Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Our Occupational Therapist’s support clients to develop fine and gross motor skills and to achieve independence in all areas of their lives. Our team of qualified OT’s can support you to improve daily function and activities. We offer home modifications, equipment prescription, paediatrics, assistive technology, rehabilitation and much more. Our Occupational Therapists offer a comprehensive range of therapy, assessments, and reports for clients of all ages.
Tara Henning
Tara is an experienced Occupational Therapist with over 15 years of practice, specialising in working with children and families within the mental health sector. She brings dedicated expertise in areas including:
Family-centred interventions
Autism-specific support and assessments, including ADOS‑2 protocols
Anxiety, trauma-informed practice, and sensory-modulation approaches
With additional qualifications in animal-assisted therapy, rural practice, and group interventions (e.g. Secret Agent Society), Tara is well-equipped to offer holistic, evidence-based services tailored to families facing unique challenges
A passionate advocate for regional health equity, Tara is particularly committed to delivering occupational therapy services to rural communities, empowering families to achieve their goals and thrive.
Kelly Seng
Kelly graduated from the University of Queensland in 2000, launching a paediatric Occupational Therapy career spanning over 20 years. She has a long and successful history working within the Queensland Education system and joined Dalby Allied Health to broaden her practice and community reach.
Kelly is highly experienced in supporting children—particularly those with high needs—to develop functional skills and succeed in daily life. With a kind, caring demeanour and a gentle approach, she empowers paediatric clients to build independence and achieve their developmental goals.
Kelly embodies the DAH mission of delivering compassionate, high-quality, evidence-based paediatric Occupational Therapy—particularly to regional families—and is a trusted partner in helping children thrive.
Julia Phan
Julia is an Occupational Therapist with 5 years' experience. She has worked in a variety of areas including adults, aged care and paediatrics and has enjoyed helping people across all walks of life. Originally from Brisbane, Julia is looking forward to developing her clinical skills in rural Queensland and to learn more about the country life! She is passionate and looking forward to collaborating with individuals and families to achieve meaningful goals.
Georgia Ryan
Georgia joined the Dalby Allied Health team in 2024 as an Occupational Therapist. She completed her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in 2022 at the University of the Sunshine Coast and returned to Dalby—her hometown—bringing fresh skills and a heartfelt connection to the region.
With a strong passion for rural health, Georgia is dedicated to offering essential OT services to her community. She particularly enjoys working with paediatric clients, focusing on self-regulation and self-care skill development, helping children build independence and confidence in daily routines.
Indi - Therapy Assistance Dog
Our Occupational Therapist, Tara, has completed certification as a therapy dog handler in collaboration with her dog Indi, through the nationally recognised Therapy Dogs Australia training program. Indi is a certified Level 2 therapy Assistance Dog. Together, they are now an accredited therapy dog team, enabling us to offer Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) to our clients.
What is AAT?
Animal‑Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a structured, therapist‑led intervention that incorporates a specially trained animal—in this case, Indi—into a tailored treatment plan. It is designed to support improved emotional, social, cognitive, and physical well‑being for clients.
During AAT, the therapist, client, and animal work collaboratively toward clear, measurable therapeutic goals, with Indi acting as a supportive partner rather than the primary focus of treatment
How will this look if I see Tara and Indi?
Indi offers more than companionship—she actively supports client engagement and therapeutic progress within structured sessions led by Occupational Therapist Tara.
Engagement & Motivation
Indi creates a warm, inviting presence that makes therapy more approachable—especially helpful for clients who find it difficult to attend sessions or sit in traditional settings.
Sensory Calming & Arousal Regulation
Gentle activities like petting or grooming provide tactile and proprioceptive input that helps reduce anxiety and support emotional regulation.
Movement & Grounding Activities
Walking or gentle interaction with Indi provides movement-based self‑regulation and calming, ideal for clients who benefit from active engagement or outdoor time.
Mindfulness & Psychoeducation
Observing and reflecting on Indi’s responses—such as how tone, body language, or emotion affects her behaviour—can help clients understand stress responses and apply regulation strategies.
Social Skills Development
Indi acts as a “social mirror”: noticing how she responds to nonverbal cues helps teach social awareness, communication, and body language skills. These insights can be generalized beyond the session.
Emotional Awareness & Confidence Building
Through structured interaction, clients build confidence and emotional awareness by learning co‑regulation skills, noticing triggers, and observing outcomes in real-time.
Distraction During Distress
When experiencing stress or dysregulation, Indi provides a non-judgmental presence that offers comforting distraction and helps shift focus toward calm.
Fun & Enjoyment
Indi makes sessions enjoyable and meaningful—activities involving her often lead to higher participation, engagement, and willingness to explore therapeutic goals.
Group Participation
Indi also joins small group sessions occasionally, facilitating:
Social interaction among peers
Peer modeling of emotional regulation
Shared, animal-supported learning experiences
Things Tara and Indi can’t do:
· Treat dog phobia
· Assess, report or make recommendations about an assistance dog.
· Visit your school, go on public transport or into public areas that do not admit dogs.
· Be at every appointment. Just like humans, sometimes Indi will be away on sick leave. You will be informed before your appointment about this. You and Tara will continue with regular sessions until Indi is back on board.
FAQS
Available for appointments Monday - Friday.
NDIS Accredited Providers
No Referral required
Experience with Medicare Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) referrals
Available to see clients of all ages from infancy to adulthood.