Natalie Evans, Occupational Therapist
BOccThy (HONS) UQ
Endorsed Mental Health Occupational Therapist
OTA Professional Supervision Certified
Natalie supports a diverse and neurodiverse client base through occupational therapy to improve daily functioning, capacity, and participation — at home, work, school and in the community.
How Natalie Can Support You
Natalie offers practical, tailored support across the following areas:
-
Participating in self care and domestic tasks
Building daily routines and habits
Meal planning and preparation
Money management
Life admin management
-
Planning, scheduling and organisation strategies
Using executive functioning strengths to overcome areas of weakness
Home environment set up to improve functioning
Productivity support
Life admin strategies
-
Matching to and identifying suitable post-school options
Workplace advocacy and accommodations
Preparing for transition from school
Assisting with customised employment
Liaising with TAFE and universities
Study skills
-
Lifestyle planning
Using leisure and occupation to improve well being
Sensory modulation techniques
Cognitive and focused psychological strategies
Identifying early signs of dysregulation; managing meltdowns and shutdowns
Applying emotional regulation strategies to functional tasks
-
Burnout recovery plans
Pacing, energy conservation and work simplification
-
Understanding and utilising your sensory profile
Developing interoceptive awareness to understand emotions and self-regulate
Sensory strategies to improve participation in daily activities
-
Activity matching
Developing hobbies and interests
Identifying safe spaces and building connections
Strategies to participate in the community
Managing groups and outings
-
Creating a good life with disability
Training support teams
Reports to release funding or improve care and outcomes
Strategies to communicate to support teams
Safeguarding
-
Occupational Performance Coaching to improve participation
Coaching for parents and carers
Setting goals and priorities for your support role
Managing supports effectively
Choosing supports to match your lifestyle and needs
Developing self-advocacy skills
Who Natalie Supports
Natalie works with a diverse and neurodiverse client base, providing occupational therapy that supports everyday functioning, builds capacity, and enhances participation — at home, at work, at school, and in the community.
Her clients include people who may benefit from support in the following areas.
-
Natalie works with people experiencing mild to substantial functional impairment due to autism. Whether you need support to manage your ability to engage in daily living tasks, manage your energy and capacity, sensory sensitivities or improve your executive function, or you need support with safe-guarding such as long-term planning, building local networks and community supports, and setting up safe and accessible housing, she can help. She is skilled in working with teams to support people with complex needs.
Natalie has experience in working with autistic individuals of all ages, including children, adolescents and adults, across a range of sectors.
Natalie’s broad experience in physical and mental health means she is well-placed to support her autistic clients with their co-occurring conditions which include but are not limited to, co-occurring mental health conditions (for example, trauma and C-PTSD, hypermobility syndromes, dysautonomia, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder).
-
Natalie supports people with ADHD to work to their strengths as well as cope with the challenges that an ADHD brain brings to daily life. Natalie has substantial experience in supporting ADHDers across the lifespan, including adults who are working in high performance roles, teens and young adults in school and university, and others living with substantial disability and co-occurring ADHD. Whether you need help with daily routines, time management, organisation, managing emotions and daily life skills, she can help. When Natalie work’s with you, she always considers your context: the environment in which you function, the task components, as well as the personal skills and difficulties you have, to help you with practical strategies to live your best life.
-
Natalie provides mental health support for her neurodivergent clients who have co-occurring mental health diagnoses or are experiencing stress, burnout, overwhelm and trauma due to living with neurodiversity. As an endorsed Mental Health Practitioner, Natalie can provide services under the Better Access to Mental Health initiative, which enables a Medicare rebate for focused psychological strategies.
-
This is an area of interest for Natalie, who is skilled at working with this cohort. People with intellectual disabilities face numerous challenges across all areas of life, including finding employment, carrying out daily living tasks, accessing healthcare, building strong relationships and being fit and healthy. Many people are constrained by the low expectations of others around them, and others are not receiving the support they need due to their cognitive difficulties being ‘invisible’. Natalie works closely with families and support teams, when appropriate, to assist in raising expectations, providing suitable supports to enable independence, and overall to create a good life for her clients.
-
With neurodivergence comes a range of other strengths and challenges. We get it as we have lived this. We can help you work with your strengths and within your limitations to achieve your goals.
