Grace Richards

Grace is a warm, playful, and engaging Occupational Therapist who builds rapport with children quickly and naturally. She graduated with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) and has gained experience across paediatric private practice and community settings, including within a Queensland Health Community Transition Care Program.

Grace enjoys supporting children and adolescents across a broad range of developmental, sensory, social, and emotional needs, with particular interests in sensory processing, emotional regulation, executive functioning, fine motor development, and building confidence in everyday activities. She is passionate about helping children and young people develop the skills needed to participate successfully at home, school, and within their relationships and community.

Prior to pursuing occupational therapy, Grace spent many years babysitting and working in hospitality, experiences that strengthened her communication skills and ability to connect with people from diverse ages and backgrounds. These experiences continue to shape her therapeutic relationships, allowing her to create a fun, supportive, and engaging environment where children and families feel comfortable and understood.

Grace has experience working with:

• Sensory Processing
• Executive Function
• Handwriting & fine motor
• Social skills & emotional regulation
• Behavioural issues
• ADLs
• Play
• Leisure
• School/Kindy
• Work
• Relationships
• ASD Levels 1 & 2
• Sensory Processing Disorder
• ADHD
• Intellectual Impairment
• Performance Anxiety
• Social Anxiety

Grace is empathic and trauma informed in all her interactions. She is goal oriented to make sure that the therapy has direction, while being fun and the right balance of silly so kids have fun while they are learning. She is family-centred and client-centred so families can be met where they are at, and their needs are kept central to all OT sessions. Being strengths based, she celebrates what kids can do and supports them to discover how they can meet their goals.

Grace has wanted to work with children from a young age. This led her to babysitting as a teenager where she loved being silly with the children while they played or did the necessary tasks. She also spent 5 years in hospitality where she loves interacting with people of all age groups and backgrounds.

Outside of work, Grace loves swimming at the beach, exploring the outdoors and finding new places to enjoy. She is a food lover – both of baking/ cooking, going out and trying new foods. Listening to music and playing with her copper-coloured cocker spaniel Darcy are among her favourite things to do.

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.