Stuart Wilson

Stuart completed a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy at Curtin University. He initially worked at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital gaining experience on Orthopaedics and Plastic Surgery wards, before moving into the Hand Therapy clinic. He then spent the next 8 years working in private practice at Hand Works Occupational Therapy.

Stuart is currently employed as a Senior Occupational Therapist at Fiona Stanley Hospital and Fremantle Hospital. He is also a Co-Director of Active Linc Home Based Services, a registered service provider with the NDIS, with his wife Sarah. Stuart is passionate about the future of Hand Therapy in Australia. He has been lucky enough to be supported by fantastic mentors, and enjoys passing that forward to the next generation of Hand Therapists.

Romy Steele

Romy graduated with a Masters of Occupational Therapy from Curtin University in 2017, after which she began working in a hand and upper limb rehabilitation private practice. Specialising in human biology for her undergraduate degree, Romy has a keen interest in the anatomy and biomechanics of the upper limb, as well as research and ongoing professional development.

Romy is a co-convener of the Western Australian Occupational Therapy Association Hand Interest Group, and is passionate about enabling access to professional development opportunities to rural and remote therapists.

Taya Klisowski

Taya graduated in Occupational Therapy from Curtin University in 2013, where she commenced work in private practice in the area of hand and upper limb rehabilitation.

In 2017 she began working in the public system as a Senior Occupational Therapist at South Metropolitan Health Service (Fremantle and Fiona Stanley Hospital) in plastics and the state rehabilitation unit. Here she developed a keen interest for managing complex multitrauma, amputee and prosthetic caseload. Taya has a passion and interest for evidence based practice, ongoing professional development, team education, as well as accessible healthcare. She is an Accredited Hand Therapist (as awarded by the Australian Hand Therapy Association).

Laura Cowling

Laura completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology while playing college basketball in America. She returned to Perth in 2008 where she worked as a high school counsellor before completing her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy in 2012.  Laura has over 7 years experience as a specialist hand and upper limb therapist in both the private and public sectors. She has a keen interest in clinical research and was the research co-ordinator at the Hand and Upper Limb Centre where she worked for almost 6 years. Laura has been a member of the AHTA since 2013 and held a position on the marketing sub-committee. 

Laura is passionate about research and evidence based practice, wrist anatomy and biomechanics, hand and upper limb teaching and education and her two beautiful baby boys.

Melita Ryan

Following completing her BSc in Occupational Therapy at Curtin University in Perth, Melita worked both privately and publicly in WA developing her hand therapy repertoire of skills. Moving to the UK Melita continued to expand her experiences working at The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Stanmore and the Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton. Melita then took on the role of the Manager of the London Hand and Wrist Unit working with some of London’s most eminent hand surgeons and even opening at Lords Cricket Ground. During this time Melita also held the role of Vice Treasurer of the British Association of Hand Therapists. Feeling the call back to Perth, Melita returned and led the team at The Hand and Upper Limb Centre.

Wanting to be able to positively influence the provision of health and hand therapy Melita embarked on an MBA through which she now works as a Consultant at EY in health care. She continues to support the profession through developing professional development courses as part of TheraCPD and as a Co- Director of RehabMinder with founder Carmel Bain.

Lani McAuliffe

Lani graduated with a Masters of Occupational Therapy at Curtin University in Perth in 2006. She first worked at Fremantle Hospital in hand therapy, and several other clinical areas, before moving to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Over the next five years at SCGH Lani had the benefit of working in multiple clinical areas, including the hand therapy clinic, before making the move to private practice at Hand Works Occupational Therapy, where she spent the next 6 years. Lani now works in the hand therapy clinics at Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospital as a Senior Occupational Therapist. 

Jessica Chan

Jessica graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy at Curtin University in Perth 2010. She commenced working at Hollywood Private Hospital in the areas of general rehabilitation and orthopedics, where she developed a keen interest in hand therapy. She followed this passion into private practice with Specialised Hand Therapy services. She has now been working there for 7 years.

Jessica is an Accredited Hand Therapist (as awarded by the Australian Hand Therapy Association) and Certified Hand Therapist (USA).