OTFC breaks ground on two new sites in Adelaide and Melbourne

Specialist occupational therapy provider OTFC has broken ground on two new facilities in Adelaide and Melbourne as part of a national expansion plan.

OT therapist Olivia Zoia with client Evie, 6, at the OTFC+ facility at Mile End. Picture: Matt Turner

Specialist occupational therapy provider OTFC (Occupational Therapy for Children) has broken ground on two new facilities in Adelaide and Melbourne as part of a national expansion plan that will see it service more than 300 clients by the end of the year.

The Adelaide-based company, led by husband-wife duo Dino and Michelle Mennillo, has doubled its client base to 200 per day over the last two years alone, after expanding into Queensland in 2023 and later in Victoria in 2024.

Specialising in tailored play-based therapy, OTFC currently operates seven sites, including four across suburban Adelaide and one in Berri.

It has plans to open two new facilities annually over the next four years, growing its customer base to more than 500 across 70 clinical spaces.

An entry into the NSW or WA markets is also on the cards, while plans for an international expansion into New Zealand, Singapore and the US form part of the company’s longer term vision.

Ms Mennillo – the company’s chief executive – said its rapid growth mirrored the heightened demand for specialised paediatric care in the occupational therapy (OT) sector.

“We don’t believe in wait-lists,” Mennillo said.

OTFC+ lead Michael Crisci with clients Alex, 21, and Evie, 6, and OT therapist Olivia Zoia at the OTFC+ facility at Mile End. Picture: Matt Turner

“When families reach out for help, they need support now. That’s why we’re investing in growth – expanding our clinics, hiring more therapists, expanding our services to include both clinic and community-based therapeutic interventions and ensuring that no child is left waiting for the care they need.

“We’ve designed our clinics to be places of possibility. Every swing, every climbing wall, every carefully designed space encourages young people to explore, take risks and develop the skills they need to thrive.

“Every child deserves the chance to live their best life regardless of their challenges. Our mission is to make that possible – one assessment, one therapy session, one clinic, one life changing moment at a time.”

Each new OTFC facility requires an investment of more than $1m, and is fitted out with the company’s own custom-designed equipment.

The company’s newest centre at Findon will offer five clinical spaces when it opens in July, while a ninth site in Camberwell – in Melbourne’s east – will add six clinical spaces when it opens towards the end of the year.

Each new clinic is expected to be full within 12 months.

The Mennillos acquired OTFC 20 years ago when it was a small practice working out of a small cottage on Ruthven St in Adelaide’s CBD.

Its purpose-built facilities provide play-based therapy to children and young people with autism, ADHD, learning difficulties and other developmental challenges.

Ms Mennillo said the company also worked closely with schools to design sensory rooms and provide in-school therapy services.

“Helping children isn’t just about therapy,” she said.

“It’s about building a support network around them – educators, caregivers, families and medical professionals all working together to create the best possible outcomes.”