With over 20 years of experience in the disability sector, I began my journey as a support worker and steadily progressed into leadership roles. My career has been driven by a deep commitment to person-centred care and community inclusion. I also bring 5 years of dedicated youth work experience, supporting Indigenous young people and working collaboratively to empower and uplift communities.

Sydney

Peita is a speech pathologist who graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and has worked in the disability sector for the past six years. Her professional journey is grounded in evidence-based practice, shaping a deep passion for empowering individuals through communication and making a positive, lasting impact.

Sydney

Lourda is a dedicated Provisional Psychologist and Behaviour Support Practitioner with a strong academic foundation and diverse experience in mental health and safeguarding. She holds a Bachelor of Psychological Science (UNSW), a Graduate Diploma of Psychology Advanced (Monash), and a Master of Professional Psychology (UNE). Currently, she is advancing her expertise through a Master of Clinical Psychology (Advanced) at UNE.

Lourda brings a wealth of experience from previous roles, including Safeguarding Officer, Junior Behaviour Therapist, and Crisis Support Worker with Lifeline. Her passion lies in supporting individuals through evidence-based interventions, promoting wellbeing, and fostering safe environments for vulnerable communities.

Sydney, Sutherland, and The Illawarra

Sam is a Provisional Psychologist registered with AHPRA and an Associate Member of the Australian Psychological Society. He originally completed a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) in 2016 and worked as a journalist before transitioning into psychology. Sam subsequently completed a Graduate Diploma of Psychology at Monash University in 2023, a Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) at Deakin University in 2024 and is finalising a Master of Professional Psychology at the University of New England in 2025.

Sam has extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector, particularly within OOHC services. He has supported children and young people with a range of mental health concerns and neurodevelopmental conditions, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and mild to moderate disability. His work includes supporting behaviours of concern—such as emotional dysregulation, aggression, and high-risk behaviours—using evidence-based, trauma-informed, and person-centred approaches.

Sam is committed to strengths-based, person-centred care that recognises everyone as more than a diagnosis. His therapeutic style emphasises self-compassion, honest reflection, and collaborative partnership within a safe, respectful, and genuine therapeutic environment.

He is trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and integrates mindfulness, meditation and elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Influenced by clinicians such as Irvin Yalom and Viktor Frankl, Sam plans to pursue further training in existential and psychodynamic therapies to support clients seeking clarity, purpose and meaning.

Sydney

Dhanshri (Dhana) is qualified mental health professional with a Master’s degree In Psychology (Clinical-Neuro) and Post grad Diploma in Health Psychology, experience supporting individuals with disabilities, psychosocial needs and developmental conditions. She brings a holistic and personal centred approach to her role as a behaviour support practitioner, using evidence-based strategies including cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)Trauma informed practice and positive behaviour support.

With a background in mental health and wellness coaching, Dhanshri brings a unique holistic perspective to her role with a strong focus on goal setting, capacity building and maintaining the dignity of each person she supports.

Dhanshri is committed to continuous learning and deeply values the insight gained from every client and families she works with.

Sydney

Shannon is an experienced professional in the Child Protection field, boasting four years of dedicated service, including three years with the Department of Community Services (QLD) and one year with AXIA Solutions, working directly with FACS (NSW). She has also completed significant work experience, totalling 950 hours at Child Safety (QLD) and 1,000 hours at Moving Forward (Domestic Violence, NSW). Shannon holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Griffith University and is currently a Behavioural Support Practitioner, where she applies her extensive background and training to support individuals.

Sydney

Currently in the midst of completing my Bachelor of Psychology (honours) at Macquarie University. Liam previously worked as a disability support worker for over 2 years, specifically working with participants with autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. Liam joined the team in mid 2023 as a Behaviour Support Practitioner.

Sydney

Natasha has a passion for helping others and has always been interested in human behaviour and mental health.Natasha is a qualified Behaviour Support Practitioner and also continues to expand her qualifications, currently studying Bachelor of Psychological Science and Counselling.After joining Interaction in 2016 her dedication and passion has enabled her to obtain a wide range of knowledge and experience within the organisation. Natasha has been working within the allied health team for a number of years now and is a valued member of the team.

Macarthur and the Illawarra

Jessica has a Bachelor of Psychological Science from the Australian College of Applied Psychology. Jessica provides person-centred services to participants with a wide variety of diagnoses. Within the BAHS team, Jessica’s key responsibilities are conducting behavioural assessments and reports, providing positive behaviour support strategies and plans and clinical consultation with key stakeholders.

Sydney and the Illawarra

Giselle is a Registered Psychologist with AHPRA, an Associate Member of the Australian Psychological Society and has over 10 years of experience working with people with disability. She completed her Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) in 2008, and her Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology in 2009, at the University of Western Sydney. She is also recognised with AHPRA as a Board Approved Supervisor for Provisional Psychologists. Giselle is also a certified CPI Safety Intervention Instructor and CPI Dementia Capable Care Instructor.

