Our Team

We are a team of Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists who specialise in the management of hand and upper limb injuries. We are highly skilled in the fabrication of custom-made thermoplastic splints/orthoses.

In Australia, a practitioner of Hand Therapy (Member of Australian Hand Therapy Association) has achieved full membership with the Australian Hand Therapy Association (AHTA) after years of clinical experience and further study after university. We work closely with hand surgeons, GPs and hospitals, providing conservative and post-operative care. We treat patients that are privately funded or those under WorkCover, DVA or other independent insurers.

Our goal is to restore movement, strength and full functional use of your hands, wrists and elbows.

Carla Bingham - BOccThy, Accredited Hand Therapist (as awarded by the Australian Hand Therapy Association)

Occupational Therapist/Practitioner In Hand Therapy, Director

Carla graduated from the University of Queensland in 1989 with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy and gained full membership with the Australian Hand Therapy Association (AHTA) in 2007. She has had 25 years experience in the management of hand and upper limb conditions. Before establishing Gold Coast Hand Therapy in 2001, Carla was the Assistant Director of Occupational Therapy at the Gold Coast Hospital, managing the hands caseload and was the senior OT of Rehabilitation Services. Carla is committed to the ongoing development and education of the hand therapy profession and is currently the Education Officer for the AHTA. She served as the Membership Secretary for the Management Committee of the AHTA in 2013/2014. Carla is available for appointments at our Robina, Biggera Waters and Ballina clinics.

Taryn Lester - BPhyTh, Accredited Hand Therapist (as awarded by the Australian Hand Therapy Association)

Physiotherapist/Practitioner in Hand Therapy

Taryn graduated from La Trobe University (Melbourne) in 1999 with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy. She worked for six years in various acute hospital settings in Melbourne and the United Kingdom before moving to the Gold Coast in 2005. She has been a dedicated member of GCHT team since February 2006. Taryn also has training in Western Acupuncture (Dry Needling) which is a beneficial adjunct therapy for the management of soft tissue and over-use injuries of the upper limb. Taryn is a Full Member of the AHTA and works at our Robina clinic.

Kate Thorn - BOccThy, Accredited Hand Therapist (as awarded by the Australian Hand Therapy Association), Certified Hand Therapist (USA)

Occupational Therapist/Practitioner in Hand Therapy

Kate graduated from the University of Queensland in 2006 with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. She has had experience in hospital, community and private practice settings. Kate joined the GC Hand Therapy team in 2007 and is committed to ongoing professional development and student education. She has a keen interest in research and traumatic hand injuries. Kate is a Certified Hand Therapist (USA) with full membership to the Australian Hand Therapy Association (AHTA) and is a panel reviewer for the AHTA membership committee. She works part-time at our Biggera Waters clinic.

Jodie Robertson - BPhyTh

Physiotherapist

Jodie graduated from the University of Sydney in 1992 with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy). She has worked in Australia and in the USA in public and private settings. She has 20 years experience in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, including occupational and functional capacity testing, women’s health, with a recent special interest in hands. She has been a guest lecturer and tutor at Griffith University School of Physiotherapy, student supervisor and conducted educational workshops for both community and the medical profession. Jodie joined the GC Hand Therapy team for a short period in 2010 and permanently in 2012. Jodie is a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association. Jodie works at our Tweed Heads and Ballina clinics.

Shanna Mahomed - MOT, Accredited Hand Therapist (As Awarded By The Australian Hand Therapy Association)

Occupational Therapist/Practitioner in Hand Therapy

Shanna graduated from the University of Queensland in 2007 with a Masters in Occupational Therapy. In the first five years after university, Shanna worked in various hospitals, community settings and hand therapy clinics in both Australia and England. Shanna is a Full Member of the AHTA and is currently the Elective Course Developer of the AHTA education sub committee. Shanna is available for appointments at our Robina clinic.

Kerrie Sanderson - BOccThy, Accredited Hand Therapist (as awarded by the Australian Hand Therapy Association)

Occupational Therapist/Practitioner In Hand Therapy

Kerrie graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in 2012. After being introduced to hand therapy through her work with children with disabilities, Kerrie transitioned to work focusing solely on upper extremity injuries. Kerrie is a Full Member of the AHTA and has been working with Gold Coast Hand Therapy since the beginning of 2015 at our Biggera Waters clinic.

Mikayla Pope

Mikayla Pope - IBOC

Occupational Therapist

Mikayla graduated from the University of South Australia in 2015 with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy). After completing her final university placement in hand therapy, Mikayla spent two months volunteering in SE Asia before moving to the Gold Coast. Mikayla joined the GC Hand Therapy team in March 2016 and works at our Robina and Ballina clinics.

Nicole von Kleist - MOccThySt

Occupational Therapist

Originally from Vancouver, BC Canada, Nicole has now happily made the Gold Coast her home.  In Canada, Nicole completed a Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, followed by a diploma in rehabilitation.  After moving to Australia to study, she graduated with a Master of Occupational Therapy from The University of Queensland (2013).  Nicole has had experience working in acute and sub-acute hospital settings, community occupational therapy, chronic pain, and first became part of the Gold Coast Hand Therapy team in 2014.  Nicole is available for appointments at our Ballina and Robina clinics.

Tayla Lundin - BOccThy (Hons)

Occupational Therapist

Tayla graduated from the University of Queensland in 2016 with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Hons). Tayla initially joined the GC Hand Therapy team in 2012, where she worked as a therapy assistant providing support for therapists with treatment modalities, splinting and administration. You will find Tayla between our Robina, Tweed Heads and Ballina clinics.

Mitchell Lawson - BOccThy

Occupational Therapist

Mitchell is an Occupational Therapist graduating in 2009 from James Cook University, Townsville. He has experience working in all sectors of healthcare across Canada, Australia and the U.K. Mitchell has focused his attention to hand therapy over the last four years and developed a keen interest for wrist injuries. When not in the clinic, Mitchell is usually found at the beach enjoying the surf. Though he is also a keen musician playing professionally for many years on the guitar, piano and trumpet. Being from North Queensland, Mitchell is also an avid supporter of all things sport – and with this, he is very interested in hand injuries arising among like minded musicians and athletes at all levels. Mitchell is available at our Tweed Heads, Biggera Waters and Ballina clinics.

Justine de Ruyter - Ba Hth Sci (OccTherapy)

Occupational Therapist

Justine joined Carla for work experience as a student in Year 10, which inspired her to pursue a career in the field of hand therapy, having a passion for wound and scar management, splinting and helping people of all ages and backgrounds to regain hand function. She then graduated from The University of Newcastle in 2004 with a Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy), and has since worked in hand therapy in public hospitals and private practice in both Australia and the UK.  Her most recent experience in North Shore Hand Therapy in Sydney involved working directly with hand surgeons, and management of a busy caseload of elective and traumatic injuries and surgeries, including congenital hand injuries.  As well as splinting, she became proficient in the use of plaster for casts, and synthetic/waterproof casting. After working at Gold Coast Hand Therapy for a year in 2008, she is happy to have returned to Gold Coast Hand Therapy in 2018 and has made the northern Gold Coast her home.  She is available for appointments on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at our Biggera Waters clinic.

Debbie Haworth

Practice Manager

Janine Waterson

Administration