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Day: June 7, 2023

Why NDIS Quality Safeguards Have Become Crucial for NDIS Support Services

Why NDIS Quality Safeguards Have Become Crucial for NDIS Support Services

Why NDIS Quality Safeguards Have Become Crucial for NDIS Support Services The National Disability Insurance Scheme, or NDIS, is a significant program that provides funding and support to people with disabilities or impairments. The program helps them access various services to improve their health and quality of life. NDIS support services help participants purchase required […]

Finding NDIS Providers in Your Area for the Best Affective Care

Finding NDIS Providers in Your Area for the Best Affective Care The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a government-funded scheme designed to provide assistance and support for people with disabilities. It includes funding and services designed to enable those with disabilities to develop skills, engage in work, participate in social activities, and improve their […]

Exploring NDIS Funding for Housing: Will the NDIS Pay for a House?

Will the NDIS Pay for a House

Finding the right home can make a real difference to safety, independence, and quality of life. For many people living with disability, housing is an important part of long-term support planning, which is why a common question is: does the NDIS pay for housing? The short answer is that the NDIS does not usually pay […]

Why Respite Care is Essential for NDIS Participants

Respite Care is essential with AFCR

Why Respite Care is Essential for NDIS Participants As an NDIS support coordinator, local area coordinator, or participant, you know all too well the challenges of daily life with a disability. The work involved in managing care, support, and everyday tasks can be exhausting, both mentally and physically. Enter respite care: a critical support service […]

Who is Eligible for Supported Independent Living?

Who is Eligible For Supporter Independent Living

Supported Independent Living (SIL) is an NDIS support that provides participants with ongoing assistance to manage daily living tasks and build independence at home. Many participants, families, and Support Coordinators ask the same question: who is eligible for Supported Independent Living under the NDIS? Understanding NDIS Supported Independent Living eligibility is important because SIL is […]

Understanding SIL Housing in Australia

SIL Housing in Australia

Understanding SIL Housing in Australia As an NDIS Support Coordinator, Local Area Coordinator (LAC), or NDIS participant in Australia, you may have come across the term “SIL housing.” SIL stands for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) and Supported Independent Living (SIL). SIL vs SDA housing options can be confusing, as SIL relates to the support you […]

Understanding SDA in NDIS: Everything You Need to Know

Understanding SDA in NDIS Everything You Need to Know

Understanding SDA in NDIS: Everything You Need to Know The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a wonderfully complex disability support system in Australia that provides people with disabilities access to various services and support to help them live more fulfilling lives. One key aspect of the NDIS is Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), which is […]

How to Find Short-Term Accommodation for NDIS Participants

How to Find Short-Term Accommodation for NDIS Participants One of the major concerns of NDIS participants is finding affordable short-term accommodation options for their support requirements. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) aims to provide the necessary supports to people with disability to help them achieve their goals and live fulfilling lives. However, finding suitable […]

Disability Services in Australia to help ease your life

Group of people playing cards and board games in community center, inclusivity of disabled person.

Disability Services in Australia to help ease your life Living with a disability can be challenging and frustrating, but it does not have to be. In Australia, there are various disability services available to assist and support individuals living with disabilities to achieve their goals. The National Disability Insurance Scheme, commonly referred to as NDIS, […]

Understanding NDIS Respite Care

Understanding NDIS Respite Care For individuals with a disability, finding support is vital to ensure a good quality of life. NDIS, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, provides various funding options to help participants get the support they need. One such form of support is respite care. NDIS respite care aims to give the primary caregiver […]

Jessica Boumelhem

Jessica Boumelhem

Advanced Behaviour Support Practitioner | PBS Manager

NDIS-aligned | Systems-aware | Values-led

Jessica supports individuals and teams through:

  • Advanced Positive Behaviour Support
  • Complex behaviour assessment and planning
  • Team training and capability building
  • Clinical governance and NDIS compliance

Jessica brings over two decades of experience as an educator and a strong foundation in psychology to her role as an Advanced Behaviour Support Practitioner. As PBS Team Manager, she leads with clarity and accountability, ensuring practice aligns with both NDIS standards and ethical, person-centred care.

Her approach is holistic and collaborative, taking into account sensory, environmental, emotional, and relational factors that influence behaviour. Jessica works closely with individuals, families, and support teams to ensure behaviour support plans reflect personal values, lived experience, and real-world contexts.

Jessica’s leadership supports consistency, quality, and confidence across multidisciplinary teams. Her work ensures behaviour support is not just compliant, but compassionate, practical, and genuinely empowering.

Chady Aoun

Chady Aoun

Senior Psychologist and Behaviour Support Practitioner

Multidisciplinary | Assessment-driven | Governance-focused

Chady supports individuals through:

  • Psychological assessment and therapy
  • Behaviour support across the lifespan
  • Early intervention and rehabilitation
  • Complex case consultation and leadership

Chady is a highly experienced psychologist whose work spans both public and private sectors. At Affective Care, he delivers integrated behavioural and psychological services, supporting clients of all ages through assessment, therapy, and tailored intervention.

