FAQ’s

Here at Evolve Therapy Collective we have Occupational Therapists as well as a Psychologist, Exercise Physiologist, and a Physiotherapist. 

Our service covers from Lismore in Northern NSW up to the Northern Gold Coast.  We also provide telehealth to individuals where appropriate.  This can be helpful for people who live in more rural areas with limited services.

Our wait times vary depending on the service and nature of the referral.  You can either submit a General Enquiry through the website and one of our team will respond within 24 hours, or feel free to contact us directly on 07 5666 7176.

We are proudly NDIS registered, enabling us to cater to NDIA managed participants.

Additionally, we have the capacity to support individuals with aged care health care packages and those seeking private funding.

 

However, please note that currently, we are not registered for Medicare or private health rebates. If you have any further questions or if you’d like to explore how our services align with your specific funding arrangement, please feel free to reach out.

We value a personalised approach to our services, which is why we do not offer online bookings currently.  We prefer to contact you directly to determine the most suitable time and location for your appointment.

We understand that life can sometimes throw unexpected situations our way. For cancellations due to illness or personal circumstances, we aim to be understanding and supportive. Our policy is designed to avoid charging for these instances.  However, we kindly request that if you need to reschedule or cancel an appointment, you provide us with as much notice as possible. This ensures that we can make the best use of our resources and accommodate other clients effectively.  Please note that for cases of simple forgetfulness or last-minute changes, a nominal cancellation fee may apply.  If you have any questions about our cancellation and rescheduling policy or need assistance with an appointment change, please feel free to reach out.

Capacity building allied health services under the NDIS are designed to empower individuals with disabilities to develop and enhance their skills, capabilities, and independence in various aspects of their lives. These services may include Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Exercise Physiology and Physiotherapy.  

 

Capacity building allied health services encompass a range of therapeutic interventions and strategies that focus on building an individual’s capacity to manage their daily activities, engage in the community, and work towards achieving their long-term goals. These services are personalised to address specific needs and our clinicians will work with you to establish what is important to you.

Occupational Therapy can provide a range of supports, including assessing and improving daily living skills, developing strategies for mobility and communication, recommending assistive equipment, and enhancing social participation.

Referring to Evolve Therapy Collective is easy!  You, your Support Coordinator or a member of your support team can fill in our referral form here.

To access NDIS-funded allied health services, you need an approved NDIS plan. Your plan should include goals related to your needs and aspirations. You can then choose a registered NDIS provider like us to deliver the services outlined in your plan.

An NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment is an evaluation conducted to assess an individual’s functional abilities and limitations in various areas of their life. The purpose of this assessment is to determine the extent to which a person’s disability affects their daily activities, participation in the community, and overall well-being. The assessment provides valuable information that helps the NDIS participant and their support team develop a comprehensive plan to address their needs and goals.

 

The NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment takes into account both the participant’s physical and cognitive abilities and considers their strengths as well as challenges. The assessment is typically conducted by a qualified healthcare professional, such as an Occupational Therapist, who has expertise in evaluating functional capabilities.

 

Our Occupational Therapist’s possess a high level of expertise in report writing, allowing us to produce reports that accurately and comprehensively reflect the areas of need for our clients. 

Yes, NDIS funds can be used to purchase or rent assistive equipment, such as mobility aids, communication devices, and home modifications, if they are deemed necessary to achieve your goals. The clinician working with you can assess what types of equipment may help you with 

A Service Agreement under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a formal contract between a participant and a registered and a registered NDIS service provider.  It outlines the specific supports and services that will be provided to the participant, along with the associated costs, duration, and other relevant terms.  The Service Agreement serves as a clear roadmap, detailing the expectations and responsibilities of both parties to ensure that the participant receives the supports they need in a transparent and accountable manner. This agreement helps safeguard the participant’s rights and ensures that the services provided align with their NDIS plan and individualised goals. 

An NDIS Access Report is a comprehensive assessment that outlines an individual’s functional abilities, disabilities, and support needs. It is a crucial component of the NDIS application process to determine eligibility.

The time frame varies depending on the complexity of your presentation. In general terms, we try to allocate 1-2 hours for assessment and 4-5 hours for the report writing, addressing the NDIS eligibility criteria.

Medico-Legal Occupational Therapy involves the assessment and documentation of an individual’s functional abilities and limitations within a legal context. It often occurs in cases related to personal injury, insurance claims, and legal disputes.

Medico-Legal Occupational Therapy is often required in cases where an individual’s functional capacity, work ability, or daily living skills are in question due to a legal matter or personal injury.  

 

Angie and Fiona each have over 14 years experience in the medico-legal field, with a combined experience of over 30 years.   

Medico-Legal Occupational Therapists conduct comprehensive assessments that may include functional capacity evaluations, work assessments, ergonomic evaluations, and assessments of activities of daily living.

Yes, the reports and assessments prepared by Medico-Legal Occupational Therapists are often used as expert evidence in legal proceedings to provide an unbiased evaluation of an individual’s functional abilities.

