Meet the Sunshine Coast team
The Early Start Australia Sunshine Coast team provide occupational therapy, and speech pathology services on the Sunshine Coast to support children and families.
Vanessa Heaton
Team Leader and Senior Speech Language Pathologist
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Speech and Language Pathology
- Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist
- First aid and CPR
Meet Vanessa, a vibrant and dedicated speech pathologist with a passion for unlocking the power of communication. Known for her fun-loving personality, Vanessa seamlessly combines professionalism with a playful touch, creating an engaging environment for clients.
Vanessa holds a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Language Pathology from Manchester Metropolitan university in the UK.
Her professional background encompasses working with children, adolescents, and their families across various settings, including private practice and the NHS.
She has provided intervention and assessment in school, home, clinic, and natural environments.
Beyond individual sessions, Vanessa has led engaging group social skill sessions, contributed to Kindy uplift projects, and provided valuable parent training.
She has a keen interest in working with tweens and teenagers, recognising the unique challenges and opportunities this age group presents.
She uses strength-based and evidence-based approaches to ensure that every child, from the littlest ones to teenagers, reaches their full communication potential.
Registration
- Registered as a Speech and Language Pathologist with Speech Pathology Australia (SPA)
- Medicare provider through Enhanced Primary Care
- Working with Children Check
Recent professional development
- Lidcombe program for treatment of stuttering
- Selective mutism treatment approaches
- ADOS administration and scoring training
- Hanan More Than Words
Areas of interest
- Social communication skills
- Phonology skills (speech sound clarity)
- Language skills
- Selective mutism
- Stuttering
Louise Skuthorpe
Senior Occupational Therapist
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)
Louise is a dedicated and fun occupational therapist, with a passion for helping children and adolescents achieve their fullest potential through hands-on, engaging therapy.
A graduate of the University of the Sunshine Coast, Louise brings extensive experience in working with children of all ages and a wide range of diagnoses.
She has a particular interest in supporting children through play-based therapy and assistive technology, using tailored, meaningful sessions that align with each child’s unique goals and strengths.
Known for her ability to connect with families, Louise creates a warm, friendly, and fun environment where children feel safe to grow and explore.
Her sessions are filled with warmth, laughter, and just the right amount of adventure—perfect for young ones who thrive in a playful atmosphere.
With teens, Louise balances her friendly approach with goal-focused support, helping them develop the confidence and skills they need as they work toward independence.
Louise’s approach combines evidence-based techniques with creativity, making therapy an enjoyable journey.
Outside of work, Louise loves spending time outdoors camping, making memories with her family, and dancing whenever she gets the chance!
Registration
- Registered as an Occupational Therapist with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
- Medicare provider through Enhanced Primary Care
- Working with Children Check
Recent professional development
- Insights Training (2024)
- Self-Regulation: It’s a state of the mind (2023)
- Sense-Up: Meaningful Sensory Diets (2023)
- NDIS functional Capacity Writing (2023)
- Occupational Performance Coaching (2022)
- NDIS Assistive Technology Applications – OTA (2021)
- Learn to Play Introduction – Karen Stagnetti (2021)
- The Art of Therapy and Connection (2020)
- Introduction to Early Start Denver Model (2019)
- Traffic Jam in My Brain (2019)
Areas of interest
- Assistive technology
- Sensory integration
- Gross motor and fine motor skills
- Daily living skills and building independence
Nadine Wilson
Occupational Therapist
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)
Nadine is a dedicated paediatric occupational therapist who is passionate about supporting children and adolescents to achieve their full potential.
Nadine enjoys working closely with children, families, and other key supports to ensure clients are achieving what is important to them.
She enjoys creating fun, engaging, and meaningful activities that promote skill-building with clients.
Nadine strives to provided family centred approaches and evidence informed practice. She also enjoys working collaboratively with children and their families as well as within a multi-disciplinary team.
Nadine is passionate with working in a variety of clinical areas, with a keen interest in toileting and mealtimes.
She has experience working with children, adolescents and their families in school, home, and clinic settings.
When not at work, Nadine enjoys spending time at the beach and exploring the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast.
Registration
- Registered as an Occupational Therapist with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
- Medicare provider through Enhanced Primary Care
- Working with Children Check
Recent professional development
- Learn to Play Introduction – Karen Stagnetti (2020)
- NDIS Functional Capacity Writing (2024)
- Learning to concern the Wees and Poos… the Basics and Beyond (2024)
- Supporting the Occupational Roles of Infants (2023)
- Toileting 101 (2020)
Ellie Hopgood
Speech Language Pathologist
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours)
Ellie completed a bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology at the University of Queensland in 2020.
She has previously worked within both private practice and a hospital rehabilitation program. With experience delivering services across the clinic, school, and the home.
Her approach focuses on evidence based collaborative practice, tailored to suit the client’s needs.
With involvement of family and the multidisciplinary team to support client centred care and a comprehensive treatment approach.
She is passionate about helping her clients build skills and achieve those goals most important to their daily lives.
Building her clients communication, develop their confidence, and their ability to advocate for what they need.
Within therapy she brings a play-based approach and values the role of joy and fun as pre-requisites for learning.
Outside of work she enjoys swimming and spending time at the ocean or in the forest.
Registration
- Certified Practicing Speech Pathology Australia Membership
- Medicare Provider
- Working with Children Check and NDIS Workers Check
Professional development
- Hanen More Than Words (2021)
- Hanen Talkability (2022)
- Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding (2022)
- Assessment and Treatment of Selective Mutism (2021)
- Introduction to AUSLAN level 1 (2021)
Areas of interest
- Articulation and phonology
- Early intervention (speech and language development)
- Selective mutism
- Social communication skills
- Feeding (picky eating and PFD)
Mel Storey
Allied Health Assistant
Qualifications
- Diploma in children’s services
- First aid/CPR
Mel joined Early Start Australia as an Allied Health Assistant after a background in early childhood and teacher aide throughout schools in regional and south east Queensland.
She completed a diploma of children services in the Central Coast NSW, finding her passion specialising in special education, supporting students with their learning goals, language, social skills and emotional regulation.
Mel’s calm, nurturing approach sees her strive on building positive relationships with children and their families to ensure they feel safe, secure and supported.
Registration
- Early childhood educator
- Working with children check
- National Police Clearance
Areas of interest
- Sensory processing
- Play skills
- Language skills