Known for his leadership within multidisciplinary teams, Chady brings structure, insight, and consistency to complex presentations. His expertise includes early intervention, rehabilitation, and complex case management, with a strong commitment to clinical governance and quality care.

Chady’s work is grounded in evidence-based practice and collaborative problem-solving. He supports individuals, families, and teams to navigate complexity with clarity, ensuring care remains ethical, coordinated, and effective.

Miray El-Hachem

Miray El-Hachem

Positive Behaviour Therapist & Registered Counsellor (ACA Level 2)

Holistic | Education-informed | Adolescent-focused

Miray supports individuals through:

  • Behaviour therapy and counselling
  • Adolescent emotional and behavioural support
  • Strengths-based, holistic interventions
  • Family and education-aligned strategies

Miray brings over 20 years of experience in education into her clinical work as a Positive Behaviour Therapist and Registered Counsellor. Her practice integrates behavioural science with a deep understanding of human development, particularly during adolescence.

She takes a holistic approach, blending structure with empathy to support individuals through behavioural challenges. Miray’s work is grounded in understanding the whole person—their environment, relationships, and emotional world.

Through compassion and insight, Miray supports individuals to develop self-awareness, regulation, and confidence. Her practice reflects a balance of science and humanity, creating space for growth that feels both supported and respectful.

Anabell Beattie-Bowers

Anabell Beattie-Bowers

Registered Psychologist

Relational | Empowerment-focused | Trauma-aware

Anabelle supports children and adults through:

  • Therapy for anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, Autism, and BPD
  • Emotional regulation and self-awareness development
  • Relationship and attachment-focused work
  • Evidence-based psychological interventions

Anabelle works alongside individuals with warmth, curiosity, and a deep respect for each person’s inner world. As a psychologist, she supports both children and adults to strengthen emotional awareness, build resilience, and develop healthier relationships with themselves and others.

Her therapeutic style is tailored and responsive, integrating approaches such as CBT, DBT, and Circle of Security to meet the unique needs of each client. Anabelle places strong emphasis on empowerment—helping people understand their patterns, reconnect with their values, and develop tools that support lasting change.

Anabelle’s work is grounded in safety, collaboration, and trust. She believes therapy is not about fixing people, but about creating space for insight, growth, and meaningful connection—supporting individuals to move forward with greater confidence and emotional clarity.

Brandon Boumelhem

Brandon Boumelhem

Occupational Therapist

Functional independence | Strengths-based | NDIS-focused

Brandon supports individuals through:

  • Functional capacity building and daily living skills
  • NDIS-aligned occupational therapy interventions
  • Family and caregiver collaboration
  • Community participation and independence planning

Brandon’s work centres on helping people build skills that translate into real, everyday independence. As an Occupational Therapist, he partners with individuals, families, and carers to identify what matters most in daily life and then builds practical pathways toward those goals.

His approach is client-centred and evidence-based, grounded in collaboration and respect for each person’s strengths, environment, and pace. Brandon understands that meaningful outcomes are rarely achieved in isolation, so he works closely with support networks to ensure strategies are realistic, sustainable, and supportive of long-term participation.

Through the NDIS, Brandon supports people to increase autonomy, confidence, and engagement in daily routines. His work is guided by a belief that independence is not about doing everything alone—it’s about having the right supports, skills, and systems in place to live with choice and dignity.

Natalie Soto

Natalie Soto

Registered Psychologist | PBS

Bilingual | Assessment-focused | Person-centred

Natalie supports children and adults through:

  • Psychological assessments and diagnostics
  • Therapy under Medicare and NDIS
  • Behavioural and emotional interventions
  • English and Spanish language services

Natalie is a bilingual psychologist (English/Spanish) with extensive experience supporting individuals across the lifespan. Her work spans assessment and therapy, with a particular interest in forensic psychology and complex presentations.

She combines evidence-based practice with creativity and flexibility, tailoring interventions to each person’s needs, culture, and goals. Natalie’s approach is grounded in collaboration, ensuring clients feel understood, supported, and actively involved in their care.

Through thoughtful assessment and therapeutic intervention, Natalie supports individuals to build insight, resilience, and meaningful change.

Edric Limbo

Edric Limbo

Speech-Language Pathologist

Rehabilitation-focused | Goal-driven | Community-oriented

Edric supports individuals through:

  • Adult and paediatric speech pathology services
  • Stroke rehabilitation and communication recovery
  • Functional, goal-based therapy
  • Community reintegration support

Edric’s practice is centred on helping people reconnect—both with their communication and with their communities. Working with adults and children, he has a strong interest in stroke rehabilitation and supporting individuals through the process of rebuilding communication skills.

