LEADERSHIP Team

Claire is the CEO and Founder of Autism Abilities. 

Established in 2018, Autism Abilities is the place where you will find a team of dedicated and caring professionals driven by the common purpose of empowering and supporting autistic people to live life well. 

Many of us have lived experience of autism, all of us are fully aligned with our five core values: Be Knowledgeable, Be Memorable, Be Inspiring, Make Things Happen and Come From the Heart. 

Since 2018 we have had the privilege of working with some incredible autistic people and their loved ones across Victoria. And we are excited to continue to do so in the years ahead, with an exceptional team delivering services to the highest of standards and with the greatest of care.  

In her spare time (which she vaguely remembers...) she enjoys spending time with her now adult children and walking her dog Ziggy.

Kylie joined the Autism Abilities team in 2021 and has been empowering and supporting her participants and their families to live happy and fulfilling lives ever since.

In 2022, Kylie moved into the position of Operations Manager. Having previously worked in the education sector supporting autistic children along with a personal lived experience supporting an autistic family member Kylie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to both roles.

Kylie is passionate about what she does and is honoured to be able to share her knowledge and experience with others in assisting them in achieving their goals. 

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family/friends, eating out and keeping active.

Dr. Rucha has been working as a positive behaviour support specialist for the past ten years. Having completed a Master of Neuropsychology (UK) and a PhD in Gender Differences in Autism Spectrum Conditions (La Trobe University), she has presented at various national and international conferences, and published articles for websites and peer-reviewed journals. 

Rucha has previously worked with children and young people with severe behaviours, cognitive and developmental impairments and trauma-affected children. 

Rucha has extensive expertise in conducting workshops, and has delivered training across Victoria to parent groups, schools, and professional groups on various topics related to autism, positive behaviour support, trauma, and girls with autism.

Brooke has been working in the disability field supporting people with Autism, intellectual disability, and physical disability for 25 years. This has been as a support worker, House Supervisor, and Operations manager for DHHS prior to the roll out of NDIS.

For the past 4 years Brooke has been working in the Positive Behaviour Support space as a behaviour support practitioner, clinical supervisor, clinical lead and team leader.

Brooke has a passion for supporting people to learn new skills, increase their independence, experience new and exciting things so that they can live their best life.

Brooke has completed a cert IV in community services, Advanced Diploma in Disability studies and Graduate Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis.

When Brooke is not working she spends her time with her wonderful husband and 4 amazing children, passionately supporting the Carlton Football Club and Melbourne United Basketball team listening to and singing loudly to music and reading a book any chance she gets.

Caitlin has been empowering and supporting autistic people at Autism Abilities since December 2018. 

Caitlin brings a wealth of skills, knowledge and experience to her work including support coordination, positive behaviour support and education. 

She has made an incredible difference in the lives of the people she works with and their families.

Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family,  doing yoga, painting and walking her dog. 

Danny is a Proficient Behaviour Support Practitioner and has spent over 20 years working in the disability sector, with residential supervisory experience as well as the development and implementation of successful strategies, focusing on complex cases, including trauma informed service delivery (C-PTSD, BPD, Mental Health). 

Danny specialises in effective rapport building and diligently focuses on providing person centred support. He is passionate about providing behaviour support to help people achieve positive milestones.

In his spare time Danny likes spending time with his two children, going for long drives and holidays. He is a classic nerd with hobbies such as gaming, movies & TV shows, anime and reading comic books. He also builds Lego and is a collector of things such as Jordan sneakers and Pop Vinyl figures.

Janelle is a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Practitioner and qualified Social Worker with both professional and lived experience as an AuDHD individual.

Janelle practices from a holistic, neuroaffirming, and person-centred approach, with a specialised focus on supporting children, teenagers, and young adults. She is committed to providing highly individualised supports, tailoring strategies, environments, and resources to meet each person’s unique needs, strengths, and goals, with a strong focus on improving quality of life.

