Meet Our Team
The Enhancing Learning team is dedicated to creating connections, conversations and creativity. We advocate for a balanced approach to learning, where children develop at their own rate with confidence and joy.
Anthea Abbott
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Kendra Bell-Hayes
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Sharna Marshall
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Nicole Hanson
Speech Pathologist Nicole is a vibrant family focused Speech Pathologist, who understands that each child and their family have different needs. She has a very reflective nature which comes through being a mum of four children; quickly learning that each child has differing strengths, temperament and changing needs. Nicole is passionate about collaborating with a child's family members, teachers, and other health professionals to create 'wrap around' supports for that child. She believes that therapy should assist each child reach their greatest potential and enhance meaningful participation in 'their' community. Nicole has experience with a wide range of speech, stuttering, language and feeding needs. One of the things Nicole enjoys most in her field is the opportunity to work with a diverse range of family dynamics and cultural backgrounds. |
Marnie Ricciardi
Occupational Therapist Marnie is an occupational therapist who is passionate about giving all children the opportunity to succeed across all areas of their life. Marnie enjoys working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and with the child's family and teachers Marnie values using a strengths-based and play-based approach to therapy to ensure sessions are a positive experience for the child and the best possible outcomes can be achieved. |
Chloe Hyde
Occupational Therapist Chloe is passionate about empowering children to develop autonomy and independence in their everyday lives as they strive to achieve their fullest potential. She is a strong advocate for a holistic, family-based approach and believes that play is a key component to providing authentic therapy. Chloe's interest in working with children stems from being the oldest of 5 children with an extensive age gap between herself and her 3 youngest siblings. She feels she was always drawn to being a facilitator or educator. Chloe is very creative and loves to engage in free play and craft-based activities with the children she supports. She has a strong evidence -based approach but is always able to create a fun and, at times, unconventional therapy session. |
Robert Luscombe
Senior Physiotherapist Robert is a physiotherapist who is passionate about having fun while helping to assist all children do what is important to them and their families, be it sport, learning to walk, climb, ride a bike or other skills. Robert has worked at various CDS sites, and currently supervises physio students at Curtin one day a week, he's had the privilege to work at Next Challenge since graduating, watching the clients grow up along the way. Rob joins the Enhancing Learning team once a month to support our Mandurah families. Robert has lots of experience in the water with babies and children as a swim instructor while studying so is an area he is very comfortable with assisting. Robert enjoys the fun and variation of his work at Next Challenge. On a personal note, Rob and his wife are thrilled to have welcomed their first child in 2022. |
Sally Grey
Client Services Manager Sally is the newest member of our team and has joined us after 16 years with Next Challenge Therapy Services. Sally brings with her a wealth of experience in office administration and has experience as a therapy assistant. Her passion is to improve the journey of families in the often difficult world of therapy. Sally has already been invaluable to improving the efficiency of our team and is also the welcoming voice on the end of the phone for our current and future families. |
Melisa Taylor
Allied Health Assistant Melisa is an AHA who has many years of experience working with young children and their families to ensure best practice and a high quality service. She has over 15 years of experience across a variety of Early Childhood fields where she has been responsible for implementing accredited programs. Melisa has completed two Diplomas in Early Childhood and Community Services and continues to to strive to develop her understanding of children. Melisa understands the need to support both the child and their families to enhance their outcomes. Mel's diverse background and large family has supported her understanding that every family is unique and requires an individualised approach. |
Dee Franklin
Allied Health Assistant Dee who is a qualified Education Assistant & Meditation/Mindfulness Teacher joined the Enhancing Learning team as an Allied Health Assistant and brings with her 14 years experience working with children of all ages. Enhancing Learning is the perfect environment for Dee to bring her passions together: working with children and meditation & mindfulness. She has seen first hand how helping children to develop their unique traits and skills in a safe, play-based environment, enhances their ability to learn and grow. This combined with learning techniques to help reduce stress and anxiety means they learn to support their own emotional wellbeing. Dee is grateful to have the opportunity to help facilitate the integration of these skills and see the positive benefits being gained both by the children and their families. |
Maja Maric
Allied Health Assistant Maja is an AHA who is currently undertaking her final year of the Master of Speech Pathology at Curtin, having already completed a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Korean. She believes everyone has the right to effectively communicate and is passionate about helping everyone on their journey to achieve that. Having volunteered with people of multiple ages and cultural groups, Maja appreciates that the journey looks different for each and every individual and aims to incorporate that individuality every step of the way. " |
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Terri Hodder
Allied Health Assistant Terri joins Enhancing Learning as an enthusiastic and playful member of the team, she has a vast amount of personal and professional experience working alongside children and young people with additional needs, anxiety and language delays. Meaning she greatly understands the importance of emotional coaching, effective communication and support for the whole family. Terri is a Mum of 2 growing girls, has her certificate IV in Education Support, and takes a creative and play based approach to her work, aiming to provide sessions that are as unique as each child and provide them with tools and strategies to empower them through the journey of childhood and adolescence. |
Anne De-Witt
Allied Health Assistant |
Currently on Paid Parental Leave
Caris Reid
Speech Pathologist (Currently on Parental Leave) Caris is a Speech Pathologist with experience working alongside families, schools and allied health professionals to improve speech, language and literacy outcomes for children. She has experience identifying and treating a range of paediatric speech, language, literacy and fluency (stuttering) difficulties. Caris has been trained in a variety of programs and therapy approaches, including the; Lidcombe Program, Hanen It Takes Two to Talk Program, Sounds~Write Synthetic Phonics Program and Basic Key Word Sign. She recognises the importance of collaborating with families, schools and other relevant health professionals to achieve a practical and holistic approach to therapy. Caris enjoys maintaining a positive, fun and motivating therapy environment by building strong relationships with families and celebrating any progress that children make towards achieving their goals.
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Ruth Canas-Lozano
Speech Pathologist (Currently on Parental Leave) |