Our Team

Christine has a special interest in complex communication needs and assistive technology. She has worked in Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Central Western NSW with children and adults with speech, language and/or learning difficulties and with students with complex needs since 1991. Christine has consulted extensively with local schools to provide education about speech and language disorder, whole class/whole school resources and strategies for curriculum access and engagement as part of funded projects with the NSW Department of Education. Christine was part of the team researching the use of a personalised digital story application to increase social interaction for students with severe expressive communication disability in local schools.

Christine has presented at the Spectronics, AGOSCI (Australian Group Supporting Communication Inclusion) and SEPLA (Special Education Principals’ and Leaders’ Association) conferences over the past decade about AAC and assistive technology. She is co-presenting with a team member at the SARRAH (Services for Australian Rural and Remote Health) National Conference in October 2024 about a current project to provide accessible training to communication partners of AAC users in rural NSW. As an advocate of AAC, Christine has presented workshops and professional development to speech pathologists, teachers and other service providers. She also provides supervision and mentoring to speech pathologists for all things AAC. Christine is a member of the SARRAH Leadership Panel for its national leadership course for rural and remote allied health leaders in August 2024.

Christine is passionate about the right of all individuals to be able to tell their stories and to communicate with others for social closeness, friendship and to make informed choices. Christine also prides herself on knowing more about technology than her children.

Alison has extensive experience with working with school-aged children from kindergarten to Year 12 with speech and language difficulties, social communication difficulties, trauma backgrounds and autism. Alison presented to the 2023 Diocesan Learning Support Teachers Conference, Catholic Education Office, on language disorder presentation and strategies in the school setting. Her interests include Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), trauma informed practice and supporting students with literacy difficulties and speech sound disorders. Alison is coordinating a survey for teachers to explore the readability of and application of recommendations in speech pathology reports.

Lerryn joined the EnhanceABILITY team in 2020 and is coordinating Central West TechTalkers® Program Project, a pilot program for communication partners of people who are using AAC following a grant from SARRAH under the Allied Health Rural Health Generalist Program. Lerryn has worked with children with disabilities and their families for over 12 years, both in Australia and Ireland. She has been employed in clinical roles at various disability services and in schools for children with disabilities. Lerryn has also worked in research, assessment and project roles.

The projects that Lerryn has worked on include developing resources for schools to support meaningful inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream school playgrounds, reviewing and developing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) practices in multidisciplinary teams and parent training in communication strategies and AAC. She has also presented at AGOSCI conferences.

Lerryn is passionate about:

• communication as a basic human right and valuing all forms of communication
• giving children the best chance to develop autonomous communication, friendships and social closeness, and participate meaningfully in all aspects of life
• working with families to support and advocate for their child.

 Divya completed a clinical placement at EnhanceABILITY in 2022 and commenced a role with the EnhanceABILITY team in 2023 following completion of her Masters in Speech Pathology through the University of Technology Sydney.

Divya enjoys working with both children and adults. Her areas of interest include working with people with complex needs, mealtimes and swallowing, adult language difficulties after stroke or brain injury, speech sound disorders as well as augmentative communication (AAC). Divya is passionate about taking functional approaches to therapy, empowering clients through their strengths, whilst providing support to families. Divya brings an extra dimension to our practice as a speech pathologist fluent in Hindi.

Divya is a diligent and empathetic clinician who has embraced a functional approach to working with people with complex needs. 

Jamilla completed a 4-year Bachelor of Speech Pathology with a Minor in Child and Community in 2023. She has relocated from Wollongong to pursue a rural health career. While studying, she worked as a disability support worker and a research assistant for Western Sydney University’s MARCS Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Development. During this time Jamilla was awarded with a Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Award and UNSW best poster presentation at an ACUR research conference. Jamilla has authorship in the Journal of Innovation in Aging and is extremely passionate about evidence-based practice.

Jamilla has special interest in swallowing difficulties in adults and children. She has completed training in paediatric feeding therapy and videofluroscopic swallowing assessments for adults. Jamilla is also very passionate about augmentative alternative communication (AAC), mental health, trauma, behavioural intervention, autism, intellectual disability, palliative care, rare genetic diseases, and chromosomal syndromes. As a disability support worker Jamilla worked with adults and children on the autism spectrum, with terminal diagnosis, with intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, progressive neurological disorders, complex behaviours, and clients who required enteral feeds. Jamilla enjoys working with disability support workers and service providers as she has experienced both sides of the fence. Jamilla is striving to deliver neurodiversity affirming service and, as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, creates a safe and welcoming space for all people along the gender and sexuality spectrum.

Teagan is currently studying a dual degree in health science and occupational therapy. Teagan has worked in the disability sector for over 6 years, and has a keen interest working with young adults and children. Teagan is an enthusiastic and flexible team member who is enjoying learning valuable skills in delivering both speech and occupational therapy programs.

Chereen keeps us all in line. She has an extensive background in providing excellent customer service. Chereen has also spent time volunteering within the community learning about advocacy, the NDIS and supporting people with a disability and she would like to do further study around Auslan and Key Word Sign in the future. She is the face behind the reception desk and the phone as your first point of contact with EnhanceABILITY.

Linda manages our accounts, payroll and all things human resources. She quietly and efficiently keeps the wheels turning at EnhanceABILITY. Linda has had her own experience on both sides of the fence with health professionals and has provided valuable training for us all on the importance of collaboration, empathy and compassion. She has also provided training on wellness and eating for health and wellbeing.