Young Sunshine Coast health pros making waves in allied care
A new generation of allied health professionals is revolutionising patient care on the Sunshine Coast. Meet the top performers under 30.
From occupational therapy to physiotherapists, meet the Sunshine Coast young guns going above and beyond in the allied health industry.
These passionate professionals have big hearts and big aspirations to help people improve their lives through everything from psychology to physiology.
See the list:
My Therapy Crew
Ella Keech, 23
What do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
I am an occupational therapist working with a mixed caseload, predominantly adults and adolescents.
I am coming to the end of my new graduate year, so have been working as an OT for approximately eight months.
What is your favourite part of the job?
My favourite part about being an OT is having the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in my clients lives.
I love being able to support them to engage in the things and activities which are truly meaningful to them and brings them greater quality of life.
Seeing even small changes makes a big difference in their self-confidence and daily life which is so great to witness.
Do you have any future goals?
Going into my future as an OT I want to continue to grow my clinical skills and knowledge in a wide range of areas so I can provide the best possible support to my clients, with a particular interest in assistive technology and building daily life skills.
Tara Krome, 26
What do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
I am a paediatric occupational therapist and I have been working in this industry for five years.
What is your favourite part of the job?
One of my favourite parts of being a paediatric therapist is the opportunity to work closely with children and their families to support them in achieving their developmental milestones.
It’s incredibly rewarding to help children grow in confidence and independence, and to empower families with the tools and strategies they need to support their child’s progress in everyday life.
Do you have any future goals?
My goal is to continue growing as a paediatric therapist by building on my clinical skills and professional development to provide the best possible support to children and their families.
I’m also passionate about developing meaningful programs and inclusive supports that empower children feel more included and capable in their home, school and community environments.
Taylah Deayton, 28
What do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
I’m an adult community Occupational Therapist and have been working in the field for five years.
What is your favourite part of the job?
I love seeing how even small changes can transform someone’s daily life, helping them feel more independent and confident.
I also really enjoy doing outreach to communities that have limited access to allied health, making sure people get the support they need even if it’s not easy to reach.
Do you have any future goals?
I’m passionate about assistive technology and home modifications, and I also mentor newer OTs, which I really enjoy.
My future goal is to help make allied health more accessible, especially for people who may otherwise miss out on support.
Mind and Soul Psychology
Laura Millican, 25
What do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
I’m a general psychologist and I have now opened my own psychology practice in August 2025 called Mind and Soul Psychology here on the Sunshine Coast.
I’ve been working in the field since I graduated from the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2021.
Day-to-day, I provide both therapy and psychological assessments. In therapy, I work with children, adolescents, and adults, using several approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Schema Therapy.
I like to tailor therapy to the person in front of me rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
What is your favourite part of the job?
Honestly, I love the people. The most incredible part of my job is the privilege of sitting with humans in their most vulnerable and most resilient moments.
My clients have taught me more about kindness, humour, and what it means to be human than I could ever have learnt on my own.
Do you have any future goals?
I’d love to continue showing people that psychology is not just lying on a couch while someone says “hmm.” It’s about genuine connection, curiosity, and self-compassion.
I want to keep helping people break intergenerational cycles, understand their attachment patterns, and learn to see themselves the way I see them: brilliant, resilient, and worthy.
Sports and Spinal
Tenikka Mogno, 29
What do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
Exercise physiologist, nearly eight years.
What is your favourite part of your job?
My favourite part of working at Sports and Spinal is being able to help a wide variety of people and conditions, every day looks different.
My job is to engage and help people living in pain, with a disability or chronic disease, to move and feel better.
Our team dynamic is great, I work closely with other EP’s and an array of other allied health professionals where we are constantly learning from each other.
Do you have any future goals?
My goal is to continue advocating for the EP profession in my team leader role.
Sophie Nall, 23
What do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
Podiatrist for two years.
What is your favourite part of your job?
