Our Team - Coastwide Therapy Services

REBECCA (BEC) PENFOLD – DIRECTOR AND SENIOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Meet Bec, she is the senior OT and founder of Coastwide Therapy Services. Bec has had extensive experience in providing Occupational Therapy to children, adolescents and adults since graduating in 1999. She is proud of Coastwide Therapy’s 4 clinics which offer innovative, goal directed and family centred approaches here on the Central Coast. Rebecca was born and bred on the Central Coast and resides here with her husband (Shayne – which is the operations manager) and two children Ben and Sarah.

She has spent over 25 years working with individuals with varying levels of physical and intellectual disabilities, Autism, Cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, mental health, drug and alcohol addiction, behavioural issues and countless other unique differences - across the lifespan. Before starting Coastwide Therapy Services in 2011 she was the Senior Occupational therapist at ADHC – Ageing, Disability and Homecare.

Whilst she has decided to do less face to face consistent service, she continues to provide consults to individuals and their families across environments. She can often be found in homes, schools and preschools assisting with advice, strategies and ideas when things are tough for kids and their families. When not consulting, she spends her time supervising and mentoring her team, providing them professional development and sharing her knowledge that only comes from years of experience.

Bec presents a range of workshops at her clinics, in educational settings and to external service providers and is dedicated to empowering people through a greater understanding, as to what really makes kids tick. People describe her as energetic, passionate, dedicated and caring and this is seen not only in her role as Director but also in her most valued role - a mum. She is constantly thinking outside the box, coming up with new and innovative ideas to create the best therapy service on the Central Coast. She sees people’s unique differences as a strength and advocates for inclusion every day.

MADDIE – SENIOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Meet Maddie, one of our Senior OT's who is an absolute energiser bunny and has a passion for helping kids to match. She works across our Toukley and Killarney Vale clinics and visits lots of kids at home, school, preschool along the way too. Maddie has been part of our team for a few years now and her yearning for clinical knowledge is second to none. She is always reading (and I mean she rivals me in the reading department and that’s saying something), finding new and creative ways to deliver therapy to the families on her caseload. She loves finding a bargain resource or better still making one, to share with her team mates and the families she supports.

She has taken on a senior role offering clinical supervision and mentoring to some of her team mates. She is super organised and manages to fit more into everyday than most. She is funny, a little crazy (which you need to be when working on our team) and she is dedicated. She is one of those really active humans, combing super busy days at work with long walks or gym sessions and really gets what work/ life balance should look like.

Maddie is an absolute treat to have on board and she is so loved by all the families she works with, along with all her team mates, who feed off her energy.

Educators and families alike often feedback to us about the difference she makes to the kids she see’s. She is a great self reflector and is always looking for ways to challenge herself to somehow deliver an even better service.

She is always putting her hand up for groups and runs our fussy feeders groups, gross motor groups, bike riding sessions and loves finding kids on her caseload she can couple up and run dyads with. She is a super skilled clinician and I have loved watching her grow into a senior clinician, stepping up and supporting others. We think she is an absolute champion, just as so many of you do.

DANIELLE – SENIOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Danielle is another one of our Senior OTs with a huge heart, gentle nature and calm soul which makes her a cracking therapist. She works out of our Wyoming and Killarney Vale clinics and also sees kids at home, school, preschool and runs some great sessions in the community.

Her giving nature means she volunteers her time outside of her busy days as an OT, at her local SLSC training kids in and out of the ocean. She is a Central Coast local and can often be found at the beach even when the weather is ugly, giving her time, selflessly to others.

Her giving nature is reflected in her work where going over and above for her family’s is a daily occurrence. She is the queen of op shopping and the resources she manages to find for her families, are just incredible. She has now stepped up to supervise and mentor her team mates, doing so by not only sharing her clinical knowledge but her passion, dedication and commitment to the families she supports

She is always thinking outside the box when it comes to delivering therapy, working on everything from safely exposing our fussy eaters to new foods, through to travel training and helping our adolescents be more independent in the community..... and everything in between. She runs several of our groups and is a champion at teaching kids how to bike ride, tailoring therapy to the individual child based on THEIR goals.... not delivering a one size fits all service (something I love about all our OTs).