-
Natalie has substantial experience working with people with chronic health conditions. She understands the physical, emotional and social impacts of living with an illness or physical disability and has skills and strategies to navigate the health system, communicate with stakeholders and manage the complexity that this brings to life. Many of Natalie’s clients live with chronic health conditions and she assists her clients to manage the demands of their health conditions, which may include prioritising various recommendations and interventions from health professionals, plan and manage their time and capacity, and move forward in life despite the limitations of their condition. Please note that Natalie no longer sees people with physical health conditions as a primary (for example, musculoskeletal or neurological conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, diabetes, dementia, Parkinson’s disease), as she no longer prescribes complex equipment or does home modifications
-
Natalie provides supervisory services to occupational therapists at all career stages.
How We Work Together
Natalie’s approach is flexible, collaborative and tailored to your individual needs, goals and capacity.
Assessment
Assessment is based on observation, discussion and real-life tasks. Where needed, Natalie may also use standardised assessments, particularly for funding or reporting purposes. Any additional time or costs are always discussed with you first.
Ongoing Support
Support may include coaching, skill development, consultation, or a combination of approaches. Therapy is collaborative and can evolve over time as your needs and goals change. Shorter or alternative sessions types may be available to suit your needs, including brief check ins via email, phone or SMS.
Funding & Planning
Funding options and any limitations are discussed early, so therapy can be planned in a way that is realistic and effective. This may include Medicare, NDIS or privately funded services, which can influence how you work together.
Flexibility Over Time
Therapy is not intended to be ongoing forever. Sessions may pause or come to an end when goals are met, circumstances change, or a different approach or service is needed. Open communication is always encouraged, and feedback is welcomed and respected.
Occupational therapy using telehealth
Telehealth is an evidence-based and effective therapy option for the right client, and Natalie uses it when clinically indicated. It can remove barriers such as travel, transport, transitioning from home, managing energy, adapting to new environments, or living interstate. It also allows some observation of clients in their natural environment and enables real-time problem-solving. Many clients feel more at ease in their own space, which can improve engagement and authenticity. Telehealth also supports communication features (such as closed captions, chat, and screen sharing), can reduce first-session anxiety, and may make it easier to include parents, carers, or support workers. It can also allow for more flexible scheduling and shorter, more frequent check-ins when appropriate.
Telehealth is not suitable for all clients, goals, or stages of therapy, and safety risks are considered. Technical issues can disrupt sessions, and some clients find it harder to build rapport or stay focused via a screen. Clients also need access to a private, quiet space and should not attend sessions while driving or in public places.
NDIS & Systems Support
An important part of Natalie’s work involves assisting clients and their families in navigating health, work, education and disability services and advocacy support. Support services can be spread across a arrange of institutions, funding regulations, providers and specialists, which can become overwhelming and ineffective. She can provide support to clients navigate, advocate and curate the services they engage with so that demands are lessened, and their needs are better met.
Natalie has extensive experience with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), having been supported NDIS participants since 2017, as well as self-managing a family member’s NDIS plan. As such, she keeps up to date with changes as the sector and adapts her therapy and report writing as needed. She understands the complexity of managing NDIS plans, the impacts of services, staff and changes in sector on the individual and family, and the other challenges and opportunities it brings. She can offer a wealth of information and support when it comes to finding services that actually make a difference, working effectively with support workers and other staff, setting up supports in a way that allows you to better manage and benefit from them, and providing support with self-advocacy and communication skills. She has had extensive report writing experience including Functional Capacity and Support Needs Assessments, Specialist Disability Accommodation reports, reports for the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and as an independent assessor for the NDIA.
Supervision for Occupational Therapists
Natalie provides supervisory services to occupational therapists at all career stages, and can assist with:
Skills in working with neurodivergent clients (autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, invisible disability)
Report writing (SDA, ART, FCA, independent assessor)
Setting up and operating effectively in private practice.
Planning, scheduling, organising and balancing a private practice within the context of your life.
Privately funded services, each of which may influence how we work together.
Want to know more?
