Meet Our Team
Developmental Educators / Behaviour Support Practitioners
Christian ParenteAdele Demasi
Cara Davies
Kim Leary
Sarah Dean
Stephanie Reid
Maddy Newland
Assessment Team
Carolyn Cole (Autism, Psychoeducational, Cognitive and ADHD Assessments)Charlotte Badge (Autism, Speech and Language Assessments)
Claire Sage (Autism, Cognitive and ADHD Assessments)
Marissa Menezes (Psychoeducational, Cognitive and ADHD Assessments)
Kylie Broderick (Psychoeducational, Cognitive and ADHD Assessments)
Alexandra Harry (Psychoeducational, Cognitive and ADHD Assessments)
Christian Parente
Co-Director / Senior Developmental Educator / Behaviour Support Practitioner (Advanced/Specialist)
Christian has a special interest and expertise in Positive Behaviour Support. Christian focuses on providing support by building lasting relationships with the child and family. Christian’s approach involves working directly with the child, family or other support networks such as educators and support workers.
Christian has experience and expertise in working with children and teens who are struggling with:
- Emotional regulation
- Self-injurious behaviours
- Absconding
- Worry and anxiety
- School refusal
- Assistance navigating and transitioning into education programs
- Social skills to support make and maintain peer friendships
- Community participation
- Behaviour support training for parents, teachers, support workers
- Developing Positive Behaviour Support Plans
Christian has a Disability and Developmental Education Honours Degree from Flinders University. Christian has previously worked interstate whereby he contributed to a significant quality improvement project in Tasmania and was also part of the teaching team at Flinders University.
Christian has experience working with young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability and developmental trauma. Christian is a NDIS registered Behaviour Support Practitioner assessed at the advanced/specialist level and is a member of the Developmental Educators Association Inc. (DEAI).
Carolyn Cole
Co-Director / Clinical Psychologist / Behaviour Support Practitioner (Advanced/Specialist)
Services Offered:
- Therapy
- Assessments (Autism, Psychoeducational, Cognitive and ADHD)
Carolyn is passionate about working with families to understand their child/teen’s behaviour, identify and build on strengths, and tailoring interventions to suit each family’s unique circumstances. Carolyn has experience and expertise in working with children and teens who are struggling with:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or general learning delay
- Anxiety
- Managing stress associated with school and study, including organisational skills
- Social problems
- Depression, low self-esteem/ lack of confidence
- Angry and frustrated (defiant) behaviours
- Sleep difficulties
Carolyn has a Psychology Honours degree from Flinders University and a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of South Australia. Carolyn has worked as a psychologist since 2000 in both the private sector and a range of government settings including disability and health. Carolyn has extensive experience in both diagnostic assessment and therapy with individuals with developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability. Carolyn is AHPRA registered, a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and supervises Psychologists working towards Clinical endorsement.
Adele Demasi
Senior Developmental Educator / Behaviour Support Practitioner (Proficient)
Adele is passionate about supporting children and families using a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) approach. Adele has an interest in collaborating with families, children and other professionals to improve the following areas:
- Emotional regulation
- Navigating transitions at either school or post-school education programs
- Making and maintaining positive peer friendships
- Teaching daily living and life skills
- Managing behavioural escalations with a calm nature
- Supporting the child’s support network to implement behavioural strategies
- Behaviour support training for parents, teachers, support workers
- Developing Positive Behaviour Support Plans
Adele has an empathetic and calm therapy style focusing on improving relationships in different settings and contexts (home, school, services, community). Adele was able to implement and improve this style at Guiding Pathways where she completed her 280 hour Placement under supervision in 2018.
Adele has a Disability and Developmental Education (Honours) degree at Flinders University and has recently completed her thesis evaluating a Disability Employment Service that teaches young people skills, assisting them to transition into open employment. Adele is also a member of the Developmental Educators Australia Inc. (DEAI) and was the recipient of the Disability and Developmental Education Student of the Year Award at the DEAI awards ceremony.
Adele is also a NDIS registered Behaviour Support Practitioner assessed at the proficient level.
Cara Davies
Senior Developmental Educator / Behaviour Support Practitioner (Proficient)
Cara specialises in working with children and families using a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) approach. Cara has experience and is passionate about supporting children and families in the following areas;
- Emotional regulation
- Managing violent or dangerous behaviour escalations
- Absconding
- Assistance navigating and transitioning into education programs
- Making and maintaining peer friendships
- Teaching daily living and life skills
- Behaviour support and training with the child’s support networks
- Developing Positive Behaviour Support Plans
Cara has a friendly and engaging therapy style focusing on developing positive relationships and working closely with the child and their family across settings (home, school and community).
