Team

Ania’s extensive knowledge and experience includes working with children and adults with a range of neurodevelopmental and physical disabilities including spinal cord injury, acquired brain injury, progressive neurological impairments such as Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and other physical and / or communication impairments, providing information and advice on Assistive Technology options. Ania specialises in a number of assistive technology services provided by ComTEC, including Eye Gaze technologies, switching and mounting solutions and training and consultation. 

Ania is highly skilled and experienced in providing advice and support for alternative access and mounting systems for computers and speech generating devices as well as speech recognition software and home automation control.  Ania has a particular interest in Eye Gaze technology, switch access for play and communication and alternative pencils for accessing the educational curriculum. 

Ania holds current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA) and is a member of ARATA.

Ania oversees the client services and support ComTEC offers and she enjoys liaising with referring therapists to provide optimal support for their work with clients in supporting their communication goals.

Ania has developed and presented training to therapists, educators, parents, caregivers, community organisations and other health professionals around understanding mounting of speech generating devices and computers, alternative access methods to maximise participation and functional independence.  Ania has engaged extensively in additional training and certification across the course of her career, focusing on assistive technology. Ania’s experience also includes clinical supervision and support of Occupational Therapists and tertiary students.

When not working, Ania enjoys walking her dog, baking for family and neighbours and reading.

David graduated from LaTrobe University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) and he has over 21 years’ experience as an Occupational Therapist, working with children and adults with a range of neurodevelopmental and physical disability.  David holds current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA) and is a member of OT Australia and Australia Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association (ARATA). He has presented at local, national, and international conferences on a range of Assistive Technology related topics.

David is highly skilled and experienced in providing advice and support for alternative access and mounting systems for computers and speech generating devices as well as speech recognition software and home automation control.  David has a particular interest in Eye Gaze technology and alterative access for gaming.

David is also currently working as a Clinical Advisor for MedTechVIC in the Research and Enterprise unit at Swinburne University.   The MedTechVIC project will bring people living with disabilities together with world-leading technology and experts in design, digitalisation, health and manufacturing to create innovative tailor-made medical and assistive devices.  David’s role as Clinical Advisor is to provide his expertise to user-centered co-creation of assistive technology solutions and work within a multidisciplinary team including engineers, designers, industry partners and clinicians from other disciplines to share and build knowledge and expertise to develop innovative assistive technologies with real potential for improving the lives of people living with disability.

David has more that 21 years experience providing information and advice relating to Assistive Technology solutions for people with disability and he has developed and presented training to therapists, educators, parents, caregivers, community organisations and other health professionals around accessibility and Assistive Technologies to  maximise functional independence.

David also has experience in the prescription of mounting and access for complex mobility and seating for adults and children with disability.  David has engaged extensively in additional training and certification across the course of his career, focusing on Assistive Technologies in the areas of mounting system, Eye Gaze, Voice Control Software, accessible gaming and home automation.

David’s experience also includes clinical support of Occupational Therapists within Yooralla and Occupational Therapists within Victoria and interstate, as well as tertiary students.

When not working, David is busy keeping up with the latest Assistive Technologies and contributing / moderating various AT groups on social media, spending time with his family, enjoying the Melbourne live music scene, and kite surfing whenever he gets the chance!

She offers her extensive knowledge and experience in supporting people with complex communication needs and has worked predominantly in Augmentative and Alternative Communication prescription and support throughout her career.  Marisa is highly skilled at providing specialist advisory, training and mentoring sessions to users, families, carers, therapists and teachers Victoria wide.  Marisa regularly provides clinical support to Speech Pathologists and their teams.

Marisa is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP), a Speech Pathology Australia Member, an AGOSCI Member and Hanen member. 

Prior to joining ComTEC Marisa worked as a Pre-school Speech and Language Therapist in the United Kingdom for the NHS. She also worked in a Special Developmental school for a number of years supporting children’s communication and literacy across all years. 

Marisa specialises in a number of speech generating devices supplied in Australia, including static devices, dynamic devices, Eye Gaze technologies. Marisa is also knowledgeable in relation to a number of language systems such as PODD and Core Words. She has completed the PODD 2 Day Introductory workshop and attended various LAMP Words for Life workshops.  

When not working she loves camping with her two boys and husband, watching a good TV series and eating out.

Stacey joins our ComTEC team with more than 12 years experience, working in Australia and in the United Kingdom in various settings, particularly with children with Austism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Communication assistive technology is one of Stacey's passions and she has spent her career building the capacity of families, carers, support workers and educators to support children and young adults in their home and community settings.

Stacey has experience implementing both low and high tech AAC systems and she is continually learning evolving technology to keep ahead of the curve.

Stacey's formal qualifications include a Bachelor Speech Pathology and she is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP), a Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) Member, an AGOSCI Member and Hanen member. 

When Stacey is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family including her young daughter.

Adele brings a diverse skill background that she has developed through her 40 years of her working life in a variety of roles including a Dance Therapist, Retail Manager and then a career as a retail trainer. Adele supports all incoming referrals for ComTEC advisory sessions and training, Wizzybug 'On the Move' Program, ComTEC Equipment Library whilst continuing in her current Allied Health role.

When not working, Adele enjoys walking in nature exercising, knitting and exploring new hobbies.

Kim leads the team with extensive experience gained across a number of previous roles in managing Assistive Technology services including 7 years with e.quip Specialist Equipment Services and 15 years with the Electronic Communication Devices Scheme (ECDS).  Kim’s formal qualifications include a Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Computing.

Kim has worked with early childhood, school aged and adult clients with disability, providing assessment to implementation of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) low and high tech systems.  She has significant experience in co-ordinating and supporting a transdisciplinary team in a complex and challenging environment.  Kim also has a strong interest and skills in the field of assistive technology and supporting people with disability.

Kim continually seeks professional development and has additional skills in technology and database systems.

When Kim is not working, she enjoys spending time with her pugs, knitting and sewing.