I am a mother of three beautiful daughters, all of whom have different disabilities and all of whom have provided my husband and I with so many learning opportunities along the way.
 

We have been through the journey of getting a diagnosis, researching the different disabilities, learning how to parent children with disabilities, and also advocating for my children to external family and friends that older parenting methods don't work.

 

I've experienced previous support/care systems and then transitioned to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), navigating and gaining understanding in areas such as NDIS funding categories, therapeutic supports and beyond. The NDIS was a blessing for our family as it meant our children could access the support and services they deserved to build capacity and develop life skills. This assistance has played a significant role in shaping them into who they are today.​

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It is rewarding to see the benefits of therapy and what it has done for our children. Appreciating the value of having quality, passionate therapists as part of our journey has been invaluable.
 

Traditional clinical therapy didn't work for one of my daughters; it was a challenge to get her to engage. As a teacher of over 16 years, I am known for my out-of-the-box thinking and ability to engage and teach students in a way that inspires a love of learning in their unique way. So, I started researching new innovative methods I could use for my daughter. Her love of animals, particularly horses, inspired my thoughts, and my research led me to learn how animals can be used for therapeutic purposes.

 

As I grew up with many animals and have been riding horses since the age of seven, I thought, let's start with a young green project horse. Fast forward to today, Poppy has taught all my children communication, social behaviour, breathing techniques, mindfulness, looking after someone other than themselves, and so much more.
 

Poppy the horse is just one of the many animals we connect with on the farm. We also have Stormy the horse, our dog, our cat, our chickens (whose names keep changing), Habanero our rooster (who is a lover, not a fighter), and our Nigerian Dwarf goats (our babies): Scarlett, Casper, Phoenix, Chunky and Peaches. We are looking to add to our furry family in the near future.
 

With 16 years of teaching within the vocational education and training sector, empowering individuals by imparting valuable skills, my role as a Local Area Coordinator with the NDIS assisting participants in navigating the NDIS, the planning and more, and as a parent raising children with disabilities, I bring many firsthand experiences.

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Thanks for taking the time to read about my journey to becoming a Developmental Educator (DE). I am thankful for being able to give back to the Whitsunday community and support participants and families, just as our family was and still is. I am passionate about being a DE and providing a holistic, person-centred, strengths-based approach to therapy.

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