Helen McDougall

Meet Helen

Clinical Lead & Occupational Therapist

(Across The Lifespan & NDIS Lead)

Great match for:

  • NDIS participants requiring high-quality Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs)
  • Individuals needing SIL or Independent Living Assessments
  • Adolescents and adults requiring complex disability support
  • Participants wanting an experienced Occupational Therapist with strong clinical knowledge
  • Individuals requiring orthopaedic rehabilitation or oedema management support
  • Families wanting a warm, highly experienced, and collaborative clinician

Looking for an experienced Occupational Therapist who combines clinical expertise with genuine warmth and high-quality NDIS knowledge? Helen is one of the leading clinicians behind the quality of care at Nourished Not Deprived.

Helen is the Lead Occupational Therapist and Assessment Quality Control Officer at Nourished Not Deprived. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy from the Western Sydney University in 2010, Helen has built over a decade of experience across aged care, orthopaedic rehabilitation, community settings, and the NDIS sector.

Helen has a strong passion for supporting individuals to improve independence, functional capacity, and quality of life while ensuring participants receive thorough, clinically sound, and meaningful assessments and recommendations.

Helen has extensive experience supporting individuals experiencing:

  • Complex disability and functional support needs
  • Reduced independence in daily living activities
  • Physical disabilities and mobility challenges
  • Orthopaedic rehabilitation needs
  • Functional decline and ageing-related presentations
  • Psychosocial and NDIS-related support needs
  • Lymphedema and chronic oedema management
  • Capacity-building and independent living challenges
  • SIL and SDA-related support requirements
  • Complex functional and environmental needs

Helen supports individuals using:

  • Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs)
  • Supported Independent Living (SIL) Assessments
  • Independent Living Assessments (ILAs)
  • Assistive Technology (AT) recommendations
  • Capacity-building interventions
  • Orthopaedic rehabilitation approaches
  • Functional rehabilitation strategies
  • Collaborative multidisciplinary care
  • Evidence-based occupational therapy interventions

A major part of Helen’s role involves overseeing the quality of Functional Capacity Assessments completed within the practice. Through detailed quality control reviews and supervision of less experienced clinicians, Helen plays a vital role in supporting the growth of the NND team while helping ensure participants receive high-quality, evidence-based recommendations and reports.

Helen is known for her warm, bubbly, and approachable nature. Rapport building is at the centre of her work, and she places a strong emphasis on ensuring participants feel comfortable, respected, and genuinely supported throughout the therapy and assessment process.

Her colleagues describe her as an incredible mentor, a thoughtful clinician, and someone deeply committed to improving outcomes for both participants and the wider team.

Outside of work, Helen values spending quality time with her loved ones — reflecting the same warmth, compassion, and balance she brings into her professional life every day.

STAFF (48)

Meet other team members

Spoorthi Animated Photo

Speech Pathologist

Spoorthi
Speech & Language Development - Children & Teens
Warren Image

Support Worker - Newcastle

Warren
Calm, Good Listener & Down To Earth
Rebekah Image

Support Worker - Maitland

Rebekah
Kind, Compassionate & Proactive
STAFF 2

Support Worker - Central Coast

Paige
Engaging & Great with Children
STAFF 17

Accredited Practising Dietitian

Charlotte O’Kane
Children & Teenagers
STAFF (20)

Psychologist & Behavioural Support Practitioner

Shannon Wrigley
Complex Behaviours Across The Life Span

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