Donna Parker
Summary
Accomplished Occupational Therapist specialising in NDIS, DVA, and WorkCover QLD. Proficient in case management, injury prevention, staff training, and equipment acquisition. Registered NDIS Core Behaviour Support Practitioner recognised for client-centered care and innovative therapeutic interventions. Collaborative team player with excellent communication, problem-solving, and clinical skills.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Occupational Therapist
Boutique Care
09.2024 - Current
- Developed individualised treatment plans to enhance independence and quality of life, utilising best-practice evidence-based interventions improved functional outcomes for diverse client populations. Interventions are consistently creative and of interest to the client.
- Analysed program effectiveness, driving refinements in service delivery for optimal engagement. Conducted assessments to evaluate client progress and modify therapy approaches, as needed.
- Facilitated family and key-worker education to promote understanding of therapeutic goals and strategies.
- Mentored junior therapists, providing guidance on clinical reasoning, best practices and therapeutic techniques.
- Coordinated successful discharge planning meetings with clients, families, key stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams to ensure smooth transitions from hospital to community or home settings.
- Assessed and implemented minor and complex home modifications, promoting safety and autonomy for clients in their living environments.
- Evaluated assistive technology options for clients otherwise limited, recommending equipment to optimise function in daily life.
- Managed caseloads efficiently, ensuring timely documentation and communication with stakeholders.
- Contributed to quality improvement initiatives by analysing data trends in client outcomes and suggesting changes in treatment approaches when needed.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive, holistic care, support and advocacy.
Senior Occupational Therapist
Lodestar Therapy
03.2023 - 09.2024
- Complex OT caseload within a multidisciplinary Allied Health team, servicing NDIS Participants throughout the Sunshine Coast region. Providing therapeutic input and interventions, services include:
- Support with navigating NDIS and other mainstream and bespoke supports to advocate for Clients, to optimise outcomes and support enjoyment of an ordinary life.
- Therapeutic supports, treatments, interventions, consultations, assessments, and recommendations to support successful outcomes.
- NDIS reporting, including complex functional capacity assessment reports, home and living reports (SIL, SDA (HPS & robust), ILO), low, mid and high-cost assistive technology reports, complex home modification reports and OT letters of recommendations.
- Liaison with local and Brisbane suppliers for consultation, trial and prescription of appropriate aids and equipment to promote functional independence, within the scope of legislation.
- Effective and respectful liaison with all key stakeholders, to facilitate progress towards therapeutic or NDIS goals.
- Business development - processes, policies, procedures, networking, staff engagement and retention, business growth and direction.
- Staff supervision, content-expert support within team.
Occupational Therapist
Therapy Pro
04.2022 - 03.2023
- Working within a multidisciplinary team with NDIS and HCP participants providing therapeutic input and interventions, services include:
- Therapeutic supports, treatments, interventions, consultations, assessments, and recommendations to support successful outcomes.
- Consultation, trial and prescription of appropriate aids and equipment to promote functional independence.
- NDIS reporting, including assistive technology, complex home modifications, assessments and reporting – FCAs and Home & Living (SIL, SDA, ILO).
Occupational Therapist
Smart Solutions Rehab Group
01.2022 - 04.2022
- Working within a multidisciplinary team with NDIS, DVA, HCP, Insurers and private clients/participants providing therapeutic input and interventions, services included:
- Therapeutic supports, treatments, interventions, consultations, assessments, recommendations.
- DVA and HCP reporting and liaison as required to support successful outcomes.
- NDIS reporting, including assistive technology, complex home modifications and FCAs.
- Aids and equipment trials, recommendations and prescriptions.
Occupational Therapist
Suncoast Integrated Therapies
07.2021 - 01.2022
- Company Overview: (business closed)
- Working as a sole provider with NDIS, DVA and private clients/participants providing OT assessments, therapeutic interventions, aids, equipment and reporting. Services included:
- Therapeutic supports, treatments, interventions, consultations, assessments, recommendations, including NDIS SIL/SDA.
- DVA and HCP reporting and liaison as required to support successful outcomes.
- Multidisciplinary consultation.
- NDIS reporting, including therapeutic progress, Assistive Technology, Complex Home Modifications and Functional Capacity assessments.
- Aids and equipment trials, recommendations and prescriptions.
- Assessments for wearable technology to support improved daily living.
