Jess Rodgers

Growing up in a small town, I often encountered the challenges of limited resources and a shortage of health professionals available to support both parents and children. It was disheartening to see families struggle to find the support they needed. As I embarked on my journey as an Occupational Therapist, I realised that many of these families simply needed extra tools in their toolkit and a supportive person offering a fresh perspective and guidance.

Childhood is a pivotal time for foundational skills development—emotional, motor, and social. Balancing these stages of development with the demands of work, relationships, and everyday life can often feel overwhelming. This is where my passion lies: providing both clinical and emotional support. From this passion, My Essence and the foundation for Explore and Soar were born.

As I approached high school graduation and considered my future, I realised my purpose — I didn’t want other children to experience the same uncertainty that I did.  I wanted to ensure that children had access to services that would equip them with the skills needed to grow into capable and supportive parents themselves. This led me to pursue a degree in Occupational Therapy, focusing on paediatrics, graduating from Charles Sturt University in 2012.

After several years of honing my skills in various Occupational Therapy practices, I took the exciting leap of founding Explore and Soar in 2018.

At Explore and Soar, our mission is simple and clear: to provide high-quality, evidence-based practices to clients and their families in communities of all sizes! Every child deserves the opportunity to access services that support independence and success, every day, with joy.

With a strong focus on rural areas, we create opportunities for Occupational Therapists to return to smaller communities, fostering career development while improving access to essential services for clients and their families.

Currently, Explore and Soar operates in three regions:

• Hunter Valley – From Newcastle to Muswellbrook/Scone

• Upper Blue Mountains & Surrounds – Katoomba to Lithgow and Bathurst

• Tamworth/Gunnedah

In addition to our core services, we’re committed to sharing knowledge through face-to-face and online workshops. My goal is to empower children and adults to feel secure in their identities, express themselves freely, and actively contribute to their communities. Together, we can help shape a generation equipped with the emotional and social skills essential for thriving in an ever-changing world.