Get to know our practitioners

At Kids Play Therapy, our team of dedicated practitioners is here to support your child’s growth and development. Each professional brings extensive experience in paediatric therapy, from speech and occupational therapy to dietetics and beyond. We take pride in providing personalised care tailored to your child’s unique needs.

Our practitioners prioritise building strong relationships with families, fostering trust, and creating a nurturing environment for every session. Discover how our expert team can help your child reach their full potential. Explore their profiles and learn more about their specialties and approaches today!

Our Value

We listen attentively and without judgment ❤︎ Everyone has a voice in decision-making processes ❤︎ We address conflict proactively and with kindness.

May Horan - Kids Play Therapy
May Horan
Director & Early Childhood Support Practitioner/Key Worker
Language Speaking: English, Thai
Service Location: Eastern Suburbs

May is a qualified Early Childhood Teacher with extensive experience supporting children with developmental delays, autism and diverse developmental needs.  Drawing on her early childhood education background, May integrates her knowledge of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and National Quality Standard (NQS) into her early intervention practice. Her approach is evidence-informed, strengths-based and family-centred, using play, everyday routines and meaningful learning experiences to support each child’s development.

May’s experience spans specialist school settings, behavioural therapy and individual early intervention.This allows her to take a holistic approach, supporting children to build and generalise skills across home, early learning, school and community environments.

May works collaboratively with families and multidisciplinary professionals to ensure supports are coordinated and aligned with each child’s goals. She is passionate about building the confidence and capacity of families and educators, empowering them to support children’s development beyond individual sessions and throughout everyday life.

Nikki - Kids Play Therapy
Nikki Masabala
Creative Arts Counsellor
(PACFA Registered)
Language Speaking: English, Mandarin
Service Location: Eastern and Southern Suburbs

Nikki is a PACFA-registered counsellor with a strong background in creative arts and child development. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Therapy, a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology with a minor in Sociology and Behaviour Studies, and a Diploma in Child Psychology and Early Education.

Nikki supports children using creative arts and play-based counselling approaches that help children express emotions, build communication skills, and develop confidence. She has experience working with children with developmental and behavioural differences, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, Down Syndrome, and Prader-Willi Syndrome. Nikki is passionate about supporting inclusion and creating safe, engaging spaces where children can explore their feelings and develop skills for everyday life.

Valerie De Gracia
Velerie De Gracia
Occuptional Therapist
Language Speaking: English
Service Location: South-East

Valerie is a passionate Paediatric Occupational Therapist with over five years of experience supporting children and adolescents aged 2–17 years. She has experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Intellectual Disability (ID), Down syndrome and a range of developmental and sensory needs.

Valerie takes a holistic, collaborative and strengths-based approach, recognising that every child has their own unique abilities, interests, and support needs. She works closely with children, families to build practical skills that support greater independence and participation in everyday life.

Valerie combines warmth and evidence-based practice to build functional everyday skills, helping children feel confident, capable and supported across home, school and community.

Tenee
Tenee Schneider
Creative Arts Counsellor
(PACFA Registered)
Language Speaking: English
Service Location: South-East

Tenee is a PACFA registered creative arts counsellor with over six years of experience in the disability sector. With a deep passion for creativity and performing arts, Tenee integrates these elements into her practice. She utilises play and arts-based counseling techniques to assist children in developing essential skills such as communication, emotional regulation, and confidence.

Her experience extends to working with children and adolescents who have behavioral and developmental differences, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, and Down Syndrome.

Tenee brings a person-centred, empathetic approach to her work and is a strong advocate for inclusive, low-barrier and accessible therapeutic support for all.

Andre Blanco
Andre Blanco
Occuptional Therapist
Language Speaking: English
Service Location: Western Suburb

Our Occupational Therapist delivers play-based, child-centred therapy to support children’s emotional regulation, confidence, and everyday functional skills. Andre is CBT/REBT certified basic level New York and Australia. He integrate practical cognitive and behavioural strategies into engaging, developmentally appropriate play experiences. He is also available to complete Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) to support NDIS applications, plan reviews, and goal setting.

Emma Rus
Emma Rus
Practice Administrator
& Team Coordinator
Language Speaking: English

With over 25 years of experience in administration across the education and healthcare sectors, Emma brings a wealth of knowledge in organisational operations, executive support, and practice management. She is known for delivering efficient administrative solutions, supporting therapy teams, and ensuring the smooth running of fast-paced environments. Emma’s strengths include streamlining processes, coordinating complex schedules, and upholding a high level of professionalism. She holds a Bachelor in Visual Arts from Monash University, a Certificate III in Business Administration from Narre Community Learning Centre, and both a Certificate in Medical Administration and a Certificate in Medical Terminology from The Career Academy.

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School Readiness Program

Join our small-group sessions designed to build social skills, independence, and emotional readiness.

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School Holiday Program

Our school holiday program offers creative, play-based sessions designed to support children’s social skills, confidence, sensory exploration, and emotional regulation

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Early Childhood Intervention

Early intervention helps children build essential skills during their most critical years of development, setting the foundation for lifelong learning, communication, and independence. Start now!

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Speech & Language Support Program

Our team is ready to support communication goals in a fun, engaging way with guidance from our lead speech pathologist.