Kelly Davison
Physiotherapist & Hand Therapist
Dip Phys, PGD (manip), Reg. Hand Therapist

Kelly Davison graduated as a physiotherapist from Auckland Institute of Technology in 1992. She worked as a staff physiotherapist, gaining experience in various departments at Middlemore Hospital where she developed a passion for hand therapy, particularly enjoying working as part of the multi-disciplinary team alongside surgeons, occupational therapists and nursing colleagues. Kelly then went on to further her manual therapy skills, completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Manipulative Therapy in 1998.

Since then Kelly has focused on hand therapy. She worked in a private practice specializing in hand therapy, treating hand and upper limb pathologies until February 2003 when she and Tania Stephenson opened Hands On Rehabilitation Forrest Hill.

She has been actively involved in teaching on the NZAHT Hand Therapy Training Programme as well as presenting to allied health professions as part of their continuing medical education. Kelly continues to teach and supervise our therapists whilst consulting on complex cases. Her areas of interest and expertise include the wrist, sports injuries and teaching.

Natalie Paynter
Physiotherapist & Hand Therapist
BHSc(Physio), PGCert (acu)
Reg. Hand Therapist

Natalie graduated from AUT in 2002 with a Bachelor in Health Science (Physiotherapy). Natalie then completed the NZAHT run Hand Therapy Training Programme in 2002. In 2007 Natalie successfully completed her Western Acupuncture post graduate module at AUT.

Over the last five years Natalie has been providing both general musculoskeletal physiotherapy and hand therapy services within the private sector. Natalie joined the Hands On team in 2007 and works full time splitting her time between our Albany & Hibiscus Coast clinics.

Alison Coyle
Occupational Therapist & Hand Therapist
BSc(OT), PGD (Western Acupuncture), MHPrac(hons), Reg. Hand Therapist

Alison graduated from the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 1993 with a Degree in Occupational Therapy. Alison was then based in New York and the UK from 1994-1997, working in paediatrics and hand therapy. Choosing to emigrate to NZ in 1998, Alison took a role as Section Head of burns, plastics and hand therapy at Middlemore Hospital, helping plan and develop the growing services there. Alison then moved in to private practice, working and co-partnering a clinic with a hand therapy and vocational rehabilitation focus.

Areas of particular expertise and interest include scar management, paediatrics, congenital hand conditions and vocational rehabilitation. Alison has also maintained a strong presence within the NZAHT; teaching undergraduate occupational therapists and post graduate programmes on hand therapy. Alison has been active within the NZAHT, holding several positions over the past five years.

Donna Hickmott
Physiotherapist and Hand Therapist
Dip Phys, Dip MT, PGD(Manip),
MHPrac (hons), Reg. Hand Therapist

Donna graduated from Auckland Institute of Technology in 1980 and has an impressive knowledge in the musculoskeletal field, gained from working in private practice and teaching at Auckland University of Technology’s School of Physiotherapy. Donna recently completed her PGD in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and during this time developed a real interest in hand therapy. We are lucky to have Donna’s experience at Hands On Rehabilitation, and we support her as she continues to work towards her clinical Masters. She has completed the Hand and Upper limb paper at AUT in 2007 and the Western Acupuncture module in 2008. Donna has a part time clinical load. Donna has a part-time clinical load.

Andrea Moses
Physiotherapist and Hand Therapist
Dip Phys, ADP(OMT), MSc(Med Sci) (hons)
Reg. Hand Therapist

Andrea is a passionate part-time practitioner with more than 20 years experience as a physiotherapist. Hand therapy has been her focus for the past seven years. Andrea is especially interested in the whole upper limb and as a New Zealand Registered Acupuncturist for the past 10 years, has worked with shoulder, elbow and hand injuries, allowing clients to incorporate adjunctive acupuncture into their rehabilitation.