Cara has a Disability and Developmental Education Degree at Flinders University and is a member of the Developmental Educators Australia Inc. (DEAI).
Cara is also a NDIS registered Behaviour Support Practitioner assessed at the proficient level.
Kim Leary
Senior Behaviour Support Practitioner (Proficient)
Kim has over 17 years of experience in the special education sector, both as a teacher and education advisor. Kim's passion is supporting individuals with complex and diverse needs, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), developmental delays, and behavioural challenges. She believes in the uniqueness of each individual and prioritises building strong relationships with clients, actively listening to their needs, and tailoring interventions accordingly.
Collaboration is central to Kim’s practice. She works closely with families, educators, therapists, and other professionals to share insights, solve problems jointly, and coordinate efforts, recognizing that a collaborative approach leads to better outcomes. Kim is passionate about innovative approaches to social skill development. As a Lego-Based Therapy Facilitator, she uses LEGO activities to promote social interaction, turn-taking, collaboration, and problem-solving. Kim believes that positive behaviour support is not just about reducing challenging behaviours but enhancing quality of life.
Kim has recently relocated to Adelaide and has two children.
Sarah Dean
Developmental Educator / Behaviour Support Practitioner (Core)
Sarah is passionate about working with children and families to create opportunities for independence. Through an enthusiastic and friendly demeanour, Sarah has supported children and adolescents implementing therapy programs across home and school settings, including activities of daily living and social skills. Sarah has strong interests in emotional regulation, peer friendship development and Positive Behaviour Support.
Sarah completed a 150-hour Placement at Guiding Pathways in 2021 where she increased her knowledge of different therapy styles and gained experience supporting clients through a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) approach.
After completing her placement, Sarah continued with Guiding Pathways as an Allied Health Assistant working with our team of Developmental Educators, and has now completed her Disability and Developmental Education Degree at Flinders University. Sarah can assist clients through the development of Positive Behaviour Support Plans, including training in Behaviour Support for parents, teachers and support workers. Sarah is now a registered Behaviour Support Practitioner, assessed at the Core level, and is a member of the Developmental Educators Australia Inc. (DEAI).
Stephanie Reid
Developmental Educator / Behaviour Support Practitioner (Core)
Stephanie is passionate about building relationships with clients, and supporting young individuals and their families to achieve their goals. Stephanie shares knowledge in supporting children through her experiences as a support worker and University Placement.
Stephanie shares a strong interest in diversity and inclusion, building positive peer relationships, emotional regulation, and teaching and supporting individuals with everyday life skills.
Stephanie completed a 100 hour, and a 150 hour University Placement at Guiding Pathways where she further developed her skills and knowledge in Positive Behaviour Support, writing a Positive Behaviour Support Plan (PBSP) and teaching new skills in therapy. After completing both placements, Stephanie began working as an Allied Health Assistant, working alongside our team of Developmental Educators.
After now completing her Bachelor of Disability and Developmental Education at Flinders University, Stephanie is continuing with the team at Guiding Pathways as a Developmental Educator. Stephanie can assist clients through the development of Positive Behaviour Support Plans, including training in Behaviour Support for parents, teachers and support workers. Stephanie is a NDIS registered Behaviour Support Practitioner assessed at the core level and is a member of the Developmental Educators Association Inc. (DEAI).
Maddy Newland
Allied Health Assistant
Maddy is passionate about supporting neurodivergent children to develop their social skills and understanding their emotions. Maddy has a friendly and kind approach, supporting play, learning and connection with the young person.
Maddy completed her 150-hour University Placement at Guiding Pathways in 2024, where she enjoyed interacting with clients, developing therapeutic resources, and furthering her knowledge in Positive Behaviour Support.
Maddy has now joined the team as an Allied Health Assistant and is completing her final year studying a Bachelor of Disability and Developmental Education at Flinders University.
As an Allied Health Assistant Maddy can support your child under the supervision of our senior practitioners implementing therapeutic sessions and plans, developing therapeutic resources and analysing behavioural data.
Marissa Menezes
Clinical Psychologist
Services Offered:
- Therapy
- Assessments (Psychoeducational, Cognitive and ADHD)
Marissa is passionate about providing child and family-centred service. Marissa provides therapeutic support for children, adolescents and their families. The majority of Marissa's clients are Autistic, ADHDers, and/or having other Neurodivergences but she also has experience working with anxiety disorders and depression. She aims to practice through the Social Model of Disability lens and by engaging the most significant systems in a child's life especially home and school in supporting them. She draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment Theory, Collaborative and Proactive Solutions approach and the Neurodiversity Affirming framework. Marissa also has an interest in working with adolescents and young adults who are members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Marissa also conducts cognitive, educational and ADHD assessments for children and adolescents. Marissa has experience using a range of assessment tools and recognises the importance of using qualitative information (parent and teacher interviews and clinical observations) in the assessment process.
