Meet the Team

Rachael Jennings
Occupational Therapist, Director

Rachael is an experienced paediatric occupational therapist and the founder of The Holistic OT, established in early 2022. With over 10 years of experience supporting children and families, Rachael brings warmth, insight, and a deep commitment to helping children with social, emotional, motor, and sensory needs thrive.

Over the years, Rachael has recognised how often children’s behaviours are misinterpreted, rather than understood through a lens of compassion and curiosity. This inspired her to create The Holistic OT—a practice grounded in empathy, connection, and a belief in the potential of every child.

Rachael is a passionate advocate for neurodiversity and is committed to promoting equality and inclusion. She works to ensure that the unique needs of neurodivergent children are not only recognised, but respected and supported in a way that allows them to flourish.

Her mission is to empower children, families, and educators to build strong, meaningful relationships—where everyone feels seen, understood, and valued.

Rachael completed her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2015, and has since completed additional trainings:

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing)

  • The Traffic Jam in My Brain with Gen Jereb

  • Routine Based Intervention

  • DIR Floortime Model Stage 1: The Action is in the interaction

  • Camp Avanti; Sensory Integration Camp USA

  • Willlbarger’s Therapressure Brushing Protocol

  • Therapeutic Listening with Sheila Frick.

Sylvie de Swardt
Occupational Therapist

Sylvie is an Occupational Therapist with experience supporting children and families across Australia and internationally. She brings a warm, calm and playful approach to therapy, with a strong focus on building connection, confidence and participation in the things that matter most to each child and family.

Her approach is strengths-based and practical, drawing on play, creativity and everyday experiences to support areas such as sensory regulation, fine motor development, emotional regulation, daily living skills and school participation. Sylvie values working collaboratively with families, teachers and other professionals to create support that feels meaningful, achievable and individual to each child.