Meet the team
All four of our occupational therapists are registered with AHPRA. You’ll know who’s coming before they arrive, and you can ask for a particular clinician when you refer.
Ellen Williams
Principal Occupational Therapist · Master of Occupational Therapy, University of Sydney, 2015 · AHPRA registered
Ellen has worked across residential aged care, insurance, veterans’ services and disability, with the last seven years primarily in community aged care and disability settings. She began her career with a focus on complex physical, neurodegenerative and palliative caseloads, and a particular interest in complex home modifications.
While she still holds those passions, the past few years have seen her shift clinical focus towards mental health therapy, with professional development in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, trauma-informed care and neuroaffirming practice. She describes herself as a generalist and applies her clinical skills across a broad caseload.
Takes on
Psychosocial, neurodevelopmental and physical caseload
Pressure care assessment and care plans
Minor and complex home modifications
Manual handling and personal care plans
Complex assistive equipment — power wheelchairs, scripted seating, hoists
Skill building therapy
Home and Living assessments
Mental health therapy
Services
Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Upper Central Coast
Ainslie Howarth
Occupational Therapist · University of Newcastle, 2018 · AHPRA registered
Ainslie’s path into occupational therapy started by watching her brother work with an OT. Driven by a deep desire to help people and make a meaningful impact, she has built her career around compassionate, person-centred care.
Since graduating she has worked primarily in residential and community aged care and disability, delivering services under aged care and NDIS programs. She has a particular interest in neurological conditions and complex seating needs, and is committed to helping people achieve comfort, function and independence in daily life.
Takes on
Physical and neurological caseload
Pressure care assessment and care plans
Minor home modifications
Manual handling and personal care plans
Complex assistive equipment and scripted seating
Skill building therapy
Falls prevention training
Services
Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Cessnock, Maitland, Upper Central Coast
Jess French
Occupational Therapist · University of Newcastle, 2021 · AHPRA registered
Jess became an OT to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, and is driven by a desire to create positive change and help people live more independent, meaningful lives. She is passionate about advocacy and takes pride in supporting people who face barriers to accessing the resources they need.
Her clinical focus includes NDIS participants and older adults in the community, where she values building long-term relationships and celebrating progress along the way. Jess has a special interest in pressure injury prevention, home modifications and equipment prescription, and takes the time to understand each person’s story.
Takes on
Physical and neurological caseload
Pressure care assessment and care plans
Neurodevelopmental and psychosocial caseload (case by case)
Manual handling and personal care plans
Minor home modifications
Skill building therapy
Assistive equipment
Falls prevention training
Services
Maitland, Cessnock, Port Stephens, Dungog, Karuah, Singleton
Grace de Rijk
Occupational Therapist · Australian Catholic University, 2024 · AHPRA registered
Grace was drawn to occupational therapy after discovering how well the profession aligned with her love of working with people and its creative, strengths-based approach. She is passionate about supporting people to grow, find meaning and thrive in their everyday lives.
Her clinical interests include mental health, adolescent health, aged care, neuroaffirming practice and chronic pain, with previous experience in a public mental health service. Outside work, Grace enjoys the outdoors, reading, walking her dog, good coffee and the beach.
Takes on
Psychosocial and neurodevelopmental caseload
Assistive equipment
Skill building therapy
Falls prevention training
Home and Living assessments
Minor home modifications
Services
Central Coast
Hannah Ritchie
Occupational Therapist · University of Newcastle, 2022 · AHPRA registered
Hannah graduated from the University of Newcastle in 2022. Inspired by her mum, who is also an occupational therapist, Hannah developed an early interest in the profession. What ultimately drew her to OT was its diversity and the opportunity to make a genuine difference in people's everyday lives.
Hannah has a particular interest in psychosocial health, neurodivergence and supporting people to develop the skills and confidence to navigate daily life. She enjoys working collaboratively with clients to identify what matters most to them and finding creative, practical solutions to help them achieve their goals.
Outside of work, you'll often find Hannah at the beach, enjoying board games with friends, getting stuck into a good puzzle or reading a book. She's also a big fan of spicy food — the hotter, the better!
Takes on
Psychosocial and neurodevelopmental caseload
Assistive equipment
Skill building therapy
Falls prevention training
Home and Living assessments
Minor home modifications
Services
Central Coast
Blake Williams
Director — Governance, Quality and Compliance
Accredited Exercise Physiologist (ESSA)
Blake has spent more than ten years in healthcare and occupational rehabilitation, across clinical, leadership and senior management roles for national providers. He came up through the clinical side before moving into running it, which means he knows what a policy feels like from the receiving end.
At Live Free Health he works on governance, quality and compliance — quality assurance, internal auditing, and the systems that keep a growing practice doing things properly. It's the part of a health service nobody notices when it's working, and everybody notices when it isn't. Having someone whose job it is to keep those standards is part of why the clinical team can get on with the clinical work.
Looks after
Governance and organisational risk
Quality assurance and internal auditing
Continuous improvement
NDIS and aged care compliance
Policy and documentation
Ask for a particular clinician
If someone here sounds like the right fit, name them on your referral form and we’ll do our best to match you, subject to availability and area.