International Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate the women who support, advocate for and empower children and families every day and to recognise the care, skill and dedication they bring to their work.
To mark International Women’s Day 2026, we asked three of our Occupational Therapists at Sydney Kids OT a handful of quick questions. Their responses are thoughtful, honest and full of heart.
Cara Adler – Director of Sydney Kids OT and Senior Occupational Therapist
What’s one piece of advice you would give to young women or newbies starting out in allied health?
Learn as much as you can from mentors/supervisors and do as many courses as you can early on. The learning really only starts once you start working. Find a niche area that you love.
What’s one challenge in your career or life that helped shape the therapist you are today?
Balancing a family and a career gave me insight into what so may parents are going through and how to manage my expectations of what I expected them to do.
What’s something children have taught you in your time at Sydney Kids OT?
Children have taught me that each child is unique so we should mould our approach to suit them.
How do you celebrate progress — even the small wins — with your clients?
I ask them to show what they have achieved to someone else- they are always very proud to do so.
What’s one moment at Sydney Kids OT that made you feel proud of the impact we have?
When I receive emails from teachers or parents to report how well a student is doing thanks to the strategies they have learnt in OT
What’s your most-used phrase in sessions (that the kids probably predict)?
Did you bring your muscles today?
What’s one professional skill you’ve had to work hard to develop?
Learning to say NO!
Michaela Levy – Senior Occupational Therapist
What’s one piece of advice you would give to young women or newbies starting out in allied health?
Protect your energy early. You will care very deeply about your clients and often question whether you did enough. Instead of measuring yourself by “more,” reflect on your intention. Boundaries are not selfish, they allow you to stay in this profession long term and make meaningful impact. Remember, you cannot pour from an empty cup!
What’s one challenge in your career or life that helped shape the therapist you are today?
Experiences from my own childhood, as well as witnessing others navigate challenges from my perspective at the time, shaped how I practise today. They strengthened my empathy and ability to perspective take. I consciously place myself in the child’s and family’s position and aim to respond with compassion, attunement and understanding.
What’s something you’re passionate about that influences how you support children and families?
I am very passionate about connection. Before goals, before strategies, there needs to be safety. When a child feels seen, regulated and understood, therapy becomes meaningful and progress follows.
What’s one professional skill you’ve had to work hard to develop?
Assertive communication. Learning to advocate for children, setting/holding professional boundaries, and having difficult conversations have been a powerful area of growth for me.
What’s something children have taught you in your time at Sydney Kids OT?
Working with children has taught me that rapport is EVERYTHING. A strong therapeutic relationship often has more impact than any single strategy. The one on one time we spend truly understanding a child can be life changing for them. For some children, that consistent, attuned space is something they rarely experience elsewhere. That’s pretty special!
How do you celebrate progress — even the small wins — with your clients?
We make wins loud. I reflect back their effort, not just the outcome, “That was hard, and you did it.” Confidence grows when children can see their own capability. When they begin to recognise their own growth, confidence expands far beyond the OT room.
Tyla-Jane Roberts – Occupational Therapist
What’s one piece of advice you would give to young women or newbies starting out in allied health?
Find a workplace with people who share similar values to you and will support you in your therapy journey.
What’s something you’re passionate about that influences how you support children and families?
I’m passionate about sensory integration and the way that this shapes a child’s daily experiences and development. I always try to educate families about what this means for children and how to implement fun and meaningful activities that are supportive each day.
What’s something children have taught you in your time at Sydney Kids OT?
Children continuously teach me the value of relationship, and that connection and trust are foundational to so much of what we do.
What’s one moment at Sydney Kids OT that made you feel proud of the impact we have?
I felt proud to see a client joining in pretend play with a friend at school. He looked so happy and was confident to use the social and play skills he’d been practicing for two years in OT.
What’s your most-used phrase in sessions (that the kids probably predict)?
“Good job” or “‘nice work”. I’m teased about these at times!
Celebrating International Women’s Day at Sydney Kids OT
Today, we celebrate the women in allied health who show up with care, skill and commitment and who support children and families in ways that are both practical and deeply human.
Happy International Women’s Day from all of us at Sydney Kids OT.