Our Team
JOSHUA (He/ Him)
CO-FOUNDER, CLINICAL DIRECTOR & POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPIST
Diploma of Counselling, Certificate in ES, Registered Positive Behaviour Therapist
Josh has 12 years experience working with young people and their families who are experiencing difficulties around presenting behaviours of concern. Josh has worked in various capacities across private and educational settings; supporting clients and their carers or educators in home, clinic, school or community, and strongly believes in the power of supporting someone to deal with what they are experiencing, in the space they are experiencing it.
He has a special interest in working with boys with an ADHD and/or ASD diagnosis, using each child and carer’s proven ability to help them understand what they are truly capable of, and focus on what is working, rather that what is not.
He holds a Certificate in Education Support, Diploma in Counselling and is trained in Functional Behavioural Analysis (FBA) and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).
He identifies as Neurodivergent, being diagnosed with ADHD in his adulthood and is happy to share his lived experience of overcoming systemic barriers in the educational system.
CATHERINE (KIT) (She/ They)
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST – LEAD CLINICIAN
Member of Speech Pathology Australia, Certified Practising Speech Pathologist
Catherine (Kit) has a Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology and five years experience working with and helping children and young people in the areas of early intervention and speech and language delay, predominantly from the ages of 18 months to 7 years.
Kit has a special interest in gestalt language processing and has completed the Meaningful Speech course. Kit’s experience and caseload are typically nonspeaking or minimally speaking children, children with speech delay, and those with expressive/ receptive language disorders.
Kit is experienced in Proloquo2Go and TD Snap applications for supporting those that use alternative communication.
They are neurodivergent affirming and provide therapy that is play based and client led.
CAITLYN (She/ Her)
CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Bachelor of Social Work, Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play
Safer Spaces’ Co-Founder and Director is a Social Worker with post-graduate qualifications in therapeutic child’s play, and 12 years experience in the Community Sector across multiple states.
Caitlyn is a training Circle of Security Facilitator, with a special interest in child development, and works from a strengths based, trauma informed perspective, emphasising client choice and empowerment at all times. Caitlyn is passionate about supporting people within the context of their circumstances and thinking holistically about people and their unique situations.
With two young children, she understands the chaos, joys, highs and lows of family life!
SAMIHA (She/ Her)
POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPIST
Registered Positive Behaviour Therapist, Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours)
Samiha is a Positive Behaviour Therapist with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) from La Trobe University, currently studying counselling. Her experience includes Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) therapy, clinical placements at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne and LaTrobe Communication Clinic, working in a multidisciplinary team.
Samiha is passionate about creating educational resources for practitioners, educators, and parents, a role she has actively fulfilled at the Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service.
Samiha’s background gives her an understanding of how communication challenges can affect emotional regulation, particularly in non-verbal children on the spectrum. Samiha integrates play-based therapy and visual aids into her sessions, ensuring that learning is engaging and accessible for children of all abilities.
With a neurodivergent-affirming approach, she is driven by a commitment to helping children find their voice—both literally and figuratively.
Samiha is bilingual in English and Bangla, with basic sign language skills. These abilities help her connect with clients from diverse backgrounds, promoting understanding and inclusion. As a playgroup facilitator, she enjoys engaging with children and families in a welcoming environment.
Samiha is dedicated to lifelong learning and remains actively involved in research to be informed of the latest developments in the allied health field.
One of her favourite quotes from The Lord of the Rings is, “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future,” which serves as a reminder that every small step in a child’s development can lead to significant change, and that each child has the power to create their own path.
HERON (They/ Them, She/ Her)
ALLIED HEALTH ASSISTANT – GROUPS SUPPORT
Heron is a dedicated Psychology student at Victoria University, with a strong interest in neurodiversity-affirming, community-based support. They bring a thoughtful, person-centred approach to working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, supported by strong insight, understanding, and a creative, imaginative mindset. Heron is motivated to contribute to inclusive environments that support children, young people, and families, drawing on their multicultural and multilingual strengths to foster connection and belonging. Fluent in Mandarin and English, with advanced proficiency in Cantonese and Japanese, Heron also incorporates their strong familiarity with the arts to support children in expressing themselves through creative and engaging ways.
SARAH (She/ Her)
ALLIED HEALTH ASSISTANT – GROUPS SUPPORT
Sarah is a Social Worker with over 10 years experience working with children and families in community, statutory and group settings. Sarah believes in meeting children and families where they are at, and has a special interest in attachment and child development. Sarah is also a trained Circle of Security educator, a mother, and competes in strongwoman competitions when the time permits.
EUGENE (He/ Him)
ALLIED HEALTH ASSISTANT – GROUPS SUPPORT
Eugene is a recent Psychology Honours graduate and a Master of Social Work student. Drawing on lived experience with ADHD, academic training in Psychology and Social Work, and volunteer experiences, Eugene is passionate about supporting neurodivergent children and their families. Eugene is committed to strengths-based practice and collaboration, and creating inclusive, supportive environments that foster growth for neurodivergent children.
YEL (He/ They)
ALLIED HEALTH ASSISTANT – GROUPS SUPPORT
Yel is a Social Worker who’s worked across early childhood intervention services, residential out-of-home care, and youth life and career development programs prior to relocating to Australia from Hong Kong. Their practice has focused on community-based support, casework, and program coordination, supporting individuals and families navigating complex systems and life transitions. Yel has experience working with individuals and communities from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, including those experiencing trauma, marginalisation, and social isolation. Their approach is person-centred, trauma-informed, and guided by a strong commitment to equity and inclusion. They aim to create spaces where people feel safe, respected, and able to show up as themselves.
Yel is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, and values working in ways that are culturally responsive, collaborative, and grounded in each person’s unique experiences and strengths.
As a queer person who has lived across different cultural contexts, they bring both professional and lived awareness of identity, belonging, and systemic barriers, and are mindful of the sensitivity and nuance required when working with individuals across diverse communities.