Meet Simon
Principal Occupational Therapist and Clinical Psychology Researcher
Simon Gao provides occupational therapy for individuals whose daily life is affected by complex functional, psychosocial, neurological, pain, sensory or disability-related needs.
Occupational therapy background
Simon is an occupational therapist registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), with more than 10 years of clinical experience across complex physical, neurological and psychosocial presentations.
At Compassionally™ Occupational Therapy, his work focuses on the way health needs affect function, participation, routines, relationships, environments and meaningful activity.
Education and research
- Master of Occupational Therapy, Curtin UniversityNeuropsychiatry stream
- Bachelor of Psychology with Honours, Curtin University
- Master of Applied Psychology (Professional), Murdoch UniversityDisability stream
- Doctoral candidate, Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology, Murdoch University
His clinical psychology research and education inform occupational therapy reasoning where relevant to everyday function, participation and support needs.
Clinical focus areas
- Complex physical, neurological and psychosocial presentations
- Neurological rehabilitation and neuropsychiatry
- Persistent pain and functional recovery
- Psychosocial disability and complex mental health needs
- Positive Behaviour Support experience
- Assistive technology, education and research experience
Working style
Simon begins with what the person would like understood and how everyday life is being affected now.
His occupational therapy perspective considers the body, inner experience, routines, relationships, culture, environment, communication style and the activities that matter.
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