About Us

Owner & Co-Founder Sense Therapies & Sense Team Sports

An Australian Olympian & Rugby Union player and now Co-Founder of Sense Team Sports & Sense Therapies.​​​​​​​​​

Jesse has an impressive on-field resume, one that deserves high commendation. Starting with rugby league as a kid in Sydney’s west, Jesse moved to Canberra at 18 to join the Brumbies academy. Scouted by Michael O'Connor he soon became a regular fixture in the Australian Rugby Sevens Team and spent 10 years helping the game transform into the amazing spectacle it is today. This journey took him around the world and led him to two Commonwealth Games, one as captain & one winning a Bronze medal. He played in two World Cups and the Rio Olympics in 2016.

“Rugby is a beautiful game, and many aspects of our sport seem to align with Carlien's therapy approach: you're on all fours and wrestling, activating your inner core, which helps settle the nervous system, and there's plenty of running. It's a great way to get kids the sensory input they often crave in a positive way.”

Jesse leads Sense Team Sports in Woonona, NSW, and runs Sense Therapies alongside his wife, Carlien.

Owner & Co-Founder Sense Therapies & Sense Team Sports

Carlien is the Founder of Sense Therapies & the Sense Team Sports Programs and has been a Paediatric Occupational Therapist for over 10 years.

She has significant experience in helping parents and children understand more about Sensory Processing Disorders/difficulties, delays in gross motor or fine motor skill development, Autism, Social-emotional difficulties, ADHD, Trauma and many more. She is passionate about assisting parents with building safety and connection into their family unit. She uses a child-led approach and focuses on helping families understand their child’s individual sensory, emotional and physical differences in order to best support a child to thrive.

As the Founder of Sense Team Sports. Carlien has a special interest in sport and its many uses; particularly as a therapy tool to improve social skills, emotional regulation, coordination, Sensory Processing and a sense of community. Carlien leads the clinical team who deliver Sense Rugby across Australia and New Zealand and is consider a leader in inclusive sport.

Her empathetic, playful nature and knowledge in child development has helped hundreds of children become more successful at their daily activities.

Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Jarrod graduated from the University of the Sunshine Coast with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours). While in high school, Jarrod completed work experience at a local private Paediatric OT clinic (by chance!) and that was the start of his passion to support others engage in a meaningful occupation.

Jarrod has experience in working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, neurological disorders, physical disabilities, and developmental delays. Jarrod has had the privilege of working across a range of Paediatric OT settings including community, education, and private settings. Jarrod is a certified DIR Floortime practitioner.

Jarrod is a big kid at heart and loves to support children and their families to learn and develop through play. When Jarrod isn’t working, he loves to go fishing and hiking, grow organic food, to support the mighty St George Illawarra Dragons, play his Xbox, swim at the local beach and just doing whatever new hobby he’s interest in for the month.

Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Cassie graduated from Western Sydney University with a Bachelor of Health Science/Master of Occupational Therapy. Cassie’s passion for paediatrics grew after completing clinic placements as an occupational therapy student. During her studies, she worked as a teacher’s aide to assist kids learning in a high school setting. She also volunteered as a carer for Muscular Dystrophy NSW and attended their camps over the years.

Cassie loves working with neurodivergent children and teens, people with sensory processing challenges, developmental delays and motor difficulties. She has a special interest in working with girls within this field. Cassie is passionate about building strong therapeutic relationships with kids and their families and finding the ways to best support them.

Cassie is dedicated to developing her skills and knowledge through ongoing professional development activities to implement the most advantageous intervention for her clients and families. She enjoys working through a DIR (Developmental, Individual difference & Relationship-based model) lens and is a certified Floortime Practitioner.

Cassie grew up playing competitive netball and touch football and still enjoys playing team sports. She loves the benefits of movement and getting outdoors and incorporating that into her therapy.

Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Leonie graduated from the University of Western Sydney with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. Leonie’s passion for paediatrics grew after clinical placements as an occupational therapy student. She has gained experience in working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, cerebral palsy, developmental delay and intellectual and chromosomal disabilities.

Leonie has a special interest in working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, intellectual disabilities, sensory processing challenges and coordination difficulties. She enjoys working with families and other health professionals in collaborating goals to obtain the best possible outcome for that child.

Leonie is committed to developing her skills and knowledge through ongoing professional development activities so she can provide the most advantageous intervention for her clients and their families.

Leonie loves being active in nature and has a passion for surfing and board sports. She also enjoys supporting her clients to participate in a variety of outdoor activities.

OT Assistant & Groups Coordinator

Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Currently on Maternity Leave.

Administration

You can expect to be greeted with warmth, some chipper chatter & what I have been told, is infectious positivity.

With many professional years in the disability, social & community sector along with a lifetime of lived experience, I truly believe life in general takes a Village, let’s build ours together!

Administration