I love being around her and every time I’m with her, I leave feeling like I have been heard, like she is genuinely interested and I feel inspired.... which is the exact feedback we get from families about her. So lucky to have her on our team, as are each of the families and educators she works with. She has been an amazing asset to our Coastwide Therapy family and we just love her.

ALICIA – SENIOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Meet Alicia, one of our brilliant OT’s who started with us in 2018 and boy did she make her mark when joining our team. She works across our Killarney Vale clinic and plenty of schools, preschools and homes in between. She is a ball of energy and it’s hard not to be motivated in her presence. She had her first beautiful little girl Lyla in 2020 and she is kicking goals in the mum department.

Alicia is a champion netball type (one of those crazy centres that is always on the go) and to play sport at such an elite level and manage a career, takes some serious organisation – which she has in spades...... it is reflected in her work every day. She is super efficient and driven, always asking questions, seeking feedback and looking outside the box for her families. She runs our Sense Rugby program and other groups in the community throughout the term like bike riding and gross motor skills combining both physical and social skills to give kids the experience of teamwork (something she knows innately).

The feedback from families and educators about her work (clinical and her reports) is always beautiful and I’m so thankful that she is part of our team. She is always up for a new idea or a new challenge and manages to squeeze into a day what some people might fit in a week. She is caring, kind and passionate and we just love having her around both personally and professionally - she is a champion.

MELISSA – SENIOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Meet Mel, another of our beautiful OTs who has lived on the Central Coast for most of her life. Her passion for OT started when she spent many hours going to OT sessions with her sister and just loved what OTs did. This lived experience gives her a sense of understanding that usually takes years to develop and the unique experiences and insight she brings to our team is so valuable.

She joined our team in 2020 and works across our Wyoming clinic and lots of schools, preschools and family homes along the way. She is dedicated, caring and full of energy. She has a yearning for learning and our families just love how quickly she has been able to develop a rapport with them. She is so excited to be able to work with kids who have unique needs, share her experiences and to help them reach their full potential.

OLIVIA – OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Meet lovely Liv, otherwise known as Olivia. She completed her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at ACU and has been part of our team since the end of 2021. She has grown up on the coast since she was a little tucker and if she is not on a netball court or DIY/ arting- you will find in the ocean somewhere on her long board. Whilst studying to be an OT she was a support worker for children on the coast where she was able to develop a unique understanding of the day-to-day life of both children with different needs and their families. When asked what made her want to be an OT this was her response “I used to go to speech when I was younger and I had no idea it was therapy! I used to say to mum “when do I get to see the play lady again?” When I was older mum told me the play lady was actually someone helping me with my speech; I was blown away. When I was 16 I ruptured my ACL (ligament in the knee) and I was surrounded by physios and personal trainers to get me back to netball. These people helped me perform what I needed and wanted to do. Eventually I combined the two experiences and grew to want to be an OT! To be the ‘play lady’ for children and to help them reach their goals just like I did”.

She is constantly thinking outside the box and is passionate about understanding what makes kids tick, how important rapport development is and she is always the best “play lady”. She has a gentle and caring nature that everyone loves and she is such an asset to have on our team. She is dedicated and self directed and you find Olivia at our Wyoming and Killarney Vale clinic’s and plenty of schools in between.

LANA – OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Meet the beautiful Lana who studied her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at The University of Newcastle. She joined the Coastwide Therapy team at the end of 2021 and feels like she has been around forever. She completed high school on the Central Coast before deciding to study OT. When asked why she wanted to be an OT here is what she said “I have always loved being creative and had an interest in health and helping others. When deciding what to study after school I thought OT was a great mix of all these things. After my placements in paediatrics, I saw how therapy could be made fun through play and seeing kids achieve their goals by doing this has made me want to continue working in this area”. When Lana isn’t at work she loves to swim at the beach (she is learning to surf – but can’t quite call herself a surfer yet), bushwalking, going to gym and reading.

