Home and Living Assessments

At Evolve Therapy Collective, our passion for advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities extends to ensuring they live with dignity and respect in age-appropriate accommodation tailored to their specific needs. Our experienced team of occupational therapists plays a pivotal role in this area, collaborating thoroughly with clients, caregivers, and NDIS teams to explore suitable home and living options. Our extensive experience within the NDIS framework encompasses Supported Independent Living (SIL), Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), and Individual Living Options (ILO).  We have an in-depth understanding of the reasonable and necessary criteria for these various NDIS home and living options and have successfully supported many participants in attaining the appropriate funding for their housing needs.


Our occupational therapists possess expertise in conducting thorough functional capacity evaluations.  We prioritise delivering personalised assessments that cater to the unique needs and aspirations of individuals with disabilities. These assessments aim to establish an person’s baseline functional ability, particularly in terms of their instrumental and personal activities of daily living.  Collaborating closely with our clients and their carers, we ensure that their needs, wants, and preferences are not only heard but also effectively communicated. 


We understand that the primary goal for such assessments is to deliver clear, objective recommendations regarding the person’s abilities, disability related support needs and need for specialised housing and/or supports.  This process includes a combination of standardised assessments, clinical observations, participant interviews, discussions with their families and caregivers, and collaboration with key stakeholders and other professionals involved in the individual’s care.  Some of the most common standardised assessment that we use include;


  • Allen’s Cognitive Level Screen (SCLS)
  • Functional Independence Measure (FIM)
  • Care and Needs Scale (CANS)
  • Adaptive Behaviour Assessment Scale (ABAS)
  • World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Scale (WHODAS)
  • Life Skills Profile (LSP-16)
  • Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale
  • Modified Barthel Index (MBI)
  • Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ)
  • Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale

Drawing upon their extensive experience in professional report writing, our occupational therapists ensure that the NDIS receives comprehensive information, in a structured report format, enabling well-informed decisions on SIL, ILO, and SDA based on the reasonable and necessary criteria.


Our experienced occupational therapists are committed to guiding participants toward the most fitting and empowering living solutions. By providing a client-centred approach and utilising our expertise in NDIS assessments, we strive to support participants on their journey toward greater independence and an improved quality of life. Through our dedicated efforts, we aim to create environments tailored to the specific requirements of individuals, allowing them to thrive and flourish.

Referral Form

Accreditations

AHPRA & National Boards
Occupational Therapy Australia
Registered NDIS Provider
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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.