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Sarah Connolly Senior Occupational Therapist

Sarah Connolly

Senior Occupational Therapist

Sarah was born and raised in Rockhampton, Central Queensland. After finishing high school she completed her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at The University of Queensland in Brisbane.
Sarah commenced her Occupational Therapy career at Tweed Heads Hospital in 2015. Sarah’s passion for travel has seen her adventure around the world where she has worked as an OT in London National Health Service and most recently in New Zealand for the District Health Board and Vocational Rehabilitation settings.  Sarah has 10 years experience working with a variety of clients and gained clinical skills in functional assessments, equipment prescription, stroke rehabilitation, minor home modifications, cognitive assessments and memory strategies to support independent living at home. Away from work, Sarah loves the outdoors including hiking, surfing, camping, playing water polo and spending time with family and friends.
OT Home Safety Assessment

Zain Constantine

Psychologist

Zain Constantine was born in a small coastal town in Tasmania, but has lived in the Tweed Heads/Southern Gold Coast area for the past 30 years. Zain graduated from Bond University with a Bachelor Social Science (Psychology) with Honours 2009, and completed his provisional internship through Tweed Heads Mental Health Services. 

Prior to becoming a registered psychologist Zain spent several years in the community services sector working in the areas of mental health and disability out reach and supported living, COPMI (Children of Parents with a Mental Illness), and mental health education programs for school children.

Zain’s current work as a psychologist has him working with clients experiencing a wide variety of psychological issues ranging from schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, major depression, anxiety disorders and complex trauma. Through this diversity of clientele, Zain is experienced and confident in the assessment and treatment of a broad range of mental health issues and clients with complex histories and support needs.

Evolve Therapy Gold Coast

Amber Correy

Exercise Physiologist

Amber completed her undergraduate of Exercise and Sports Science in 2014 at University of Sydney and her Masters in Exercise Physiology (Clinical Rehabilitation) at Charles Stuart university in 2015. Since becoming qualified, she has worked for various private Allied Health clinics as well as most recently working at various Mental Health units across NSW. 

She has a particular interest in educating and demonstrating the benefits of exercise on mental health conditions with a strong focus on achieving behavioural/lifestyle change. She can also work with those with physical disabilities and other chronic conditions, including all types of heart diseases and diabetes (Type 1 and 2), weight loss/control and nutrition planning, pre/post-operative rehabilitation, arthritis and osteoporosis, respiratory diseases, metabolic issues, chronic pain and fatigue, kidney complications, cancer and chemotherapy, falls prevention, balance and other conditions associated with ageing.

 

The main aim of an Accredited Exercise Physiologist is to prevent or manage chronic disease, disability or injury and assist in restoring one’s optimal physical function, health or wellness through safely delivered and specifically tailored exercise as well as assist in health and physical activity education, advice, support and lifestyle modification with a strong focus on achieving behavioural change.

OT Home Safety Assessment

Teigan Miller

Occupational Therapist

Teigan grew up on the Central Coast of New South Wales and relocated to the Northern Rivers and Gold Coast area to complete her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, where she graduated from Southern Cross University in 2021.

 

Teigan is passionate about helping people to live their best life and feel empowered. She enjoys helping people to do the things they never thought were possible. Teigan works collaboratively and compassionately with clients, families, and supports to help clients achieve their goals. Through her experiences in various student placements, Teigan has had opportunities to work in both public and private settings in hospital, school, and community OT roles. Teigan has had experience in rehabilitation, mental health, aged-care, and health promotion roles, and enjoys utilising therapeutic interventions and assistive technology to promote independence. Being a new graduate Teigan is excited to start specialising in an area of occupational therapy and is committed to ongoing professional development.

Outside of work Teigan enjoys playing footy, camping, adventuring, and spending time with her friends and family.

Philippa Ludwig

Senior Occupational Therapist

Philippa was born and raised in South Australia.  After graduating from high school, she obtained her Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy in 2000 and commenced her career in the rural community mental health services of South Australia’s Riverland and Victoria’s Riverina districts.

After a hiatus in Canada, Philippa returned to work in the mental health field as a mental health counsellor for the Riverland Division of General Practice, before moving to the Gold Coast to work primarily in the public community mental health sector in the areas of case management, psychosocial recovery and partnerships coordination. Throughout this time, Philippa has gained extensive skills working with a variety of mental health conditions and intellectual disability, with a particular interest in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. Away from work, Philippa loves spending time with her family, including her dog, mountain biking (she holds an introductory mountain bike coach qualification), going to concerts and spending time at the beach.  

Fiona Williams

Co-Director  | Occupational Therapist

Fiona was born and raised in the picturesque north coast of Northern Ireland. She emigrated to Australia in 1990 and obtained her BA in Occupational Therapy at the University of Queensland in 1997. She has worked in a variety of public health settings across both the Gold Coast and Northern NSW including inpatient and community mental health, mental health rehabilitation, mental health mobile intensive treatment, senior OT supervision role and mental health recovery and partnership coordination. 

In addition, Fiona has worked in the private sector as an OT for 15 years, which has led to her having extensive experience in the area of medico-legal assessments and report writing. She is also a guest lecturer at Southern Cross University. Away from work, Fiona enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, bushwalking, photography, going to the beach and travelling.