Montrose Gold Coast

Dianna Michalas

Service Manager

Lauren Van Der Westhuizen

Team Leader/Occupational Therapist

Lauren is our experienced paediatric Occupational Therapist who has worked within paediatric hospitals, private practices and more recently, working as a key worker for clients with disabilities.  She is passionate about working with children with sensory processing differences, toileting challenges and incontinence, and feeding concerns. Outside of work Lauren enjoys being active with her two young children and husband. They love to go camping, visit the beach and go on nature walks.

Genie Knight-Smith

Speech Pathologist

Genie has a Master of Speech Pathology from Griffith University- Gold Coast Campus. On completing her degree Genie worked with Queensland Health at both the Robina and the Gold Coast University Hospital. She has experience evaluating and treating clients with a variety of swallowing, speech, language, voice and fluency disorders. Her caseload included adult clients with congenital, developmental and acquired conditions. Genie is passionate about working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary environment to support clients and their families to achieve their goals. Special interests include working with a paediatric population in areas of AAC, early literary and Fluency. Genie has completed additional study in the Management of Complex Feeding Issues with the Pediatric Feeding Institute. Being TR-eat® TRAINED she can address a range of self-feeding and feeding difficulties in infants and young children. Outside of work Genie is running after her two very busy daughters and looking after their pet fish, she is also bilingual and can fluently speak Russian. On weekends her family are often off camping to Double Island, Morten Bay or Woody Head.  

Holly Parker

Speech Pathologist

Tracy Ratas

Occupational Therapist

Grace Hettiarachchi

Occupational Therapist

Grace graduated with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in 2014 at the University of Queensland. She joins us with 7 years experience in the community and hospital settings. She has a background in home modifications, equipment prescription and discharge planning. Grace has a strong passion for working with children, adolescents and their families and is dedicated to seeing them thrive and reach their goals. She finds it rewarding to see the difference that therapy interventions make to people’s quality of life. Her approach to therapy is client centred and she enjoys working with a multidisciplinary team and stakeholders to achieve optimal outcomes for clients and their families. Outside of work Grace enjoys sipping coffee, playing tennis, swimming at the beach and spending time with her husband and her Pomeranian Japanese Spitz fur child.

Hannah Grace Chua

Occupational Therapist

Jessie Kim

Physiotherapist

Jade Forbes

Program Coordinator

Prior to joining Montrose, Jade has worked in Central Remote Australia as a Clinical Services Assistant, managing Nurses in providing health services to the Indigenous Remote Communities of Northern Territory and Western Australia. With various customer service experience, Jade has also studied photography and fashion within the Creative Industries. During her spare time, she finds comfort in seeking out new restaurants and being amongst family

Elizabeth Bennett

Therapy Assistant

Rose Norgrove

Client Support Administrator

Rose is our Client Support Administrator who comes with 5 years’ experience in a similar role within the disability sector. Rose has a genuine passion for working in this industry and is now, looking to expand on her skills already gained and develop further within the paediatric field. Prior to working in disability, Rose owned her own successful cake decorating business for many years. Outside of work Rose enjoys arts, crafts, crochet, gardening and spending time with her family and her dog named Boston.

Cheryl Glanz

Hydrotherapy Therapy Assistant

Cheryl is a compassionate team member that has extensive experience in aquatic therapy specialising in rehabilitation as a swim teacher and aquatic instructor. Her qualifications vary from Austswim LTS Assessor, Cert IV in Allied Health, Cert IV in Aging Support, Cert IV Teaching & Education, and she is currently studying a Diploma of Nursing at TAFE Gold Coast.

Ramona Clark

Physiotherapist

Hi, my name is Ramona Clark. I am a Physiotherapist and mother of two energetic children. For over 10 years, I have been a Physiotherapist working with children and their families to help them achieve their goals. I continue to further my knowledge through research and contribution to the latest evidence based practices to bring to families. However, most of all, I love getting to know all my clients so I can tailor their programs and explore new ways to keep physio fun!

Matilda Burbidge

Therapy Assistant

Matilda is currently studying a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at Southern Cross University Gold Coast with a Chancellor’s scholarship. She joins us to expand on those skills already gained as an Occupational Therapy student to help fulfil and assist her for the remainder of her studies. She also, has years of hospitality and customer service experience. Matilda is empathetic and strives to always fulfil the needs of her clients.  Matilda highly values integrity and perseverance in supporting clients to achieve their goals. Outside of work she enjoys being creative and playing sport.

Karin Weston

Social Worker

Karin began her career in the late 90’s from grassroots hands-on support work. Karin then went on to study a Bachelor of Health Aging and Communities at the University of New England and has graduated with a Master of Social Work from Griffith University. Karin is passionate about communities and social inclusion for people living with a disability. Karin’s values are embedded in supporting people to identify their strengths and develop and meet their goals. Karin was involved with the pilot project of positive futures in Queensland, working alongside families in planning and supports. Karin’s career covers working with children in out of home care; to adults with disability and older adults living both in the community and in residential aged care.  Karin’s immediate previous experience and roles include Client Integration Management, Support Planning and Support Coordination. In Karin’s spare time she volunteers as a Justice of the Peace, enjoys playing tennis and golf, travelling, and being part of a book club.

Tanya Schleicher

Social Worker

Tanya graduated from the University of Johannesburg (South Africa) in the 90’s and commenced her Social Work career within the Disability Sector. Thereafter Tanya worked for a Not-for-Profit organisation in the fields of Aged Care and Community Development. Tanya worked as a Senior Social Worker and later as a Regional Manager / Supervisor within the Not-for-Profit sector. Tanya is passionate about working with diverse cultural groups and empowerment within communities. Tanya’s values are embedded in supporting people to identify their strengths and develop and meet their goals. Tanya and her family emigrated to Australia in 2017, and after being a stay at home parent for three years, recommenced her career in 2020. Tanya has worked in Allied Health as well as in the fields of Support Coordination and Specialist Support Coordination. In Tanya’s spare time she enjoys travelling, reading, movies and spending time with her family.

Michael Deutscher

Social Worker

Michael graduated with his Master of Social Work from University of Queensland in 2013.  Previous degrees were in Social Work and Arts. He enjoys working with children and families from a strengths-based perspective.  Michael worked as a Social worker with Montrose previously for a number of years prior to four years recent experience working with the National Disability Insurance Scheme Partners In the Community as Senior Local Area Co-ordinator and Team Leader prior to coming back to Montrose as Social Worker in January 2021. Interests are quizzing, the arts and history, squash, chess , travelling and reading

Catherine Hylton

NDIS Support Coordinator

Catherine graduated from the University of Sheffield with BA Hons Social Policy and Criminology in 2005. Thereafter, she worked for a not for profit in the UK providing support and leadership to Research Assistants whilst completing her Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Psychology. Following a move to Australia in 2013, and 2 years being a stay at home parent, she continued her work in the disability sector providing client support in the Allied Health field and is now currently working in Support Coordination. Catherine especially loves working with children and young people and their families and carers. In Catherine’s spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, travelling and true crime.