Georgina Ahrens earned her Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Sydney in 1996. Since then, she has dedicated her career to supporting neurodivergent children and their families. She began her journey in paediatrics as part of an early intervention team, working with children with diverse developmental profiles.

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To deepen her expertise, Georgina pursued advanced training in the United States and England. She became certified in the DIR®/Floortime model through ICDL and later through the Profectum Foundation. Currently, she serves as Assistant Faculty with Profectum, where she teaches and mentors other professionals in the model, guiding them in its application to support children and families. Georgina leads training workshops, webinars, and courses, helping therapists, educators, and caregivers develop a deeper understanding of developmental, individual differences, and relationship-based approaches. Her passion for teaching extends to creating meaningful learning experiences that empower others to effectively use the DIR®/Floortime model in their own practice.

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Georgina is certified in various therapeutic programs, including the Safe and Sound Protocol, Therapeutic Listening Program, The Listening Program, Samonas, The Lift Program, and the Integrated Listening Program (ILS). She has also been trained in the Wilbarger brushing protocol, the Alert Program, and Handwriting Without Tears, among others. As a certified trainer through Profectum Academy in the DIR®/Floortime model, she teaches foundational courses across Australia and internationally.

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Georgina is dedicated to continually expanding her knowledge through a variety of professional development opportunities, ensuring that she and her team stay current with the latest therapeutic practices and provide the highest quality care.

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In addition to her clinical work, Georgina is passionate about educating teachers and other professionals on understanding individual neurodevelopmental profiles and fostering the social-emotional growth of all children. She has developed resources and training modules to support educators in creating inclusive and supportive learning environments.

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After returning to Sydney in 2003, Georgina founded Kids World to offer specialised support for neurodivergent children and their families in the Sydney metropolitan area. Since that time, she has continued to expand her knowledge and skills, with a particular focus on understanding and embracing the unique strengths and challenges associated with Autism and Sensory Integration differences.

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Georgina is passionate about creating a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment for the children and families she works with. She values the reciprocal nature of her work, learning from each child and family as much as she teaches. In addition to her clinical practice, Georgina shares her expertise through professional lectures and parent workshops.

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Georgina is married to Chris who made the move with her from the States, and supports and assists her with the practice. She has three beautiful girls; Mollie, Heidi, and Phoebe, who keep her busy in her spare time.

Gloria holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Ecology, with a focus on Child and Adolescent Development, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She began her career as a preschool teacher at the University of Illinois in Chicago, where her passion for supporting children with diverse needs flourished. This led her to intern as a Child Life Specialist at Wyler Children’s Hospital in Chicago. In 1999, Gloria earned her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Rush University.

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Gloria’s early career was dedicated to working in Early Intervention in Chicago’s low-income Hispanic communities, through a non-profit multidisciplinary organisation called ‘El Valor,’ which means courage and bravery. Here, she co-facilitated sensory and feeding groups, supporting young children and their families with a focus on empowering their development and well-being.

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In 2001, Gloria married an Australian, and in 2003, they moved to Australia. They now have three children—two girls and a boy. While raising her children, Gloria continued her professional development through courses in occupational therapy and shared her knowledge with local preschool teachers. She has expanded her skills in areas such as play-based learning, speech and literacy development, handwriting, and supporting neurodivergent children, particularly through DIR®/Floortime training.

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Gloria joined the team at Kids World Paediatric Occupational Therapy after being inspired by Georgina Ahrens’ approach during a DIR®/Floortime course. Now, she is part of a passionate group of therapists who are committed to celebrating and supporting each child’s unique strengths and challenges.

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In her spare time, Gloria enjoys creative writing. In 2013, she published her first children’s book, Ka-Lunk!, a rhyming story that explores child development, with additional resources for parents and carers on developmental milestones and play ideas from birth to 18 months. She is currently working on a young adult science fiction novel inspired by her own children.

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Liz earned her Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) from Sydney University in 2002. Since then, she has dedicated her career to supporting neurodivergent children and their families. Liz has primarily worked with children with Autism, developmental differences, and vision impairments, offering support in homes, early childhood settings, schools, and community clinics. She has facilitated individual and group therapy sessions as well as transition-to-school programs, and her work has taken her across Sydney and even to Samoa, where she helped establish an Early Intervention service for children with disabilities in local communities.

