Occupational Therapy Team
Narelle Hypatidis
Director of Macarthur Paediatric Occupational Therapy
Narelle is the director and owner of Macarthur Paediatric Occupational Therapy. She is a registered Occupational Therapist with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) and over 30 years’ experience working as an OT, with the last 20 years dedicated to assisting children in the Macarthur Area reaching their functional potential.
Narelle has experience with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Sensory Processing Disorders, Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), developmental delays, fine and gross motor skills, handwriting skills, co-ordination skills, and sensory processing skills, Down syndrome, learning disabilities some behavioural issues such as Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) and minor physical disabilities.
Narelle also has experience in developing and tailoring individual therapy sessions, OT specific groups and transdisciplinary groups.
Through her experience, Narelle utilises a family centred approach to intervention by working with parents to develop skills to enhance the child’s ability to manage within their environments, including home, community and preschool/school areas.
Narelle believes in a collaborative approach and that as a team we become the building blocks of success for each individual child and family. She believes that collaboration in therapy can empower not only the child but the parent, family and therapist as well.
As one of the lead therapists, Narelle not only brings her knowledge to each individual therapy session, she shares her clinical and leadership skills with the rest of the MPOT team to help develop the others and practice as a whole.
Tahlita Thomas
Tahlita is a registered Occupational Therapist and has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy). She joined our team in 2014 and has experience working with children in a variety of settings. She has provided school-based therapy, completing fine and gross motor intervention with individuals, small groups and whole classes.
Since joining the team at Macarthur Paediatric Occupational Therapy, Tahlita has developed her skills in a wide variety of areas including general child development, sensory processing, emotional regulation, visual perception, fine and gross motor skills, self-care and community access. Tahlita is experienced in providing assessments and observations to paediatricians and referring specialists to diagnose a variety of neurological disorders including; Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Oppositional Defiance Disorder and Anxiety. Her role includes providing intervention relating to the aforementioned diagnoses including that of Down’s Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Global and Developmental Delay amongst others.
Tahlita is also involved in our local community facilitating school readiness programs to pre-schools and providing occupational therapy services to local schools in the form of educational talks and screening children to better assist teachers and executives to be implementing specific programs to manage targeted children and their needs in their school environment.
Tahlita thoroughly enjoys her work as an Occupational Therapist and the limitless ways we can assist your child be the best they can be in a variety of areas as well ensuring a family centred approach is maintained and goals are achieved.
Tahlita is continually increasing her professional development by attending conferences, seminars and involvement within the profession as an active member of Occupational Therapy Australia; ensuring she is up to date with current research in the field. Tahlita has attended a number of courses to assist with intervention including DIR floor time, SOS approach to feeding and 1,2,3 Magic and Emotion Coaching.
Within Macarthur Paediatric Occupational Therapy, Tahlita is classified as a Senior Therapist supervising younger staff members regarding their clinical skills and providing support in their role as developing therapists.
Fiona Tisdale
Fiona has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) with 25 years experience working as an Occupational Therapist in the Macarthur area. She joined the MPOT team in 2019.
Fiona is passionate about ensuring all children are able to actively participate in the activities important to them and their families and achieve their developmental potential. She utilises a family centred approach working with the parents to set goals and develop skills that enhance the child’s ability to manage everyday tasks.
Fiona has experience with children with developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder, fine and gross motor skills, prewriting/handwriting skills, co-ordination skills, sensory processing skills, feeding, Down syndrome, and learning disabilities. She has a particular interest in working with children prior to starting school.
Fiona has experience working with clients individually, in groups and within the community such as at school or preschool.
Fiona is a member of OT Australia and engages in regular professional development activities to ensure her therapy is evidence based.
Within Macarthur Paediatric Occupational Therapy, Fiona is classified as a Senior Therapist supervising younger staff members regarding their clinical skills and providing support in their role as developing therapists.
Taighlor Jarrett
Taighlor has a Bachelor of Health Science/Masters of Occupational Therapy and graduated in 2013. She joined our team in 2011 as a student in a variety of roles such as aide work, reception, and administration. As an aide, she worked in school readiness groups and with siblings of clients during individual sessions.
Taighlor firmly believes in a family centred approach – working with the family to set and achieve goals to help the child participate in meaningful activities in their day-to-day lives. She works with children of all ages, but has a special interest in young and toddler-aged children. She focuses on a variety of areas such as sensory processing issues, learning difficulties, developmental delays, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down Syndrome, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, and hand strength and coordination difficulties.
Taighlor has run school readiness, handwriting, and social skills groups in our rooms; as well as fine motor and school readiness, and sensory processing groups in the community (run by council and other organisations). She is also involved with some schools and preschools, providing information and support to both parents and educators.
Taighlor is working hard to keep up to date with new research by attending seminars and courses, and being an active member of Occupational Therapy Australia. She has completed a number of courses, including The Action is in the Interaction: DIR Floortime, and SENSE-ational! Mealtimes: Making Sense of Tricky Mealtime Behaviour. Taighlor is also currently learning AUSLAN.
Erica Farrugia
Erica has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) and graduated in 2012. Erica has always had a passion for working with children in which she worked as a Teacher’s Aide in a local primary school throughout her studies.
