Meet the Team: The Hearts of Planet Ability

Jun 26
4 min read

At Planet Ability, we don’t just work in the world of neurodivergence: we live in it. When you walk through the doors of our Warrandyte clinic, you’re not just meeting clinicians with degrees and clinical hours. You’re meeting people who understand the internal feeling of sensory overwhelm, the intricate dance of executive functioning, and the profound importance of finding a space where you can truly be yourself.

Today, we want to introduce you to the two humans (and one very special dog) steering this ship: our Principal Occupational Therapists, Amy Sullivan and Pippa Martin.

The Power of Lived Experience: Why It Changes Everything

Before we dive into their individual styles, it’s important to talk about the "Why" behind Planet Ability. Both Amy and Pippa are late-diagnosed neurodivergent clinicians. This means they spent a significant portion of their lives navigating systems, schools, and workplaces that weren't built for their brains: often without the vocabulary to explain why things felt different.

This lived experience is the cornerstone of our practice. It moves us away from a "deficit-based" model that tries to fix what isn't broken, and toward a neurodiversity-affirming approach. We don't see our clients as puzzles to be solved; we see them as individuals with unique profiles who deserve a life that fits them, rather than a mask that hides them.

🚀 Key Benefit: Our team provides an authentic, insider perspective that validates the challenges of navigating a neurotypical world while celebrating the strengths of a neurodivergent mind.

Meet Amy Sullivan - Principal Occupational Therapist and Clinical Lead

If you’re looking for the person who puts the "play" in "professional," you’ve found her. Amy Sullivan graduated in 2018 and has since built a reputation for her holistic, fun-led therapy. She knows that for many neurodivergent individuals, traditional clinical goals can feel heavy or demanding. By leading with joy and interest-based activities, Amy helps her clients build skills without the pressure of "performing."

Amy is the go-to for all things training, supervision, quality assurance (notes and reports), professional development and complex cases. Don't be surprised if you end up chatting with her around the clinic!

Amy’s Clinical Focus Areas:

Sensory Regulation: Helping clients understand their sensory profiles so they can regulate and feel safe in their bodies.
Functional Independence: Amy is passionate about building independence and the milestones that lead to a sense of autonomy.
Navigating Life Stages: Amy specialises in the complex transitions of puberty and relationships, providing a safe, affirming space to discuss the social and physical changes that come with growing up.

Amy’s style is grounded in the belief that therapy should be a place where you can exhale. She focuses on building a bridge between a person’s internal experience and the external world, ensuring they have the tools to navigate both on their own terms.

Meet Pippa Martin: Principal Occupational Therapist and Operations Lead

Pippa Martin brings a background in Health Science, Occupational Therapy, and Child Therapeutic Play. Since joining the team in 2022, Pippa has become known as a fierce advocate for neuroinclusive care. Her approach is family-centred; she understands that a neurodivergent child or young person exists within a wider ecosystem, and supporting that network is vital for long-term success.

Pippa is the brains behind all things scheduling, intake, processes, systems, forms, social media, facilities management and noticing the fine details. Don't be surprised if you catch her down a task rabbit hole! Process & Systems Management: Managing the practice management software, onboarding systems, and clinic workflows.

Intake & Waitlists: Overseeing the administration team, managing the incoming client pipeline, and allocating new clients to the right therapists.
Compliance & HR Logistics: Managing employment contracts, leave requests, clinic policies, work health and safety (WHS), and NDIS provider registration compliance.
Resource & Facilities Management: Overseeing clinic space, ordering therapy equipment, and managing administrative budgets.

Pippa’s Clinical Style:

Play-Based Practice: Pippa uses play as a medium for connection, regulation, and skill-building, ensuring that therapy feels natural and low-demand.
Fierce Advocacy: She is dedicated to ensuring that her clients are heard, respected, and accommodated in all areas of their lives.
Animal-Assisted Intervention: This is where Zeena comes in.

A Special Mention: Zeena the Therapy Dog

Pippa often works alongside her certified therapy dog, Zeena, a cheeky and athletic Whippet who loves a good nap under a soft blanket. In Pippa’s sessions, Zeena isn't just a friendly face; she is a clinical tool. Whether Zeena is helping a participant regulate through deep pressure or acting as a motivator for social communication, her presence brings a unique layer of safety and joy to the Animal-Assisted Therapy program.

What we do!

We offer this lived-experience model because we know that "masking" is exhausting. We want to help our participants build lives that are sustainable and authentic.

We primarily support neurodiverse and disabled young people and adults aged 2 to 35. Our model is built to support transitions: from early childhood play to the complexities of adulthood and NDIS funding.

While we are fierce advocates for neurodiversity, we are not a "fix-it" shop. If a family is looking for therapy aimed at suppressing neurodivergent traits (like stimming) or forcing "neurotypical" social behaviours, we are likely not the right fit. We focus on autonomy and regulation, not compliance.

Whether it’s navigating a Functional Capacity Assessment or mastering a new skill in the kitchen, you can trust that our Directors are leading with heart, authenticity, and a deep respect for who you are.