Understand your child.
Parent with confidence.
Collaborative Partnerships provides paediatric occupational therapy, developmental assessments and practical support for children, teenagers and families in Buderim and across the Sunshine Coast.
If you have been wondering whether something in your child's development feels different, you are not alone.
We combine rigorous evidence, genuine partnership and practical guidance to help you understand your child's needs and confidently navigate the next steps.
Sunshine Coast families
Something feels different.
You notice your child seems different from other children.
Maybe they’ve always been "busy".
Maybe they’re struggling at school or daycare.
Maybe their teacher has raised concerns.
Maybe you’ve been carrying this feeling for months.
Perhaps you've even found yourself wondering:
If this sounds familiar… you're in the right place.
Parents don't come to us looking for labels.
They come looking for understanding.
Because when you truly understand your child…
We put the child first
by focusing on the parent.
Children achieve their best outcomes when the people who love them most feel informed, supported and confident. That's why we don't just work with children, we partner with parents.
Because you're the most important person in your child's life.
We Listen
Really listen. We take your concerns seriously, never dismissed, never rushed.
We Understand
We gather evidence thoroughly. No jumping to conclusions, no assumptions.
We Guide
We walk alongside your family, every step, for as long as you need us.
Support that meets your family where you are
Developmental Assessments
A clear, thorough and in-depth picture of how your child is developing with specific reference to your areas of concern, using standardised, evidence-based assessment tools.
Learn moreOccupational Therapy
Support helping children with the occupations of daily life that are most meaningful and important: self-regulation, motor skills, sensory processing, self-care, toileting, play and much more.
Learn moreAutism Assessment Support
Careful, evidence-based autism assessment support using standardised tools, contributing to the formal diagnostic pathway. Never a rushed conclusion.
Learn moreADHD Assessment Support
Understanding attention, executive function, activity level and learning needs, and what helps your child feel grounded and focussed so they can meet their potential.
Learn moreSchool and Kindy Support
Support with school readiness, transitions, routines and expectations. We work alongside your child’s teachers so they can access classroom learning.
Learn moreParent Collaboration
Children with additional needs often need to be parented in a unique way. We collaborate with parents to refine their approach, using hands-on, evidence-based models and practical strategies.
Learn moreWe don't rely on impressions.
We build understanding through evidence.
Because your child deserves more than assumptions. Every assessment we do draws together multiple sources, so the picture we give you is one you can trust and act on.
Our Assessments Include:
A Calm, Clear Path, One Step at a Time
Free Parent Guidance Call
A no-cost, no-pressure conversation about what you’re noticing.
Assessment
We gather evidence carefully and thoroughly, from every angle.
Understand Your Child
A clear picture of what’s going on, and what it means for your family.
A Clear Plan
Practical, evidence-based next steps you can actually act on.
Ongoing Partnership
We keep walking beside you for as long as you need us.
People First, Qualifications Second
Our team is warm, experienced and genuinely loves this work. Every occupational therapist here holds full AHPRA registration and works with senior clinical supervision.
Sam Gourley
Natalie Stehbens
Felicity Fulcher
Tayla Gesch
Kaitlyn Marshall
Paris Collie
Brooke Hancock
Abbey Davey
Established, Qualified and Genuinely Local
A Decade of Experience
Supporting Sunshine Coast families for over ten years.
Trusted by Paediatricians
Strong, established relationships with local paediatricians and GPs.
Evidence-Based
Standardised, best-practice assessment, never guesswork.
Fully AHPRA Registered
University-qualified clinicians, held to national standards.
indiPartner clinicSupport That Stays Close at Hand
Most of your child's week happens outside our clinic room. We are a partner clinic of indi, an app built by Australian parents and clinicians, so the support does not stop when the session does.
indi holds everything about your child in one calm, private place and keeps the people who support them connected. You carry less in your head, and we walk into every session already knowing how the week has gone.
Every Collaborative Partnerships family gets free and open access to indi, included with your care.
Learn more about indi
Somewhere to Put It All
The 9pm worry, the small win, the thing you keep meaning to mention. A quick note or voice message, whenever it happens, so it is not lost by your next appointment.