Giselle has worked with a wide range of complex clients with varying diagnoses such as Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Intellectual Disabilities (mild to severe), Mental Health and Psychiatric Disorders. Challenging behaviours is an area of interest to Giselle, with her experiencing relating to complex trauma, self-injurious behaviours, communicative difficulties, aggressive behaviours, and contact with the criminal justice system. Giselle has completed Functional Behaviour Assessments, Psychometric Assessments, implemented Positive Behaviour Support Models, developed and conducted various training for carers, staff, support workers and other stakeholders as well as implemented evidence-based interventions including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Person-Centred Interventions with both children and adults.

Giselle has a passion for supporting individuals with disabilities, dual diagnoses trauma background and involvement in the criminal justice system well as their stakeholders in order to improve their quality of life.

Natasha Tmusic

Sydney and Central Coast

Natasha began her career at Interaction a number of years ago as a support worker, working in direct support and gradually moving through a number of our high support programs. Natasha has extensive training and experience in working with a wide range of people with disability, and in particular those with PWS. Originally commenced a Bachelor of Medical Science and Bachelor of Social Science, Natasha discovered a passion for neuroscience, behavioural and cognitive sciences and psychology. This led Natasha to her current studies, a double degree at Macquarie University (Bachelor of Neuroscience and Bachelor of Psychology). In her current role within the BAHS team, Natasha’s key responsibilities include conducting behavioural assessments and reports, providing positive behaviour strategies and plans, training and implementation support and clinical consultation with key stakeholders.

Central Coast and Newcastle

Merrin is a qualified Behaviour Support Practitioner with a Bachelor of Education and is registered with NESA. After a 24-year teaching career and working extensively to support children with disabilities in the classroom, she has decided to follow her passion to work directly with participants and their families to achieve their goals in their homes and the community.

She is particularly interested in ADHD, ASD, Cerebral Palsy and disability. Merrin is deeply committed to enhancing the quality of life for children and young people with disabilities by collaborating closely with their families and stakeholders.

Central Coast

Samantha has been a member of Interaction since 2011 and holds a Bachelor of Arts with an extended major in Psychology from the University of Queensland. Prior to joining the BAHS team in 2022, Samantha worked in other areas of Interaction including senior management, before following her passion to work with participants and their families to achieve their goals.

Samantha is a qualified Behaviour Support Practitioner who has recently completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in Positive Behaviour Support.

Central Coast

Helen has been an invaluable member of the Interaction team for more than 20 years. She has worked across several programs including accommodation, community and clinical settings which have provided a broad knowledge of the support networks surrounding her participants. Helen holds a BA in Community Welfare, and BA Honours 1st Class in Social Science. Her passion of working with families, particularly parents with disability inspired her research on ‘Parents with Intellectual Disability and the Child Protection Process’. Helen is a qualified Behaviour Support Practitioner who has recently completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in Positive Behaviour Support. Being able to work as a team with participants and their support networks is what Helen loves most about her role.

Newcastle

Kimberly is a registered Psychologist who has been with Interaction since 2015. Individual and group therapy, supporting families, staff teams and other stakeholders, along with positive behaviour support strategies is what Kimberly’s role involves on a regular basis.

Kimberly is a registered Parenting Facilitator with ‘Circle of Security’ – a research based program focusing on the relationship between children and their parents, and how strengthening this connection can increase emotional security.She is consistently learning from peers and clients, and loves the variety of people she comes into contact with.

Kimberly has previously worked in the NFP sector in both youth homelessness and disability.

Anthony brings over a decade of leadership experience in the disability and mental health sectors, with a key focus on Supported Independent Living (SIL). He began his career as a support worker and progressed into leadership roles, growing organically within the industry. His approach is grounded, collaborative, and centred on empowering participants and supporting staff to thrive.

Anthony is passionate about NDIS compliance, restrictive practice governance, and service quality—viewing these as part of a holistic approach to safe, effective, and person-centred services. He is committed to continuously developing his own practice and embedding that growth into the systems, culture, and day-to-day operations of the services he leads.

Jessica’s journey into the disability/aged care sector began with the desire to make meaningful difference in the lives of others. Her motivation was her passion for equality and the importance of supporting people with disability/aged care to stay engaged and independent with their everyday living. She felt that by stepping into this role at Interaction, she can dedicate her time to empower individuals and help overcome any challenges and provide resources and supports to promote independent living to ensure quality of life for our participants.

Aleksija started her career as a Children Services Educator shortly moving into the role as a Nominated Supervisor. After over three years in the Children Services Industry she took a short break and started with Interaction in 2019 as a Social Educator. Within that time, she moved into the role of Key Worker and now into her current role of Direct Support Coordinator. Aleksija loves working in partnership with families and participants and finds it most rewarding when individuals are able to achieve their goals. Being a part of someone’s journey and impacting their lives in a positive way gives her a great sense of accomplishment and joy. 

