Shaping Change That Lasts
At CoForward, we believe the way you spend your time at work, in study, and in daily life can build your wellbeing, not drain it. People are shaped by how they interact with the world around them: the systems, routines, cultures, and roles they are part of. Our work aims to create the conditions that make it possible to participate fully, feel well, and do meaningful work.
We help people and organisations make practical changes that work.
Libby & Wilbur
Meet Libby
Libby English
Managing Director & Principal Occupational Therapist
- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
- Master of Public Health
- Certified Meditation Instructor
- Member of Occupational Therapy Australia
Hi, I'm Libby, the occupational therapist behind CoForward.
I started CoForward after almost 20 years working in the public sector across clinical, management, and senior leadership roles. Over that time, I worked alongside individuals, teams, and systems trying to do their best when things are harder than they needed to be. Sometimes the hard comes from the systems we live and work in. The expectations, policies, cultures, and structures that quietly shape our days. Sometimes it's about the habits, beliefs, and patterns we've developed to survive those systems.
I'm passionate about making things easier at both levels. We all have the capacity to live, learn and work well.
My work is not about “fixing” you. You don't need a cure, and I won't pretend to sell you one. Instead, I offer thoughtful, practical support to help you do life in ways that feel more sustainable.
Sometimes that looks like:
- learning new skills
- little tweaks to your routines
- understanding yourself better
- building strategies that genuinely fit
- adjusting the systems around you
- creating space to rest or recover.
Often, it begins with reconnecting with what matters most.
That's why I choose this work.
A Little More About Me
What calms my nervous system
Humming or singing. I'm quite sensitive to smell, so I keep my spaces fragrance-free.
I'm unlearning
That I need to be productive to have worth.
Me as emojis
🤓🫀🐨🧶🪻✨
Favourite weather
A rainy, cool day.
My hyper-fixation food
Currently, soft pretzels. I make them from scratch. Totally worth it.
Our Values
Co: Together
We work with people, not on them. Collaboration, respect, and shared decision-making sit at the heart of everything we do. We see people's dignity, strengths, and capacity. Change works best when it's shaped side by side.
Forward: Practical & Purposeful
We will work with you on what matters to you. Our work is guided by your goals and values, not assumptions about what “should” matter. Every step is evidence-informed and grounded in real life.
What We Bring
We bring together experience in system-level reform and day-to-day practice to help people and organisations create change that works in real life.
- Understanding of legal and systemic drivers such as WHS psychosocial obligations and the DDA, with solutions that are ethical, sustainable, and effective
- Support at two levels:
- Individual level - building skills and strategies to respond to your own needs and work in ways that fit you
- Systems level - reshaping routines, roles, and cultures so people can work well without burning out
- A collaborative way of working. We work alongside you to co-create solutions that fit your context and goals
- A practice grounded in integrity, curiosity, and practical action, because support leads to better outcomes
Publications
Selected peer-reviewed and academic contributions.
Unwin K., Wales K., Johnson T., Leonard C., Dixon G., English L., & Lane A. (2024). Evidence Synthesis and Clinical Recommendations for Supporting School Students With Sensory Processing Challenges: A Rapid Review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78(6). doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050766
Tancredi, H., Dixon, G., English, L. & Gallagher, J. (2024). Collaborating with colleagues and other professionals. In L. Graham (Ed.), Inclusive Education for the 21st Century: Theory, Policy and Practice (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Tancredi, H., Dixon, G., English, L. & Gallagher, J. (2020). Interprofessional collaboration in schools. In L. Graham (Ed.), Inclusive Education for the 21st Century: Theory, Policy and Practice. Allen & Unwin.
Why Work With Us
Better ways of working and living are possible. People do their best when the work, roles, and systems around them work too.
Acknowledgement of Country
CoForward acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands we live and work on, the Turrbal and Jagera people of Meanjin. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. We recognise the knowledge, strength, and deep connection to Country that First Nations peoples hold.
CoForward is committed to learning and working in ways that support cultural safety and inclusion.
Ready to Move Forward?
Let's explore how we can support you or your organisation in creating
better ways of working and living.