-
Natalie aims to provide neurodiversity-affirming practice, but is still learning from her clients! Natalie appreciates and celebrates neurodiversity, and hopes this shines through in her approach to her work and clients. She works in a highly person-centred way, and is flexible in how she interacts with clients, meeting them at locations that suit them when possible, and allowing for varying ways of delivering sessions (timing, length, pace, breaks, animals, outdoors, sensory tools, varying locations, shorter sessions). I optimise the way I communicate with my clients by asking what works best for them – for example, sometimes people prefer to write responses, or prefer telehealth, or may need more information before sessions such as photos or questions ahead of time, or may need additional processing time and visual supports. I write reports in a non-stigmatising way, using identity-first language. Our clinic space has options for being flexible in the need for additional space, sensory supports, or the outdoors (weather and privacy allowing).
-
Natalie is always learning and improving her practice. She engages in regular clinical supervision and ensures she attends a range of professional development training and workshops in relation to her areas of interest, which include courses and seminars on clinical skills-related mental health, neurodivergence, gender-affirming care, hidden disability, NDIS and therapy approaches. See below for a course list which gives insight into Natalie’s areas of interest and expertise.
OTSI - NDIS Support Needs Assessments - November 2025.
Burnout Recovery, the Big Refresh Masterclass - December 2025.
OTA Supervision Program, December 2025.
Grounding Strategies for Dissociation, Panic and Flashbacks, June 2025.
Neurodiversity- affirming OT, March 2025.
Working with Dysphoria - Trans Wellbeing - May 2025
CRU webinar: Employment Supporters - Securing the Right Match - May 2025
DSC: Communicating Participant Needs for Better Funding Outcomes May 2025
CRU Conference: Building Capacity for Lifelong Inclusion - 14-15 March 2025
Occupational Therapy Society for Invisible Disability Event Feb 2025
Moral Injury OT Australia - Nov 2024
New NDIS Supports In and Out - DSC - Nov 2024
Functional Capacity Assessments - OTA and DSC - Nov 2024
Reframing Autism Summit - June 2024
Driving and Neurodiversity OTA - Feb 2024
Allens Cognitive Levels - June 2024
Generative AI in OT practice - July 2024
Creating Inclusive Environments Masterclass - Feb 2024
Bathing Solutions webinar - Feb 2024
Best Practices for Interoception Based Supports - Jan 2024
OT Australia Mental Health Modules - Jan 2024
Autism at Work Summit - 2022, 2023
Advanced Occupational Performance Coaching May 2023
Supporting Autistic People with Eating Disorders and ARFID seminar 2023
OT Practice in Building Better Routines - Muriel Cummins, March 2023
Toileting, Interoception and Nutrition - Kelly Mahler, Aug 2023
Interoception through the Lens of an Autist Adult - Sep 2023
Specialist Disability Housing - OT Roles and Responsibilities - Jane Galvin - July 2023
3-Steps to Improving Interoception - An Evidence-based Approach - Kelly Mahler
Interoception Through the Lens of an Autistic Adult - Kelly Mahler
Advanced Sensory Processing - Verve OT
Emotional Regulation - Verve OT
Autistic Flourishing Seminar - 2022
Specialist Disability Accommodation 101 & 201 - Jane Galvin
Occupational Performance Coaching - Assoc Prof Melissa Nott
Functional Assessment & Psychosocial Disability - Muriel Cummins
Suicide Prevention Summit, Mental Health Academy - 2022
Autism and Mental Health, Autism Qld - April 2022
Mental Health of Adolescents - William Lambert
Sensory Processing Approaches - OT Australia
NDIS and AT, OT Australia forum
Executive Function and Dysfunction - Dr Chris Chapparo
Allied Health Report Writing and NDIS - DSC
Managing Risk In Assistive Technology OTA - May 2022
Australian OT Paediatric OT Virtual Conference
Mental Health, Psychosocial Disability & NDIS - Muriel Cummins
Assistance Dogs and the NDIS - Verve OT
Is My Young Adult Ready for Driving - Driver Rehab Institute
Better NDIS Conversations - DSC
Social Emotional Learning - Nicole Quint OTCEU
Life Skills Profile Training - AMHCON
Meeting the Needs of Autistic Adults - OTCEU
Montreal Cognitive Assessment Training - Moca
OT Australia Telehealth Summit
Supported Independent Living and Independent Living Options Seminar - Verve OT
OT Australia Introduction to Functional Assessment
Making the Most of the Adult Sensory Profile - Pearson
Paediatric MAT Assessment Made Easy - Sunrise Training
-
Occupational Therapists (OTs) are degree qualified health professionals who are uniquely placed to understand human functioning, illness, disability and the impact of these on a person's life. OTs are trained in human biology and neurology, mental health and paediatrics, and have expertise in understanding how various conditions across the lifespan and life domains specifically relate to function and may impact everyday life. Occupational Therapists are trained to use 'occupation' to help people develop, recover, improve and maintain the skills for daily living, health, wellness and happiness. Occupational Therapists may work to help you maintain function so you can continue to live independently, regain skills after an illness or injury or develop new skills when illness, disability, learning or health problems interfere.
