Organising Committee

Dino Mennillo - Director OTFC Group

It’s a long-running joke in the family that Dino is “no good with adults, but great with kids,” which is apt, given he has spent most of his career working with children and young people.
With 25 years’ experience as a paediatric Occupational Therapist, Dino’s OT journey began while pursuing a soccer career. Over his 10 years in professional football, he was fortunate to represent his country in the Australian National League and internationally. Despite what took him several years to understand as his life’s learning, his perceived failure at not quite ‘making it big’ in the football world taught him some valuable lessons; always pursue your passion, value personal growth over financial gain, and while you can’t always control what happens in life, you can control how you react.
A chance encounter in 2004 introduced Dino to the theory of Sensory Integration and ultimately served as catalyst for change. Together with his wife, Michelle, Dino acquired OTFC Group with a desire to make a positive, lasting impact, and an ambition to reach every child and young person in Australia. Learning, developing, enhancing and challenging the way OT’s work with children has been his goal in providing a service that truly makes a difference to the lives of others.
Dino is certified and specialises in Ayres Sensory Integration® and it’s this approach that makes OTFC Group unique. In partnership with Sensory Integration pioneers and experts in the USA (CLASI), he’s been able to train therapists in Australia and contribute to the development of a new Gold Standard Sensory Integration Assessment (The EASI) - one that will continue to reflect evidence-based intervention at the OTFC Group and in OT for years to come.
As Clinical Director of the OTFC Group, Dino actively assesses and supports children and young people in their therapy, while mentoring and leading the broader Clinical Team. While his dreams of coaching football ended when his son professed his love for AFL, Dino has found equal fulfillment in coaching the incredible OTs within the organisation. He places great emphasis on continuous learning to ensure therapists can deliver the most innovative strategies to their clients. Fun is at the core of everything he does and he’s passionate about creating an environment which is energetic and engaging not only for clients, but for the team.
OT has enormous and unfulfilled potential in the community, and Dino feels strongly about pushing the boundaries in delivering resources and services which are meaningful, equitable, and accessible for all.
 
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Carlyn Cooper - Occupational Therapist & Director

Carlyn Cooper is a passionate paediatric occupational therapist and dedicated director specialising in ASI (Ayres Sensory Integration®) Intervention. As a founding member of ASI Australia and one of the directors of In Sync Kids OT and Sensory Enterprises, Carlyn is committed to improving the lives of individuals with sensory processing challenges.
Carlyn's journey in ASI Therapy began during her time in the UK, where the transformative impact of ASI intervention inspired her. This experience led her to establish In Sync Kids OT in Brisbane, Australia—a leading practice providing specialised therapy services tailored to children's unique sensory needs.
At In Sync Kids OT, Carlyn leads a compassionate team of therapists who conduct comprehensive assessments and deliver evidence-based ASI interventions to promote sensory regulation and enhance participation in daily activities.
Carlyn's dedication to advancing the awareness and practice of Ayres Sensory Integration® extends to her role as a founding member of ASI Australia. In this capacity, Carlyn advocates for best practices and professional development within the field, striving to expand access to ASI resources and education nationwide.
Recognising the critical need for accessible sensory solutions, Carlyn co-directs Sensory Enterprises, a pioneering company dedicated to sourcing and distributing high-quality sensory equipment and products. Under Carlyn's leadership, Sensory Enterprises ensures that therapists, educators, and families have access to innovative tools that support sensory development and overall well-being.
Beyond her professional endeavours, Carlyn is actively engaged in community outreach and education. She raises awareness about sensory integration challenges and the benefits of ASI therapy through workshops, presentations, and collaborative initiatives.
Carlyn Cooper's unwavering passion for paediatric occupational therapy and sensory integration is evident in her leadership roles across In Sync Kids OT, Sensory Enterprises, and ASI Australia. Connect with Carlyn to explore how her expertise and commitment can positively impact individuals with sensory processing differences and their families.

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Emily Saunderson - Director/Senior Occupational Therapist Kickstart Kids Therapy

Emily is truly dedicated to enhancing the landscape of Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) and occupational therapy in Australia. With a wealth of experience spanning over two decades, she is the director and senior occupational therapist at Kickstart Kids Therapy, while also serving as a founding member and director of Ayres Sensory Integration Australia (ASI-AUS).
Her journey into this specialised field commenced during her undergraduate years, igniting a passion that has driven her ever since. Graduating from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy in 2001, Emily embarked on a quest for knowledge, attaining a Master’s of Health Sciences in OT in 2013. Her love of learning has led her to complete over 40 postgraduate courses, both domestically and internationally, honing her expertise in paediatric occupational therapy and sensory integration.
Emily's professional footprint extends across a diverse array of settings, from sensory integration clinics to specialist schools, private practices, and community settings. Her involvement in teaching and clinical supervision at the University of Sydney allowed her to implement programs in schools reaching children in low socio-economic areas underscoring her commitment to providing equitable access to services in concert with nurturing the next generation of therapists.
At the heart of Emily's clinical practice lies a profound belief in the transformative power of collaboration and education. Through her own clinic, she endeavours to empower families with knowledge, guiding them towards a deeper understanding of their children's needs. Her collaborative efforts with teachers and educators aims to assist them to create supportive learning environments where every child can thrive. She loves nothing more than seeing the incredible changes in the lives of the children, their families and teachers she works with.
Emily is dedicated to establishing ASI as a cornerstone of evidence-based intervention nationwide. She was the Australian country lead in an international normative data collection project for a new gold standard ASI assessment, the Evaluation in ASI (EASI).
As a founding member of ASI Australia, Emily champions the cause of increasing awareness and education surrounding ASI. In partnership with the Collaborative Leadership in Ayres Sensory Integration (CLASI) in the USA, Emily is an approved ASI instructor and coordinates training in ASI for OTs with the primary goal of providing a pathway for OTs to train in high quality, evidence-based ASI education programs in Australia. She endeavours to train and educate as many OTs as possible to provide this evidence-based intervention nationwide.  Within her own team, Emily fosters a culture of continuing professional development ensuring that best practice ASI assessment, intervention and evidence-based techniques are upheld to pave the way for a brighter future for generations to come.