Meet The Team
Lara Hedgcock - Founder & Director
After years of working within a clinical environment seeing her fellow therapists burnout in mere months from excessive daily caseloads, unrealistic time frames and limited professional development opportunities, Lara knew there had to be a better way. After months of collaborating and planning, Youth OT was created to better serve the community and the chosen few therapists working alongside her. Lara specialises in offering services to children, adolescents, young adults and their families with focus on achieving developmental milestones, growing independence, building social connections and fostering a happy and healthy lifestyle. She has a kind heart and genuine care for her families. She prioritises individualising therapy to meet the specific needs of the child and their family. Lara supervises and guides all Youth OT therapists to ensure the standard of therapy is above and beyond the industry standard.
Lachlan Treacher – Practice Manager
Lachlan is the Practice Manager for Youth OT, where he oversees daily operations and ensures the delivery of high-quality occupational therapy services for young clients. With a strong commitment to improving the lives of children, adolescents, and young adults. Lachlan works closely with a dedicated team to support our clients in achieving their personal goals and enhancing their independence. His role combines leadership, strategic planning, and a passion for making a positive impact in the field of occupational therapy.
Sam Tisdell - Occupational Therapist - Gold Coast
Sam has been a qualified occupational therapist for many years, she discovered her passion for working with children and adolescents during her university degree and began working in Paediatrics upon graduating. Sam is passionate about supporting people to increase their independence and assisting them to achieve their goals. She prioritises enjoyment in therapy and aims to make therapy meaningful and purposeful for her clients and families.
Sam’s experience spans from two years old into adulthood specialising in, though not limited to, ASD, FASD, GDD, ADHD, DS, CP, CF and ID. Sam’s Occupational Therapy intervention includes self-care, school-based skills, social skills, self-regulation, executive functioning, sensory processing, and daily living skills. Sam excels in producing documentation, assessments and resources to support her clients and families to access their needed services.
In her personal time Sam enjoys travelling and spending time with her daughter.
Dayna Spence – Occupational Therapist - Gold Coast
Dayna is a dedicated and compassionate paediatric occupational therapist. She is committed to providing personalised and evidence-based interventions that support the growth and well-being of each client. Known for building strong, trusting relationships with both clients and their families, Dayna strives to create a nurturing and supportive environment that fosters progress and confidence. Dayna is highly experienced working with children, adolescents and young adults who have a neurodivergent profile including those diagnosed with ASD, FASD, GDD, ADHD, DS, CP, ID and genetic disorders.
In addition to hands-on therapy, Dayna actively collaborates with educators, caregivers, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure a holistic approach to each child's care. Dayna’s passion for paediatric occupational therapy is evident in her dedication to ongoing professional development and staying current with the latest research and interventions in the field. Dayna is well-known for her expertise in report writing specifically for NDIS criteria.
Personally, Dayna enjoys spending time with her family and is an avid traveller.
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Analea Barnes – Occupational Therapist - Northern NSW
Analea worked previously as a Rehabilitation Counsellor for over 10 years, prior to starting her own family. After having children, Analea’s passion for understanding and supporting children’s development increased resulting in her completion of her Masters of Occupational Therapy at Bond University on the Gold Coast. Analea strives toward ensuring children and their families are supported to achieve their individual and unique goals. Analea is passionate about children developing their foundational skills, self-confidence, emotional and self-awareness in a safe and supported environment. She loves working with families to not only build and support the development of a child but to encourage the growth of the parents and carers so they can feel empowered in their role as well. Analea specialises in children with neurodivergent profiles including ASD, FASD, ADHD and GDD along with CP, DS and ID diagnoses.
When not at work Analea enjoys spending time away with the family camping, playing netball and bootcamp. *Analea is based in Northern NSW and works with children aged 4 - 10 years old.
Ruby Watts - Occupational Therapist - Gold Coast & Northern NSW
Ruby is a dedicated paediatric Occupational Therapist who has experience in working with neurodivergent individuals, including those diagnosed with ASD, FASD, GDD, ADHD, CP, DS, ID, genetic disorders, decreased muscle tone, hypermobility, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Before embarking on her Occupational Therapy journey, Ruby spent a decade in the health and fitness industry, where she worked with a diverse range of clients of all ages and abilities. Her passion for helping people flourished during this time and ultimately led her to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy.
Ruby has a strong commitment to making a positive impact and is particularly passionate about working with children, adolescents, young adults and their families to provide a safe, neuroaffirmative and strength-based approach to therapy. Her areas of interest span a wide range of therapeutic modalities, including leisure and play-based approaches aimed at developing essential skills. Ruby specialises in the therapeutic use of art, yoga, boxing, and other innovative methods, all while supporting social-emotional learning, addressing sensory processing differences, nurturing identity, and fostering the development of fine and gross motor skills.
Ruby's unique background in both health and fitness, coupled with her experience in Occupational Therapy, equips her with a holistic understanding of the needs of her clients. She is dedicated to collaborating closely with families and caregivers to develop tailored interventions that support each child's unique abilities and potential for growth.
Amy Coulston - Occupational Therapist - Gold Coast
Amy is an experienced and dedicated Occupational Therapist with a strong background in paediatric and mental health therapy. She is passionate about supporting individuals across the lifespan, helping them engage in meaningful daily activities and achieving their goals. With expertise in both clinical and community settings, Amy excels in assessment, therapeutic interventions, goal development and documentation. Her experience spans from childhood into adulthood specialising in, though not limited to, ASD, FASD, GDD, ADHD, DS, CP, ID and genetic disorders.
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Amy has always had a particular interest in paediatrics, working with children, adolescents and young adults to support improved occupational performance and engagement. Her work is driven by her belief in the importance of building strong relationships with her clients and their families. Amy is skilled in creating and implementing therapeutic programs, advocating for clients, and writing comprehensive reports to ensure access to necessary resources. Known for her exceptional communication, time management, and collaborative skills, Amy is dedicated to delivering client-centered and family-centered care and achieving positive outcomes for those she works with.
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In her personal time she always makes sure there is time for the beach and to play with her dog.
Madi Cvelbar - Occupational Therapist - Gold Coast
Madi’s ambition is to work with children, young adults and their families to provide the best support and environments to grow, thrive and reach their full potential. Her passion in Occupational Therapy is to turn meaningful everyday activities into engaging and fun games to develop key skills such as self-care, school readiness, developmental milestones, social skills, regulation and so much more.
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Madi’s experience spans across young childhood into early adulthood working with those diagnosed with ASD, FASD, ADHD, GDD, CP, ID and genetic disorders. She is trained in providing relevant evidence documents for the NDIS and is experienced in assistive technology equipment prescription.
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Madi has a bright and bubbly personality that is reflected in her therapy and genuine connections she builds with her clients and families.
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