Occupational therapists undertake a minimum 4 year university degree.
We are trained in mental health, physical health and child development.
We are required to undergo a minimum of 20 hours of professional development each year.
We are required to engage in regular professional supervision.
We are regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
-
Natalie graduated from the University of Queensland in 1998 with honours and has worked as an Occupational Therapist ever since. Her career has included working in major tertiary teaching hospitals in Australia and England in specialist areas such as spinal cord injury rehabilitation and neurology, as well as in community services providing home based rehab, home modifications and equipment prescription. She has worked in Clinical Team Leader positions at Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital and Salisbury Spinal Injuries Unit (UK), and established the paediatric service to the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford, England. She has worked at Autism Queensland in the school and outreach team, as well as working with neurodivergent teens and adults in her private practice in more recent years. In addition to clinical work, Natalie has also worked in strategic health service planning for Queensland Health.
Natalie's current private practice focus is on helping people with disabilities, especially those with diagnoses of autism, ADHD and intellectual disability. Natalie has lived experience of autism and ADHD, and has been working specifically with autistic people since 2017, including at a flagship statewide autism outreach team and school, as well as in private practice in the community. Her background in physical health rehabilitation and as a mental health provider is well-suited to this client group's co-occurring physical health and mental health conditions. She is also an endorsed mental health provider under Better Access to Mental Health.
Natalie also has high-level report-writing skills and an understanding of broader health systems and services. She has held clinical educator and strategic planning roles within Queensland Health and been involved in the writing and development of statewide health service plans. In the NDIS space she has experience writing successful Specialist Disability Accommodation and Supported Independent Living reports, reports for Administrative Reviews Tribunal as well as doing independent assessor reports for the NDIA, along with regular Functional Capacity Assessments.
-
There is some overlap in an OT service for ADHD and ADHD coaching. These can be complementary approaches but there are some key differences. Some people see both an OT and ADHD coach.
Occupational therapists are regulated allied health professionals with university degrees and professional registration, which in Australia includes registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
This means they:
Have formal clinical training
Must meet professional competency standards
Follow ethical and safety regulations
Are trained in assessment and clinical reasoning
ADHD coaches are not regulated healthcare professionals, although some may come from an allied health background. Training and experience varies widely with the coach you choose to see, so it’s always good to find a coach who has formal certifications and training.
Some of the differentiation about how OT’s work is included below:
OT typically will address the underlying the underlying factors affecting daily functioning across areas such as work, leisure, family life, social interactions, self-care, domestic tasks, sleep, community access, and routines.
OTs have specific skills in goal setting and assessment and may use standardised and formal assessments to provide deeper insight into areas such as sensory profile, executive functioning, functional cognition, adaptive functioning, and the impact of your home and environment. This helps you understand yourself better and prioritise meaningful change.
We typically focus on the interaction between the person, environment, and task, ensuring intervention addresses all three.
We may prescribe assistive technology or provide guidance for home and environmental modifications.
We are bound, as a regulated health profession, to provide evidence-based therapy focused on functional outcomes and meaningful change. Strategies are usually highly specific and individualised.
We provide clinical intervention which means we may also treat or address underlying conditions. Many people with ADHD also experience co-occurring conditions such as autism, learning difficulties, trauma, mood disorders, sensory processing differences, PMDD, hypermobility, fatigue, or burnout. OTs are trained to consider multiple overlapping conditions and to refer to other health professionals when appropriate.
OTs can also work within formal systems, including the Employee Assistance Fund, Medicare Better Access, and the NDIS. We can support workplace adjustments, school supports, and disability services, and provide clinical reports for workplaces, medical professionals, and funding bodies.
If working alongside an ADHD coach, an OT may focus on addressing underlying barriers and building sustainable systems, while the coach supports accountability and momentum. OTs can also assist with tracking progress and monitoring outcomes.