You will find lovely Lana at our Killarney Vale and Toukley clinics and she also ran our on-site OT program at Toronto Public School a day a week. This program allows her to support kids at school, working closely with teachers to provide OT services to kids who wouldn’t normally have access to therapy. She has the most beautiful nature; the quiet, smiling achiever- and she is an awesome OT. She is always going over and above for the children she supports and their families. We love her, as do so many of you

INDIA – OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Meet India - she has been working on our team since 2019. She is a bundle of energy, nothing is ever too much and she is super efficient. She has a strong passion for enabling others to reach their potential and achieve their goals through a practical, creative and client-centred approach. She believes that sessions should be fun, engaging and a learning experience that is centred around play which she does effortlessly. She is motivated, dedicated and passionate about running sessions for children that are not only super fun, but provide specific therapeutic benefits for the individual. She is well and truly imbedded in the Coastwide Therapy family.

RYAN – OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Meet Ryan he graduated with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, from the University of Newcastle and started with the Coastwide Therapy team in 2022. Ryan was born and raised on the Central Coast and before becoming an OT (like many of our team), he too – was a support worker in the Hunter and Central Coast region for almost 10 years. He has spent a good amount of time travelling the world, especially to Canada where he met his wonderful wife and convinced her back move back to Australia.

You will find Ryan at our Killarney Vale and Toukley clinics, while also seeing kids at home, school, preschool and in the community. Ryan is a lot of fun with a big personality. He enjoys playing any sport with a ball or board; this includes Tennis, Rugby, Baseball, Basketball, Snowboarding, and surfing. Ryan is passionate about his food; he enjoys making easy to prepare meals and especially enjoys consuming his masterpieces. Outside of OT and his sports, he also enjoys playing video games, his favourite games are Call of Duty, FIFA 22, and NBA 2K22. He fits in with the crazy crew here, as his favourite colour is “rainbow” and enjoys wearing different colour shirts each day.

Ryan chose the career path of OT because he enjoys providing a fun and exciting atmosphere for young individuals to discover the skills they both want and need learn, to be the best versions of themselves. He thinks outside the box, enjoys running groups, is motivated, passionate and loves being busy…. And Shayne is pretty stoked to have another male on the team just quietly.

SARAH – OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

This is Sarah. She studied her bachelor of Occupational Therapy at ACU, graduating in 2021. Whilst at university she was a support worker in our local community assisting individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. She has worked in paediatrics since graduating and joined the coastwide crew in 2023. She is passionate about finding unique and fun ways to support kids to reach their goals, based on their interests.

When she doesn’t have her OT hat on you will find her hanging with friends, going to the beach, running her butt off at Oz tag and playing soccer. She grew up on the Central Coast and is mum to a German Shepard called Poppy. She is a little pocket rocket with lots of energy and some great ideas to engage with small humans and their families.

She almost started a physiotherapy degree before seeing the light and switching to OT (and we are thankful for that). We are so happy to have her as part of our team as she brings a whole heap of creativity, and great problem solving skills; understanding that there is not one solution or therapy model for all kids.

MEG – OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Meet the wonderful Meg, who joined our team at the start of 2024. Meg completed her Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience (Honours I) at the University of Sydney before having a change of heart and career path, which led to her then going on to graduate with a Masters of Occupational Therapy, from the University of Canberra in 2023.

Meg grew up on the Central Coast before spending a few years living in Sydney. Ending up in a health care profession was inevitable (eventually, after the veterinary stuff of course) as she comes from a family of those in caring roles; with her mum being an Associate Professor in Nursing at UTS, and siblings as nurses and paramedics also. When asked why she wanted to become an OT, she said "I have always been interested in healthcare. I love that OT is very practical and involves problem-solving and thinking outside the box, as no two people are the same. It’s person-centred and allows me to work closely with children, their families and those that support them day to day, to hopefully make a difference, big, or small – but most importantly directed by them”.

In her spare time, Meg loves going to the gym, doing pilates, spending time at the beach, and traveling. She is super passionate to expand her skill set across a range of paediatric areas and has such a gentle, fun and caring way with small humans. She is quick to develop rapport with everyone she meets, and she has slipped into the team as if she has been around for years.

You will find the lovely Meg at our Killarney Vale and Toukley clinics and in a heap of schools in between, bringing her beautiful energy, curious brain and clever ideas to every session. She is dedicated to going above and beyond for the children she supports and their families. We are stoked to have her on board, and we know you will love her, just as much as we do.