One of the most rewarding aspects of podiatry is the unique balance between specialisation and variety. I enjoy helping individuals return to the activities they love, whether that’s walking pain-free or performing their best in sport.
Although often an overlooked area of healthcare, podiatry can play a crucial role for lower limb rehabilitation.
Do you have any future goals?
I aspire to advocate for the vital role podiatry plays in sports medicine and to inspire others to explore such a fulfilling career path.
Zoe Divall, 29
What sort of work do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
I’m a physiotherapist and partner at Sports & Spinal’s Coolum and Noosa clinics. I’ve been a physio for five years, and at 27 I became a partner in the group.
Opening our Noosa clinic just over 12 months ago has been an exciting milestone in my career.
I specialise in treating neck pain, headaches, migraines and vestibular conditions.
Focusing on this niche allows me to make a real difference for my patients while giving me immense job satisfaction and personal fulfilment.
What is your favourite part of your job? What do you love most about it?
It might sound simple, but my favourite part of being a physio is seeing people return with less pain and being able to get back to the activities they love.
Migraines, vertigo, and chronic neck issues can be debilitating, so being able to reduce the impact of these symptoms and improve people’s quality of life is incredibly rewarding.
Do you have any future goals in the profession?
My career goals come in two paths; my profession and my business.
Professionally, I want to expand my knowledge in concussion management and continue to deepen my expertise in treating vestibular conditions.
I’m passionate about this area because people with these conditions need help, and there are very few professionals who specialise in it.
On the business side, my goal is to continue growing our Noosa clinic while leading with empathy and authenticity.
I follow Brené Brown’s philosophy that leadership is about developing potential in people, creating supportive environments, and inspiring others to do their best.
Our guiding principle is simple: happy patients, happy staff, happy clinic.
Fusion Exercise Physiology
Mia Skilton, 26
What sort of work do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
I’m an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and founder of Fusion Exercise Physiology.
I work with people living with chronic pain, invisible illnesses, and complex conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, POTS, fibromyalgia, and more.
I’ve been in the industry since completing my Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology in 2022.
My work is a mix of face-to-face and online coaching, which helps me reach people both locally and around Australia.
What is your favourite part of your job?
My favourite part is helping people who often feel overlooked by the healthcare system to feel seen, supported, and capable again.
I love seeing my clients gain confidence and independence in their daily lives.
It’s incredibly rewarding to support people in managing their conditions and to watch them rebuild strength and function over time.
Do you have any future goals in the profession?
Looking ahead, I hope to expand Fusion into a wellness hub that brings together different allied health professionals (physios, dietitians, psychologists, etc.) under one roof, so people with complex health needs can access truly holistic care in a welcoming environment.
Keegan Bean, 25
What kind of work do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
I’m currently an allied health assistant at Good Vibes Physio while I finalise my degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology.
We work with individuals who are recovering from injury and want to return to an active lifestyle.
I’ve just started this role and I’ll be drawing from my skills learnt in my degree alongside my 5+ years background as a personal trainer and coach to provide high quality care.
What is your favourite part of your job?
Seeing people return to the activities they love, and making sure they feel heard and supported throughout their recovery.
What part do you love most?
The environment and the people! We have an awesome space at Good Vibes.
Do you have future goals in the profession?
To always keep learning and developing as a clinician so I can provide the best possible care for my clients.
Footsure Podiatry
Katie Goulding, 23
What sort of work do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
I am a qualified Podiatrist and have been in the industry for just over two years.
I completed my three-year training over in the UK where I am from, then moved to Australia two years ago to pursue my career.
What is your favourite part of your job?
My favourite part of the job is seeing a variety of patient’s and issues and knowing that every day is different.
I especially love treating any sports related injuries and ingrowing toenails.
The things I love most about my job are the patients.
Having all different types of conversations, meeting new people and growing connections with people you see regularly.
Do you have any future goals in the profession?
In the future I aim to open my own clinic and have my own team of podiatrists, whether that’s in the UK or Australia!
