About Katie CLeary ( Ocean Kids health)
Katie Cleary
Paediatric Physiotherapist B.Physiotherapy | APA Titled Paediatric Physiotherapist | APAM Pronouns: she/her
Katie Cleary is a Titled Paediatric Physiotherapist and Director of Ocean Kids Health, a private allied health service supporting babies, children and adolescents in Victoria.
Katie has a special interest in Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD), hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and paediatric joint hypermobility. She has over 16 years of experience working with infants, children and young people with hypermobility and complex needs across both public and private settings.
Her interest in hypermobility began early in her career while working with young dancers and athletes at Dance Medicine Australia. Katie also brings lived experience, having been diagnosed with HSD at age 25. This personal and professional perspective gives her a deep understanding of the physical and emotional challenges faced by children and families living with hypermobility and other invisible illnesses.
Katie is passionate about improving recognition, early diagnosis and care pathways for children with hypermobility. She is a member of the Paediatric Working Group with the International EDS Consortium and contributed to the development of the 2023 International Diagnostic Criteria for Paediatric Joint Hypermobility. She regularly presents and lectures for national professional bodies including the Australian Physiotherapy Association and Exercise & Sport Science Australia, and presented at the EDS Global Learning Conference in Brisbane in 2025. Katie also provides mentoring to allied health professionals in paediatric physiotherapy.
Services at Ocean Kids Health
Ocean Kids Health provides comprehensive, child- and family-centred care tailored to each child’s strengths, goals, and individual needs. We take a neuroaffirming, strengths-based approach and recognise the close relationship between hypermobility, pain, autonomic dysfunction, and neurodivergence.
Our team supports children and young people with:
• Hypermobility, HSD and hEDS
• Persistent and recurrent pain
• Fatigue and differences in energy and endurance
• POTS and related autonomic symptoms
• Coordination differences and motor skill development needs
• Joint instability and recurrent injuries
• Neurodivergence
• Complex and often invisible health conditions
Services include:
- Comprehensive paediatric physical assessments and diagnoses
- Individualised physiotherapy programs
- Pain education and pain management strategies
- Fatigue management and pacing support
- Strength and stability training
- Clinical exercise physiology
- Hydrotherapy
- Group therapy programs – Kids Pilates
- Telehealth consultations
Ocean Kids team are committed to helping children build strength, body awareness, confidence and participation so they can engage fully in school, sport and everyday life.
Referrals and bookings can be made via Ocean Kids Health: