Sharon Cannell
Director and Principal Occupational Therapist
Sharon started working in private practice in 1995, which evolved into O.T.WEST in 2001. Sharon works fulltime dividing her time across management and clinical work.
Sharon has 40 years experience working as an OT in acute hospital, rehabilitation and community settings in both public and private systems. She is committed to empowering and enabling people to achieve their personal goals whilst overcoming the challenges that injury and illness bring.
Sharon commenced working at SJOG Hospital Subiaco in 1995 and over the next 22 years developed the OT service as a private practice, encompassing inpatient acute services, oncology and palliative care, rehabilitation, neurology and neurosurgery, dementia assessment and management and home-visiting services. Sharon continues to provide SJOG Subiaco with home-visiting services.
Currently Sharon provides specialised dementia care, acquired brain injury rehabilitation, pre/post discharge home visits and Veteran Affairs services in the community and through our clinic. Sharon is Co-Convenor of the O.T Services in the Home Special Interest Group.
Special Interests: Sharon has a passion for “all things neurological”, specifically Dementia Assessment and Management, cognitive and perceptual assessment and rehabilitation, and working with young adults with Brain Injury. She also loves working in aged care with people at home.
Favourite Things: Her grandchildren, swimming, walking, yoga, travelling with her husband, crocheting, a strong hot coffee, dark chocolate and her succulents.
Favourite Quote: “My challenges won’t defeat me rather enrich me.”
Emily Mackaway
Senior Occupational Therapist
Emily has been working with O.T.WEST since 2012. Since returning from maternity leave from her second daughter, she now works 2-3 days a week with us. She also has a paediatric private practice that she runs (My Family OT) and sees all of O.T.WEST’s paediatric referrals.
Emily enjoys working as an OT across all stages of the lifespan.
She has worked for 2 private paediatric occupational therapy clinics in Perth, providing services in schools and clinics where she gained extensive experience with children who have a range of abilities. She has also volunteered as an OT in many communities around the world working with children who have developmental delays, Cerebral Palsy and mental health issues. This experience cemented her passion for enabling and empowering children and their families.
With O.T.WEST she has worked at SJOG Subiaco covering all in-patient wards and in our home visiting service including Veteran Affairs, Rehabilitation, NCCCP, Home Care Packages and Pre/Post Discharge Services and NDIS.
Special Interests: working with people of all ages. Emily especially loves working with Oncology/Palliative Care, Clients who have Neurodegenerative and neurology disorders, Paediatric and Aged Care clients. Actually she just loves working with people no matter their age, disability/health condition, gender or culture.
Favourite Things: All forms of Chocolate, travelling with her young family whilst exploring new places, a good book, Beach, Yoga and her dog.
Favourite Quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world”- Gandhi
Kellie Petersen
Senior Occupational Therapist
Kellie has been working with O.T.WEST since 2012. She previously worked full time however since having her second son works one and a half day a week.
Prior to starting with O.T.WEST, Kellie was a Senior OT with a private hospital in Perth. She worked across all acute and rehabilitation wards including upper limb therapy. She also worked in the home-visiting department- which included equipment prescription and home modifications. It was during this time she realised she has a passion for Community Health Care and specifically aged care.
With O.T.WEST Kellie has continued her passion for community home-visiting. Kellie has further developed her skills in community based rehabilitation, pre/post discharge home visits, equipment prescription, home modification and community aged care packages. Kellie is passionate about enabling her clients to stay in their home for as long as possible.
Special Interests: Upper limb therapy, home modifications and working in aged care.
Favourite Things: spending time with her family, young sons, her dogs, the beach and holidays to tropical locations.
Favourite Quote: “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve” - Napoleon Hill.
Belinda Turna
Community Occupational Therapist
Belinda has been working full-time with O.T.WEST since 2016.
Prior to commencing with O.T.WEST, Belinda worked in work place rehabilitation as an Occupational Therapist in a case-management role.
At O.T.WEST Belinda’s role is to provide community based rehabilitation, pre/post discharge home visits, equipment prescription, home modification and community aged care packages. Belinda is super organised and loves new challenges.
Special Interest: Belinda loves keeping people safe and independent and living at home for as long as possible has a special interest in aged care, equipment prescription, home modifications and neurological rehabilitation.
Favourite Things: include coffee, her online shopping addiction, a good trashy tv series, family & friends and her cat.
Favourite Quote: "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade"
Emily Sykes
Community Occupational Therapist
Emily began working part-time with O.T.WEST in July 2018.
Prior to having her daughter in 2017, Emily worked for a couple of years at another community occupational therapy practice.
Emily's current role includes providing occupational therapy within the home environment to ensure our clients remain safe and independent. She provides community based rehabilitation, pre/post discharge home visits, equipment prescription, home modification and community aged care packages.
Special Interests: Equipment prescription, home modifications, home rehabilitation and home environment assessments.
Favourite Things: Emily enjoys spending her down time with her little family and two Labradors.
Favourite Quote: “Challenges are what make life interesting, overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”- Joshua J. Marine
Michelle Geiles
Office Manager
Michelle began working 3 days a week with O.T.WEST at the start of 2022.
She has spent the majority of her working Career at the State Government working in Environmental Protection Authority and Kings Park. For the last 15 years she has worked in small businesses always in an administrative and record keeping role.
Special Interests: Michelle loves being efficient and getting things done and enjoys speaking to clients on the phone.
Favourite Things: Cross stitching, coin collecting and gardening.
Favourite Quote: “How do you eat an elephant—— one teaspoon at a time”