About me and my approach

I am a Paediatric Occupational Therapist with 15+ years of experience, supporting children with a wide range of developmental needs, including:

Developmental and global developmental delays
Fine motor challenges and handwriting difficulties
Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD and developmental coordination disorder
Motor planning difficulties, hypermobility and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Throughout my career, I have delivered individualised therapy, group-based intervention programs and school-based support, working closely with children, families and educators across a variety of settings.

At Empower and Thrive Kids, I believe every child has the potential to flourish when supported in the right way. At the heart of my work is a deep passion for helping children not just succeed, but truly thrive. My occupational therapy services meet children where they are at home or at preschool/school and focus on developing functional skills that support independence, participation and learning. Therapy incorporates play, movement, structured activities and everyday tasks to strengthen the skills children need in daily life.

I believe therapy is most effective when it extends beyond the clinic into the environments that matter most. My goal is to help children build core motor skills, manage sensory and emotional challenges, develop independence in daily routines, strengthen attention and executive functioning and engage meaningfully with peers and learning.

Collaboration is central to my practice. I work closely with parents, teachers, other allied health and educators to create a consistent and supportive network around each child. Through open communication and partnership, we develop practical, personalised strategies that can be embedded into everyday routines.

I am continually inspired by the resilience and potential of the children I work with. I remain committed to ongoing learning and professional development to provide the highest quality care and support every child to reach their full potential.

Katrina Paine, Occupational Therapist