-
As a parent of neurodivergent children, as well as an occupational therapist, Natalie believes that parents, with support, are best placed to bring change in their children's lives. Parents hold the keys to understanding their child and implementing the day-to-day strategies that will help their child.
Natalie uses an Occupational Performance Coaching approach to help parents identify what is most important and then we collaborate to identify specific goals and strategies that are achievable for your child and family. She helps parents consider the person in context, their skills, the task requirements and the environmental context.
Things Natalie can help with include identifying strengths as well as areas to work on, setting goals as a family, adapting parenting, building home routines, addressing skill deficits, using the child's natural motivation, dealing with transitions, building self-esteem and connection, finding a support network, securing and using funding, helping with advocacy at home and school and putting in place strategies that work for the child and family.
Natalie aims to consult, coach and collaborate so that parents are empowered to raise neurodiverse children and help their families thrive.
-
Working with teenagers requires a specialised occupational therapy approach, one that is focused on creating a sense of autonomy and self-efficacy, while motivating the teenager to work on things most important to them. This can, at times, be in conflict with parents’ goals and ideals for their teen and requires a careful balance and approach in enabling the teen to develop their self-efficacy in managing their difficulties, while also helping parents understand and support this while navigating the complexities of family life. It is helpful to acknowledge the important role that parents play in helping teens achieve their goals. When working with teens, Natalie has skills in helping teens and carers identify mutual goals and work together to bring functional change.
-
Ideally we would see every client who might benefit from our services, however, practical restrictions mean we couldn't without making compromises that don't sit well with us.
While larger clinics and organisations are able to hire new therapists if the demand for their services is high, our passion is for providing therapy, so we have kept things small and personal.
Therapy is personal and who your therapist is often matters. Most of our clients come to us through word of mouth recommendations, so we'd rather take on only the number of clients that we are practically able to see.
While that means each of our clients know who they are going to see, one downside is that our capacity is limited, so we need to be selective at times otherwise we wouldn't be able to deliver the quality of service that we and our clients expect.
We prioritise clients who have challenges in areas that we have particular strengths or depth of experiencing in helping and areas where it can be hard to find suitable alternatives. -
We try to keep our website updated regarding Natalie’s capacity to take on new clients. Different referral types generate different amounts of work for Natalie, so at times she may take some referrals but not always. If you are not sure, please feel free to email our admin.
-
Unfortunately, we do not. The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law does not allow the use of testimonials or purported testimonials to advertise regulated health services or a business that provides a regulated health service. The reasoning includes that testimonials may be misleading, may unduly influence vulnerable people, create unrealistic expectations and may compromise privacy and professional boundaries.
-
Currently Natalie offers clinical appointments on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 8am and 2/3pm, and Thursdays 10:30am to 2:30pm.
Fees & Funding
Session Fees
50-minute sessions are standard.
Private fee: $260 initial session, $210 subsequent sessions
Medicare (Better Access to Mental Health): $260 initial session, $210 subsequent sessions
($120.50 out-of-pocket on subsequent sessions after rebate)Medicare (Chronic Disease Care Plan): $260 initial session, $210 subsequent sessions
($146.60 out-of-pocket on subsequent sessions after rebate)NDIS: $193.99
Other Funding Options
Employment Assistance Fund: up to approximately $1800 per year for eligible clients (see JobAccess for details)
Reports
Reports are charged separately and depend on the time, complexity and requirements involved.
NDIS: $193.99 per hour (subject to NDIS price guide changes)
Private: $200 per hour (non-NDIS reports incur GST)
An estimate can be provided prior to commencing any report.
-
NDIS Reports
NDIS reports usually require a high level of justification, evidence and detail, as they are attached to funding. The following are general guidelines for time charged for reports, but hours can vary depending on complexity:
Plan Reassessment report: 2-4 hours
Progress Report: 1-2 hours
Functional Capacity Assessment Report: Up to 15 hours, depending on the number of assessments and complexity
Home and Living Reports, SIL and SDA reports can take between 15-30 hours of report writing depending on complexity.
NDIS access reports are quoted at reduced and capped fee – please discuss with us.
Non-NDIS related reports
These may include assessment summary reports, letters to schools or for workplaces: 1-3 hours (or quoted). This is a general guideline for time charged for reports, but hours can vary depending on complexity.