Sunshine Coast Psychology Clinic
Kiana Thomas, 25
What sort of work do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
I’m a psychologist and assessment co-ordinator, and I’ve been working in the field for several years. I have worked in both the private and public sector.
My current role involves supporting clients through therapy, conducting assessments, and working alongside families, schools, and other professionals to make sure people feel seen, understood, and supported.
What is your favourite part of your job?
The part of my job I love most is helping people understand themselves better, especially their unique brain style.
I think there’s something really powerful about being able to say, “this is why your brain works the way it does.”
It can take away so much self-blame and open the door to compassion, both for clients and for the people around them.
That’s why assessments are such a meaningful part of my work: they give people an understanding of themselves and help make sense of why certain challenges feel so hard.
I’m also very passionate about attachment theory. Our attachment style can influence so much of how we show up in relationships and in life.
It’s really wonderful to watch people begin to feel more secure, connected, and confident in themselves through this work.
In the future, I’d love to continue developing and running attachment groups, while also supporting individuals one-on-one in their journeys of self-discovery and growth.
Do you have any future goals in the profession?
Looking ahead, my goals include deepening my expertise in assessment and attachment-focused therapy, creating group programs, and eventually creating my own practice where people can access support that feels safe, personalised, and truly holistic.
At the heart of it, what keeps me inspired is the privilege of walking alongside people as they come to understand themselves in new ways.
Watching those moments of self-recognition, when someone realises they aren’t “broken” but simply wired in their own way.
Sunshine Coast Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology
Bailey Camilleri, 25
What do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
Accredited Exercise Physiologist. Working in the industry for three-and-a-half years.
I work with a range of people, from children to the elderly, helping them manage/treat acute and/or chronic health conditions with the goal of improving their quality of life and achieving their goals
What is your favourite part of your job?
I truly love showing people that they can do so many things they initially do not think they can do.
I find education is a magical tool in improving people’s confidence, which then flows onto great improvements in all aspects of health.
If you know why you are doing something, and find benefit in doing it, you’ll likely do it for a long time.
Jack Edgar, 24
What do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
I am an accredited exercise physiologist, supporting people to continue moving and exercising safely no matter their condition.
I’m a recent Masters graduate and have been working in the industry for about a month.
What is your favourite part of your job?
What I love most about my role is helping people navigate the complexities of exercise in their health journey.
I enjoy creating personalised plans that fit seamlessly into their lifestyle and empower them to get back to meaningful real-world activities—whether that’s being able to pick up their kids, return to work, or spend more time doing what they love.
Do you have any future goals?
Looking ahead, my goal is to continue building confidence in treating a wide range of conditions and expanding my knowledge of the industry, so I can provide even greater value to the people I work with.
Back to Bounce Sports Physiotherapy
Jess Radford, 29
What do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
I have been an exercise physiologist for four years and recently joined the team at Back to Bounce.
A lot of my work focuses on musculoskeletal rehab and return to sport programs for athletes, however, I also love working everyday people who just want to move better and feel stronger.
What is your favourite part of your job?
My favourite part of being an EP is being a part of the moment my clients get back to doing the things that they love - whether that’s playing sport again, playing with their kids or even just functioning without pain.
I love the relationships that I get to build with my clients and support them through the tough times.
Do you have any future goals?
I would love to continue to grow as an EP and business, creating more opportunities for people to access quality rehab in a supporting gym space and keep building my community where people feel empowered and have the tools to thrive long term.
Max Quigley, 28
What do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
I do a combination of private practice and sports physiotherapy work. I have been in the industry for six years working in Brisbane until this year when I moved to the Sunshine Coast, which has been the best decision I have ever made.
I have worked in private practice, professional sport, community sport and surgical device assisting.
What is your favourite part of your job?
I enjoy working with people to get them back to what they love. I’m not about just treating every injury the same, it’s about finding what the patient is struggling with, the reason why and then how do we fix it.
My favourite injuries to treat are post-surgical patients and anything related to ankle, knees or shoulders.