She provides inclusive, LGBTIQA+ affirming support and is dedicated to creating safe, respectful environments where individuals feel seen, valued, and supported to be their authentic selves.

Janelle works collaboratively with individuals, families, schools, and allied health professionals to ensure supports are consistent, practical, and sustainable. Her approach focuses on understanding the function of behaviour and reducing the need for restrictive practices by building skills, increasing autonomy, and enhancing quality of life.

Janelle is passionate about empowering autistic individuals and their families, supporting them to build on their strengths in ways that respect their identity and lived experience. Drawing on her own lived experience, she brings empathy, authenticity, and a deep understanding of the complexities families may face.

In her spare time, Janelle enjoys baking, watching movies with her dogs, and spending time with her family.

Maciline is an experienced and dedicated teacher and Behaviour Support Practitioner. With a strong background in specialist education and a post-graduate diploma in Special Education, Maciline is equipped with the knowledge and skills to support individuals with diverse learning and behavioural needs. 

She is passionate about creating inclusive and supportive environments that promote positive outcomes for children and young people. 

Maciline's work as a Behaviour Support Practitioner has further strengthened her ability to implement evidence-based strategies, develop behaviour support plans, and work collaboratively with families, educators, and multidisciplinary teams to enhance quality of life and reduce behaviours of concern.

With experience across a range of settings, she brings a flexible, compassionate, and person-centred approach to her work, always aiming to empower individuals to build independence, resilience, and meaningful connections.

Outside of work, Maciline enjoys reading, going for walks, and being actively involved in her church community, which all contribute to her overall well-being and balance.

Mikaela is passionate about inclusive, accessible communication and services, and is dedicated to value-driven work. She takes a person-centered approach, drawing on an individual’s strengths, interests, and support networks to create tailored strategies, resources, training, and behaviour support plans, all focused on improving quality of life for individuals and their families. 

With a Bachelor of Psychological Science and qualifications in communications, Mikaela joined Autism Abilities in September 2023. With eight years in the allied health sector in communications and management, supporting the organisation and delivery of professional development workshops for practitioners and healthcare students. 

Mikaela also brings over two years of volunteer experience providing support calls through the Anxiety Recovery Centre’s helpline and ongoing weekly support through the Cares4me program. 

In her free time, she enjoys walks, yoga, Pilates, dancing with friends, spending time with family, balloon tying, and playing the violin.

Steph is an experienced and approachable Behaviour Support Practitioner who commenced her PBS career in early 2023. She joined the team in March 2024 and has since continued to build on her clinical skills, now practising as an Advanced Behaviour Support Practitioner and Supervisor.

Steph has developed strong expertise in supporting children, teenagers, and young adults presenting with a range of complex needs. She is particularly passionate about working with adolescents and young adults, supporting them to build emotional regulation, independence, and meaningful engagement in their daily lives.

With a background in nursing and extensive experience across the aged care and disability sectors, Steph brings a holistic, person-centred approach to her work. 

She is committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based support while fostering strong relationships with participants, families, and multidisciplinary teams.

Outside of work, Steph enjoys spending time with family and friends, going for a run, shopping, and reading.

After completing a bachelor’s degree in Psychological Science, Rigbay developed a strong interest in the autism field, which led to a role as a Behavioural Therapist. 

In this position, she worked closely with children with autism, supporting the development of skills such as communication, emotional regulation, independence, and social interaction as well as improving the overall quality of life. This hands-on experience further deepened her passion for person-centred and evidence-based support strategies. 

Rigbay has also worked as a Psychosocial Recovery Coach, where she assisted NDIS participants in accessing supports and services that promote their mental health and independence. In this role, she provided counselling, advocacy, and ongoing recovery-focused support to help individuals achieve their personal goals.

Known for being compassionate, approachable, and outcome-focused, Rigbay values building strong, trusting relationships with the people she supports. She brings a calm and empathetic approach to every interaction, always aiming to empower individuals and foster growth.

Outside of work, Rigbay enjoys reading, spending quality time with family and friends, and unwinding with a good movie.