Andrea’s current professional roles include Executive Council Member of the New Zealand College of Physiotherapy, and member of the Education Committee of the New Zealand Association of Hand Therapists. Previous roles have included senior lecturer in Neuroscience, School of Physiotherapy, Auckland University of Technology (12 years part-time combined with private practice), Honorary Editorial Committee NZ Journal of Physiotherapy, and committee member and Chairperson North Shore Branch of the New Zealand Society of Physiotherapists (8 years).

Andrea has two busy sports-mad teenage children and can well understand the significant impact of injuries on children and their sporting commitments. She is a keen runner and tennis player herself and thoroughly enjoys the challenge of rehabilitating clients as quickly as possible so they can regain optimum fitness and resume their sporting and work lives.

Elizabeth (Lilly) Somerfield
Physiotherapist & Hand Therapist
BHSc(Physio), Reg. Hand Therapist

Lilly joined the Hands On team in 2005 on her return from living and working in London. She brings to her clinical practice experience from a wide variety of public health physiotherapy roles since graduating from Auckland University of Technology in 2001 and has a keen enthusiasm for hand injury rehabilitation. She successfully completed a post-graduate paper in Hand and Upper Limb Therapy in 2006. As a former women’s football representative, Lilly also has a keen interest in sporting injuries.

Larissa Fisher
Physiotherapy
BHSc (Physio), MNZAHT

Larissa qualified from Auckland Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy) in 1994. After graduating she worked at Auckland Hospital as a Rotational Physiotherapist, particularly enjoying her work in Orthopaedic Inpatients. Since then she has worked primarily as a physiotherapist in musculoskeletal Private Practice.

Larissa became more fascinated with the rehabilitation of the hand and upper limb after receiving treatment and rehabilitation for her own numerous hand and upper limb injuries she has experienced playing sport, and due to pregnancy.

Larissa has three young children, and therefore works part time for Hands On Rehabilitation. Her keen interest in sport and sporting injuries persists, and she continues to compete in Touch and Netball. In 2008 Larissa completed the Post Graduate Hand and Upper Limb Therapy paper at Auckland University of Technology.

Rachel Lee
Physiotherapist and Hand Therapist
Dip Phys, PGD (manip), Reg. Hand Therapist

Rachel completed her Physiotherapy Diploma at ATI in 1992. She then worked in Wellington and Kenepuru Hospitals, rotating through the various departments. In 1994 she took a position as a senior physiotherapist in Outpatient Orthopaedics. Rachel returned to Auckland working in the private sector as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist whilst undertaking further study, completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Manipulative Therapy in 1998.

Overseas travel and work beckoned and basing herself in London, Rachel worked as a senior physiotherapist at the well respected, Harley St Physiotherapy clinic. Rachel remained here for the next nine years actively participating in courses, workshops and continuing medical education.

Rachel returned home joining the team at Hands On Rehabilitation in 2008. Rachel is a keen road cyclist and has an interest in hand sporting injuries. She is working towards her clinical masters at AUT completing the Hand and Upper Limb module in 2008.

Sue O’Leary
Receptionist / Administration

Sue was born in Liverpool and has lived in various locations throughout the UK before immigrating to New Zealand with her family in January 2004.

Sue has worked predominantly in the primary education sector most recently as a teacher assistant and communication support worker on the North Shore. Sue joined the team at Albany in July 2007, providing full time reception cover and administration services.

Michelle Balderston

Michelle lives with her partner and four sons in Stanmore bay, and has enjoyed residing on the Hibiscus Coast for over 32 years. Michelle and boys enjoy many activities including hot Rods, muscle cars and moto-X. Her business background is in the finance sector and more recently as an administrator with a local sign writing company. She was first introduced to Hands On Rehabilitation as a client after suffering an injury while mountain biking. She joined the Hibiscus Coast Hands On Team in early 2009 as Receptionist/Administrator.

Michelle currently works three days a week in the Hibiscus Coast Clinic and covers reception at Albany on Fridays.