Do you have any future goals?
For the moment I want to continue to develop my skills to treat complex injuries that others can’t fix.
I want to be renowned as the physiotherapist that can fix the problems others can’t.
Buderim Foot and Ankle
Rhianna Harris, 27
What do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
Profession: Podiatrist
Qualifications: Bachelor of Podiatric Medicine, Post Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and Management.
What is your favourite part of your job?
Working as a podiatrist allows me to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives; whether by helping someone manage a chronic condition, recover from an injury, or simply walk more comfortably.
I particularly enjoy the variety in my work, especially within my specialised areas of diabetes education and dance podiatry.
Supporting patients to achieve their goals, improve their health, and return to the activities they love is what makes my work truly rewarding.
Cammy Griffin, 28
What do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
I’m a speech pathologist and have been for six-and-a-half years.
What is your favourite part of your job?
I love being a speech pathologist because you get the chance to step into the world of children, teens, adults and their families and support them to do the things they love most.
I love getting to learn about and share their interests. You’d be surprised how much some eight year olds know about specific animals or Minecraft!
Do you have any future goals?
I’m also undertaking my PhD so I would love to teach incoming speech pathologists in the future, and support them to be part of this wonderful profession.
I’m also hosting a conference this year on the Sunshine Coast so would love to see the community and collaboration grow and be a part of that growth.
Georgia Monaghan, 29
What do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
I recently launched GEM Speech Pathology, where I specialise in working with adults across both the NDIS and aged care.
With six years of experience as a speech pathologist, I provide support in swallowing, speech, language, social communication, voice, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and stuttering, to help clients achieve their goals.
What is your favourite part of your job?
Supporting clients to achieve their goals and being there to celebrate all of their wins- big or small!
Do you have any future goals?
My key goal for the future is to continue building and refining GEM Speech Pathology so I can provide the highest standard of care for my clients.
This involves staying at the forefront of evidence-based practice and continuously liaising with clients and stakeholders to ensure their needs are being met.
Fuel Your Life
Tylah Shanahan - dietitian
What made you want to get into this industry?
I am a very caring person and have always had a passion for health and fitness (as well as competing in sport at a high level growing up), I was also highly interested in science and biology at school so studying dietetics for me was a no-brainer.
What is a highlight of your career so far?
The biggest highlight for me seeing how we can change not only the person’s life but also their family’s life. I’ve had clients go from being very immobile due to weight concerns to now being able to walk up and down stairs carrying boxes. I also love it when clients say they feel more energised, happier and healthier.
Footpoint Podiatry
John Gallagher
What do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
As a podiatrist specialising in pedorthics, I work with both children and adults who have disabilities or severe gait abnormalities.
My role involves assessing the biomechanics of walking and designing highly customised solutions—such as custom foot orthotics, Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFOs), and custom footwear—to support mobility, alignment, and function.
These tools help reduce pain, prevent further complications, and most importantly, enable people to move more independently and comfortably.
Using innovations like 3D scanning, advanced materials, and precision design, I ensure that each patient receives tailored, effective support to achieve the best possible outcomes.
For me, it’s all about combining innovation with empathy to help people live fuller, more mobile lives
What is your favourite part of your job?
I absolutely love what I do—fixing feet is my passion! There’s nothing more rewarding than watching a child take their very first steps or walk independently for the first time. Moments like that fill me with pride and remind me why I chose this path.
Being able to make a real difference in people’s lives and give back to my community in such a meaningful way is truly a privilege.
I’m deeply committed to providing the best care possible, which is why I’m so passionate about incorporating the latest technologies in podiatry and pedorthics.
SANA Physiotherapy
Shanan Nelson, 29
What do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
I am a physiotherapist and director of SANA Physiotherapy. I’m in my fifth year as a physio, though I have worked as a strength and conditioning coach and powerlifting coach prior to my physiotherapy degree.
What is your favourite part of your job?
This is a hard one for sure. I think the thing that really lights my fire as a physio is seeing people get back to what they love doing.
