Meet the friendly faces who look after our clients, clinic and community here at The Play Projects.
As an Educator, Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner, and business co-owner Marcus wears many hats at The Play Projects.
Among them, Marcus helps manage our farm (called Quondong), our school-holiday intensives, and the warehouses for sister businesses The Play Way and Therapy at Home.
After completing a Bachelor of Education at the University of Ballarat, Marcus enjoyed ten years of teaching, including three as a Deputy Principal.
As the husband to our founder Kaitlyn, they’re very much aligned in their mission: “I love working with kids, and my wife and I wanted to make a real and positive impact on the world in an attempt to help as many families to raise healthy, happy and confident kids!”
Kait is the founder and CEO of The Play Projects and The Play Way Group. As a paediatric Occupational Therapist, she’s passionate about making child development practical, accessible and empowering for families, educators and health professionals.
Driven by a belief in the transformative power of play, Kait created The Play Projects to bridge the gap between therapy and everyday life. Her approach combines evidence-based practice with simple, achievable strategies that help children build the skills they need through movement, connection and meaningful play.
As both a clinician and a mum of four, Kait understands the realities of modern family life. She’s passionate about helping grown-ups feel confident in supporting children’s development and believes that small, intentional changes can have a lifelong impact.
Originally from South Africa, Raney brings with her two decades of rich, international experience.
Her journey has taken her from South Africa to London, Dubai, and the Channel Islands, where she led the Children and Young People’s Occupational Therapy Service across four islands.
Raney’s expertise spans paediatric and neonatal care, paediatric intensive care, early years development, developmental and neurological disorders, sensory integration, feeding disorders, and autism. She’s highly passionate about evidence-based, tailored therapies.
Based in Bendigo, Hannah is a paediatric Speech Pathologist working with children aged 0-7 years. She specialises in identifying and supporting communication and feeding difficulties in young children.
Hannah trained at Charles Sturt University and has experience across a variety of settings, including mainstream and specialist schools, as well as early intervention programs.
Dedicated to ongoing learning, she stays up to date with advancements in speech pathology and early intervention.
Hannah values collaboration with other clinicians, bringing her expertise and a “Speechie” perspective to help clients achieve their goals in a holistic and effective way.
Keely is deeply passionate about helping children and their families work towards meaningful goals that support their quality of life.
Keely has a special interest in supporting children with developmental delays and neurological conditions. She enjoys working closely with families and care teams to create therapy that feels practical, achievable and connected to real everyday life. Keely believes that when children feel supported, capable and understood, they are better able to explore, participate and build confidence in their bodies and their world.
Keely is committed to ongoing learning and evidence-informed practice, and in 2025 began a Master’s in Paediatric Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne to further deepen her clinical knowledge and skills.
Keely brings a calm, supportive and encouraging presence to her work. She is passionate about creating a space where children feel safe to try, learn and grow, and where families feel heard, supported and empowered along the journey.
Katie is deeply passionate about supporting young people and their families to thrive, even in the middle of life’s chaos.
Katie loves working alongside young people in their home environments, supporting them to build confidence and independence in everyday life skills. She also enjoys working within school settings, partnering with educators and families to advocate for the supports children need to feel safe, capable and successful in their learning environments.
Originally from country New South Wales, Katie moved to Albury to complete her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at Charles Sturt University. After graduating, she relocated to Victoria and began her career with The Play Projects, where she continues to grow her passion for paediatric practice.
Katie brings a warm, outgoing and approachable energy to her work. She is committed to creating spaces where children feel safe, respected and empowered, and where families feel supported and understood. Katie loves walking alongside young people as they build confidence in themselves and in their everyday lives.
Emily is an Occupational Therapist based in Bendigo, and mainly works with neurodivergent children and young people ages seven and up.
She takes a neuroaffirming, interest-based and collaborative approach, supporting clients to build their confidence, develop skills and engage in activities that matter to them. Play, curiosity, and evidence-based approaches guide her work with clients and their caregivers. She has a particular interest in working with young people who are making the transition to high school, further study, or work, and their development of independent living skills.
Emily brings empathy from lived experience of chronic illness and neurodivergence. She holds degrees in Arts (International Studies) and Law from the University of Melbourne, and a Masters of Occupational Therapy from Swinburne University. Emily previously worked in research, policy and consulting, with a focus on child and family health and wellbeing.
