The Eleanor Bryant Memorial Fund

Bush Summit Team

Micaela Rafferty

Bush Summit Facilitator

Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA), Certified Behaviour Analyst (CBA, Australia), Nationally Recognised Nutritionist, and Special Educator

We bring different perspectives to the table, but we’re united by connecting rural communities with experienced practitioners and creating opportunities for ongoing collaboration.

Kate Laherty

Speech Pathologist

POP Speech Therapy

Speaker Bio:

Kate Laherty is a Speech Pathologist with over 20 years’ clinical and leadership experience across health, education, and private practice in rural, regional, and metropolitan settings. Her work has been shaped by a deep understanding of the challenges facing rural and remote communities, particularly in accessing timely, high-quality care.
Kate is the CEO of Pop Speech Pathology, a telehealth-first service founded by Heidi Trusler in 2016 to address critical gaps in access to speech pathology in rural Australia. Under Kate’s leadership, the organisation has expanded its reach and impact, evolving into a scalable model of care supporting individuals and families across Australia and internationally.
A strong advocate for equitable healthcare, Kate is committed to ensuring that access is the foundation for both quality and outcomes. She is passionate about leveraging telehealth and innovative service delivery models to create meaningful, lasting change for rural and remote communities.
Kate lives in Brisbane with her husband and four children and is actively involved in her local community. She is passionate about creating opportunities for others to thrive, supporting young women and girls to participate in sport and sharing her leadership skills through her children’s hockey club, an extension of her commitment to empowering others in both life and work.

Ella Cleary

Occupational Therapist

Marathon Health

Speaker Bio:

Ella Cleary is an occupational therapist working across Coonamble, Walgett and Lightning Ridge. Ella grew up in the Southern Highlands but has traded rolling green hills for the big sky country of Coonamble in the NSW Western Plains. In her role as a rural generalist community OT, she works with people across the lifespan in their homes and schools. Ella is passionate about wellbeing focused practice, aimed at building the health capacity of her client’s support networks and communities.

Kylie Irvin

Speech Pathologist

Marathon Health

Speaker Bio:

With almost 20 years of experience in Speech Pathology, Kylie is a dedicated allied health professional currently serving as a Portfolio Manager within the Western NSW Marathon Health team. Kylie is committed to supporting the growth and career development of clinical staff, fostering strong, capable teams that deliver high-quality care.
Kylie is particularly passionate about improving access to services and outcomes for people living in regional, rural and remote communities. Her work is driven by a belief in equitable healthcare and the importance of empowering both clinicians and the communities we serve.

Renee Collins

Clinical Director and Behaviour Consultant

Super Kids Behavioural Consulting

Speaker Bio:

Renee is the Clinical Director and Behaviour Consultant at Super Kids Behavioural Consulting. She is a Certified Behaviour Analyst (CBA) and Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) who has been using the science of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) to teach children and their families since 2010. In addition, she is an NDIS Specialist Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner and a Developmental Educator with DEAI, highlighting her commitment and passion supporting individuals with disabilities.  She received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Sydney and completed her Master of Autism Studies at Griffith University. She also studied ABA at the Florida Institute of Technology. 
She specialises in the behavioural assessment and support for autistic children. She has over 15 years of experience providing early intervention to neurodivergent children  specifically autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and intellectual disability in school, home and clinic-based settings. Renee is passionate about delivering evidence-based early intervention to children to help them achieve their full potential. Her interests include communication and building independent living skills, particularly toilet training. In her spare time she loves going for walks, weight lifting and hosting family dinners. 

Kristin Bayley

Speech Pathologist | Behaviour Support Practitioner | Supervisor & Educator

Launch Supervision

Speaker Bio:

Kristin Bayley is a speech pathologist, behaviour support practitioner, supervisor, and educator with extensive experience supporting both people with disability and the
practitioners who work alongside them. She is the founder of Launch Supervision, a professional learning community providing supervision, mentoring, and training for allied health practitioners, behaviour support practitioners and behaviour analysts.
Kristin’s work focuses on strengthening practitioner capability and promoting thoughtful, evidence-informed behaviour support. Drawing on her background in speech pathology and behavioural science, she has a particular interest in communication development, functional assessment, and helping practitioners and caregivers understand behaviour as communication.