When you see a client who is normally active have to take a step back from their sport or exercise due to injury, you can really see the effect it has on their mood and the rest of their life.
Being there at the start, then seeing them “See the light at the end of the tunnel” and get back to the things they love really brings so much inspiration and happiness.
The spark you see in their eyes that their injury is now in the rear view mirror or they are coping better, or managing it better is amazing.
I love the day to day problem solving that comes with musculoskeletal private practice. Each case is like a complex puzzle.
Make the treatment plan fit to the client goals, and figuring out each contributing factor is mentally challenging in the best way.
Do you have any future goals?
My future goals include my business goals. I want to improve the quality of care available on the Sunshine Coast as I know many people have had less than ideal experiences with physiotherapists in the past.
I want to have an all star team that makes an impact on the community, servicing teenagers, all the way to the active senior population.
Another goal is to change the way physiotherapy places itself in the medical community and in the general public’s view. We often undersell ourselves time-wise and financially, which has lead to incredibly short career length averages in Australia.
This is largely due to high workload and often poor pay. Most of the time this is a consequence of low public funding and a perception that physiotherapy “doesn’t work” for many common musculoskeletal issues.
I want to run a business that can pay our team like they deserve as highly skilled rehab and pain management specialists. This comes with delivering high quality care that patients value and achieving outcomes for patients!
In short: I want to change the way physiotherapy is perceived from the general public, professionally and inter professionally.
Body Mechanics and Function
Stacie Gray, 22
What do you do and how long have you been in the industry?
I’m currently in the final stages of my journey to becoming an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP).
For those unfamiliar with the role, AEPs are allied health professionals who design evidence-based exercise programs tailored to individual needs.
We work closely with people managing chronic conditions, recovering from injuries, or aiming to improve their overall health and wellbeing.
What is your favourite part of your job?
One of the most rewarding parts of my journey so far, especially during placement, has been the opportunity to work directly with clients. There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing someone walk into a session with a smile, knowing you’re playing a part in helping them achieve their goals.
Watching clients regain confidence, return to their daily activities, and celebrate their progress is an incredible experience.
I’ve always believed that a job is more than just a job when you’re truly passionate about what you do, it becomes a part of who you are.
Do you have any future goals?
I’m proud to share that once I graduate, I’ll be joining the team at Body Mechanics and Function as an Accredited Exercise Physiologist.
Looking ahead, one of my long-term goals is to support new graduates as they navigate their own journeys, just like the one I’m on now, and help guide them through a positive and empowering learning experience.
Simply Nutrition Dietitians
Emma Moor, 29
What made you want to get into this industry?
This is a really interesting question as, for a lot of people, you choose your career path as a teenager with very little insight into what the job might actually look like, or at least this was the case for me.
I believe I chose an allied health profession as I have a strong drive to take care of others and empower them to understand what they need to do to look after themselves independently with confidence.
Choosing my career was actually a bit of a coin toss between occupational therapy and dietetics if I’m honest!
When I chose what to study, I just knew I wanted to help people live long healthy lives and either option seemed good to me. The final decision was helped by the fact that I found nutrition to be quite interesting and I didn’t really know enough about occupational therapy to feel confident in that choice.
I’m very glad to be working in this space now as it has taught me so much.
What is a highlight of your career so far?
I can’t really recall any particular stand out highlights of my career thus far, but I feel like I have such regular highlights, they all combine to make the job a wonderful experience.
These small and consistent highlights are things like working with the family of a poorly nourished, enterally fed child to get them to a healthy weight and seeing how this empowers the caretakers to make appropriate choices for the child, and how much the child benefits from the right nutrition.
Other examples are seeing people stuck in the dieting cycle for decades break free from this once they understand what has been holding them back and watching how their lives and mental health improves when they choose not to be controlled by societal pressures.
The highlights of my career are varied and typically develop gradually as I watch a patient’s health improve and see how much this impacts their lives and the lives of those caring for them or participating in life with them.
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