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Liz is passionate about family-centred practice, focusing on the unique needs of each child and their family to create a supportive and inclusive environment. After discovering the DIR® model, Liz began integrating its principles into her practice, inspired by its focus on building meaningful relationships and supporting each child’s individual developmental journey. She joined the Kids World team in 2011, where she continues to embrace the joys and challenges of every therapy session.

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Through regular mentoring and supervision, Liz deepens her expertise in the DIR®/Floortime approach, continually enhancing her skills to support children and families in a way that respects and celebrates their neurodiversity.

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Retha earned her Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Pretoria in South Africa in 2000. She has dedicated her career to working in paediatrics, supporting children and families both in private practice and school-based settings. Retha is passionate about empowering children to thrive by understanding and building on their unique strengths. She has experience working with children with developmental differences, sensory processing variations, attention differences, Down Syndrome, and Autism.

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Retha is committed to ongoing professional development and has pursued advanced training in various therapeutic approaches. She is certified in DIR®/Floortime (Advanced) through ICDL, sensory integration, Therapeutic Listening, Tomatis (Level 2), and Interactive Metronome. Retha integrates these diverse approaches to create individualised, child-centred therapy plans that honour each child’s personal profile and developmental journey.

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In 2019, Retha and her family moved to Australia. She and her husband, along with their two daughters, enjoy camping and stand-up paddleboarding in their free time. Retha is excited to be part of the team at Kids World Paediatric Therapy, where she continues to grow and refine her practice under the guidance of Georgina Ahrens.

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Kevin completed his Bachelor of Kinesiology at the University of Toronto in Canada in 2017. After moving to Australia in 2019, he earned his Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of Sydney in 2020.

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Kevin has experience working with children in a variety of settings. He has tutored children in academic subjects, organised and led leadership programs at camps, and taught children with physical disabilities to snowboard by adapting sessions to meet their individual needs.

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Kevin is trained in the DIR®/Floortime model and continues to deepen his understanding of this approach under the mentorship of Georgina Ahrens. He is committed to learning more about each child’s unique profile and supporting their functional emotional development. Kevin is passionate about helping children grow by recognizing and respecting their individual differences. He tailors his therapy sessions to meet the personal needs of each child and works collaboratively with parents and caregivers to support their child’s growth and development.

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Kevin finds it deeply rewarding to be part of a child and family’s journey, helping them build independence and participate in meaningful activities that enhance their lives. He values the opportunity to create positive and supportive experiences for both children and their families.

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Outside of work, Kevin enjoys staying active and engaging in social activities such as basketball, board games, and bouldering.

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Julia is an Occupational Therapist who graduated from the University of Sydney. During her studies, she discovered her passion for supporting children and their families through her roles as an Occupational Therapy assistant and a support worker. Julia loves building meaningful connections with clients and their families, helping them achieve their unique goals and engage fully in everyday activities.

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Currently, Julia is training in the DIR®/Floortime model under the mentorship of Georgina Ahrens. She enjoys getting to know each child and family, understanding their individual strengths and needs, and supporting their developmental journey in a way that respects their unique profiles.

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Outside of work, Julia enjoys spending time with family and friends and exploring new places through travel.

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Jessica moved to Australia in 2012, where she discovered her passion for the allied health field. She earned her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Sydney and has since been dedicated to supporting children with diverse needs.

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At Kids World Therapy, Jessica works under the mentorship of Georgina Ahrens, developing her skills in the DIR®/Floortime approach. She is committed to understanding each child’s unique profile and supporting their socio-emotional growth. Jessica enjoys creating individualised programs that celebrate each child’s strengths and differences, while empowering families to foster independence and participation in meaningful activities. She also provides guidance to parents and caregivers, finding it deeply rewarding to support families in their journey toward greater connection and engagement.

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Outside of work, Jessica enjoys hiking, arts and crafts, and exploring new places through travel.

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Alison, Belle and Cate are here to help parents with any questions.  If they don't know the answer then they will know someone who does!