Ashleigh van de Sande

Ashleigh is a warm and compassionate Occupational Therapist who is passionate about helping children and families better understand their unique strengths and challenges. Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy) with Honours in 2017 and has since gained extensive experience supporting children across a variety of settings. 

Ashleigh has a particular interest in supporting neurodivergent children and enjoys helping children develop the skills, confidence, and self-understanding needed to thrive in everyday life. She values building strong relationships with families and believes therapy should be engaging, meaningful, and enjoyable. 

Ashleigh brings many years of experience as a paediatric Occupational Therapist across South Africa and Australia. She is recognised for her strong clinical reasoning, collaborative approach, and commitment to delivering high-quality, evidence-based care. 

With advanced training and certification in Sensory Integration, Ashleigh has extensive experience supporting children with sensory processing differences, neurodiversity, emotional regulation challenges, and learning difficulties. In her Senior role, she also contributes to mentoring team members, supporting service development initiatives, and fostering excellent outcomes for children and families. 

Ashleigh has extensive experience supporting children and families across both South Africa and Australia. Following graduation, she established and led an Occupational Therapy Division during her community service year, gaining broad experience across paediatrics, neurology, mental health, and complex physical needs. 

Since moving to Brisbane, Ashleigh has continued to support children and families across the following areas: 

• Sensory Processing and Regulation
• Emotional and Behavioural Regulation
• ADHD
• ASD Levels 1, 2 & 3
• Anxiety and Trauma
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Play Skills and Participation
• Parent Coaching and Supporting Stressed or Overwhelmed Families
• School and Kindergarten Participation
• Executive Function Difficulties
• Social Skills Development
• DCD/Dyspraxia
• Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders
• Learning Differences and Learning Disabilities
• Dysgraphia
• Dyslexia
• Dysphasia 

• Supporting Clients with School Can’t, Kid Link, December 2025.
• Social Success: OT through a neurodiversity affirming lens, Kid Link, December 2025.
• Family Centred Practice (revised), Kid Link, December 2025.
• Executive Function Master Course for Paediatric OTs – Using the Train Model, Therapeutic Edge, January 2024.
• DIR 101: An Introduction to DIR and DIRFloortime, Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning (ICDL), September 2023.
• First Aid Training certification including CPR and basic emergency life support, Australia Wide First Aid, February 2023.
• Sensitive Conversations with families, Healthy Kids, November 2022.
• SASIC 4: Intervention Course, The South African Institute for Sensory Integration (SAISI), September 2020
• SASIC 3: Interpretation Course, The South African Institute for Sensory Integration (SAISI), September 2019
• SASIC 2: Test Administration Course, The South African Institute for Sensory Integration (SAISI), April 2019
• SASIC 1: Sensory Integration Theory Course, The South African Institute for Sensory Integration (SAISI), March 2019
• ADD & Medication, Impact Learning, March 2019.
• Ashleigh is a certified Sensory Integration therapist.

Ashleigh takes a child-led, strengths-based, and play-focused approach to therapy. She believes every child deserves to feel understood, capable, and supported to participate in the activities that are meaningful to them. 

Working closely with families, educators, and other professionals, Ashleigh develops practical and individualised strategies that can be naturally incorporated into everyday life. Her goal is to create enjoyable therapy experiences that empower children and build lasting skills across home, school, and community environments. 

Outside of Occupational Therapy, Ashleigh loves spending time with family and friends, being active, and enjoying the outdoors. Having grown up in South Africa before relocating to Australia, she brings a unique perspective and appreciation for the diverse experiences and backgrounds of the families she works with. 

Ashleigh has completed several half marathons and hopes to tackle a full marathon one day. She has a soft spot for anything turquoise or giraffe-related and enjoys foods such as sushi, biltong, frozen yoghurt, and chocolate ice cream. 

Families are often drawn to Ashleigh’s fun and playful nature. She admits she probably gets just as excited about playing games in therapy sessions as her clients do. Guided by values of kindness, compassion, and service, Ashleigh strives to create genuine connections and make every child and family feel supported, understood, and celebrated. 

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, you or the therapist may find that you are not a good fit. If your therapist feels that he or she is not best suited to you, he/she will discuss this with you and recommend a more appropriate therapist.

If you feel that your therapist is not a good fit, simply discuss this with our admin team who will find a more suitable therapist.