Meet our team
FOUNDER AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Yakira Abraham
Yakira is a paediatric occupational therapist, dance and movement therapist, yoga instructor for kids, and baby massage trainer with over a decade of experience working with children and families in Australia and abroad. She has a natural affinity for children, particularly as the older sister of triplets.
Yakira specializes in child development, focusing on sensory processing and emotional regulation, and is passionate about helping children reach their potential through working with families.
She has developed programs to support teachers and parents in understanding their child's development and unique sensory profile.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Vanessa Mrocki
Vanessa is a paediatric occupational therapist with a Master's degree from La Trobe University. Growing up in a family of four children and with her mother running childcare centers, she has a natural love for working with children. With experience working overseas, she enjoys helping children achieve therapy goals in motor skills, social skills, self-regulation, self-care, sensory processing and play. Vanessa creates engaging therapy sessions and values partnerships with parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals for a comprehensive approach to children's therapy.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Ruby Mileikowski
Ruby is a dedicated occupational therapist with a passion for supporting families holistically. Joining the Connect and Grow team, she brings over a decade of experience working with children of various ages. Ruby is known for her compassionate approach and unwavering integrity, which she channels into building strong professional relationships. Outside of work, she indulges her love for musicals, crafting, and tap-dancing.
ALLIED HEALTH ASSISTANT
Ashira Junger
Ashira is an allied health assistant at Connect and Grow OT. With extensive experience working with kids of all abilities and ages, and as a current psychology student at Deakin University, Ashira brings a combination of these factors into her approach. She is passionate about creating strong relationships with her clients to support them to reach their full potential.
ALLIED HEALTH ASSISTANT
Jordan Thompson
Jordan is a qualified Allied Health Assistant with a passion for working with children. With experience in the USA and UK, she has a background in child care and learned valuable skills working at a Summer Camp in America. Jordan is dedicated to providing social and emotional support to children and excels in group therapy, believing in the power of friendship. Building a connection with her therapy clients is her top priority, and she creates a safe and nurturing environment for children to express their emotions.
CLINIC ADMINISTRATOR
Trish Marx
Trish is a driven student who is currently studying education, with a focus on supporting students with disabilities. They have worked with children for many years, teaching drama and doing support work for young children. A passion project of theirs is running hands-on art and science workshops at libraries and festivals. To unwind, Trish enjoys a range of crafty projects and spending time outdoors. Their lived experience within the disability space gives them unique insights into helping children and families thrive.