The VNTA Executive Team

The VNT Association is governed by an executive committee of nominated therapists from across New Zealand to ensure regional representation. The committee comprises of the following designated positions, a President, Secretary and Treasurer. Additional executive committee members support the overall governance of the association and assist in regional representation.

Cheree Taylor

Waitemata Te Whatu Ora

Child Development Service West Auckland

The President

Cheree has worked as a visiting neurodevelopmental therapist for 12 years, across three District Health Boards including Gisborne hospital, Waikato hospital and Waitakere hospital. She qualified as a physiotherapist in South Africa at Wits University 2007. She has been living and working in New Zealand since 2010.

cheree.taylor@waitematadhb.govt.nz

Beth Robertson

Te Whatu Ora

Lakes District

The Secretary

Beth has been working in Paediatrics for 9 years across a range of settings including special school, child development team and special care baby unit contexts. She has been working as a neurodevelopmental therapist for the last 4 years. She is passionate about supporting children in the 'first 1000 days' of their life. She is a qualified Occupational Therapist and grew up in South Africa.

beth.robertson@lakesdhb.govt.nz

Toni Comber

Te Whatu Ora

Starship Community

The Treasurer

Toni Comber graduated as a Physiotherapist in 2012 in South Africa, and began her paediatric physiotherapy journey in New Zealand 2 years later. She has worked in a variety of community and hospital settings in Auckland, and is currently a VNT/Physiotherapist in Starship Community and Auckland City Hospital NICU. She has a passion for family and child lead care, and for supporting families in the early years.

tbethwaite@adhb.govt.nz

Support that VNT can provide

Family Support & Intervention

VNT’s support families to identify their goals for their child and provide intervention that meets their individual needs.

Guidance on Positioning, Handling, & Play

They provide families and caregivers advice on positioning, handling and use of play to enhance developmental progress.

Understanding Child Sensitivities

Assist families and caregivers to understand their baby’s/child’s sensitivities in order to help them to regulate.

Daily Activity Support

Provide assessment and provision of equipment or positioning advice to support daily activities e.g. – feeding, play, personal cares, standing, mobility, sleeping, transport.