Katie Fleet

Specialist Teacher

Speaker Bio:

Katie Fleet is a specialist teacher and inclusive education leader with over 15 years’ experience supporting educators to improve outcomes for diverse learners. She focuses on practical, evidence-based strategies that work in real classrooms, including rural and low-resource settings. Katie is passionate about building teacher confidence, strengthening engagement, and helping every student access meaningful learning. Her work bridges research and practice, providing teachers with approaches they can use immediately to support inclusion and student success.

Bree Pennie

Belongside Families

Speaker Bio:

Bree is a mum of two children. Her second child Dax was born with Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV). She has lived around Australia before settling on the south coast of NSW with her family. Bree is the Program Manager at Belongside Families, where she leads and facilitates various workshops and peer groups for families with children with disability. Bree is passionate about raising awareness about disability inclusion. Bree and her partner Mitchell love the outdoors and will always find a way to include Dax in their adventures along with their daughter Dylan.

Kristy Cartan

Belongside Families

Speaker Bio:

Kristy is the proud parent of Dash, an inquisitive, gentle-hearted, and wonderfully funny young human. Dash is Autistic and has ADHD. Kristy likes to say that Dash "got it from his Mama", as she identifies as AuDHD herself. A passionate advocate for her family, Kristy thrives as a parent peer facilitator, dedicated to sharing her insights, celebrating neurodivergent joy, and connecting with other families on a similar journey.

Jill Hellemans

Clinical Director | Behaviour Analyst | Advocate for Inclusive Early Learning

All Aboard Inclusion

Speaker Bio:

Clinical Director | Behaviour Analyst | Advocate for Inclusive Early Learning
Jill Hellemans is a distinguished Behaviour Analyst with over 25 years of experience supporting children with diverse needs, their families, and educators across homes, schools, and preschools. Holding a Master’s in Special Education and a Post Graduate Diploma in Child and Family Counselling, Jill blends clinical expertise with strategic leadership to drive inclusive, evidence-based practice across sectors.

She co-developed Sydney’s pioneering not-for-profit early intervention service, embedding the science of behaviour and learning within a family-centred, key worker model. Her commitment to empowering educators and families has equipped countless individuals with practical strategies to foster meaningful and lasting change in children’s development.

In 2024, Jill piloted an innovative early intervention program within a mainstream preschool, integrating Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) into the Early Years Framework. She currently works alongside teachers to implement functional curricula such as Essentials for Living, and has introduced Skill-Based Therapy across Sydney schools—transforming how educators play, engage, and adapt learning environments to support student interests.

Since 2019, Jill has led a consultancy partnership with a NSW Department of Education School for Specific Purposes (SSP), embedding trauma-informed practices and coaching staff in behaviour support and curriculum adaptation.

A sought-after presenter, Jill has delivered workshops and keynotes across Sydney, regional NSW, and internationally. Renowned for her strength-based, compassionate approach, she excels in assessment, intervention, and system-wide change—ensuring every child has access to high-quality education and foundational supports.

Micah Street

Board Certified Behaviour Analyst

All Aboard Inclusion

Speaker Bio:

Micah Street is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst with over 10 years of experience supporting individuals with diverse needs and their families, applying the science of behaviour and learning within a family-focused model. He specialises in collaboration, partnering closely with parents, caregivers, and educators to create consistent, meaningful outcomes across home, school, and community environments. Micah is passionate about inclusive and compassionate practice within educational settings that promote dignity and belonging. Working alongside educators and families, he strives to create supportive, adaptive learning environments where every child has the opportunity to succeed and feel a genuine sense of community.

Analise Vella

Board Certified Behaviour Analyst

All Aboard Inclusion

Speaker Bio:

Analise Vella is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst with over 10 years of experience supporting children and their families. She specialises in working across community settings such as preschools, early learning centres, and schools. Analise is passionate about play-based learning and creating joyful experiences that help children thrive. She takes a collaborative approach with educators and families, working together to remove barriers and build skills, while also strengthening teacher confidence and capacity along the way.

Allison Lozes

Certified Behaviour Analyst

Connect Behaviour Consulting

Speaker Bio:

Allison Lozes, B.S., M.Ed., BCBA, CBA is a Certified Behaviour Analyst (CBA) and the owner of Connect Behaviour Consulting, a Sydney-based practice. Holding a master’s degree in special education and over 15 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and their families, she is committed to providing accessible, practical, and meaningful support for the families who need it most. Guided by behaviour science and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), she is passionate about helping families feel confident, capable, and connected in supporting their child's journey.

