Get To Know Jameela Walker

Occupational Therapist and Owner at Empowering Kids Therapy, and Owner of Bright Patch Café Pty Ltd

Fast Facts

Star Sign: Cusp: Capricorn and Aquarius

Favourite Colour: Purple

Best Holiday Destination: Singapore

Music You Love: Taylor Swift, Pop Music and Musical Theatre

What You Love To Watch: Show - Home and Away / Movie - Wicked

Inspirational Quote:  “To create is to step into wonder, and to thrive is to invite others in.”

Jameela Walker is equal parts Occupational Therapist and business owner. She is the imaginative force behind the upcoming Empowering Kids Therapy clinic and the Bright Patch Café. Both will be vibrant spaces that celebrate inclusion, creativity and connection in the heart of the Whitsundays.

As a child, Jameela loved to act and dance, she performed with the SBS Children’s Choir and Orchestra, studied cello and drama, and dove headfirst into the world of performance with boundless enthusiasm. That love of the stage never really left; it simply transformed. These days, instead of centre stage, she shines behind the scenes, creating environments where kids and families can find their own spotlight.

“Empowering Kids Therapy is about supporting kids and families to be their best authentic selves through functional skill development by using an Occupational Therapy Lens,” Jameela said.

Empowering Kids Therapy clinic was born from Jameela’s personal passion and deep desire to make a difference. She wanted to empower children and families to celebrate their differences.  

Empowering Kids Therapy will boast an indoor and outdoor sensory gym where children can explore, play, and thrive, rain or shine.

But her creativity didn’t stop there.

If Empowering Kids is the heart, Bright Patch Café is the soul. Inspired by the playful spirit of Alice in Wonderland, the café is a family-friendly haven where good food meets feel-good vibes.  

“I wanted to create an inclusive space for the community to eat, play and thrive whilst enjoying a fun and bright atmosphere,” Jameela added.

She’s also no stranger to giving back, supporting causes close to her heart, including MND and cancer foundations, and lending a hand in the community whenever possible.

“I think of life as a bit of an adventure,” she reflects.  

“Building Empowering Kids Therapy and Bright Patch Café has been the most life-changing adventure of all.

“I wanted to craft a place where every family could step out of the ordinary and into a world where curiosity is celebrated, difference is beautiful, and everyone belongs.”

Bright Patch Café will open end of July / early August 2025 at 22 Main Street, Proserpine  and Empowering Kids Therapy clinic will open early next year or late 2025 at Bright Patch Café as an ‘extra’ in the back yard.

What’s your go-to coffee order?

“My coffee order is a barista’s nightmare: Cappuccino, warm, coconut milk, half strength and honey.”

What’s next for Bright Patch Café, and how does it align with your future and values?

“We will be hosting events and already have a number of prearranged bookings. We aim to connect Empowering Kids Therapy and Bright Patch Café as one for our junior hospitality program we may launch in 2026.”

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