Shineil de Hart

Shineil de Hart is a dedicated, fun and passionate paediatric Occupational Therapist. She recently moved to Brisbane, Australia from Cape Town, South Africa, bringing with her more than 8 years of diverse experience gained in both school-based therapy and private practice. Her expertise lies in working with children aged 2 – 13 years old, who may have Global Developmental Delays, Autism, ADHD/ADD, Intellectual & Learning Difficulties, and challenges with Handwriting and Fine Motor Skills.

• Autism
• Attention Deficit (Hyperactive) Disorder /Attention Deficit Disorder
• Sensory Processing Challenges / Self- Regulation
• Fine Motor Skills and Handwriting
• Motor Planning Challenges
• Intellectual Disabilities and Learning Difficulties
• Global Developmental Delays
• Social Skill Development
• Self-Care and daily activities

• School Readiness Training hosted by OPTIMA (2022)
• Suspension Equipment Workshop hosted by Ray Anne Cook (2020)
• Individual Education Plan Workshop hosted by Willie Erasmus (Clinical and Child Psychologist) – (2020)
• PlaySafe Workshop (2019)
• ADHD Workshop – Unlocking their Potential hosted by the Attention Deficit & Hyperactive Support Group of South Africa (2017)
• Alert Workshop by Ray-Anne Cook (2017)
• Basic (Professional) Wheelchair Seating Course (2015)

As a therapist, her practice is grounded in a holistic and play-based style, centering the client and their family. In this way, therapy does not just focus on a single challenge, but as “the whole picture”, which includes the child’s environment, emotional world, physical well-being and social context. She uses play as the primary tool to facilitate growth, build skills, and process experiences in a naturally engaging way. By being client-family centred, she ensures that goals and interventions are collaboratively set ensuring that therapeutic breakthroughs translate into lasting and positive changes at home, school and in the community.

Shineil’s journey began in 2014, when she completed her BSc in Occupational Therapy at the University of the Western Cape. Thereafter, she completed a community service year in a small rural town called Springbok, in the Northern Cape of South Africa. This chapter forged a versatile perspective, encompassing diverse experiences in helping people of all ages through physical and hands rehabilitation, geriatric support and paediatric care across hospitals, community clinics and in their homes.

While Shineil spent a brief period in the corporate sphere as a disability claims assessor, which gave her important experience navigating complex temporary incapacity leave applications, she quickly found her true calling as a paediatric Occupational Therapist.

For over eight wonderful years, Shineil spent her days in private practice and schools, focusing on empowering children and their families. Whether it was supporting a child with ASD, ADHD, learning or intellectual difficulties, or tackling challenges like fine motor skills or handwriting, her passion was always about holistic support. This has also allowed her to work alongside teachers, psychologists, social workers, paediatricians and speech therapists, to ensure that every child had the full support they needed to reach their optimal level of function and maximum independence.

Shineil’s roots are proudly South African, grounded in a vibrant, Christian Coloured community. Growing up, the heart of her family home was the joyful come together of family, a tradition deeply enriched by their faith. These gatherings, whether for birthday celebrations, to celebrate a milestone or simply for followship, are always anchored by food. The meaningful tradition of sharing a meal – be it a rich spread or diverse dishes and desserts, or just a traditional braai – is their most cherished way of expressing love, connection and belonging.

• Going to Church
• Singing
• Music
• Drinking Tea
• Cooking
• Sushi
• Drawing / Colouring
• Walks on the beach / outdoors
• Spending time with her husband and boys

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.