Our Team
Who We Are
Jennifer Kaess
Occupational Therapist
Jen has been practicing Hand therapy for more than 26 years. She has achieved the highest clinical recognition of her skills by achieving Accredited Hand Therapy status (AHTA) and the internationally recognised Certified Hand Therapy designation (USA). She is passionate about working with her patients to achieve their goals in a compassionate and connected, evidence based way.
She is a master at keeping you chatting and distracted while working on your hand and arm. She sustained a serious wrist fracture when she was living and working as a Hand Therapist in the USA. This has given her a unique perspective of the anxiety, pain, frustration and need for patience, that an injury to the hand means in your life.
Jen enjoys teaching and mentoring others and is excited to get into the community to help promote hand health and injury management.
When not at work, Jen enjoys cooking for her family and friends. You will often find home-made treats at Restore, for all to enjoy. She wishes she had more time for pottery and loves to travel, but Ballarat will always be her home.
Emma Allan
Occupational Therapist
Emma joined the Restore team in 2022 and brings with her a wealth of experience in community, aged care and neurological OT.
She has had a passion for hand therapy for 10 years and loving working with clients with hand and upper limb injuries.
Emma and her family have been living in Ballarat for 15 years, growing up in Daylesford she is a local through and through.
Emma is particularly passionate about managing trauma, wound care and sports injuries as well as cumulative trauma from overuse and degeneration.
She has completed a 12-month Hand Therapy intensive program and several of the key, assessed courses towards her AHT certification to keep her skills on the cutting edge of research and progress.
She loves making creative custom-made splints and working with her patients to get the best solution to get over the injury while continuing to participate in usual life including sport, work and recreation.
Emma is highly experienced at work site assessment which we can now offer at Restore for our clients.
In her spare time, you can find Emma at the gym or enjoying her young family out and about in Ballarat.
Emma Is working Tuesdays to Fridays at Restore.
