Simone Wright

SENIOR PAEDIATRIC DIETITIAN

Simone Wright is a Senior Dietitian with 21 years of clinical experience in community and hospital settings. Simone is also trained in the evidenced-based Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) approach to feeding therapy. Simone has a special interest in optimising nutrition in the first 2000 days of life to improve cognitive and developmental outcomes. Simone is experienced in supplementing nutritional deficiencies and has extensive clinical experience in the management of enteral tube feeding, neurodevelopmental disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, nutrition support and complex medical cases. Simone works for a NSW Health Developmental Assessment Service and is also involved in a multicentre research project Supporting Children with Complex Feeding Difficulties (SuCCEED). Simone has written publications for the Dietetics Association of Australia and the Agency for Clinical Innovations and has published in the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. Simone is a passionate clinician who has a child and family centred approach.

Claire Davidson

SENIOR PAEDIATRIC DIETITIAN

Claire is a Senior Dietitian with over 16 years of clinical experience including The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, where she worked in the Feeding and Nutrition Support Service and the Multidisciplinary Feeding Clinic, supporting children and families with a wide range of clinical and feeding conditions, many of whom required feeding tubes to meet their nutrition requirements and benefitted from a multidisciplinary team approach to their care.

Claire is passionate about working with children and families who experience a wide range of different nutrition concerns including fussy eating and mealtime difficulties, faltering or poor growth, food allergies/intolerances, nutrient deficiencies and NDIS Disability including tube feeding. As a mum of two school-aged children, Claire understands the challenges and pressures of feeding small children and approaches her work with empathy and compassion. She enjoys being able to support her clients through adjusting their nutrition to their individual needs, whilst also encouraging an enjoyment of and love for food and supporting families to create positive mealtimes.

Emily Greenfield

SENIOR PAEDIATRIC DIETITIAN

Emily Greenfield is a Senior Dietitian with a wealth of experience in addressing the nutritional needs of newborns, infants, and young children. Emily specialises in treating a spectrum of feeding issues, ranging from poor breast/bottle feeding to enteral tube feeding/weaning.

Emily’s professional journey has been marked by her invaluable contributions in various clinical settings. From her tenure in a Level 5 neonatal intensive care unit to her roles in multidisciplinary feeding clinics, Emily has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in managing the nutrition of medically complex infants and children. Currently, she serves as a pivotal member of the NSW Health community team, focusing on the nutrition management of children aged 0-5.

Mearelle Kachwalla

SENIOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Mearelle is a Senior Occupational Therapist. She has worked clinically for over 13 years in Australia with infants, children, and adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities, genetic disorders, complex medical histories and complex postural needs within community settings. Mearelle brings passion, care and innovation to her client and family-centred practice. She ensures that her practice is in line with current evidence-based services, and continues to develop her knowledge and skills to provide the best level of care to all her clients and families.

Renee McNamara

SENIOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Renee is a senior Occupational Therapist. She has over 12 years experience working with children and adults in various non-government organisations. Renee has experience with children and adults with disabilities, spanning conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome and genetic and chromosomal disorders. Her specialisation focuses on supporting children aged 0 to 18 years old.

Understanding the challenges of balancing OT with the care of two young children, Renee takes pride in her holistic approach to working with families. She excels in devising intervention strategies that are realistic and practical, aimed at ensuring your success. 

Renee consistently implements evidence-based practice in her sessions and remains committed to ongoing professional development.

Dr. Amanda Khamis

SENIOR SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

Dr Amanda Khamis is a senior speech pathologist with a PhD in dysphagia for infants with cerebral palsy. She has worked clinically for over 15 years in Australia, the UK, and the Middle East with infants, children, and adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities and complex medical histories in community and hospital settings. Amanda brings joy and care to her work, keeping her patients and their family’s unique needs at the core. She takes pride in providing current evidence-based services, is an international speaker, and has published several peer-reviewed research articles on feeding and communication difficulties in medical journals. Amanda values life’s simple pleasures, like a delicious meal and a good chat, and is dedicated to supporting others to safely and successfully enjoy the same.

Ellen Gulson

INTERNATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED LACTATION CONSULTANT

Ellen Gulson is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with experience working in public hospitals and private practice. Ellen is the current Head of Operations for the Australian Breastfeeding Association in NSW and ACT. Ellen believes’ s lactation support should be part of a multidisciplinary team supporting mothers, babies, and their families to achieve the best health outcomes. Ellen has worked in a neonatal intensive care unit and has experience in supporting babies with complex feeding difficulties including tube feeding, supplemental feeding, gastrointestinal disorders, swallowing issues, food allergies and extreme prematurity. Ellen believes that women and babies deserve a high level of support when they are starting out on their breastfeeding journey and as challenges arise along the way. Ellen is a passionate advocate for women’s health and will work collaboratively with your specialist’s team to support you to achieve your feeding goals.

Monica Sekowski

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

Monica is an experienced psychologist holding both a Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology and a Master of Clinical Psychology, this means that she has areas of speciality in both child and adolescent and adult mental health. She has an area of interest in feeding and eating disorders in children and adolescents and a passion for working with children and families presenting with developmental, behavioural, social, and emotional difficulties in the context of their eating concerns and other mental health presentations. 

Marija Bagaric

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

Marija is a Clinical Psychologist who has a passion for supporting children, adolescents and their families. Marija believes in working collaboratively with children and adolescents and their families to ensure that the assessment process is a neurodivergence-affirming and positive experience.

She has an extensive background in providing diagnostic assessments for Autism, ADHD, developmental delay, intellectual disability, specific learning disorders and a range of mental health presentations. She is trained in and is proficient in administering and interpreting a range of tests across the lifespan. Marija is experienced in working with child and adolescents who present with PDA profiles and engage in masking behaviours.