Our Team

Sonja Walker - Director
Sonja has been a qualified teacher for more than 20 years. She has extensive experience in schools, is particularly committed to the support of children with additional needs and has served on the Board of children's charity Lifestart. Sonja is a talented educator who quickly develops rapport with children of all ages. Her warm and friendly personality makes her a popular favourite with students and parents. Sonja leads our large team of qualified early childhood, primary and high school teachers, supports children and families through our innovative Individual Learning Support initiative and is also responsible for the co-ordination of Kids First's Community Service programs. In addition to her role as the director of Kids First, Sonja is an accomplished writer on children's affairs, sought after seminar presenter and award winning business leader.

Meg Hall - Centre Coordinator
Meg is a qualified teacher with many years of experience in Australian and international schools. She has worked extensively with children with disabilities and their families. In addition to her teaching role, Meg coordinates student and teacher services at Kids First. With hundreds of students and a large team of teachers to assist and advise, Meg effortlessly manages our after school education programs with genuine care and concern for students, staff and visitors alike.

Karen Spitzer - Educational Psychologist & Counsellor
Karen is a highly experienced professional offering a range of supports to children and families. She specialises in helping kids cope with issues like anger management, bullying, self esteem, grief, loss and divorce. She is also qualified to conduct psychometric academic and behavioural assessments in order to assist children with additional needs. Karen works with many families whose children are Gifted and Talented or experience Specific Learning Difficulties, developing practical strategies for school and home. She also runs Kids First's successful social and emotional resilience program, Building Confident Kids. Karen is accredited under the Helping Children with Autism initiative to provide support to children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and their families.

Lenora Delaney - Children's Occupational Therapist
Lenora is a paediatric Occupational Therapist who has helped hundreds of children to overcome physical challenges that affect their learning and development. She is a specialist in helping children to improve their fine and gross motor skills, supporting them as they learn to manage daily skills like handwriting, cutting and dressing. She also finds solutions for children who are clumsy or find it hard to focus and concentrate in busy classrooms. Lenora has practiced widely with children with special needs and has an extensive background in the areas of motor co-ordination and sensory processing. She offers a variety of physical therapies that assist children diagnosed with conditions like Autistic Spectrum and Sensory Processing Disorders and is a key member of our Bright Start Early Intervention team. Occupational Therapy with Lenora is available to children who receive assistance through the Helping Children with Autism initiative.

Ros Osling - Children's Speech Pathologist
With vast paediatric experience, including many years of work in her own private Speech Pathology practice, Ros is a past member of Macquarie University’s Special Education unit. She has provided individual therapy and assessments for hundreds of children with special needs and developmental delays and has worked extensively in schools, providing literacy and language support to children of all ages. Ros is trained in the Lindamood Bell Method and has worked widely with the MULTILIT and Spalding literacy programs. She offers social skills programs for children with communication and behavioural challenges and is an Autism specialist. Ros is activley involved in Kids First's Bright Start Early Intervention program and is also accredited to provide support to children with ASD under the Federal government's Helping Children with Autism initiative.

Kate Shanahan- Children's Speech Pathologist
Kate is a paediatric Speech Pathologist who has extensive clinical experience in private practice with children of all ages. She has also worked widely as a literacy and language specialist in schools and has an outstanding reputation for supporting children who need help with reading, spelling and verbal expression. Kate has also worked extensively with children with additional needs, including those who stutter and are diagnosed with conditions like Autism, Down Syndrome and Dyspraxia. In addition to her individual therapy work, Kate also supports children as they develop appropriate social and conversational skills in Kids First's school holiday program, Socially Speaking. Kate is part of Kids First's multi-disciplinary children's health team providing support to children through the Federal government's Helping Children with Autism initiative.

Anna Lynch - Children's Clinical Nutritionist
Anna assists children who need dietary intervention to manage health and behaviour issues.  A knowledgeable, friendly and practical professional, she supports children who have digestive issues, suspected food intolerances and allergies, skin complaints and behavioural challenges. Anna also has significant professional experience with children who have specific diets related to conditions like diabetes, ADHD, Autism and Aspergers Syndrome. Anna has extensive experience in helping fussy eaters to develop a more varied, healthy diet and works closely with families to develop successful strategies to overcome meal time stress. She also supports parents with menu planning and weaning.