Everything in One Place
Reports, assessments, letters, photos and milestones stay organised and ready to share, instead of scattered across three inboxes.
Your Whole Village, In Sync
Therapists, educators and family stay on the same page. Session notes and updates flow back to you, so you never have to repeat your child’s story.
The Admin, Off Your Plate
Appointments, reminders and to-dos in one calendar, with the details you need close at hand for the moments that count.
In Buderim, Across the Sunshine Coast, and Online
Our clinic is at 4/9 Goshawk Boulevard, Buderim, and we support children, teenagers and families right across the Sunshine Coast. Therapy and developmental assessments happen wherever they will be most useful for your child.
We also work by telehealth with families in rural and remote areas, where the nearest paediatric occupational therapist can be a long drive away. Parent collaboration and coaching works particularly well this way, and we offer it to parents anywhere in Australia.
No referral is needed to get started, and every new family is offered a free, no-obligation guidance call with a senior therapist.
In Our Buderim Clinic
A calm, welcoming space at 4/9 Goshawk Boulevard, Buderim, set up for play-based therapy and unhurried assessments.
In Your Family Home
Where the real routines happen, so strategies fit the mornings, mealtimes and bedtimes you actually have.
At School and Kindy
Alongside teachers and educators so your child can take part in classroom learning and the playground.
Online by Telehealth
For rural and remote families, and for parent collaboration and coaching with parents anywhere in Australia.
Answers to the Questions Keeping You Up at Night
Plain-language guides written and clinically reviewed by our senior team, not clinical jargon, not blog filler.
Every parent sees themselves in this
Something doesn’t feel right
Months of quietly wondering, trying different strategies, searching late at night for answers.
Finding Collaborative
A team that listens, takes your concerns seriously, and gathers the evidence properly.
Understanding
A clear picture of your child, and finally knowing what to do next.
Confidence and Hope
You become the calm, confident advocate your child needs.
Questions Parents Ask Us
What does a paediatric occupational therapist do?+
A paediatric occupational therapist helps children build the everyday skills that let them play, learn, look after themselves and take part with confidence. That can mean pencil skills and handwriting, coordination and motor skills, sensory processing, emotional regulation, self-care routines like dressing, feeding and toileting, or being able to join in at school and with friends.
Does my child need a diagnosis to see an occupational therapist?+
No. You do not need a diagnosis, and you do not need to wait for one. If daily routines are a battle, or something in your child’s development feels different to you, that is reason enough to have a conversation with us.
Do I need a referral?+
No referral is needed to get started with us. Some funding pathways, such as Medicare care plans, do require a referral from your GP or paediatrician, and we can talk you through what applies to your family.
How do I know if my child needs occupational therapy?+
Most parents come to us because of a persistent feeling that something is harder for their child than it needs to be. Common signs include difficulty with pencil skills or handwriting, big reactions to noise, textures or clothing, trouble settling or regulating emotions, avoiding playground or physical activities, or struggling with self-care and school routines. A free guidance call is the easiest way to find out whether therapy would help.
What happens at the first appointment?+
We start by listening. We want to understand what you have noticed, what you have already tried and what matters most to your family. From there we look at your child’s skills through play and observation, and agree together on what a useful next step looks like, whether that is therapy, a developmental assessment, or simply some strategies to try.
Can I use NDIS funding for occupational therapy?+
Yes. We work with NDIS participants, and we also see families using private funding or Medicare-supported pathways. We can explain how your plan management type affects booking and reporting, and what our NDIS reports cover.
What ages do you work with?+
We work with children from early childhood through to the teenage years, and with the parents, carers and educators who support them.
Can your occupational therapists visit my child’s school or kindy?+
Yes. School and kindy visits are a core part of how we work. Seeing your child in their classroom, and working directly with their teachers, is often what turns a strategy into something that actually sticks.
How long will we need to come for?+
That depends entirely on your child and your goals. Some families come for a single assessment and a clear plan, others work with us over a longer period. We review progress with you regularly, and we will always be honest about when therapy is no longer the thing your child needs.
You don't have to figure this out alone.
Whether your concerns are small or significant, we're here to help you understand your child and confidently take the next step.