Our Team

Rachel Nel – Positive Behaviour Practitioner

Hey there! My name is Rachel and I have the absolute privilege of being a Positive Behaviour Practitioner here at Footsteps! I have been a part of the Footsteps family for over two years and during this time have formed such a passion for making people feel known, valued and heard. I have spent many years overseas in South Africa, Europe, Canada and now here in Australia. Coming from a diverse background I have come to see how the world impacts others and it stirred in me a conviction to work within environments to cause motion for change.

If I am not at work playing with the therapy dogs…. or doing my actual work I can be found at the beach for a 5am sunrise, snorkelling around the reefs or café hopping with my soon to be hubby! I love to sing and find it a resting place for myself. 

When working with me you will find that I am energetic, full of passion but most of all love advocating for all my clients, everyone deserves to have their voice amplified! 

Bianca Allard Watson – Behaviour and Data Analyst

Since a young age, my nature has always been active and to seek out new experiences. Facing new challenges as they came, and learning from them as I go. Making sure the whole time that it is meaningfully spent with others that share common values. I transfer this activeness into work every day, as well as university to acquire the building blocks on how to make mine and everyone else’s experience in life greater. As I progress in the health profession my goal is to continue learning with each person what can be achieved to make life as fun, comfortable, and adventurous it can be through a joint effort. I hope as I finish my degree in occupational therapy, I can create an even bigger platform for others to discover their potential and strive towards what they want in the future.

Jarryd Gould – Individualised Therapist

My name is Jarryd, I am a registered counsellor and I love to make people feel welcomed and included. I love to facilitate caring conversations with my clients, and I utilise various approaches to help people see their life from new perspectives that empower change and resiliency. In my free time, I love to spend time exploring the great outdoors, reading, watching movies, drinking coffee and spending time with my dog, my family and friends.

I’m looking forward to meeting you! 

Sonya Wagensveld – Individualised Therapist

My name is Sonya, I’m a wife and a mother of 3 and my youngest daughter has been diagnosed with ASD and ADHD. We are a family of drag racers with my two teenage girls racing cars of their own, I race my street car and we crew on a 5.96 second Pro Mod car. My son has served in the army, my eldest daughter is a country music singer and guitarist while my youngest sings, plays violin and clarinet 

I’m a counsellor because I enjoy talking to people and walking beside them as they discover where they fit into their world. I’ve lived with an undiagnosed ASD and ADHD child and walked beside her as she discovers where she belongs in her world including her walk through the LGBTQ world.

Mick Neill – State Manager

I am a Husband and Father of 4 children and love spending quality time with my family camped around a fire by the beach or in the middle of nowhere. My background prior to disability is in Metal Fabrication/and the Petroleum Industry. After many years in this industry I decided that it was not fulfilling my need to help people at a deeper level. With this in mind, I set out to change my career and bring meaning to my professional career. I have been privileged to meet many people over the years with disabilities and really enjoyed spending time getting to know them and how their outlook on life was always so positive. I decided I wanted to do something that made a difference in these people’s lives. My first taste of really doing this was when I become a support worker. I was honoured to work along side people with disabilities in a support worker capacity and could see the struggle they can face in their day to day life. I could really see the deficits within the support they needed and wanted to be able to assist them to engage in services they require to be able to live an independent and quality life filled with choice and control. This in mind I set out to become a Support Coordinator. I was given an opportunity several years ago to join a Support Coordination team and learn how to get to know the needs of participants, engage in services and support them to manage their NDIS Plans. I never dreamt that changing my career so drastically would lead me to find a happiness within my working day that I never thought possible. My passion to continue to grow and develop within the disability sector has led to opportunities I never thought possible. If I can wake up each day and help someone feel better about themselves then I can sleep well knowing I have done my job.  

Claire Royle – Volunteer

I work at Footsteps Community Services as a volunteer assisting the support coordination team. I am mum to two young men and have been married for 28 years to my soul mate. I am passionate about alternative therapies including Reiki, Crystals, Colour therapy and Meditation.

I’ve spent the past 15 years as a full time carer for my son whom has Autism. His complex needs did not allow me to return to my career but I made the best of it.

I now hope to use my lived experience as a strength and assist others living with disability and their carers. It’s a journey no one asked for yet one that is thrust upon us and to help the days, weeks and years go a little easier it makes such a difference with the right supports.

Julie Wheeler – Team Leader and Individual Therapist

Hi, I’m Julie and I am one of the team leaders at Footsteps. I have extensive industry experience, including more than 10 years working with Community Services, including aged care, home care with intellectual and physical disabilities, as a social worker in behavioural school and as a counsellor at Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, Yulara. During my time working in the NT, I gained vast knowledge in many different cultures, and was privileged in being welcomed into the local Indigenous community where she was invited into closed ceremonies such as “sorry business” and taught local protocols. I like to incorporate fun into my sessions, so I am not afraid of telling and hearing jokes, even lame ones, playing on the swings, I have even been known to play in the rain and mud. I believe that you are the expert, and I am an information booklet.

Jevon Harrison – Administration and Finance Team Leader

Hey! I am Jevon, I am the current team leader of the Administration and Finance at Footsteps Community Services.  In this role I oversee all invoices and claims made to our participants 🙂

When I’m not in the office you will catch me doing up my car, gaming and cooking!

Harley Nelson – Finance Administrator

Hi, my name is Harley.
I am full of energy and passion. You can usually find me sewing, woodworking, or going on adventures. My new found hobby is jumping around on the respite’s trampoline, and my goal in life is to have lots of chickens and a pet duck. I work as a financial administrator, because numbers always make sense.