Director, Occupational Therapist, and Expert in Quality and Safety in Aged Care

Kate is a highly skilled Occupational Therapist with a Master’s degree in Health Services Management and 20 years of experience in healthcare, policy development, and quality improvement. With a strong clinical background and a passion for improving care environments, Kate’s expertise lies in creating spaces that support best practice dementia care and driving quality and safety initiatives across the aged care sector.

Clinical Expertise and Leadership in Aged Care

Kate’s career spans across both clinical and policy roles, giving her a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare system and the challenges faced by aged care organizations. Her specialized knowledge in environmental design allows her to create safe, supportive environments that promote independence, well-being, and quality of life for older Australians, particularly those living with dementia. Kate’s approach integrates her clinical skills with a deep understanding of how the built environment can influence care outcomes, ensuring that dementia-friendly environments support both staff and residents.

In addition to her clinical work, Kate has held significant roles in program and project management, policy development, and quality improvement across large public health services and within state government. Her work has focused on clinical governance, consumer engagement, and driving continuous improvement in care delivery, ensuring that older people have a meaningful voice in the care they receive.

Quality and Safety Focus

Kate is deeply committed to ensuring that the care older Australians receive is of the highest quality and safety. Her work in clinical governance has made her an advocate for establishing clear policies and processes that uphold the rights and dignity of older people while ensuring that care services meet both regulatory requirements and best practice standards. She brings a consumer-centered approach to her work, always prioritizing the voice of the older person in the design, delivery, and review of care services.

Education, Training, and Workforce Development

Kate is passionate about imparting knowledge and building capability within the aged care workforce. She has completed her Certificate IV in Assessment and Training, equipping her with the skills to deliver high-quality training programs and mentor teams to enhance their clinical and operational capabilities. By providing training and support, Kate helps organizations strengthen their teams and ensures that staff have the knowledge and skills to meet the evolving needs of older people.

Her focus on workforce development is centered around practical, hands-on learning that translates into better outcomes for both staff and residents. Whether through one-on-one coaching, team training sessions, or leadership development, Kate is dedicated to creating a culture of continuous improvement and empowerment within the aged care sector.

Driving Change and Continuous Improvement

Throughout her career, Kate has worked on numerous quality improvement initiatives designed to enhance the care experience for older people. She has a proven track record of developing and implementing strategies that promote person-centered care, clinical excellence, and regulatory compliance. Kate works closely with organizations to help them meet national quality standards, drive change, and improve the overall experience for both residents and staff.

Her leadership in policy development ensures that innovative, evidence-based practices are adopted and implemented in ways that are both sustainable and effective, fostering environments where everyone can thrive.

Key Areas of Expertise:

• Occupational Therapy: Specialized knowledge in environmental design and creating spaces that support dementia-friendly care.

• Quality and Safety: Focus on clinical governance, consumer engagement, and continuous improvement to ensure best practice care.

• Policy and Program Development: Extensive experience in policy development, project management, and quality improvement within both public health services and state government.

• Workforce Development: Passionate about building capability in the aged care sector through training, mentorship, and coaching.

• Consumer-Centered Care: Advocating for the voice of older people in the development and delivery of care services.