About Sunrise Health

David Sheehan

David is the Practice Manager of Sunrise Health.  David is a clinically trained psychologist with a wealth of experience in working with children and families.  He has a special interest in working with children on the Autism Spectrum .  David has worked with children from respite and foster care, Juvenile Justice, DOCS, DADHC and multiple government funded organizations.

An advocate for the inclusion of the governments FAHSCIA funding package, David has a passion for ensuring families receive every support available. He is a strong supporter against domestic violence and promoter of the white ribbon foundation.

David was a founding member of Beyond Blue's youth advisory committee. He engaged for many years as a speaker and advocate to decrease the stigma associated with child & adolescent mental health.  

David looks forward to each day leading the Sunrise Health team and continuing to provide a high level of child specialist health services. 

Beryl Smith

Beryl is a highly skilled Occupational Therapist completing a B.Sc Degree in Occupational Therapy in 1991. (University of Cape Town in South Africa).  Post Graduate qualifications include Neuro-developmental Therapy and Sensory Integration Therapy.  She owned and managed her own successful Multi-disciplinary Paediatric Private Practice for 10 years in South Africa, before moving to Port Macquarie in 2006.  Beryl has been working at Sunrise Health since 2007. 

Beryl’s special interest is in treating children on the Autism Spectrum as well as multiple learning and physical disabilities.  She is passionate about children and families who take therapy seriously and are able to recognize the benefits of their own hard work when they can do something they were not able to do before.  Beryl has had significant results in therapy using a combination of Sensory Integration, Neuro-Developmental and Early Development treatment approaches that are of particular benefit to each child she sees.  She has also presented group treatment sessions, teacher training and teacher/carer workshops in the past.  Beryl enjoys a multidisciplinary approach to therapy, which fits well with Sunrise Health – thereby utilizing each therapist’s strengths to the benefit of each individual child. 

Alanna Seccombe

Alanna joined the Sunrise Health Team in June 2009 as an Occupational Therapist.  Alanna loves working with children and their families and helping children to reach their highest potential in a fun and caring way.

Alanna holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy) and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in modern languages both from the University of Newcastle, NSW.  Alanna’s studies have also led her to the University of Trier in Germany and worked in Frankfurt as an English and German Teacher. Although Alanna loved working in foreign languages she realised that she was a ‘helper person at heart’ and thus leading to her retraining as an Occupational Therapist in paediatrics.  Her special interest is in working with children on the Autism Spectrum and children with sensory processing challenges. 

Alanna believes laughter, love and fun are the essential ingredients to life and loves working with children and seeing them smile.  Alanna enjoys languages and history, and loves anything outdoors.

Melinda Rogan

Melinda Rogan has worked as a Speech Pathologist for 18 years. She has worked with children with disabilities for most of this time and has developed extensive knowledge and experience with children who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

She has training in a range of therapy approaches and in particular uses a positive behavior approach along with DIR Floortime as a basis for helping children develop their full potential.

Melinda believes having a positive outlook, being healthy and active are important for life balance.

Raelene O'Connor

Raelene O'Connor is the highly skilled Administration Manager at the practice. Raelene has extensive experience in high level tertiary organizations and public relations management. With experience as a student advisor, she brings a passion and commitment to help families easily find direction.

Raelene is the face and first point of contact many families get to know and love here at Sunrise. She is a wealth of knowledge regarding the latest funding and allied health initiatives.

She believes strongly in the success and happiness of not only your family, but the Sunrise family too.