Our Team

With over a decade of experience, Xanthy is the Co-founder and Director of Carapace Therapy Services. She holds a Bachelor of Speech Pathology and a PhD in infant nutrition and its effects on brain development. Xanthy has worked for Community Health and a large not-for-profit disability provider, gaining extensive experience with adults and children with a range of complex needs.

Xanthy has additional training and extensive skills in all areas pertaining to mealtime concerns, including dysphagia, tube weaning, and “fussy” eating. She is highly experienced in providing training and support to individuals, family members, care staff, and childcare/education staff in all areas of feeding and mealtimes. This includes developing mealtime plans, facilitating workshops and group training sessions, and providing one-to-one support and therapy.

Xanthy is also trained in and passionate about early communication support, particularly for individuals who are minimal or non-verbal and require alternative communication (AAC). She is highly sought after for her supervisory support, with other organisations seeking her consultancy in specialised mealtime and feeding knowledge. Xanthy is dedicated to sharing her wisdom and expertise across her diverse skill set to make a significant difference in the lives of her clients and their caregivers.

Outside of work, Xanthy enjoys spending time with her two children and going for runs.

Jemma graduated from Flinders University in 2019. Since graduating, she has developed her clinical skills, knowledge, and expertise while working as a generalist speech pathologist in Sydney at a private speech pathology practice and in Adelaide for a large not-for-profit organisation. Jemma is currently working for both the Department for Education and Carapace Therapy Services.

Jemma is highly experienced and has completed numerous additional trainings to provide early intervention supports and to support individuals with complex communication needs (minimal or non-verbal) who require AAC supports. She is very passionate about providing neurodiverse affirming practice and finding the best ways to support and advocate for her clients across all aspects of their lives.

As a senior therapist, Jemma has provided clinical supervision to junior and student speech pathologists to share her expertise. Outside of work, she loves spending time at the beach, either stand-up paddleboarding or walking her dogs, as well as cooking and baking tasty treats.

Ratna graduated from Flinders University in 2020. Since graduating, she has worked for over four years as a generalist speech pathologist supporting adults and children in the Upper Eyre Peninsula region with complex needs. Ratna is passionate about and has numerous additional training and expertise in supporting individuals with complex communication needs (minimal or non-verbal) who require alternative communication supports, mealtime and feeding supports, functional and social communication challenges, and language difficulties.

She has provided clinical supervision and mentored student speech pathologists, sharing her expert knowledge to foster the next generation of therapists. Ratna is committed to providing the highest quality services to her clients and working collaboratively within a team to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Coming from a multicultural background, Ratna is multilingual, speaking five languages: Bahasa Indonesia and its dialects, English, Melayu, and Mandarin and its dialects. Outside of work, Ratna enjoys travelling, hiking, gardening, and Pilates.

Alysha graduated from Flinders University with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology in 2018. Since graduating, Alysha has worked for a large, not-for-profit disability provider for over 5 years. She has gained extensive knowledge and clinical skills as a generalist speech pathologist in both regional SA and metro settings.

More recently,  Alysha has worked as the Team Leader for a team of approximately 16 therapists, where she has been able to share her expertise with junior and senior therapists. In 2022, Alysha worked part time at Flinders University, tutoring university students studying complex paediatrics, and assisting with assignment marking, highlighting her extensive knowledge in this area.

Alysha is particularly passionate in the areas of language, literacy and mealtimes, and has completed additional trainings in these areas (including SOS Mealtime training and SCERTS). Alysha will be working part-time as a Senior Clinician in the Carapace Therapy team.

 In her spare time, Alysha enjoys cooking up feasts, walking, and playing daily word games.