Sophie completed a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Master of Occupational Therapy at La Trobe University in Bendigo.
While at university, Sophie worked as a support worker with children, gaining invaluable experience and fostering a strong passion for helping children and their families.
Now specialising in paediatrics, Sophie works with children of various ages and particularly enjoys supporting goals related to emotional regulation, social skills, and everyday life skills.
With a deep understanding that every child is unique, Sophie thrives on the diversity and excitement of tailoring her approach to suit each individual’s needs.
Aoife earned a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Speech and Language Studies and worked clinically in Ireland before moving to Australia in 2022.
In addition to working with clients one-on-one, Aoife also contributes to our sister businesses, The Play Way and Therapy at Home, developing products and programs.
As a Speech Therapist, Aoife understands that “there is no ‘one size fits all’ method of delivering therapy, and every family needs something different to work best for them.”
“Being able to reach families in a way that suits them allows us to support as many people as we can to reach their potential. I really believe we are making therapy accessible for everyone.”
Laura is an Occupational Therapist who is passionate about supporting children and families to build confidence and develop skills in everyday occupations.
She completed a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Master’s in Occupational Therapy at La Trobe University and has been a dedicated member of The Play Projects team since graduating.
Laura works with children and adolescents aged 6 to 20, with a particular focus on supporting teenagers in developing independent living skills.
She is committed to creating a supportive environment that empowers young people to achieve their goals.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy from La Trobe University, Melbourne in 1995, Nyree began her career in adult rehabilitation at a major Melbourne hospital, followed by work in London.
Currently, she is a paediatric Occupational Therapist based in Bendigo, working with children aged 0-7 years, and loves incorporating play into therapy to support children’s development and engagement.
After taking time out to raise her own children, Nyree transitioned into paediatrics and found her passion, where she remains dedicated to helping young children thrive.
Catherine is a Positive Behaviour Practitioner who thrives on the variety her role offers. With over five years’ experience as an Allied Health Assistant and Support Worker, she brings a strong foundation of hands-on practice. Catherine studied Science at Melbourne University and is now completing a degree in Psychological Science at La Trobe, with a keen interest in behaviour and neuroscience. She has also completed micro-credentials through Monash and Melbourne Uni, alongside her Positive Behaviour Support training in 2025.
Catherine loves the collaborative, creative, and playful approach to therapy at The Play Projects, and is passionate about working closely with families and care teams to support and upskill. She finds immense joy in celebrating each client’s progress and is dedicated to helping young people grow their confidence and independence.
Aleisha is an Early Childhood Key Worker who takes pride in helping participants achieve their goals in a fun and engaging way.
She holds a Bachelor of Health Science from La Trobe University, with a double major in Public Health and Rehabilitation Counselling.
Aleisha has a strong interest in supporting clients who experience behavioural challenges, which has inspired her to further her professional development.
She is currently working towards becoming a Behaviour Support Practitioner and is dedicated to providing tailored, evidence-based support to help clients and their families flourish.
Sophie is an Allied Health Assistant with a Certificate IV in Disability.
Originally from Nathalia, Sophie grew up on a small hobby farm with her parents, brothers, and an array of animals. Her upbringing instilled a strong sense of community and adaptability, which she brings to her role.
She is passionate about working in a creative and supportive environment that helps families and individuals reach their fullest potential.
Sophie enjoys building meaningful connections with clients and supporting them in a way that is both empowering and impactful.
Kelly holds dual roles at The Play Projects, working as both HR Assistant and Finance Assistant.
She enjoys finding ways to simplify processes and improve experiences for both customers and the team.
Prior to joining TPP, Kelly worked in the Aged Care industry for 15 years, gaining valuable insights into people and government-funded systems.
She holds Diplomas in Management and Business from TAFE and is proud to be part of a unique organisation that helps people across the country access the support they need.
Chrissy is an Accounts Receivable professional with a diverse background, including experience as a Primary School Teacher, Dispensary Assistant for 10 years, and Manager at Cobram Community House.
With a strong belief in therapy that supports the whole family, Chrissy is committed to thinking creatively and using different methods to achieve meaningful outcomes.
Known for her calm demeanour, Chrissy is always willing to lend a hand and contribute wherever needed to support the team.
