Catholic University. 

Cassie is enthusiastic about working with children and is passionate about delivering fun and energetic therapy. She is cheerful, creative and consistently looking forward to new and interesting ways to deliver topics of learning. 

Cassie enjoys working closely with families to ensure that therapy is fun, effective, functional and tailored to the child’s interests and needs. Cassie believes in open, honest and upfront communication between the clinician and family to support the child and promote accomplishments.   

Cassie has been working with children of all ages for 10+ years. She is passionate about working with children of all ages and supporting the child’s ability to develop skills and confidence in all areas of daily living skills. She has a particular interest in supporting successful transition to school and promoting development of motor skills to support the child’s ability to participate in age appropriate skills. 

Cassie values the importance of developing professional knowledge and skills. She has engaged in professional development activities including:

- “Secret Agent Society” for social skills

- Proactive course for anxiety

- Ayres Sensory Integration

- SOS Feeding Training 

- DIR Floortime
- Early Start Denver Model 
- ADHD Intensive 

Outside of Little Steps, Cassie loves to spend time with her family and doing anything crafty. 

Practice Manager

Meet Donna!

Donna has been a highly valued member of our team for over five years, contributing extensive experience and a practical, solutions-oriented mindset in her roles within Payroll and Human Resources. 

With over 15 years of experience managing small to medium-sized businesses, Donna brings a deep understanding of business operations, compliance, and team dynamics. Her hands-on approach, combined with her ability to think strategically, ensures that challenges are met with effective and timely solutions.

As Practice Manager, Donna demonstrates strong leadership built on integrity, efficiency, and excellent communication skills. She has an in-depth understanding of our team’s needs and daily operations, which allows her to coordinate activities smoothly and foster a positive work environment. 

Donna is known for her ability to juggle multiple responsibilities seamlessly while remaining approachable and supportive to both staff and clients. She serves as a trusted point of contact, often providing guidance and reassurance that helps maintain morale and productivity across the practice.

Donna’s dedication goes beyond managing processes; she actively seeks opportunities to improve systems and workflows, contributing valuable insights that enhance our overall efficiency. Her commitment to continuous improvement and staff development has made a significant impact on the team’s success.

Outside of work, Donna is passionate about travel and loves immersing herself in new cultures, particularly through exploring diverse cuisines. This curiosity and openness to new experiences reflect her adaptable and open-minded nature. She is a proud mother of two children and shares her home with Tickles, a much-loved Cavoodle who brings warmth and joy to her family life.

Rouse Hill Team Leader 

&

Speech Pathologist

Meet Annabelle! 

Annabelle graduated from Macquarie University with a Masters of Speech and Language Pathology. She is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist, and a member of Speech Pathology Australia.

Annabelle is passionate about working with her clients to build the communication skills required to meet their goals. She enjoys working closely with clients and their families to develop individualised therapy focused on the child’s interests to ensure therapy is functional and fun.

Annabelle is a friendly, positive, and caring therapist whom children easily warm up to. This enables her to build and maintain relationships with her clients and their families so she can provide as much support as possible. She is particularly interested in working with children with speech sound and language disorders.

Outside of the clinic, Annabelle loves spending time with family, trying new restaurants, and travelling.

Thornleigh Team Leader

&

Speech Pathologist  

Meet Martine!  

Martine is a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist with both a Bachelor and Master of Speech and Language Pathology from Macquarie University. She is a proud member of Speech Pathology Australia and is committed to evidence-based, family-centred care.

Martine is passionate about working with children and their families, and is known for creating engaging, individualised therapy sessions that build confidence and celebrate progress. Her approach is playful, supportive, and driven by each child's unique interests and strengths.

Martine has a special interest in early language development, speech sound disorders, literacy, and stuttering. She has also completed additional professional development training, including:

• Hanen: More Than Words
• Sounds Write Program 
• Gestalt Language Processing and Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)
• Key Word Signs Workshop
• ASD From the Inside Out
• Shape Coding

Outside the clinic, Martine enjoys going to musical shows, baking and spending time with her friends. 

Clinical Supervisor

& 

Senior Speech Pathologist

Meet Jessica! 

Jessica is a passionate Speech Pathologist who graduated from a Master of Speech Pathology at the University of Sydney in 2019. 

Jessica has experience working with clients across the lifespan, including in the areas of paediatric feeding, paediatric speech and language, adult disability, and neurodegenerative diseases. 

Jessica is particularly passionate about paediatric feeding therapy, and has completed multiple post-graduate trainings in this area including the SOS Approach to Feeding and a number of Responsive Feeding Approach courses. 

Aside from feeding therapy, Jessica is extremely passionate in supporting individuals to communicate functionally, especially those who would otherwise be unable to express themselves freely. 

Jessica firmly believes in the power of play-based, strength-based, and multidisciplinary therapy approaches, and focuses on supporting a holistic approach to each client’s individual therapy journey. 

