Melbourne’s paediatric occupational therapy team, built on strong relationships
Progress that lasts beyond the session
We pride ourselves on building strong connections for successful long-term therapy outcomes, whilst ensuring each child's individual interests and strengths are at the forefront of every session.
We are committed to providing the highest quality care in supporting children and their families to succeed and thrive within their lives in what they find most meaningful.
What can you expect from us
01.
We strongly believe that parents are the experts of their own children and teachers are experts of their classroom.
We love using a collaborative team approach.
02.
We celebrate and value each child’s individual differences.
03.
We look to work out the the 'why' behind the behaviour, difficulty or concern.
04.
We will advocate for your child and ensure that everyone involved in their journey has an understanding of their individual needs and current evidence-based approaches to improving their areas of difficulty.
05.
We are here to support building the foundations for important and meaningful life-long skills
We are here to support building the foundations for important and meaningful life-long skills
Our story
Foundations Therapy & Support is a Melbourne-based paediatric Occupational Therapy service. It was formed with a strong passion to provide a therapy service for which children and families feel safe, comfortable, heard and advocated for throughout the entire therapy process. We are committed to providing evidence-based care in supporting children and their families to succeed and thrive within their lives in what they find most meaningful.
Foundations Therapy & Support offers mobile paediatric occupational therapy in the environment that suits you and your child best. We provide strength-based, family-centred therapy for children and their families to achieve their meaningful goals.
Individual sessions and group programs are completed within real-life environments such as home, school, kinder or even at the park.
We work within the inner suburbs of Melbourne.
We love working as a team to ensure the most beneficial therapy outcomes. We collaborate with families, teachers and other health professionals to deliver therapy that will develop your child’s skills, increase their independence and improve their participation, all whilst having a whole lot of fun during the sessions!
We focus on helping families and teaching staff understand the child’s individual differences in order to best support a child to thrive and reach their potential.
Jake Du Chateau
Jake is the founder of Foundations Therapy & Support. He is an experienced Occupational Therapist (O.T.) who has dedicated his profession to supporting children and their families within their natural environments (home, school/kinder and within the community).
Jake has a long-standing passion for working with neurodiverse children and young people - particularly those living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, Generalised Anxiety, Dyspraxia, sensory processing difficulties and gross and fine motor skill delays. He understands how each difficulty can impact a child's day-to-day independence within meaningful activities. He acts as a positive male role model within his therapy practice. Jake particularly loves sport and working to build a child's self-confidence and self-esteem to feel comfortable to join or 'have a go' at any intended activity they are interested in. He strongly believes the development of trust, rapport and connection between a therapist, the child and their team is essential to achieving successful therapy outcomes. He values the importance of helping families and education staff learn and understand the child's individual needs.
Jake Du Chateau - Occupational Therapist
Jakes loves utilising each child's strengths, motivations and interests to ensure each therapy session is unique and tailored for the individual - whilst having lots of fun along the way!
Meet the Foundations Therapy Team
Alfie
Chief Furry Officer
Jake Du Chateau
Founder and Occupational Therapist
Jake founded Foundations Therapy & Support to deliver occupational therapy where children actually live, learn and play: at home, at school or kinder, and out in the community. He works with neurodiverse children and young people, including those with autism, ADHD, anxiety, dyspraxia, sensory processing differences and motor skill delays.
Trust and rapport come first in every session. Jake builds therapy around each child's interests, with sport and movement often at the centre, and works closely with families and educators so they understand their child's needs and can support them day to day.
Outside work Jake is a lifelong sports fan and a committed advocate for positive male role models in children's lives.
Emer Healy
Occupational Therapist
Emer works with children and families across inner Melbourne, in the places where life actually happens: home, kinder, school and the playground. She brings a calm, grounded presence to sessions, which helps children who feel anxious or unsure settle in and give new things a go.
Her approach is built on inclusion. Emer believes every child deserves to take part in the activities and moments that matter to them, and she shapes therapy around each child's own goals rather than a generic program. The part of her work she values most is watching a child's confidence grow, especially the moment they realise they can do something that once felt impossible.
Originally from Ireland, Emer plays Gaelic football, cooks whenever she can and is rarely without a book on the go.
Tom Perry
Occupational Therapist
Tom helps children build confidence and skills through play and movement, working alongside families, teachers and the wider Foundations team so that progress carries over into everyday life. In his first year with the practice he has built strong, trusted relationships with the schools and families he works with, and the children he sees look forward to their sessions.
Tom is a natural collaborator. He values being part of a small, connected team where OTs share ideas, reflect on their clinical work and support each other to keep improving, and that same approach shows up in how he works with parents and educators: open, practical and easy to talk to.
Outside work you'll find Tom chasing sunshine, drinking chai lattes and cheering on the Melbourne Demons.
Kait
Occupational Therapist
Kait is a warm, approachable occupational therapist who helps children build confidence, develop new skills and take part in the activities that matter to them. Since completing her Master of Occupational Therapy in 2022 she has worked across schools, community services and private practice in Australia and London, supporting children with a wide range of developmental and neurological presentations.
Her areas of interest include gross and fine motor development, Developmental Coordination Disorder (dyspraxia), sensory and emotional regulation, and everyday living skills. With a background in sport and exercise science, Kait combines movement and play in therapy, takes a strengths-based approach to every child, and works closely with families and schools so support carries through to daily life.
Kait grew up in Perth, played netball, swimming and athletics, and is rarely at home. Her favourite team is the Australian Diamonds.
Sergi
Occupational Therapist
Sergi brings a rare mix of classroom and clinical experience to his work with children. Before completing his Master of Occupational Therapy he spent two years as an English teacher, a year as a disability support worker and a year as an OT allied health assistant and educator in a special school, along with OT placements across public health and private paediatric clinics.
That background shows in how he works: he understands school environments from the inside, builds rapport quickly and helps children find their confidence through play. His interest areas include school readiness, motor skill development, play as an occupation, and using sport to build social skills.
Sergi grew up in Brisbane, supports the Broncos, the Lions and the Wallabies, and loves camping, campfire cooking and spicy food.
Chiara Gualtieri
Allied Health Assistant
Chiara was the first person to join Jake at Foundations Therapy & Support, in December 2024, and has been part of the team's growth ever since. She works alongside our occupational therapists to deliver therapy programs, giving children extra practice on the skills they're building and helping sessions stay consistent and fun.
Chiara is currently studying occupational therapy at university, so children get the benefit of a developing clinician's eye alongside her warmth and familiarity with how the practice works.
Marley McGennisken
Allied Health Assistant
Marley works alongside our occupational therapists to deliver therapy programs, giving children extra practice on the skills they're building and keeping sessions playful and fun. She is currently studying occupational therapy at university, and brings that developing clinical knowledge, along with plenty of energy, to every session.
Marley is a natural at helping children feel at ease. Her approach is simple: everyone is good at different things, everyone has things they're still learning, and trying new activities together is the fun part.
Outside work she loves being outdoors, arts and crafts, and spending time with her dog, Daisy.