Emma Hankinson has lived in Sydney for the past four years, having grown up in Port Stephens. She has six years of experience in the community services sector, working across aged care and support work. Emma holds a Diploma in Community Services, a Certificate IV in Mental Health, and a Certificate III in Individual Support.

She enjoys going to the gym, spending time with friends and family and reading. Emma has a strong passion for mental health and has previously worked in mental health support roles, specifically supporting participants with psychological conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Sally moved to Australia from Kenya at the age of 19, driven by a passion to make a difference. Initially, Sally began studying business management but soon discovered her true calling in human services. After completing a Bachelor’s degree in Community Services, she jumped straight into the NDIS sector. Her career started as an Employment Coach before transitioning into Support Coordination. She loves a good chat, enjoys hiking when the weather is kind, and considers cooking one of her favourite pastimes.

Carina started her career in the disability sector as a support worker over 5 years ago, moving into a management position within the first year. Carina is passionate about Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities advocating for those she supports, and is currently working as a Support Coordinator with Interaction. She has a strong background in high intensity physical supports and supported accommodation, as that is where her journey in the disability space started. Carina is excited to see the positive changes she can make at Interaction through providing increased opportunities. 

With nine years’ experience as a dedicated Support Coordinator, Celeste has worked extensively across both New South Wales and rural Victoria, advocating for and empowering NDIS participants to achieve their goals. She is particularly proud of her work in rural Victoria, supporting Aboriginal participants, young people experiencing unemployment, and single mothers raising children with disabilities to access vital services and supports.

Celeste’s practice is grounded in trauma-informed principles and a deep commitment to cultural safety, inclusion, and the highest quality standards that govern the NDIS. She is passionate about building strong, respectful relationships with participants, families, and communities, and strives to ensure every client’s voice is heard and their rights are upheld.

She brings a wealth of experience in navigating complex systems, breaking down barriers to service access, and fostering genuine collaboration between participants, service providers, and community networks.

Luna has been an NDIS Support Coordinator since 2020, following over a decade of experience as an educator. She has supported high-intensity participants with a broad range of mental and physical disabilities, as well as diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Holding a Master of Education and a Diploma of Community Services, she provides high-quality, person-centred support grounded in both academic knowledge and practical expertise. Luna is committed to helping participants access the right services, achieve meaningful goals, and empower them through greater choice and control. 

Tatenda is a dedicated Support Coordinator, specialising in children on the NDIS, Autism and Prader-Willi. She loves helping participants reach their goals and seeing them thrive. Personal experience with people with disability gives her the drive to work hard for her participants.

Graham started with Interaction in 2018 after spending most of his career in the health and medical devices industry. Of his current role as Support Coordinator, Graham says, “seeing those around me smile and watching them build confidence and skills is a huge motivator for me. I’m inspired by the determination and enthusiasm of those who trust me to take care of their well-being, and I love seeing them succeed.  I’m proud to work with a team of Support Coordination experts who are genuinely people-focused and foster a great culture of helping everyone around them.”

Megan brings over 10 years of experience in the disability industry, starting as a support worker and advancing through various roles including local area coordinator, team leader, service manager, operations manager, and case manager. She holds a Diploma in Community Services and an Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management.

Taylor has worked in the disability sector for over 5 years, starting her career as a Support Worker and now working as Senior Specialist Support Coordinator with Interaction. Taylor’s work experience is primarily working with complex mental health and complex high physical support needs. She is passionate about assisting her participants get the most out of life and helping them achieve their life goals. Taylor believes working in disability services is one of the most rewarding experiences in her life.

Khushbu (Kay) Desai holds a Master’s in Social Work and began her career in the sector in 2019 as an international student. She quickly transitioned into the role of Manager for the Step-Up Step-Down program, funded by the ACT Government. Over time, she gained valuable experience as a House Manager, managing clients with mental health disabilities. Currently, she is expanding her knowledge and experience by working with individuals who have support needs, specifically PWS clients.

Jasmine has worked in the disability sector for more than 13 years, with experience in supporting babies and children, one-to-one support work and in-home care. Since working at Interaction, Jasmine has supported participants across various accommodation facilities, however her training has provided her with specialised knowledge of PWS. Prior to stepping into her current role of Accommodation Manager, Jasmine was Acting House Manager for a PWS-specific home. In addition to a Cert III in Children’s Services, Cert III in Assistant Nursing, Jasmine is currently studying a Cert IV in Disability.

Emma is an experienced leader and project manager with qualifications in business and leadership. With over 9 years of experience in the disability sector, Emma began her career in a facilities role, managing day to day operations, driving business growth, and leading project teams for new establishments. Her portfolio included residential sites, health services, and office properties. Emma then transitioned into a Practice Manger role at Head to Health, where she managed the day-to-day operations of the practice.