Team Profiles

All HoPALoNG Therapists provide individualised assessment using standardised and observational assessment tools sourced from Australia, UK and USA.

Tahnee Westbury - BAppSc(OT) AccOT
Clinical Manager and Occupational Therapist

Tahnee has significant clinical experience specialising in Paediatrics having worked as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist in Sydney, London and rural England. Tahnee is an Accredited Occupational Therapist.

She has a passion for and works extensively with students with a variety of learning difficulties while managing HoPALoNG Services, occupational therapy students and the Team of occupational therapists.

Tahnee has presented at the Australian Dyspraxia Association Yearly Conference as well as to teachers at numerous schools.

Michelle O'Sullivan - Occupational Therapist

Michelle graduated from Sydney University in 2008 with the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence. Michelle has university clinical placement experience in Paediatrics as well as working with children in her previous employment at Learning Links. Michelle worked as an occupational therapist voluntarily in Tanzania, Africa in a number of orphanages earlier this year. Michelle is a member of OT Australia NSW Association and registered with Medicare Australia.

Simone Vella (nee Watts) - Occupational Therapist

Simone joined the HoPALoNG team in April 2010 having previously worked for herself in paediatrics around the Sutherland Shire. Simone completed her Bachelor of Applied Sciences (Occupational Therapy) degree at the University of Western Sydney in 2009. She has worked with children across many fields, including as a ski instructor (in Australia, USA and Canada), children’s party entertainer, sports coach, youth group leader and music teacher. Simone is recently married and works at HoPALoNG on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays at Peakhurst as well as as occupational therapist at a speech therapy clicnic in Wetherill Park.

Simone has recently completed her 3 day training in DIR (Floortime) Intervention. She is a member of OT Australia NSW Association and is registered with Medicare Australia.

Sentheesh Thiruchelvam - Occupational Therapist

Sentheesh has worked with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental delays, Down Syndrome, Sensory processing disorders and learning difficulties for 3 years and completed his final university placement in paeditric and community development in India.
Sentheesh has a special interest working with children, specialising in early intervention services with children with multiple needs and autism spectrum disorders. Sentheesh currently works at HoPALoNG on Saturdays and works full time in paediatrics at Northcott Disabiliy Services. He has previously worked at Koorana Early Intervention Services.

Sentheesh has completed training in; Gen Jereb & Carol Kranowitz 'Out of sync child' and will continue training in the Wilbarger Therapressure protocol for treating sensory defensiveness. He has extensive experience using standardised and non-standardised assessment for establishing a baseline for intervention.

Sentheesh has attended further training Sensory Processing, presented by Jen Jereb and motor skill difficulties attending the CHERI Conference in September 2010. Sentheesh is a member of OT Australia NSW Association and is registered with Medicare Australia.

Lauren Tucker - Occupational Therapist

Thursday and Fridays at Peakhurst.

Affiliated Staff

Barbara Westbury - BSc, DipEd Tutor for Academic and Life Skills

Barbara runs BrightSparks Skills offering individualised tutoring and life skills programs for school and university students with ADD/ADHD, Autism, Aspergers and Learning Difficulties. Barbara has been a high school science teacher for 16 years at several schools in Sydney and specialises in children with learning difficulties. Barbara has first-hand experience with ADD and ADHD and has raised two successful children.

Download the BrightSparks brochure.




About HoPALoNG History What happens at OT? Children enjoy OT! What is Occupational Therapy? What is OT? How can OT help my child? Does my child need OT? HoPALoNG Services Centre Based School/Preschool based Home based Group programs Equipment and Resources Training and In-Services What Is It? Sensory Integration Therapeutic Listening Motor Skills Handwriting Intervention - OPIT Education, Support and Links FAQs Brochures and Forms Team Profile Tahnee Westbury Michelle O'Sullivan Simone Vella Sentheesh Thiruchelvam Lauren Tucker Contact Us Home	Team Profiles All HoPALoNG Therapists provide individualised assessment using standardised and observational assessment tools sourced from Australia, UK and USA. Tahnee Westbury - BAppSc(OT) AccOT Clinical Manager and Occupational Therapist Tahnee has significant clinical experience specialising in Paediatrics having worked as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist in Sydney, London and rural England. Tahnee is an Accredited Occupational Therapist. She has a passion for and works extensively with students with a variety of learning difficulties while managing HoPALoNG Services, occupational therapy students and the Team of occupational therapists. Tahnee has presented at the Australian Dyspraxia Association Yearly Conference as well as to teachers at numerous schools. Michelle O'Sullivan - Occupational Therapist Michelle graduated from Sydney University in 2008 with the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence. Michelle has university clinical placement experience in Paediatrics as well as working with children in her previous employment at Learning Links. Michelle worked as an occupational therapist voluntarily in Tanzania, Africa in a number of orphanages earlier this year. Michelle is a member of OT Australia NSW Association and registered with Medicare Australia. Simone Vella (nee Watts) - Occupational Therapist Simone joined the HoPALoNG team in April 2010 having previously worked for herself in paediatrics around the Sutherland Shire. Simone completed her Bachelor of Applied Sciences (Occupational Therapy) degree at the University of Western Sydney in 2009. She has worked with children across many fields, including as a ski instructor (in Australia, USA and Canada), children’s party entertainer, sports coach, youth group leader and music teacher. Simone is recently married and works at HoPALoNG on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays at Peakhurst as well as as occupational therapist at a speech therapy clicnic in Wetherill Park. Simone has recently completed her 3 day training in DIR (Floortime) Intervention. She is a member of OT Australia NSW Association and is registered with Medicare Australia. Sentheesh Thiruchelvam - Occupational Therapist Sentheesh has worked with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental delays, Down Syndrome, Sensory processing disorders and learning difficulties for 3 years and completed his final university placement in paeditric and community development in India. Sentheesh has a special interest working with children, specialising in early intervention services with children with multiple needs and autism spectrum disorders. Sentheesh currently works at HoPALoNG on Saturdays and works full time in paediatrics at Northcott Disabiliy Services. He has previously worked at Koorana Early Intervention Services. Sentheesh has completed training in; Gen Jereb & Carol Kranowitz 'Out of sync child' and will continue training in the Wilbarger Therapressure protocol for treating sensory defensiveness. He has extensive experience using standardised and non-standardised assessment for establishing a baseline for intervention. Sentheesh has attended further training Sensory Processing, presented by Jen Jereb and motor skill difficulties attending the CHERI Conference in September 2010. Sentheesh is a member of OT Australia NSW Association and is registered with Medicare Australia. Lauren Tucker - Occupational Therapist Thursday and Fridays at Peakhurst. Affiliated Staff Barbara Westbury - BSc, DipEd Tutor for Academic and Life Skills Barbara runs BrightSparks Skills offering individualised tutoring and life skills programs for school and university students with ADD/ADHD, Autism, Aspergers and Learning Difficulties. Barbara has been a high school science teacher for 16 years at several schools in Sydney and specialises in children with learning difficulties. Barbara has first-hand experience with ADD and ADHD and has raised two successful children. Download the BrightSparks brochure.

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