About Hayley

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Hi, I'm Hayley.

I'm a Senior Occupational Therapist based in Perth, Western Australia, and the founder of Whale Shark Therapy Services. 

I started Whale Shark Therapy Services because I wanted to create the kind of Occupational Therapy practice I would want for myself and the people I care about, one that is warm, collaborative, neurodiversity-affirming and centred around what matters most to each individual.

I believe therapy should never feel like you're being judged or told how you "should" live your life. Instead, it should be a space where you feel understood, respected and supported to achieve goals that are meaningful to you.

Whether I'm working with children, adults or families, my focus is always on building genuine relationships and finding practical strategies that make everyday life a little easier.

Occupational Therapy has given me the privilege of working alongside people from many different backgrounds and has taken me on experiences that have shaped both my career and the way I see the world.

During my Honours degree, I completed my research project in Mowanjum Aboriginal Community in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. This research was recognised with the Occupational Therapy Australia Undergraduate Research Award.

I later completed an internship with the World Health Organization for the Western Pacific Region through the New Colombo Plan Scholarship before graduating as an Occupational Therapist in 2016.

Since then, I've worked full-time across community-based child development and disability services in both Melbourne and Perth. Today, I'm in my tenth year as an Occupational Therapist and continue to support children, adolescents, adults and families through clinic, mobile and telehealth services.

Each experience has reinforced something I believe deeply:

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to Occupational Therapy.

Every person brings their own strengths, experiences, goals and way of understanding the world.

Alongside my professional experience, I also have lived experience as a late-diagnosed ADHDer and member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

These experiences have shaped the way I practise.

They have deepened my appreciation of the importance of feeling understood, recognising and embracing your strengths, and creating spaces where people feel safe to be themselves.

While everyone's journey is different, I understand that receiving or recognising a late neurodivergence diagnosis can bring relief, curiosity, grief, self-compassion and many new questions.

My role isn't to tell people who they are.

It's to walk alongside them as they better understand themselves and develop strategies that support the life they want to live.

People often ask how Whale Shark Therapy Services got its name.

The answer is surprisingly simple.

Whale sharks are often called the gentle giants of the ocean.

Despite their enormous size, they move calmly and peacefully.

That sense of gentleness reflects how I hope people experience therapy - with compassion, curiosity and without judgement.

Every whale shark has a unique pattern.

No two are the same.

In the same way, I believe every person is unique, and therapy should always be tailored to the individual rather than based on assumptions or diagnoses alone.

The whale shark is the marine emblem of Western Australia.

Swimming alongside whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef is one of the most incredible experiences our state has to offer, and the whale shark felt like the perfect symbol for a practice that is proudly based in Perth.

Whale sharks travel extraordinary distances across the world's oceans while remaining calm and steady.

That reminds me that everyone's journey looks different.

Whether we meet in the clinic, at your home, through telehealth or while walking together outdoors, my role is to meet you where you are and support you wherever your journey takes you.

Occupational Therapy isn't just about improving skills.

It's about improving participation in the activities that matter most to you.

My approach is:

🌊 Neurodiversity-affirming – recognising and respecting each person's unique strengths, needs and way of experiencing the world.

🤝 Relationship-focused – taking the time to build genuine connections and work collaboratively with individuals, families and other members of the support team.

🧠 Evidence-informed – combining current research, clinical experience and your lived experience to guide therapy.

💙 Individualised – tailoring therapy to each person's goals, strengths and everyday life, because no two people are the same.

🏡 Flexible – offering clinic appointments in Doubleview, mobile home and school visits across Perth, and telehealth appointments Australia-wide.

🎯 Meaningful – focusing on practical strategies that support participation, confidence and independence in everyday activities.

I believe the best outcomes happen when therapy is collaborative, flexible and tailored to the individual, not the diagnosis.

I have a particular professional interest in:

• ADHD and executive functioning 
• Autism and neurodiversity-affirming practice 
• Supporting late-diagnosed adults 
• Parent and caregiver support 
• Child development 
• Functional Capacity Assessments 
• Coaching- and counselling-informed Occupational Therapy 
• Walk-and-talk therapy 

I enjoy supporting people across the lifespan, from young children through to adulthood, and working collaboratively with families, schools, workplaces and other professionals.

To provide high-quality, evidence-informed care, I actively participate in ongoing professional development.

Qualifications and registrations include:

• Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy) (Honours) 
• Registered Occupational Therapist (AHPRA) 
• Occupational Therapy Australia member 
• ADHD WA professional member 
• Working with Children Check 
• NDIS Worker Screening Check 
• WA Department of Education Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check 
• CEWA Child Protection Training 
• First Aid Certificate 
• Professional Indemnity Insurance 

I also maintain current vaccinations in line with healthcare recommendations.

To provide high-quality, evidence-informed care, I actively participate in ongoing professional development.

Qualifications and registrations include:

• Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy) (Honours) 
• Registered Occupational Therapist (AHPRA) 
• Occupational Therapy Australia member 
• ADHD WA professional member 
• Working with Children Check 
• NDIS Worker Screening Check 
• WA Department of Education Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check 
• CEWA Child Protection Training 
• First Aid Certificate 
• Professional Indemnity Insurance 

I also maintain current vaccinations in line with healthcare recommendations.

The values that guide my practice are simple.

Everyone deserves to feel welcomed, respected and valued.

I believe everyone should have access to opportunities and supports that enable meaningful participation in everyday life.

Every person is the expert in their own life. My role is to listen, collaborate and support—not to make assumptions.

Whale Shark Therapy Services is committed to providing a safe and welcoming service for LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent and First Nations communities.

I respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which I live and work, the Wadjuk Noongar people, and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

I also stand alongside women in advocating for a future free from violence and abuse.

When I'm not working, you'll usually find me:

🏖️ Spending time at the beach

🧘 At yoga

💃 Dancing

🚐 Planning my next adventure around Western Australia

☕ Catching up with friends over coffee

Those moments help me stay grounded and bring balance to the work I love.

Finding the right Occupational Therapist is about more than qualifications.

It's about finding someone you feel comfortable talking to, someone who genuinely listens, and someone who will work alongside you towards what matters most.

Whether you're looking for support for yourself, your child or your family, I'd love to hear your story and explore how we might work together.

If Whale Shark Therapy Services feels like the right fit for you, I'd love to hear from you.

Enquire about Occupational Therapy