Marissa holds a Master of Psychology (Clinical) at the University of Adelaide and has experience in the private sector and government settings. She is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and is a member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi).
To keep abreast with the best practice standards, Marissa undertakes regular supervision from multiple senior psychologists and engages in ongoing relevant education in the area of child psychology.
Kylie Broderick
Registered Psychologist
Services Offered:
- Therapy
- Assessments (Psychoeducational, Cognitive and ADHD)
Kylie has a compassionate and caring approach to children and their families. Kylie has experience in providing psychoeducational assessments to a diverse range of students including students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and learning difficulties. She has worked closely with schools and families to support the student in educational and home settings. She has worked in schools in regional areas as well as locally.
She has knowledge of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Kylie holds a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Honours) at Flinders University. She is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
Charlotte Badge
Speech Pathologist
Services Offered:
- Assessments (Autism, Speech and Language)
Charlotte recognises the fundamental role of communication in a child’s social and emotional wellbeing. She is dedicated to contributing to the holistic understanding of each child so that they can reach their unique potential. Charlotte has gained significant experience in the provision of Speech Pathology services to children and teenagers including comprehensive assessment, diagnosis and intervention to children and their families. Her specialty areas include;
- Early communication development
- Play skills
- Language disorders / delays
- Speech difficulties
- Stuttering
- Fussy eating
- Social Skills and Communication
- Nonverbal Communication
- Autism Spectrum Disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders
Charlotte graduated from the Masters of Speech Pathology Course at Flinders in 2007. Charlotte is a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist, an accredited Autism Diagnostician and has completed training in various therapeutic approaches such as Hanen It Takes Two to Talk, Marte Meo, The Developmental, Individual Difference, Relationship-based (DIR®/Floortime™) model, SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding, Lidcombe Program and Social Thinking.
Claire Sage
Clinical Psychologist
Services Offered:
- Assessments (Autism, Cognitive and ADHD)
Claire is a clinical psychologist with over 10 years’ experience in the assessment and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders, and working with children with complex presentations and needs. She can assess and diagnose a range of conditions including autism spectrum disorder, cognitive / intellectual challenges, ADHD and specific learning disorders. She is experienced in using a variety of psychological assessments and approaches. Claire collaborates with parents, educators and other allied health professionals to understand the unique presentation, needs and strengths of the child. She employs a warm, friendly approach to help children and families feel at ease.
Claire has a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of New England (NSW) and is endorsed by the Australian Psychological Society’s College of Clinical Psychologists. She works in both the government and private sector.
Alexandra Harry
Clinical Neuropsychologist / Clinical Psychology Registrar
Services Offered:
- Assessments (Psychoeducational, Cognitive and ADHD)
Natalie Kohn
Reception & Administration
With more than 17 years’ experience in customer service and administration, Natalie brings a strong work ethic and exceptional organisational skills to Guiding Pathways.
Natalie has a passion for helping people and has experience supporting and volunteering with children and young people from diverse backgrounds. Natalie’s extensive business experience coupled with her friendly and caring personality means she puts your family first to ensure your experience at Guiding Pathways is positive.
Penny Lane
Reception & Administration
With a warm and welcoming nature, in person or via phone, you will be greeted professionally and compassionately by Penny.
Penny has over 20 years’ experience in customer service and most recently 4 years in medical reception and administration.
Coming from a customer service and medical administrative background Penny prides herself on her organisational skills and she builds rapport with ease. Penny will go above and beyond to ensure your family receive a positive experience at Guiding Pathways.
Holly Hicks
Reception & Administration
Holly will greet you with a warm welcome both in clinic and over the phone.
She has over 16 years’ experience in Reception and Administration with a background in Youth Health Administration and Medical Reception.
She has a passion for working with children, youth and their families. Holly’s goal is to help all clients have a positive experience at Guiding Pathways.
Ally Clarke
Reception and Administration / Allied Health Assistant
Ally is an experienced primary school teacher. She brings strengths in building relationships with children and their families and excellent organisational skills to her administrative role at Guiding Pathways.
Ally will greet you with warmth and professionalism to ensure your experience at Guiding Pathways is positive.
In her secondary role as an Allied Health Assistant, Ally assists Guiding Pathways practitioners in the development of client resources and additional supports using knowledge and skills from previous teaching experience.