About Us
From our unique experience working as Allied Health professionals across the Northern Territory and rural South Australia, the majority of our clients were required to travel vast distances from remote communities and regional centres to receive essential Allied Health therapies in major cities. Research from the NPY Women’s Council Aboriginal Corporation suggests that “Aṉangu and Yarnangu with a disability want to live in their communities, on the NPY lands, with family,” and further evidence suggests better health outcomes can be achieved by remaining in community.
Running a community based Allied Health Service is something we’ve been working towards for some time. Our Director and Occupational Therapist Emily moved to Pukatja (Ernabella) with her young family in early 2020, with husband Ben a teacher at the local Anangu School. This presented the perfect opportunity for her to utilise her Occupational Therapy expertise within the local community and provide a better service for NDIS participants, their families and people with chronic health conditions. She has since moved back to Alice Springs and continues to utilise her expertise as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist.
From our origins in Central Australia, we expanded our practice to Broome to serve communities in remote Western Australia and the Kimberley. We have also collaborated with Outreach Physiotherapy in the NT to see more clients in Darwin and around the Top End.
Our Mildura clinic runs monthly, to provide prosthetic and orthotic services in the Sunraysia region. We have partnered with the Mildura Base Public Hospital, Bendigo Health and local service providers to provide local services to clients.
We care about our clients and their health, and aim to enable them to remain in their communities whilst receiving essential Allied Health therapies. We utilise modern innovations such as Telehealth, 3D printing, bionic components and CAD/CAM, whilst working alongside other local organisations to provide best practice, holistic services for our clients to meet their goals and achieve their best lifestyle.
Emily Howland
Occupational Therapist
Emily is passionate about rural and remote health and gained a broad range of experience at the Alice Springs Hospital, including inpatient medical, surgical/orthopaedic, rehabilitation, hand therapy and renal occupational therapy. Within this role she was responsible for providing supervision and mentorship to Occupational Therapy University students and Allied Health assistants with the hospital. She also pursued an interest in research projects that focused on improving the quality and effectiveness of OT services within the Central Australian context. These findings were presented at the Occupational Therapy Association conference in 2017.
Emily moved to Adelaide to work at Kudos Services (formerly Child and Youth Services SA) in 2018, providing community-based therapeutic input for children with disabilities aged 7+ years and experience working within the scope of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Earlier in 2020, Emily moved with her young family to live within the Ernabella community.
Jarrod Cahir
Orthotist/Prosthetist
Jarrod has extensive experience working in the Prosthetics & Orthotics industry, particularly in the rural and remote settings of the Northern Territory and South Australia. He has mentored students and clinicians in Australia and abroad. With a Masters of Clinical Prosthetics & Orthotics and Masters of Health Administration, Jarrod worked with the National Disability Insurance Agency, specialising in rural and remote planning and assistive technology and pursuing an interest in assisting people in remote regions to access health services; before starting as Senior Orthotist at the London Orthotic Consultancy in the UK in 2019 where he specialised in the supply of paediatric and lower limb orthotics.
In 2016 Jarrod received the Alice Springs Town Council Mayor’s “Champion” Award, for ‘Outstanding Service to Disability’ for his work on inclusive practices within the Central Australian Health Service, particularly the Prosthetics ‘Deadly Legs’ Program.
Oskar Stenseke
Orthotist/Prosthetist
After completing a BSc with a Major in Prosthetics & Orthotics at Jonkoping University, Sweden, Oskar made the move to Australia in 2013. His clinical experience comes from working within large public hospital groups Alfred Health and Austin Health, and providing acute and ambulatory Orthotic & Prosthetic (O&P) services to several peak and state-wide services within the Victorian public health system.
Oskar thrives on all facets of O&P delivery, and thinks the best part of the job is building rapport and getting to know his clients. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge with clients, other health care professionals, and students alike. He has delivered countless educational sessions for different hospitals as well as lectures for the Prosthetics & Orthotics course at La Trobe University.
Since March 2020, Oskar has worked for an Aboriginal Medical Service in Broome, raising awareness about NDIS and assisting people in remote communities accessing the scheme.