OTA Board

Professor Carol McKinstry is Professor of Occupational Therapy, Associate Dean Learning and Teaching and Deputy Dean of La Trobe University’s Rural Health School. Carol established the Bendigo occupational therapy education program and is passionate about rural health. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an active researcher, leading the Workforce Stream of the Violet Vines Marshman Research Centre focusing on improving the health of rural communities. Carol is also assistant editor for the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal. Carol joined OTA as a final year student and has been an ongoing member ever since. She has convened her local regional interest group, served on national conference committees and on the OTA Board since 2016, becoming vice president in 2017 and president in November 2019. Carol is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and serves on the Bendigo Health Board and on community sporting boards.

Priscilla’s career in occupational therapy has traversed clinical, academic and research roles over 34 years. Her work has focused on mental health and the mental health system. She worked as an occupational therapist in inpatient, community and rehabilitation settings in Australia and the UK. She taught in undergraduate and graduate occupational therapy courses at La Trobe University over 14 years. Priscilla gained her PhD in 2016 and is currently the Senior Manager of Research and Evaluation for Neami National, a large non-profit provider of mental health, homelessness, and suicide prevention services across Australia. Over the course of her career, she has built an understanding and commitment to working in alliance with people who are experts by experience, a process that has involved considerable unlearning and a focus on systems thinking. She has been active with the OTA: contributing to the last four National Conference Scientific Committees, including as Scientific Committee Chair in 2023. Priscilla was elected to the OTA Board in late 2018 and has served as Vice President and as a member of the Finance Risk and Audit Committee and Nominations Committee.

Alex Splitt is a Kabi Kabi djan (man) based in Kaurna Yerta (Adelaide, Australia). For over a decade, Alex has focused on advancing social and economic outcomes of First Nations Peoples, specialising in the co-design, development and implementation of strategic policy frameworks that seek to facilitate social equity and economic prosperity for First Peoples. Alex’s senior roles across the policy environment have seen him as a lead proponent in the development and implementation of several key policy reforms, including the Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework and ‘Investing in the Relationship: Our Role in Indigenous Enterprise Flourishing’ framework from RMIT University. Alex is a current Global Atlantic Fellow, Atlantic Institute - Oxford, holds a Masters of Social Change Leadership and a post graduate qualification in Education from the University of Melbourne, and is currently a Director at the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute.

Joanna is the Co-Founder of Apricus Health and has over 15 years’ experience as an occupational therapist and as a private practice business owner. Apricus Health provides services to people across the lifespan in the areas of paediatrics, disability, aged support, mental health, hands and rehabilitation. Joanna continues to work clinically within the NDIS, DVA and community contexts in addition to working in strategy, governance and finance. Joanna is passionate about bringing innovation to OT and has been integral in the development of an international collaborative placement model with a university in the UK during COVID and has been involved in other projects including a social isolation and loneliness program, a student-led service provision model, a therapy assistant framework, and an online education and training platform for health workers. Joanna is the recipient of many professional awards and has completed her MBA/MPH and the AICD Company Directors’ course.

Alice is a mental health occupational therapist with over 20 years of practice in clinical and corporate settings. As a migrant from Hong Kong, she brings a unique perspective and a deep understanding of diversity and inclusion to her work and in serving the community.

Caleb Rixon is a major stroke survivor with extensive experience in occupational therapy. He specialises in post-stroke and brain injury care and is a dynamic advocate, board member, speaker, and consultant.

Jack is a Mental Health Occupational Therapist in an aged inpatient unit in Victoria. His journey as a health professional began with personal experiences of mental health challenges. He believes in the transformative power of occupational therapy, providing support and enabling individuals to find meaning and thrive. Throughout his career, Jack actively engaged in youth development and regional advocacy. He served as a Victorian Youth Congressman, advised with Orygen and was the Bendigo Youth Mayor in 2021. Jack also played a crucial role in developing the OTs in Action - Climate Change Advisory Body. Additionally, he is a member of the Loddon Mallee Regional Mental Health and Wellbeing Regional Interim Body. Passionate about fostering growth and innovation, Jack is committed to creating opportunities for graduate occupational therapists, enhancing their skills, and contributing to innovative solutions for better access to allied health services in Australia.

Emma George is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience and is currently the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) Delegate for OTA. Her academic journey includes a PhD in Public Health, Master of Public Health, Master of Health and International Development, and a Bachelor of Applied Science (OT). As an Associate Professor and Program Director for Occupational Therapy at the University of Adelaide, her expertise spans primary health care, public health, community and international development, paediatrics, and child and adolescent mental health. Her research focuses on capabilities, equity and justice with marginalised people in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. She is deeply passionate about teaching, research, and advocacy, focusing on the intersection of occupational science and the social determinants of health to inform both clinical practice and policy. Emma is also a long term supporter and friend of Indigenous Allied Health Australia, and a Member of the Australasian Society of Occupational Scientists.

Michelle Bissett is a registered occupational therapist with 25 years of experience across clinical and academic roles. She has long been an active contributor to the occupational therapy profession in Australia. Michelle maintains involvement with Occupational Therapy Australia because of her genuine interest in the future of the profession nationally and internationally. Michelle is motivated to position occupational therapy as a globally recognised and essential health profession which evidences a positive contribution to people’s health and wellbeing. Michelle considers herself to be a conscientious, ambitious, professional and hard-working leader and team member.

Leanne has over 34 years of experience as an occupational therapist. Leanne founded Everyday Independence in 1997 and today she is the CEO and a Director of Everyday Independence, a dynamic allied health organisation with over 450 team members (over 200 occupational therapists). In 2018, Leanne was awarded Occupational Therapist of the Year at the Australian Allied Health Professional Awards and in 2020 Leanne was awarded The Telstra Business Womenʼs Award for Medium and Large Business.