Tessa Shalay (B App Sc OT)

Tessa Shalay, ActivOT Kangaroo Island (and Fleurieu Peninsula), was born and raised on Kangaroo Island.

Tessa finished her Bachelor in Applied Science Occupational Therapy in 2004 at the University of South Australia. From there she worked for the Royal Society of the Blind in Adelaide to work with people living with visual impairment, until she relocated to the Yorke Peninsula to take on an occupational therapist and aged care assessment team delegate role across the region.

After moving back to Kangaroo Island with her husband in 2007, Tessa became the team leader of the community services team at Kangaroo Island Health Service, while also providing  occupational therapy services. Two years later, she moved into a to senior occupational therapist role.

Tessa has always had an interest in and loved working with individuals and their families who are living with health challenges or disabilities, as well as the older generation.

Tessa’s focus lies within the community setting and to assist clients in their homes and local community. She enjoys an honest and respectful relationship with the individuals and families she works with, and always learns more about their unique stories, needs and goals. She thrives in offering a personal and thorough assessment of needs, and enjoys problem-solving to find the unique fit to meet each individuals needs and goals. She always endeavours to work with her clients in a partnership to allow best outcomes.

Tessa has extensive skills as a generalist occupational therapist working in rural and remote regions of South Australia.  She has the ability to assess and address a wide variety of needs and develop plans that are unique to each individual.  She has extensive experience working with individuals with disabilities, pre and post operative care, chronic condition management, and elderly care in the community.  She is confident working across various settings –community, residential aged care, acute/in-patient, and across numerous programs – NDIS, HCP, DVA VHC.

Tessa joined the ActivOT team in 2021 to offer and provide comprehensive occupational therapy community-based care and services to residents of Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Outside of work, Tessa loves the outdoors such as hiking, beach walking and running. She also enjoys cooking, baking and reading as well as spending quality time with her family.

Contact

Postal: 1 Campbell Street, Kingscote SA 5223
P: 0490 838 853 | 1800 228 868
F: 08 8553 2253
E: tessa@activot.com.au