The Team
Emma McLean, our Director and Occupational Therapist
Meet Emma McLean, the principal Occupational Therapist and Director at Kalos Therapy.
Emma brings a wealth of expertise in neurodiversity-affirming practice and a passion for supporting children, adolescents, and young adults in reaching their full potential.
Emma’s approach is rooted in empathy and understanding. She appreciates evidence-based practices whilst also recognising the limitations of current available evidence (especially within the autistic space), and is therefore passionate about learning from others with lived experience.
Emma prioritises individualised care and allows each person she works with to feel seen, supported, and empowered to achieve their goals. She is dedicated to fostering inclusive, accessible therapy experiences that not only improve daily living skills but also build confidence, resilience, and autonomy in the face of life’s unique challenges. She also loves to have fun!
Emma's Qualifications and Experience
Emma graduated with her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) from the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2018. She is registered with AHPRA and holds all required checks, including her Yellow card and Blue card.
Emma loves expanding her knowledge and understanding in lots of different areas, and engages in regular continuing professional development. Some of these courses/learnings include completion of:
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- MIGDAS-2 Training (autism assessment)
- MoCA Training
- DIR 101: An Introduction to DIR and DIR Floortime
- SleepAbility course
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (ongoing)
- Various neurodiversity-affirming education and training
- Various interoception courses via Kelly Mahler
- Various sensory processing courses including The Traffic Jam in my Brain
- Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia (ongoing)
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Emma's Story
A late-in-life diagnosed ADHDer, Emma was influenced to study Occupational Therapy after a suggestion from her Year 11 Biology teacher. After finishing her degree, she began her career in the aged care space on the Coast, quickly transitioning to a Site Lead position and then a Team Lead position after only 12 months in the role. After 2 years in this space, she transitioned into the NDIS world in late 2020, and hasn’t looked back.
Emma loves our beautiful country, and since commencing work in the NDIS space has spent time in Mackay (QLD) and Newcastle (NSW) before landing back on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in late 2024, where she plans to stay.
Emma loves her sport, especially cheering on her beloved Collingwood Magpies in the AFL and the Matildas, Australia’s women’s national soccer team. She loves playing and coaching soccer, spending time with her friends and family, board games, and camping.
Tiff, our Chief Admin
Tiff is the friendly face behind the scenes, making sure everything runs smoothly so our team can focus on what we do best – supporting you. With a background in administration and a passion for creating structure and ease, she’s here to ensure your experience with us is supportive, seamless, and stress-free.
Tiff's Story
