Transforming paediatric therapy in Australia
Keeping up with surging demand for specialised occupational therapy, a South Australian provider will open two new clinics a year until 2028.
By opening two new clinics a year, Occupational Therapy for Children (OTFC) will expand its service offering to include 70 clinical spaces, which provide about 500 therapy sessions per day.
Each new clinic will be backed by a $1 million investment, built to offer a supportive space where young people with autism, learning difficulties and mental health challenges have access to meaningful and effective therapy.
OTFC Chief Executive Michelle Mennillo said the company’s growth is driven by its mission to make care “accessible to those who need it most”.
“At the heart of it all is a belief that every young person deserves the chance to live a meaningful life, filled with possibility,” Mennillo said.
“No young person should be waiting for the care they need.”
OTFC began in Adelaide in 2005 and currently has almost 50 clinical spaces across seven sites in South Australia, Victoria and Queensland, which services about 200 young people per day.
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They currently have three new clinics under construction in South Australia and Victoria, due to be built by the last quarter of this year.
Michelle Mennillo has worked at OTFC since its inception in 2005, taking on the CEO role in 2020. This picture: supplied.
In two years, across 2022 to 2024, OTFC opened four clinics in the Gold Coast, Berri, Moorabbin and Campbelltown as well as expanding its existing Parkside clinic.
“We do occupational therapy differently,” Mennillo said.
“It starts with our custom-designed, purpose-built facilities, which are unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere.”
“They are vibrant, playful, and immersive spaces that make therapy feel like play, not work. Every element is intentional, creating an environment that is not only engaging, but therapeutic in itself.”
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In 2025, the company celebrates 20 years of service and has reached 10,000 clients.
“Reaching 10,000 clients is not just a number for us. It represents the heartbeat of our journey, a testament to the lives we have touched and the transformations we have witnessed,” Mennillo said.
“Growth at OTFC is never about scaling for the sake of it.
“It’s about expanding our impact while fiercely protecting the quality of care we are known for.”
Clinical Lead and OT Michael, with Alex, Evie and Allied Health support worker Olivia. This picture: Matt Turner
OTFC also offer in-school therapy, classroom support and professional development for educators through partnering with schools like St Raphael’s and Kings Baptist.
Over time, they’ve developed their service offering based on client needs.
“One family was told their son may never walk or talk, and today, he is doing both,” Mennillo said.
“Alex, who has been with us since the age of two, continues to thrive at almost 20.
“His journey inspired the creation of OTFC+, our dedicated space for adolescents and young adults, after his family struggled to find age-appropriate support.”
The company hasn’t ruled out an international expansion, with opportunities in markets like Singapore, the United States and New Zealand.
“Any move beyond Australia would need to align with our purpose and values,” Mennillo said.
“Our focus has always been on meaningful, high-impact care, and if taking our model global allows us to reach more young people in a way that stays true to who we are, then it’s absolutely on the radar.”
