Nadia Cusack (BSc (OT)) opened her own practice, The Hope Studio in the beginning of 2007. She has extensive experience in Sensory Integration, special needs and early intervention and is involved in the local Neonatal ICU. Nadia has a passion for the development of therapists, parent support and providing therapy of a high quality, where both the child’s and parent’s needs are meet in an emphatic and effective manner. She manages a staff compliment of 10 therapists and her practice is well known and highly regarded in OT circles. She will share her insights on job applications, interviews and appointments in the private sector using her practice as an example.
Presentation prepared by Naseeha Sujee and presented by Elzabe du Plessis.
Naseeha Sujee graduated with a BSc(OT) in 2013 at the University of Witwatersrand. She completed her community service in the Ekurhuleni District Health Services in 2014 and was retained as a permanent therapist. She then moved on to a post as a production level therapist in the Gauteng Department of Education and has been employed at Thabo Vuyo Resource Center in 2016 until the current. She is passionate about paeds, specifically children with CP, and completed her NDT in 2019. She has a growing passion for children with barriers and challenges. She has completed her training in the Bully Busters program among other short courses. She is actively involved in many community projects, including the Islamic Medical Association Therapy Project, which affords those who can not access therapeutic services the opportunity of receiving much needed care. As a therapist at a resource center, she wishes to reach out to many incoming therapists to offer mentoring and support as needed.
Elzabe Du Plessis graduated from the University of the Free State in 1994. She has extensive experience in the department of education as she worked in the Northern Cape from 1997 until 2015. She then moved to Gauteng and was appointed as the Chief therapist from 2016 until current at Thabo Vuyo Resource Centre. She has worked at schools and in the department of education district office in the northern cape and thus has experience with learners with disabilities as well as those who experience challenges in public ordinary schools. Her role currently requires her to oversee 4 therapists, 2 social workers and run therapy programmes at the school and within the district as meticulously as possible.