Outside of work, Jessica enjoys ceramics on the pottery wheel, cooking, and spending time with friends and family. 

Clinical Supervisor

&

Senior Speech Pathologist

Meet Stephanie!

Stephanie graduated from Australian Catholic University with a Bachelors in Speech Pathology. She is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist, and a member of Speech Pathology Australia.

Stephanie has worked with children of all ages. She is deeply passionate about working closely with clients and their families to develop and increase their communication skills. She always ensures therapy is client focused and individualised by drawing on their experiences and interests. Stephanie is a firm believer that therapy should be both fun and functional! 

Stephanie enjoys collaborating on goals targeted in therapy with both parents and teachers to ensure goals are transferred to different contexts within the child's life.Stephanie has an interest in working with children with speech sound and language disorders.

Outside of the clinic, Stephanie loves going on road trips with her husband and dog, baking and crocheting.

Occupational Therapist

Meet Katherine!

Katherine has completed her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. Katherine is passionate about working with children and families to provide family-centred, play-based therapy that children look forward to attending each week. 

Katherine’s bright and engaging manner, and interest in providing novel approaches to therapy interventions supports children to engage in therapy and meet their goals.

Katherine comes to us with almost 20 years experience of working with children with disabilities and their families, including working with children with high behavioural support needs in the out-of-home care system and 10 years coaching at Riding for the Disabled. 

Katherine brings experience of working with people with a wide range of conditions from her previous role as an Allied Health Assistant at a major hospital.

Outside of the clinic, Katherine can be found kayaking in the local rivers or bushwalking with her family.

Occupational Therapist

Meet Kyra!

Kyra graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy in June 2018 at the University of Santo Tomas, Philippines and acquired her professional license two months later, in August 2018. Over the past six years,  Kyra has worked as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist and has had the privilege of working with a diverse range of paediatric clients, with various developmental disabilities. 

Kyra is passionate about helping children engage in their daily activities despite their challenges and strive to support  their families as well. She firmly believes in a client-centred approach, where engaging her clients and incorporating their interests are key to their success and progress in therapy. Kyra advocates for the generalisation of skills, ensuring that they can be applied across different settings. 

Kyra's particular areas of interest include sensory integration practice and play-based therapies. Additionally, she enjoys working within a multidisciplinary team, and collaborating with families to establish meaningful goals for her clients.

Outside of work, Kyra enjoys cooking, running, film photography, watching series or movies, and playing badminton. During vacations, she loves free-diving, spending time at the beach, and taking care of her pets.

Occupational Therapist

Meet Elmira!

Elmira is a registered Occupational Therapist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and brings over 10 years of experience working with children of all ages. With a deep commitment to helping kids thrive, Elmira loves those rewarding moments in therapy when a child achieves a goal or shares their excitement for an upcoming session. Witnessing their progress and knowing they're eager to return makes every day incredibly fulfilling.

Elmira is passionate about working on motor skills and executive functioning, using a creative and client-centred approach to make therapy both enjoyable and impactful. She has attended Professional Development programs such as The Zones of Regulation, and is passionate about helping children manage their emotions and develop self-regulation skills.

Elmira is dedicated to creating a supportive and fun environment for children, while collaborating with families to ensure therapy is meaningful and tailored to each child's unique needs. Elmira loves those moments when a child achieves a goal or tells her they’re excited for their sessions. Seeing their progress and knowing they’re looking forward to coming back makes every day incredibly rewarding. 

Outside of work, Elmira enjoys unwinding with a good podcast, relishing the calm of a rainy day, or swimming to recharge.

Speech Pathologist

Meet Isabella!

Isabella graduated from Australian Catholic University with a Bachelors in Speech Pathology. She is a certified practising Speech Pathologist, and a member of Speech Pathology Australia. 

Isabella is passionate about working closely with clients and their families to achieve their personalised goals, whilst keeping sessions fun and energetic. She always ensures that client's interests are being incorporated into sessions to maintain motivation. 

Isabella has particular interests in early language, speech sound and language disorders, and paediatric feeding.

Outside of the clinic, Isabella loves to play netball, spend time with family and friends, crocheting and travelling.  

Speech Pathologist

Meet Kaitlyn!

Kaitlyn graduated from Macquarie University with a Masters of Speech and Language Pathology. She is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist and a member of Speech Pathology Australia. 

Kaitlyn enjoys working with a wide range of clients to support their overall speech and language skills. She is highly passionate about utilising a client-centred approach to therapy by focusing on collaborating with clients and their families. 

Kaitlyn is particularly interested in working with children to develop their literacy and language skills. She is a positive therapist who deeply cares about building a strong relationship with her clients and their families. This strong relationship ensures that sessions are positive and enjoyable.

Outside the clinic, Kaitlyn loves playing musical instruments, exploring new places and spending time with family and friends. 

Speech Pathologist

Meet Shona!

