Meet Fran: Leading a Paediatric OT team with Care

What does it take to be a great leader in paediatric allied health? For Fran, it’s not about having all the answers. It’s about lifting others up, staying curious and remembering why the little wins matter.

Meet Fran, a Paediatric Occupational Therapy Team Leader at Allied Kids Therapy (AKT) in Mount Waverley, Melbourne. With almost 11 years of experience spanning Adelaide, London and Melbourne, Fran has built a career around something she values deeply: people.

From supporting children and families to mentoring the next generation of Occupational Therapists, her journey has shaped a leadership style grounded in genuine relationships, shared learning and practical, everyday support.

And as Fran explains, small changes can make a big difference.

Fran on leading a paediatric occupational therapy team

In this video, Fran talks about the experiences that have shaped her career and what she loves about mentoring other therapists. She also shares why celebrating the little wins with families keeps her going.

From Adelaide to London: an occupational therapy career built on connection

Fran started her occupational therapy career in Adelaide, then spent six years working in London before finding her way to Melbourne and Allied Kids Therapy. Along the way, she’s worked with children and families in different settings and communities. Each experience has helped shape the therapist and leader she is today. But, ask Fran what has stayed with her most, and it’s not a particular therapy technique or clinical milestone. It’s the people.

“The importance of building those connections, building those relationships, and working with families and communities around our children.”

For Fran, building genuine relationships isn’t just an important part of therapy. It’s the foundation for understanding what children and families need, working together and recognising the progress that matters to them. And after almost 11 years, celebrating those little moments of progress is still one of her favourite parts of the job.

What makes a great occupational therapy team leader?

One of the things Fran enjoys most about being an occupational therapy Team Leader is watching other clinicians grow.

Whether it’s sharing an idea, reflecting on a challenging situation or exploring a different approach, Fran sees mentoring as an opportunity to learn together. She wants to do more than pass on what she knows. Her aim is a team where therapists feel supported to think independently, ask questions and build their own clinical reasoning.

“I love being able to not only pass on my knowledge, my experience, thoughts and ideas to other clinicians in that mentoring role, but watching them come to life.”

Fran brings the same collaborative approach to how she leads at Allied Kids Therapy. With new research and approaches continuing to shape paediatric therapy, she sees lifelong learning is an essential part of being a clinician.

And sometimes, the best learning happens through a conversation with the colleague sitting beside you.

Simple occupational therapy strategies that fit family life

Over the years, Fran has learned that meaningful therapy isn’t always about introducing something new or complicated. Often, it’s about finding small, practical ways to make everyday life feel a little easier.

For families, that might mean using a whiteboard to help a child understand what’s coming next, introducing a timer during a busy morning routine or finding a different way to prepare for transitions. These might seem like small changes, but they can support children and families in meaningful ways.

Fran knows that parents and carers are the people supporting their children through the everyday moments between therapy sessions. That’s why she believes the most useful strategies are the ones families can realistically incorporate into their routines.

“It’s really about working with the family of where are they at, what strategies are going to fit in with their daily life.”

Rather than handing families a long list of recommendations, Fran focuses on listening, understanding what matters most and starting with something manageable.

It’s a simple philosophy: work together, start small and build on what works.

A team that grows together, supports together

When Fran talks about the culture at Allied Kids Therapy, one word keeps coming through: care.

Care for the children and families the team works alongside. Care for each other as clinicians. And care for the knowledge, skills and approaches they continue to develop.

It’s something Fran believes makes a meaningful difference to both the team and the families they support.

At Allied Kids Therapy, clinicians bring different experiences, perspectives and areas of knowledge. By sharing ideas, learning from one another and working collaboratively, the team can provide support that reflects each child’s individual strengths and needs.

For Fran, leadership plays an important part in creating that environment. It’s about making space for open conversations, encouraging reflection and recognising that everyone has something valuable to contribute.

Because when clinicians feel supported to grow, they are better placed to support the children and families they work with.

The little wins are what it’s all about

Working in different places has shaped more than Fran’s clinical skills. It’s also changed how she leads and how she connects with the people around her. Her career has grown over the years, but she still feels the same about working with children and families.

“It is such a privilege. The job we do, being able to work with all of the different children and families and being a part of that celebration and seeing children make progress is just incredible.”

For Fran, it’s these moments that make the work so meaningful. Watching a child take a small step forward, seeing a family find a strategy that works for them or supporting a fellow clinician as they grow into their role. Each moment is different, but they’re all connected by the same values: care, curiosity and a willingness to learn together.

That’s a big part of who we are at Allied Kids Therapy. The milestones matter, but so do the conversations, the shared learning and the everyday challenges along the way. And the small wins are always worth celebrating.

Get to know Allied Kids Therapy

Whether you’re a parent looking for support for your child, or a clinician seeking a team where you can keep learning and growing, we’d love to meet you. Explore our paediatric occupational therapy services and discover occupational therapist careers at Allied Kids Therapy.