Bec Blessing

Speech Pathologist

Marathon Health

Speaker Bio:

Bec Blessing is a Speech Pathologist based in Dubbo, working with individuals and families across rural and remote New South Wales. Bec has special interests in social communication, swallowing and functional language. Bec is passionate about supporting people of all ages to build skills that make a real difference in everyday life—at home, at school, and in their communities.

Alysha Spradbrow

Educator

The Thinking Gym

Speaker Bio:

Alysha is a dedicated educator with a strong passion for supporting neurodivergent students to thrive within classroom settings. Originally trained as a teacher, she has undertaken further specialised training in classroom modifications, curriculum adaptations, and evidence-based interventions to support diverse learning needs.
Alysha works collaboratively with schools to strengthen Tier 1 (whole-class) inclusive practices, ensuring that adjustments are embedded into everyday teaching rather than relying solely on individualised support. She is highly skilled in translating therapeutic recommendations into practical, achievable classroom strategies that benefit all students.
With experience bridging education and allied health, Alysha provides guidance on implementing Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology-informed programs within school environments. She supports teachers to embed these strategies seamlessly into routines, promoting consistency across classroom, playground, and learning activities.
A key focus of Alysha’s work is building strong connections between school, home, and external providers. She values a team-based approach, ensuring that strategies align across settings to maximise student engagement, independence, and functional outcomes.
Alysha is committed to empowering educators with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to create inclusive, neuroaffirming classrooms where all students can succeed.

Mardi Taylor

Occupational Therapist

Kidmotion

Speaker Bio:

Mardi Taylor is an Occupational Therapist who has racked up over 25 years in the field of assessing, treating and supporting the functional needs of children and adolescents who experience a divergent developmental journey (aka she is OLD). Mardi is driven to work alongside children and their caregivers (be they parents, family members, foster carers or educators) to build their capacities using a relationship-based approach so that the child can primarily feel safe, seen and heard as a core foundation from which to climb their developmental ladder.
Her career commenced with a graduate position supporting children living through acute trauma and long stay admissions at Westmead Children’s Hospital, which led her on to providing rural outreach with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance in remote NSW communities, and when she made the momentous decision to move out of Sydney she landed her first regional position as the sole Community Paediatric OT in Wellington NSW. 
Mardi’s clinical wisdom has been nourished primarily by the lessons learned from the children she has been privileged to support, and her clinical knowledge bolstered by training with some seriously skilled OT gurus from across the globe. These ongoing experiences have gifted her with a colourful toolkit of lenses through which to understand and respond to children’s needs and behaviours. 
For the past 15 years, Mardi has led her own clinical practice (Kidmotion) supporting children and families across Wellington and surrounding regions.  Mardi now focuses much of her clinical time on providing consultancy and environmental design advice to early education providers, supporting her colleagues in completing more complex developmental and diagnostic screening assessments, and advising families on navigating the various funding and therapy pathways for their child.

Micaela Rafferty

Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA), Certified Behaviour Analyst (CBA, Australia), Nationally Recognised Nutritionist, and Special Educator

Founder, Behaviour Balance

Speaker Bio:

Micaela is a Special Educator, Board Certified Behaviour Analyst, Certified Behaviour Analyst, and Nationally Recognised Nutritionist. With 25 years of experience in Applied Behaviour Analysis, she has led clinical programs, supervised multidisciplinary teams, and pioneered early intervention services that integrate ABA and Positive Behaviour Support within natural settings. 

Throughout her career, Micaela has been passionate about empowering others to use behaviour science meaningfully. She has developed and delivered training for educators, parents, and health professionals, and contributed to the creation of online professional development courses. Her coaching and training style is values-driven, evidence-based, and grounded in real-world experience across clinical, educational, and community settings, with a strong focus on practical, accessible strategies, collaborative learning, and lasting impact.

Recognising the broader power of behaviour analysis beyond traditional therapy, Micaela founded Behaviour Balance to help Australians build sustainable habits for better health, wellness, and performance. As a Nationally Recognised Nutritionist, she integrates behavioural science into coaching and workshops that promote lasting behaviour change in areas such as eating habits, physical activity, self-care, and workplace wellbeing. Across all her work, Micaela is committed to helping individuals and professionals take action, achieve balance, and create meaningful, lasting change.