Shona graduated with her Masters in Speech and Language Pathology from Macquarie University. She is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist and a member of Speech Pathology Australia. 

Shona is passionate about working closely with children and their families to support and achieve their communication goals and is always interested in learning new ways, skills and games to help her clients and keep therapy fun and engaging. 

While Shona enjoys many areas of speech pathology, she particularly enjoys working with children with early language needs, literacy and language skills, and speech sound disorders. She is passionate about creating a positive, friendly and fun space for therapy so that clients enjoy coming to their sessions.

Outside of the clinic, Shona enjoys crocheting and knitting, being with her friends trying new and different things and spending time with her super active kelpie, Henry.

Occupational Therapist

Meet Kelly!

Kelly is a registered Occupational Therapist registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Education from Hong Kong, and completed her Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of Sydney.

With a strong background in education and counselling, Kelly has several years of experience working as a teacher and student counsellor in Hong Kong. Since relocating to Australia, she has been practicing as a paediatric occupational therapist in clinic settings, supporting children with diverse developmental needs.

Kelly is passionate about providing child-led, play-based therapy, and values a holistic and collaborative approach to care. She works closely with families, teachers, and other health professionals to create supportive environments where children can thrive.

Her clinical experience includes supporting children with challenges across various areas, including motor skills, executive functioning, sensory processing, emotional regulation, and self-care. Kelly believes that every child is unique and full of potential, and she is dedicated to empowering each one to achieve their individual goals.

Dedicated to ongoing professional development, Kelly has completed training in the Interoception Curriculum, DIR® Floortime, and is currently undertaking training in Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI®).

Outside of her professional role, Kelly enjoys spending time outdoors, staying active, and engaging in arts and crafts.

Occupational Therapist

Meet Julia!

Julia graduated from the Australian Catholic University with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. She grew up in the Hills area alongside her 4 siblings!

Julia is passionate about taking a collaborative approach to support children and their families in reaching their unique potential. She strives to form meaningful therapeutic relationships with her clients through individualised goal setting and the incorporation of each child’s unique interests and needs into each therapy session. 

Julia has a background in supporting children's emotional regulation, sensory processing, executive functioning and social engagement. 

Outside of work, Julia enjoys spending time with her friends and family. She loves staying active by playing volleyball and netball with her friends and teammates! 

Receptionist - Administrative Officer

Meet Anne!

Anne comes from a strong background in administration and billing, with extensive experience in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) space. Over the years, she has developed a deep understanding of the complexities and unique requirements involved in supporting participants, service providers, and stakeholders within the NDIS framework.

Driven by a genuine passion for helping others, Anne is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those in the community. She takes pride in contributing to systems that improve efficiency and ensure accuracy and high quality. 

Outside of work, Anne values spending quality time with her family and friends. She enjoys the outdoors, particularly relaxing at the beach, and believes in maintaining an active and balanced lifestyle. 

Receptionist - Administrative Assistant

Meet Kayla! 

Kayla is our administrative assistant, working closely with clients and our clinicians to book appointments, take payments and carry out all things administrative! Kayla is also working closely with our Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists in the capacity of an allied health assistant.

Kayla is currently studying a Master of Speech and Language Pathology. Kayla is passionate about working with children while exploring all areas of the Speech Pathology sector and learning about how to become a Paediatric Speech Pathologist in the future.       

When Kayla is not studying or working, she likes to spend her days watching movies with her friends, going to the gym, drinking coffee, cooking healthy meals, shopping for new clothes and playing with her two sausage dogs.  

Receptionist - Administrative Assistant

Meet Grace!

Grace is a friendly, reliable, and dedicated member of the Little Steps Therapies team, playing  a key role in administration helping to ensure the smooth operation of services behind the scenes. Her approachable nature and strong organisational skills make her a valuable support to both the team and the families we work with.

Grace holds a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance, which, combined with her experience supporting paediatric therapists, gives her a well-rounded understanding of both the clinical and personal aspects of care. Grace is passionate about continuing to grow in the allied health field and aspires to study Occupational Therapy in the future. Her curiosity, empathy, and drive to make a difference are clear in everything she does.

Outside of work, Grace is often found on the basketball court, where she serves as both a referee and supervisor. 

When she’s not working or studying, Grace enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, playing with her dog, relaxing at the beach, watching Formula 1, and indulging in some retail therapy.

Receptionist - Administrative Assistant

Meet Bianca!

Bianca comes from a strong background in administration and reception, with over 20 years of experience. She’s known for her friendly and approachable nature, and for making everyone around her feel supported and valued.

Bianca loves being part of a team that makes a difference in people’s lives. She takes pride in helping families feel comfortable and cared for from the moment they arrive, and enjoys supporting her colleagues to make each day run smoothly.

Outside of work, Bianca enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going on walks with her dog, shopping, and travelling. She values laughter, and making special memories with the people closest to her.