Occupational Therapist/Rehab Consultant
Work Rehab
09.2019 - 07.2021
- Working with Department of Veterans’ Affairs, WorkCover Qld, ORAMS (Services Australia) to support people who have sustained physical and/or psychological injuries. Services include:
- Initial rehabilitation assessments
- Case management (including DVA WASP)
- Medical case conferences
- Worksite assessments
- Develop and monitor suitable duties plans
- Equipment recommendation / prescription
- Rehabilitation plans
- ADL assessments
- Ergonomic assessments
- MBI assessments
- Home assessments
- Liaison with treaters
- Nominated for ARPA 2020 Best New Starter award.
- Collaborative input within NDIS establishment team to commence service provision.
Occupational Therapist
Sundale Ltd
01.2017 - 09.2019
- Assessments to identify service needs
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Residential and community clients
- Supporting independence, pain management and pressure area care
- Review, update and development of corporate policies and procedures
- Staff manual handling / safe transfer training
- Staff rehabilitation and return to work
- Recommendations / acquisition of new equipment and staff training
Supervisor
House With No Steps - Business Enterprise, Doonan
01.2010 - 01.2013
- Company Overview: (redundancy)
- Working with adults with disability, as supported employees, providing direct support and supervision, managing behaviours and behaviours of concern, business development, funding assessments in collaboration with key stakeholders, payroll, stock and equipment management.
Manager
House With No Steps, Doonan
01.2006 - 01.2008
- Company Overview: (maternity leave)
- Managed regional site for a National NGO, providing business and programs development, budget development and reporting to Board & CEO, marketing and events coordination, funding applications, payroll and rostering (paid and volunteer staff), HR management locally (with support from regional office as needed). Fulltime engagement.
Manager
Total Adventures Outdoor Education, Noosa
01.2001 - 01.2005
- Managed outdoor education business, providing program development and coordination, business development, service provider liaison, rostering and payroll. Fulltime engagement.
Education
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy - Hons
University of the Sunshine Coast
01.2017
Skills
- Exceptional communication skills
- Adaptable language proficiency
- Goal-directed outcome achievement
- Strong self-management and organisational skills
- Building trusting relationships with clients
- Skilled in handling complex case management
- Dedicated to ongoing personal and professional growth
- Critical thinking in clinical reasoning
Certification
- Current qualification in Occupational Therapy.
- Current registration with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) – to 30 November 2025, with no restrictions.
- NDIS Core Behaviour Support Practitioner registration.
- Certified for complex home modifications.
- National Police Check / criminal history screening.
- Current NDIS worker screening (yellow card) – to 11 August 2026.
- Current Working with Children Card (blue card) – to 11 August 2026.
- Current Working with Children Check – Victoria – to 2 September 2027.
- Current first aid and CPR certificate.
- Comcare accredited.
- Current unrestricted ‘C class’ Queensland Driver’s Licence, with ability to travel, by negotiation.
- Current vaccinations - COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis B immunity serology.
Training
- Certified for Complex Home Modifications (CPPACC4020, CPPACC5016).
- ‘How to understand and connect with traumatised children’ workshop – Interplay Australia.
- MoCA training and certification.
- Training for assessing and prescribing wearable technology (Mollii suit).
- Training for photobiomodulation (PBM) laser therapy for musculoskeletal pain, neuropathic pain and wounds.
Professional attributes
- Committed professional team player and motivator.
- Out-of-the-box thinker, optimising outcomes.
- Proven work history of conducting thorough assessments guiding interventions and recommendations, with a strong focus of utilising the biopsychosocial model.
- Consistent demonstration of strong clinical reasoning, grounded in occupational theory and best-practice.
- Successful management of clinical and non-clinical components of roles, including developing and reviewing operational policies and procedures.
- Strong capacity to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, whilst being as strong operating as a sole practitioner.
- Knowledge and skills to work with children and families, marginalised and vulnerable populations.
- Strong cultural competence and respect for First Nations and CALD backgrounds.
- Experience in providing client support and services in person and via telehealth.
Timeline
Senior Occupational Therapist
Boutique Care
09.2024 - Current
Senior Occupational Therapist
Lodestar Therapy
03.2023 - 09.2024
Occupational Therapist
Therapy Pro
04.2022 - 03.2023
Occupational Therapist
Smart Solutions Rehab Group
01.2022 - 04.2022
Occupational Therapist
Suncoast Integrated Therapies
07.2021 - 01.2022
Occupational Therapist/Rehab Consultant
Work Rehab
09.2019 - 07.2021
Occupational Therapist
Sundale Ltd
01.2017 - 09.2019
Supervisor
House With No Steps - Business Enterprise, Doonan
01.2010 - 01.2013
Manager
House With No Steps, Doonan
01.2006 - 01.2008
Manager
Total Adventures Outdoor Education, Noosa
01.2001 - 01.2005
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy - Hons
University of the Sunshine Coast
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