Erica joined our practice in January 2018 after spending the previous 5 years conducting school-based intervention to upskill Teachers and school staff as well as working with individual clients, promoting family-centred practice.
Erica has experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD), learning difficulties, handwriting difficulties, visual perceptual difficulties, poor fine and gross motor skills as well as children who have difficulty with sensory processing.
Erica is also a member of Occupational Therapy Australia and is always looking at ways to enhance her professional development. Erica has completed a number of courses including Handwriting Without Tears (HWT), Introduction to Clinical Supervision, Integrated Listening Systems, Essentials of Praxis Intervention, Traffic Jam in my Brain, Anger and Defiance, Understanding the Why Behind the Behaviour as well as completing her mental health first aide course. Erica has also completed various webinars to assist with keeping up to date with the most current research to ensure she implements evidence-based practice.
Joshua Caulfield
Joshua has a Bachelor of Health Science/Masters of Occupational Therapy and is a registered Occupational Therapist. He joined our team in 2015 as a student to work as an aide to assist in our school readiness groups and with individual clients. Joshua has been working as an occupational therapist since 2017.
He works with children of all ages for individual and group sessions in our rooms at Raby, Campbelltown and in the community. Joshua works with children and their families focussing on a variety of areas such as fine motor skills, gross motor skills, visual perception, sensory regulation, and emotional regulation. Joshua has a strong understanding and interest in self-regulation and behaviour to assist children to engage in their environments and activities of daily living.
Joshua strives to uphold family centred practice as the basis to his therapy to establish family driven goals and help support children to independently participate in their daily activities.
Joshua looks to continually improve and increase his professional development as an OT. He attends conferences, seminars and ensures he is up to date with research as an active member of Occupational Therapy Australia.
Recent courses include:
· Understanding and responding to challenging behaviours (UCB) in children and adolescents.
· Emotion and behaviour management for children and teens with ASD.
Roanne Popple
Roanne joined our team in late 2020 and is a has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) and is a registered Occupational Therapist.
Roanne is located at out Raby office and has run school readiness groups during school holidays.
Roanne believes in the family centred approach - She enjoys working with clients and their families to assist them to develop the skills required to be able to engage in everyday life activities with greater independence and less difficulty.
Roanne is a member of Occupational Therapy Australia and is continually striving to improve and increase her professional development as an OT. She attends seminar and completes online courses and ensures she is up to date with the latest research in order to provide an evidence-based service. Roanne has completed the art of paediatrics and positive parenting workshops.
Benjamin Black
Ben has a Bachelor of Health Science, Masters of Health Science (Intellectual and Developmental Disability), Bachelor of Occupational Therapy and is a registered Occupational Therapist. He joined the team in 2021 as an aide to assist in school readiness and boys’ groups. He also worked with a range of individual clients in the community to assist them in reaching their goals, ranging from learning to ride a scooter to improving emotional regulation. Ben has worked as an Occupational Therapist since becoming registered late 2021.
Ben works with children of all ages and has a keen interest in working with his clients and their families to assist in developing areas such as gross motor skills, fine motor skills, emotional regulation, and social skills. Ben believes that a family centred approach to practice will help provide children and their families with the tools to help support increased independence in the activities of daily living that are most important to them.
Ben is continually looking to improve his knowledge and understanding of intellectual and developmental disabilities in order to provide clients and their families with the most effective and evidence-based intervention approaches and strategies available.
Celina Zervas
Celina is a registered Occupational Therapist with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. Celina joined the MPOT team in 2021 as an Occupational Therapy Aide to assist clients with achieving their goals. Whilst studying at university Celina provided support to children with disabilities and their families as a support worker.
Celina has a passion for working with children, finding it exceptionally rewarding to help them work towards achieving their goals and becoming the best versions of themselves. She believes in the value of the family centre approach, aiding in building and developing skills to best assist your child and their independence. She works with children in the clinic, home and in the school setting focusing on a variety areas.
Celina is a member of Occupational Therapy Australia and is always endeavouring to increase her professional development as an OT. She continues to keep up to date with evidence-based practice by reading journal articles and attending seminars.
Alyssa Abella
Alyssa completed a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy and is a registered Occupational Therapist. She joined our team in 2021 as an Allied Health Assistant, which aided in her transition to working as an Occupational Therapist in early 2023. Alyssa assisted in the development of resources for school readiness groups during school holidays. She has previously completed a project placement at a Primary School to develop a Fine Motor Skills Program for children from K-2, involving research using an evidence-based approach. Alyssa also has previous experience working as a Disability Support Worker, helping individuals with disabilities who have complex needs and require maximum assistance in completing self-care occupations.
Alyssa is passionate about helping children of all ages achieve their goals and develop independence within the home, school and community. She is able to build rapport with children and work closely with their families to practice a family-centred approach. Alyssa is flexible to provide therapy to children within the clinic, home and school settings.
Alyssa is a member of Occupational Therapy Australia, aspiring to continually increase her professional development as an Occupational Therapist. She ensures to keep up to date with the most current research to practice an evidence-based approach by attending webinars and completing online courses.