MADDY - THERAPY ASSISTANT

Meet Maddy, she completed her placement with us in 2020 whilst she was studying her Cert IV in Allied Health Assistance (Therapy Assistant)…. And she was so great that we offered her a job. Maddy has lots of experience with children working as a nanny and in OOSH programs on the Central Coast. She is the queen of developing and making resources and she is constantly looking at ways to help our OT’s be as efficient as possible. She has been seeing little people since the beginning of 2021 and she has had the most beautiful feedback from both families, pre-schools and schools she visits. She loves to travel, she enjoys spending time with friends, and she has a huge heart. She is passionate about finding unique ways to support kids to be their best whether that be in the clinic, at home, in schools or doing cool skill building in the community. She is studying OT at University of Newcastle, while being just awesome in her Therapy Assistant role. We absolutely love having her on board – she is a gem and we were so lucky to find her.

KATHLEEN - THERAPY ASSISTANT

Meet Kathleen, she completed her internship with us gaining her Certificate 3 and 4 in Allied Health Assistance (Therapy Assistant) and is continuing her education currently studying a Bachelor of Science. Since becoming an OTA Kathleen says she has loved being able to give children purpose and improve their quality of life both directly and indirectly. Being an OTA has shown and exposed her to the importance of others psychological and emotional well-being, along with their physical needs.

When she isn’t busy making resources, helping our OTs and seeing little people, she spends her time playing AFL and going to the gym. Our OTs love having her around and her willingness to help our team members does not go unnoticed. She plans to study OT at University but for now she is super happy to be on our team where she can learn on the job whilst studying.

SUE - THERAPY ASSISTANT

Meet Sue, she comes to our team with a wealth of knowledge and experience and we are so lucky to have her supporting our families. Sue has been an SLSO (teachers assistant) and swimming instructor at St Lucy’s, she was part of the learning support team at Knox Grammar school, she was an early educator for 10 years and has a diploma in Early Childhood Education and a Cery III Teachers Aid Special Needs. Wowsers. She applied for a position on our Coastwide Therapy team because she has a passion for empowering children to believe in themselves and to ensure they have a voice that is heard. Sue loves working one on one or small groups in play based learning environments. She is flexible, following the child’s interest/lead while supporting their needs.

Her positivity, patience and empathy are clearly evident in all she does and she is such an asset to our crew. She loves building strong relationships with families and children and has slotted into our Coastwide Therapy Family like she has been here for years. When she doesn’t have her Therapy Assistant hat on she enjoys spending time with her husband and children, going on walks, getting coffee with friends and taking some time out to read.

SHAYNE – OPERATIONS MANAGER

Meet Shayne, he is so proud of the business he has built with his wife Bec Penfold. Together they are passionate about going over and above to service families across the Central Coast. Prior to commencing the business in 2011 Shayne worked in Sydney for 17 years, firstly a printer before moving into the medical industry. He worked for KCI – medical; in varying roles including manager of customer services and operations manager. This extensive business experience has been an essential contributor to the success of Coastwide Therapy Services.

He is a dedicated dad to their two children- Ben and Sarah; and juggles home life and work life for the Penfold’s. He is passionate, caring and supportive of not only the families we work with, but of each of our team members. He is a respected and valued team member who we simply could not do without.

KATIE – ADMINISTRATION

Katie works out of our Killarney Vale clinic and is most often the voice you will hear on the phone when you call. She is a mum to two gorgeous boys, one of whom has ASD. She has walked your journey and is able to give genuine empathy when listening to your story. She has a huge smile; an infectious laugh and she keeps us all grounded.

She has a love of systems and since starting with us in 2017 she has been a driving force to many of the changes in our business that has allowed us to be more efficient. She helps our therapist's stay on top of the things they hate most, paperwork and I know, as a clinician, I would be lost and drowning in paperwork if it weren’t for Katie. She is my right-hand woman and I know that every team member just loves her, not only because she is great at what she does but because she is passionate and caring and always thinks outside the box for our Coastwide Therapy family.

KAREN - ADMINISTRATION

Meet Karen, who mostly works out of our Killarney Vale clinic and is an integral part of our team. She is a mum to her beautiful daughter and brings a wealth of book keeping and reception skills to our team helping us stay on track and be more efficient. She is dedicated to supporting our families along with all our therapists and is the queen of calculations.

She has extensive experience working in a range of local businesses and we genuinely value her skills and her pommy humour in our Coastwide Therapy family. She makes us laugh every day and her laugh is infectious.