About Us

About our Team

The Tobruk Centre team is made up of passionate, local people; health professionals who are based right here on the Eyre Peninsula.

We understand where you live and there’s a good chance you’ve already bumped into us at your child’s school or in the community. 

We work with organisations across the Eyre Peninsula and across SA to help your child access the services and care that is just right for them. 

Our team includes speech pathologists, occupational therapists, a youth development practitioner, psychologist and an allied health assistant. 

Families feel at home when they come to Tobruk Centre. Our space is friendly and warm, with comfortable consulting rooms, space for a cuppa and a chat, and a great outdoor area in the fresh air for those kids who just need to move.  

Meet the Team

What can Tobruk Centre help with?

Our mission is to help build the capacity of kids and their families. 

We know that word means different things to different people, but for us here at Tobruk Centre, building capacity might look like a child learning to write their name. Or a young person who learns to use their voice. Or a teen who can set their own goal and achieve it. Or a parent who feels empowered to go to their child’s school and advocate on their behalf. 

We love working with kids. We can’t wait to get to know your child, to find out their unique superpowers and to work together to support their growth.

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Meet Our Team

  • A smiling woman with shoulder-length gray hair, wearing a blue top and earrings, sitting outdoors by a pond or stream, blowing bubbles with a bubble wand.

    Michelle de la Perrelle


    Speech Pathologist

    Michelle created Tobruk Centre over a decade ago. After more than 15 years working as a Speech Pathologist within the public health system, Michelle longed to be able to do things differently and to put kids at the centre of decision making.   

    Michelle loves helping families find ways to communicate with and better understand their young autistic person and is happiest when she is blowing bubbles with a child as she fosters a strong relationship to help them. Her wisdom is shared with compassion and understanding; Michelle believes in building a better, more supportive community.

  • A smiling woman with long dark hair, wearing a pink sweater and a colorful scarf, sitting on the floor at a table with toys, holding an open booklet.

    Lisa Boyce

    Speech Pathologist

    Lisa loves nothing more than a busy day of play-based therapy sessions, working together with families to help kids interact and communicate with the people around them. Lisa has been a speech pathologist for more than 20 years, and we’re lucky to have had here with us at Tobruk for 10 of those.

    Lisa loves the precious moments when she gets to see a child communicate something to their family for the first time or learn a new skill they’ve been working hard on.

  • A woman with glasses, wearing a dark green blouse, sitting outdoors on a rock, holding a plush stuffed toy and reading a children's book with a frog illustration. There is a beige wall and red-orange flowers in the background.

    Sharyn Laube

    Speech Pathologist

    Sharyn loves what she does and has almost 10 years of experience. She loves hearing children say new words for the first time, or seeing the joy from a parent or caregiver when a child is able to communicate meaningfully with them as a result of the work they’ve done at Tobruk.

    Sharyn’s superpower is in helping children learn challenging new skills in fun and engaging ways.

  • A smiling woman in a green floral dress with a name tag, playing a board game with colorful pieces at a table.

    Jade Cooney

    Speech Pathologist

    Jade is a Graduate Speech Pathologist here at Tobruk. She loves spending time with a range of different kids, working on speech using games, learning about language through books and reading, and learning ways to communicate with their peers.

    Jade loves the days when she gets to see kids get excited and grow in confidence because they’ve learned a new sound, or found their voice to ask a friend if they can join in with a game.

  • A young woman with dark hair, wearing a black shirt and beige pants, sitting at a table with a large mouth model with teeth and tongue, smiling at the camera. There is a colorful painting on the beige wall behind her and a green plant to the right.

    Lauren Hoopmann

    Speech Pathologist

    Lauren joined the Tobruk Team in 2025. She brings a friendly warmth that families find supportive. A great day involves laughter with clients and colleagues, chocolate, and helping clients kick their goals in a fun and joyful manner. A good day also is filled with mess – whether that be a bunch of toys that have enjoyed being played with, speech cards scattered around the therapy room, or bubble mixture spilt on the floor; it’s in those times you know that fun has happened. Lauren is passionate about partnering with families, listening to their expertise, and supporting them to achieve meaningful, everyday goals.

  • Woman sitting on the floor surrounded by toy farm animals and a toy truck, wearing a gray sweater with pink polka dots and a striped shirt underneath.

    Petrea Glover

    Occupational Therapist

    Every day is different for Petrea, whose 35+ years of industry experience brings enormous depth to our team. Petrea loves the privilege of working with kids and their families and building relationship of trust and care – and usually with a fair bit of fun involved for the kids and adults alike.

    The best days are the ones when Petrea bumps into a young person she has worked with in the past, and they have blossomed into an amazing teenager or young adult.

  • A smiling woman wearing a black sleeveless top and a name tag holding colorful gift boxes in a room.

    Charlotte Illman

    Occupational Therapist

    Incorporating each individual child’s interests into their therapy is Charlotte’s speciality - she’s finding herself learning a lot about Minecraft, Sonic, Pokemon and Paw Patrol, just to name a few!

    Charlotte loves helping young people’s skills develop and grow, seeing them meet challenges like starting school, learning to write, making progress with toileting, or finding the confidence to join in socially.

  • Woman with short gray hair smiling, wearing a beige hoodie and necklaces, sitting on a gray couch, reaching for photos on a table.

    Chelsea Franks

    Youth Development Practitioner

    Chelsea is a skilled and experienced Youth Practitioner who loves providing a space for kids to feel safe, respected and heard - and always with a few laughs along the way.

    After more than five years at Tobruk, Chelsea has loved helping young people build their independence, put aside self-doubt and do things they never thought possible; join the workforce, have their first sleepover or go on school camp, even graduate from school.

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    Amie Taylor

    Office Manager

    Amie has been with us more than three years and helps keep everything running smoothly. 

    A good day for Amie includes a positive atmosphere, good communication and good coffee!

  • Meg Pittaway

    Meg Pittaway

    Clinical Psychologist
    (Currently on Maternity Leave)

    With experience in private practice in Adelaide, Port Pirie and now the Eyre Peninsula, Meg has been a practicing psychologist for more than seven years.

    Meg works with young people to build strong relationships over time, tuning into their communication style to help them express themselves in a way that feels right for them.