Karen
graduated from Sydney University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Applied
Science in Occupational Therapy with Distinction. Since then she
has applied her skills in a great variety of settings focussing
on her passion for children, mental health and residential aged
care. Highlights have included:
- Completing
her final clinical placement in Canada.
- Working
at the Illawarra Child Development Centre with children with
learning and coordination difficulties.
- Attending
Elaine Wilson's training workshop "A practical approach
to OT for the child with learning and co-ordination difficulties".
- Setting
up and developing a new mental health rehabilitation service
in the St George area.
- Lecturing
in mental health at the University of Western Sydney.
- Being
awarded a Gerontology Foundation research grant to redesign
and build a nursing home garden and conduct research into the
benefits for residents.
- Completing
the Anglican Counselling Centre's training in holistic counselling.
As
a mother of 3, Karen knows the unique joys and challenges each
child brings to a family and classroom. Karen has loved running
playgroups, serving on preschool committees and helping in classrooms.
Together with her husband, she has run parenting courses, kids
camps and a variety of children's activities.
Karen
believes in working closely with parents, teachers and other professionals
and is thoroughly enjoying spending time with the wonderful children
who come to the clinic.
