Julie Gifford
Director / Principal Occupational TherapistB. App Sc (OT), OTA
Julie graduated as an Occupational Therapist from the University of South Australia in 1990. She has worked in a broad variety of settings in South Australia and in the USA. Julie’s work has predominantly been with children and their families but she has also worked in a range of adult services.
Across her career Julie has gained a vast amount of experience working with children and adolescents with disabilities, including physical disability, intellectual disability, psychosocial disability, and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). She has also worked extensively with babies and young children with a range of developmental delays and disorders.
Julie lives with her family on a property near the Barossa Valley and has worked in the Barossa community for nearly 20 years.
Julie is a registered Occupational Therapist with AHPRA and is a member of the Occupational Therapy Association of Australia (OTA). She is also an endorsed mental health provider through OTA and can support children referred with a Mental Health Care Plan.
Kirsty MacCulloch
Director / Principal PhysiotherapistB. Physio, APAM, APAPG
Kirsty graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from the University of South Australia in 2001. She has spent her career in country South Australia working with children and families. Kirsty works with children of all ages who have movement difficulties, with special interests in early childhood intervention and complex disability. She is committed to providing services which address family goals and have functional outcomes for children. Kirsty also has an interest in supervising Physiotherapy students.
Kirsty and her family have lived in the Barossa for over ten years and she is passionate about supporting rural children, both at work and through volunteering in the local community.
Kirsty is a registered Physiotherapist with AHPRA and is a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and the APA Paediatric Group.
Kristin Lambert
Occupational TherapistB. App Sc (OT), OTA
Kristin graduated as an Occupational Therapist from the University of South Australia in 1999. Since then, she has worked in South Australia in the diverse settings of paediatrics, mental health and aged care.
Kristin enjoys living and working in the Barossa Valley. She believes that each child has strengths and hidden potential that can be reached with confidence and support.
Kristin works with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Intellectual Disability, Developmental Delays, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), anxiety and depression. She is a trained facilitator of the Secret Agent Society social skills program and is also a certified DIRFloortime provider.
Kristin is a registered Occupational Therapist with AHPRA and is a member of the Occupational Therapy Association of Australia (OTA).
Laura Ide
Occupational TherapistB.O.T. (Hons), OTA
Laura graduated as an Occupational Therapist from the University of South Australia in 2024. She worked with children as an Allied Health Assistant while she completed her studies. Laura has experience working with children with a range of developmental delays, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and anxiety.
Laura grew up in the Barossa Valley and is passionate about being able to provide access to health care within our community. She has a key interest in working alongside families to work towards their goals with a family centred model.
Laura loves everything sports and has been involved in basketball and netball here in the Barossa.
Laura is a registered Occupational Therapist with AHPRA and is a member of the Occupational Therapy Association of Australia (OTA).
Nadia Hollinshead
Occupational TherapistB.O.T (Hons)
Nadia is an Occupational Therapist who graduated from the University of South Australia in 2022. Before becoming an Occupational Therapist Nadia worked in Early Childhood Education, which sparked her passion for working with children who need more support to engage in their everyday activities.
Since graduating Nadia has worked in mental health and brain injury, working with people of all ages. Nadia has a passion for working with children and teenagers who are going through the transition of puberty and the challenges this can bring.
Nadia believes in a strengths-based approach and providing evidence-informed care to clients. She wants children to feel empowered to reach their goals in a supportive environment, while creating meaningful relationships with children and their families.
Outside of work Nadia enjoys going for hikes or going swimming in the ocean with her partner and golden retriever, Sonny.
Nadia is a registered Occupational Therapist with AHPRA.
Sarah Schiller
AdminCertificate lll in Business Administration
Sarah joined the ValleyKids team early in 2024 and is a warm and friendly face for our clients as they come through the door.
Sarah grew up in the mid north and, after moving to the Barossa for her senior schooling years, she settled in and has lived here ever since!
Sarah has wide range of qualifications and experience in administration and early education and enjoys being given a challenge or two. Sarah has also worked with the ambulance service and has experience with complex medical needs as a proud mum to a HeartKid.
When Sarah isn’t at ValleyKids you can find her on the sidelines coaching basketball, as a sports trainer at the footy and cheering her two boys on at cricket in the summer.