About Us
Lifespan Therapy Services offers a range of therapeutic supports. We offer Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy services within the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and Hunter regions. Lifespan Therapy Services is committed to providing services that are client focused and evidence based to achieve client goals.
Here at Lifespan Therapy Services we support individuals through life transitions. There are critical stages of life that require the right therapy and support. Lifespan Therapy Services ensures that individuals receive the support, therapy and care they require to make these life transitions as smooth as they can be.
Our Team
Vanessa Hewitt
Director / Occupational Therapist
Vanessa graduated from the University of Newcastle in 2009. She has extensive experience in providing Occupational Therapy services to adults, adolescents and children with a wide range of physical and intellectual disabilities. Prior to being an Occupational Therapist, Vanessa worked as a Disability Support Worker and is passionate about seeing individuals with a disability live a fulfilling life.
Vanessa is dedicated to providing therapeutic intervention that is driven by the client and their families and believes communication is critical through all steps of the Occupational Therapy journey that she takes with her clients.
Before starting Lifespan Therapy Services, Vanessa has had experience working in the private sector and was an Occupational Therapist at Aging Disability and Home Care in the Newcastle and Maitland area.
Vanessa has extensive experience and interest in the following areas:
Complex seating and positioning.
Complex assistive technology prescription including (but not limited to): power and manual wheelchairs, mobile shower commodes, hoist and manual handling equipment, ADL equipment, beds and mattresses.
Pressure care management and prescription of pressure care assistive technology.
Clinical assessment, advice and intervention of individual transport needs.
Minor home modifications.
Training to Support Workers, Carers and Families on individual client needs, functional abilities, capacity building and assistive technology use.
Vanessa is passionate about working collaboratively with the whole therapy team and has worked closely in her career with Speech Pathologists, Psychologists, Physiotherapists, Exercise Physiologists, Behavioural Clinicians and Dieticians.
Steph Sillett
Director / Occupational Therapist
Steph graduated from the University of Newcastle in 2009. She has extensive experience in working with adults with neurological conditions, traumatic and acquired brain injuries and physical and intellectual disabilities. Prior to commencing Lifespan Therapy Services, Steph worked in the acute sector gaining experience in orthopaedic injuries, neurological conditions, stroke, brain injury, traumatic injuries and aged care. Steph worked as a clinical specialist in community brain injury for NSW Health and has a passion for supporting clients to regain their independence within their own environments following a significant injury. Steph has a passion for working with other neurological conditions (including brain tumours, stroke, Parkinson’s Disease) and assisting clients and their families to rebuild their capacity and work towards their individual goals.
Steph is passionate about providing intervention that is evidence based and client centred. She ensures she works effectively and collaboratively with the entire therapy team including Support Workers, Supported Independent Living Providers, Carers, Families and other Allied Health providers.
Steph has extensive experience in:
Functional capacity assessments
Supported Independent Living assessments
Specialist Disability Accommodation assessments
Care Needs assessments
Intervention for neurological conditions including ADL programs, capacity building programs, upper limb therapy and implementation of cognitive strategies.
Assistive technology prescriptions including ADL aids, cognitive aids, wheelchairs, mobile shower commodes, beds and mattresses.
Training to Support Workers, Carers and Families on individual client needs, functional abilities, capacity building and assistive technology use.
Kiera Ryan
Director of Lifespan Physiotherapy Services / Physiotherapist
Kiera graduated from the the University of Newcastle in 2009. She has extensive experience in working with clients with complex physical and intellectual disabilities, mental health clients and clients with complex neurological conditions.
Kiera is extremely passionate about client centred care and ensuring all her clients and caregivers are involved in the decision making process or their care, and are always treated with dignity and respect. Kiera ensures treatment plans always align with clients individual goals and expectations.
Prior to commencing Lifespan Physiotherapy Services, Kiera worked as a Team Leader in the NDIS and Aged Care services. She has extensive experience in community Physiotherapy services. This has included management, education and training of Physiotherapists working in these fields. Kiera has also worked in the acute sector gaining experience in orthopaedic injuries, neurological conditions, cardiac and respiratory conditions, stroke, brain injury, traumatic injuries and aged care. Kiera spent several years working in pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation and gaining skills in this area.
Kiera has a passion for working with clients with complex mental health conditions, neurological conditions (including stroke, Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis) and assisting clients and their families to rebuild their capacity and work towards their individual goals.
Kiera is passionate about providing intervention that is evidence based and client centred. She ensures she works effectively and collaboratively within the entire therapy team including Support Workers, Supported Independent Living Providers, Cares, Families and other Allied Health providers.
Kiera has extensive experience in:
Complex mobility assessments and prescription of mobility aids to improve client and carer safety
Strength and conditioning programs
Complex cardiac and respiratory needs including prescription of cough assist to clients with neurological conditions
Falls prevention and education within the home, SIL and community settings
Mental health conditions including strategies to assist with barriers to exercise participation
Manual therapy to assist with pain management
Chronic pain
Injury assessment and management
Hydrotherapy programs and assessments
Dry needling
Prescription of braces and splints and other adaptive devices
Aged care assessments
Assistive technology prescriptions including ADL aids, mobility aids and hoists
Training to Support Workers, Carers and Families on individual client needs, functional abilities, capacity building and assistive technology use.