His approach is practical and goal-focused, ensuring therapy remains relevant to everyday life. Edric collaborates closely with clients and families to identify meaningful outcomes and develop strategies that support confidence, participation, and independence.

Edric finds deep fulfilment in witnessing people regain their voice and reconnect with others. His work is guided by respect, patience, and a belief in each person’s capacity for recovery and growth.

Heather Pinel

Heather Pinel

Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner & Registered Counsellor

Trauma-informed | Neuroscience-integrated | Relational

Heather supports individuals through:

  • Positive Behaviour Support across the lifespan
  • Trauma-informed behaviour assessment
  • Neurodevelopmental and psychosocial disability support
  • Collaborative, family-centred planning

Heather is an accomplished Behaviour Support Practitioner with over 20 years of experience supporting children and families. Her work integrates neuroscience, psychological theory, and trauma-informed practice to address complex presentations including attachment trauma, neurodevelopmental differences, and psychosocial disability.

Heather’s approach is collaborative and whole-person focused, ensuring behaviour support plans reflect both evidence and lived experience. She works closely with families and support networks to build strategies that enhance emotional wellbeing, safety, and functional independence.

Her commitment to holistic care ensures individuals receive support that honours identity, relationships, and long-term quality of life.

Charbel Azzi

Charbel Azzi

Speech-Language Pathologist

Communication | Connection | Technology-enhanced

Charbel supports children and adults through:

  • Speech and language assessment and therapy
  • Social communication skill development
  • Technology-supported communication strategies
  • Functional communication across everyday settings

Charbel’s work is driven by a passion for helping people connect more fully with the world around them. As a Speech-Language Pathologist, he supports both paediatric and adult clients to strengthen communication, social interaction, and participation in daily life.

Since 2022, Charbel has worked across diverse settings, tailoring therapy to each person’s goals, strengths, and communication style. He has a particular interest in integrating technology into therapy, using innovative tools to enhance engagement and outcomes.

Charbel brings curiosity and creativity into his practice, believing communication is not just about words, but about connection, confidence, and belonging. His approach supports individuals to express themselves more clearly and engage meaningfully with others across home, school, work, and community environments.

Nisreen El-Saidi

Nisreen El-Saidi

Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner

Grace Boutros

Grace Boutros

Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner

Shayma Sadek

Shayma Sadek

Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner

Ali Bazzi

Ali Bazzi

Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner

Areeba Chaudhry

Areeba Chaudhry

Casual Allied Health Assistant

Joana Suh

Joana Suh

Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Neurodiversity-affirming | Strengths-based | Mental health-focused

Joana supports children, adolescents, and adults through:

  • Mental health occupational therapy
  • Neurodevelopmental and developmental support
  • Sensory, emotional, and functional skill building
  • Social participation and independence planning

Joana is a Senior Occupational Therapist with a strong commitment to neurodiversity-affirming practice. She works with children, adolescents, and adults experiencing complex emotional and behavioural needs, including bipolar affective disorder and other mental health conditions.

Her experience spans a range of developmental and neurodevelopmental presentations, including autism, ADHD, and Down syndrome. Joana’s clinical focus includes building fine motor, cognitive, sensory, and emotional regulation skills to support participation in everyday life.

Joana is particularly passionate about peer-mediated, client-centred, and strengths-based approaches. Her work supports individuals of all ages to increase social inclusion, functional independence, and overall quality of life.

Rita Dagher

Rita Dagher

Psychologist | Managing Director – Affective Care & Affective Health Services

Humanistic | Systems-led | Clinically grounded

Rita supports individuals, families, and communities through:

  • Psychological therapy for children, adolescents, and adults
  • Complex mental health and psychosocial disability support
  • Leadership and service design within NDIS and allied health systems
  • Multidisciplinary team oversight and clinical governance

Rita works at the intersection of psychology, leadership, and purpose-driven care. As a psychologist and Managing Director, she brings both clinical depth and strategic clarity to every layer of service delivery at Affective Care and Affective Health Services. Her work is grounded in the belief that systems should adapt to people—not the other way around.

With a strong clinical foundation and a humanistic leadership style, Rita ensures that psychological therapy, allied health, and in-home supports remain emotionally intelligent, ethical, and genuinely person-centred. She leads teams with integrity, cultivating cultures of safety, reflection, and excellence so that practitioners can deliver their best work and clients can experience care that feels respectful and empowering.

Rita’s approach bridges therapeutic insight with organisational vision. She understands that sustainable outcomes require both skilled clinicians and well-designed systems. Through thoughtful leadership and clinical oversight, she supports services that respond to complexity with compassion, accountability, and innovation—creating meaningful, long-term impact for individuals, families, and the broader community.