PROFILES

Cathy Thomas B App Sc (OT)

Graduating in 1985 from Curtin University, Cathy has over 26 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist. She worked in a variety of settings including the public hospital system, Department of Veterans Affairs and private clinics before establishing her own private practice specialising in the rehabilitation of hand and upper limb injuries in 1995. Cathy has continued in practice in her own right when Elizabeth Saleeba retired as a partner from Specialised Hand Therapy Services in June 2011.

Cathy has a Post Graduate Diploma in Hand and Upper Limb Rehabilitation (1994) and has been a member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association (AHTA) for over 15 years. She is a two time winner of the Jill Chapman Award for the best Clinical Paper at AHTA National Conferences and has published in the American Journal of Hand Therapy. Cathy has also lectured and tutored in Hand and Upper Limb Rehabilitation, Biomechanics and Kinesiology at Curtin University and is frequently requested to give talks and lecture in her field of expertise. Cathy is also an active Committee Member for her professional association, OT Australia WA.

Farida Littlemore B App Sc (OT)   

Graduating in 1992, Farida has worked in several areas of Occupational Therapy in Singapore. 1996 she worked in Hand Therapy full time at the Changi General Hospital in Sinagpore until she moved to Perth in 2003 and has worked with Specialised Hand Therapy Services since.

She has a Masters in Science of Hand and Upper Limb Rehabilitation (2001) and has been a member of the AHTA since 2003. Farida presented her lastest research project at the 2010 AHTA conference in Perth on "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and its affect on functional recovery following traumatic digital amputation."

Alva Howard BSc (OT) 

After graduating from the University of Liverpool, UK in 2002, Alva worked in the public sector in her home town of Sligo, Ireland. After moving to Australia in 2007, Alva has worked in hand therapy in the private and public sectors in Sydney and Perth. Alva joined the Specialised Hand Therapy Services team in Febuary 2009. Alva also has a BSc Honours degree in Physiotherapy (2007) and completed a certified course in Neuromuscular therapy (2005). She is currently an associate member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association (AHTA) and is studying for her Certificate of Hand Therapy (CHT).

Helen Rennie B App Sc (OT)

Graduating in 1982, Helen has worked in Occupational Therapy for 29 years, 24 of which have been in the area of hand and upper limb rehabilitation. Her early experience has been in acute and rehabilitation in burns, neurology, rheumatology, spinal and upper limb amputees. Helen was the Senior hand therapist at Fremantle Hospital and has spent the last 12 years exclusively in hand therapy private practice. Helen gained a Medical Research Foundation Grant as Chief Researcher to conduct a study on an ulnar drift splint for rheumatoid arthritis. She presented her findings at the 1996 International Hand Therapy Conference and has published in the American Journal of Hand Therapy. Helen has had vast experience teaching doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals on all aspects of hand therapy.

Helen March B App Sc (OT) 

Helen graduated from Curtin University of Technology in 1990. She then travelled to the United States where she worked in a variety of fields of Occupational Therapy prior to beginning her career in Hand Therapy in 1998. In 2000, Helen obtained her Certification in Hand Therapy (CHT). She opened a private hand therapy practice in Colorado in 2004 which she sold in 2010 in order to return home to Perth, joining Specialised Hand Therapy Services. Helen is a full member of both the Australian Hand Therapy Association and the American Society of Hand Therapists. She has attended hand therapy/surgery meetings and conferences in Australia and in the US and has presented to small groups and hand therapy meetings on a variety of upper limb subjects.

Catherine McCutcheon (nee Parker) B Sc (OT) 

After graduating from Curtin University in 2005, Catherine worked in a variety of Occupational Therapy roles before commencing work in Hand Therapy at Specialised Hand Therapy Services in 2007. Since then she has worked in both private and public settings in WA and Victoria. Catherine is an active member of the Hand Interest Group and an associate member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association (AHTA). She conducts community education sessions regarding hand injuries and injury management on behalf of Specialised Hand Therapy Services. Catherine is currently undertaking further study to qualify as a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT). 

Lisa Browne B Sc (OT)  

Lisa graduated from Curtin University in 2008 and has worked at Specialised Hand Therapy Services since 2009. She is an associate member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association (AHTA) and a member of OTAWA Hand Interest Group and has successfully completed AHTA certified courses in mobilising splinting and multiple trauma. Currently Lisa works in our West Perth, Subiaco and southern based clinics. Lisa recently presented on Biomechanics of the Upper Limb.

Nicole Myrland B Sc (OT)  

Nicole graduated from Curtin University in 2009. Nicole has been working at Specialised Hand Therapy Services since graduating. She is an active member of the OTAWA Hand Interest Group, an Associate Member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association (AHTA) and last year undertook the AHTA multi trauma certified course. Nicole currently works in our Midland, West Perth, Subiaco and Murdoch rooms and has recently presented on Dupuytren’s Contracture. 

Janine Andel B Sc (OT) 

Janine graduated in 1998 from the School of Occupational Therapy at Curtin University of Technology. She has worked in both community and hospital based settings, in private and public sectors in Australia and in the United Kingdom. Janine discovered a love of hand therapy in 2002 when she joined the team at Specialised Hand Therapy Services. She has enjoyed contributing to the profession, having been convenor of the WA Hand Interest Group in the past, and has presented on various topics at local and national conferences. Janine is currently an Associate Member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association. 

ALBANY - Michelle Ericsson, Georgina Berger, Lindsay Cuthbert - have over 20 years experience between them and together service the Albany clinic which will have been in operation for 10 years next year. Michelle, who graduated in 1998 opened the clinic with us in 2002. Lindsay has been working there since graduating in 2005 (taking maternity leave in 2010), and Georgina Berger who graduated in 2005 has also recently joined us in Albany.