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Therapy Team

Ability Options therapy team includes:

  • Team Leader
  • Speech Pathologists
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Physiotherapists
  • Psychologists/Behaviour Support Clinicians
  • Dietitians
  • Exercise Physiologists
  • Clinical Nurse Consultant

Each member of the therapy team is passionate about working in person centred ways to provide evidence-based best practice therapy that supports people and their families to achieve their goals at home, school, work and in the community. We provide support under the NDIS for improved daily living skills (including transdisciplinary early intervention); individual therapy programs; plus assistive technology including wheelchairs and equipment.

Transdisciplinary or multidisciplinary?

You may have seen some discussion about these 2 approaches. Ability Options work in the Transdisciplinary methodology. Read more about what that means and how it works in practice.

Meet our Team

  • Alison Crispin

    Senior Speech Pathologist

    Alison has extensive experience working with babies, children and adults with complex physical disabilities and complex communication needs including people diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome and other rare conditions. Alison has extensive experience working with technology for example, iPads and communication devices including Minspeak systems. She is highly skilled at using alternative access methods such as eye- gaze and switches. Alison also has experience in early intervention for feeding and the management of complex swallowing needs for people of all ages.

  • Nattalie Crews

    Senior Physiotherapist

    Nattalie has extensive experience working with children, young people and adults with physical, neurological and intellectual disabilities. Nattalie is passionate about working with people and their families to achieve their goals. Nattalie enjoys supporting people to reach their goals in all the places that are important to them such as home, daycare, school, work and in the community. Nattalie has extensive skills in providing mobility assessments, supporting people with botulinum toxin (botox), providing pre and post-surgical intervention, delivering exercise programs and hydrotherapy.

  • Kimberly Mulder

    Team Leader – Hunter NDIS Therapy Services

    Kimberly provides management support to the therapy team. Kimberly can work with you to put your NDIS plan into action to support you to achieve your therapy goals. Kimberly is a Speech Pathologist and has experience working with children and adults with developmental delay / intellectual disability, complex communication needs and swallowing difficulties. Kimberly is a Key Word Sign Presenter and has experience working with families using Auslan Assisted English & Key Word Sign.

  • Chloe Davis

    Speech Pathologist

    Chloe has experience working with children and adults with complex communication needs working in homes, schools and in the community to support people to achieve their goals. Chloe has experience working with speech, language and alternative & augmentative communication including iPads. Chloe has an interest in supporting people diagnosed with Autism and working as part of a transdisciplinary team. Chloe is a Hanen certified Speech Pathologist. Chloe has extensive experience working with children as a Disability Support worker with Newcastle Temporary Care.

  • Heather Richmond

    Physiotherapist

    Heather graduated from Bachelor of Physiotherapy with Honours from the University of Newcastle. Heather has a passion for working with children and their families and places a strong emphasis on family centred practice in order to meet your child’s goals. Heather also enjoys working with people of all ages to support them to participate in activities that are important to them. Heather has an interest in health and enjoys the outdoors.

  • Kate Upton

    Acting Senior Dietitian

    Kate is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and an Accredited Nutritionist. She has extensive experience working with children and adults with disability including supporting people diagnosed with Autism, mental health challenges and people who use enteral feeding for mealtimes (e.g PEG). Kate has extensive experience working with people who have other chronic medical conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, malnutrition, coeliac disease, gut issues, excess weight, allergies, food intolerances and post-surgical issues. Kate works using a positive, realistic approach to achieving long term health and wellbeing outcomes.

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Accreditations & Affiliations