Hi, I'm Carol Utens

Carol is the Director of Colourful Minds and works as a devoted Behaviour Therapist, providing Early Intervention Supports, Therapeutic Supports, Positive Behaviour Support and services to private clients.

With over 15 years of experience in the mental health sector, she has supported both children and adults in a wide range of settings. Carol is a passionate and dedicated professional who finds great fulfilment in helping children and their families build brighter, more colourful futures.

Carol believes that all behaviour is a form of communication, and she is deeply curious about what each child tries to express. She specialises in understanding the connection between body and mind and brings an inclusive, person-centred, and holistic approach to her therapy sessions. Carol meets each child and family where they are on their journey, offering support and guidance tailored to their individual needs and goals.

Carol holds a Bachelor's degree in Sports & Physical Education, a Bachelor's degree in Health Care with a focus on Psychomotor (Play) Therapy, and a Master's degree in Social Work. Additionally, she has completed training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Carol has worked across a variety of therapeutic environments, including schools, day-care centres, in-home settings, and clinical practices. She is a registered member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and the Behaviour Support Practitioners Australia (BSPA).

Committed to lifelong learning, Carol stays up to date with the latest developments in the field.

Outside of work, Carol enjoys playing sports, playing with her dog Rocky, going on hikes, and travelling.

She is fluent in both English and Dutch.

Hi, I'm Bushra Faisal

Bushra is one of the caring Behaviour Support Practitioners at Colourful Minds, providing Positive Behaviour Support to our clients.

Bushra is a special needs educator and has 10+ years of experience working with neurodiverse children. Bushra has been working with individuals with developmental delays and learning difficulties in Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia. Bushra has significant experience collaborating with other professionals and paraprofessionals (psychologists, teachers, teacher's aids, special educators and speech pathologists, etc.) to analyse her clients' progress.

Bushra considers neurodiversity a stable part of human diversity rather than a disability that must be valued and accepted. Bushra believes challenging behaviours can be shaped into more appropriate behaviours to assist individuals in achieving their life goals.

Bushra is an experienced and passionate behaviour therapist. She has adequate professional knowledge to conduct direct and indirect assessments, design behaviour management plans, implement behavioural interventions to reinforce positive behaviours and closely observe and monitor behaviours to analyse the effectiveness of interventions.

Bushra is very friendly and dedicated to educating families with strategies to support their children in their home and community environment.

Bushra is keen to learn and is completing her Master's in Inclusive and Special Education. She also has a Master's in Literature, a Graduate Certificate in Inclusive and Special Education (Learning Difficulties Support Teaching), a Bachelor's in History and Social Studies, and a Bachelor's in Education (Middle and Secondary Schools).

She also received a Certificate in Disability Education Support and a Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorder and is registered with the Autism Partnership Foundation (APF). Bushra is a member of the Australian Association of Special Education (AASE). Bushra has obtained her Behaviour Support Practioner registration.obtained her Behaviour Support Practitioner core registration.

Bushra likes to spend time with her family, and enjoys long drives, listening to music and reading books.

Bushra can fluently speak English, Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi.

Hi, my name is Shirene Abbas

Shirene is an enthusiastic Play-based Therapist at Colourful Minds, providing Early Intervention Supports, Therapeutic Supports and services to private clients.

Shirene is passionate about creating a safe, supportive and welcoming environment where children, young people and families feel genuinely heard, valued and understood. She believes that building a strong and trusting relationship is an important foundation for meaningful support and takes the time to understand each person’s individual experiences, strengths, interests, needs and goals.

Her approach is person-centred, strengths-based and collaborative. Shirene works alongside children, young people and their families to identify what is important to them and develop practical strategies that support wellbeing, confidence, independence and participation in everyday life. She recognises that every person and family is different and aims to provide support that is flexible, respectful and responsive to each individual.

Before joining Colourful Minds, Shirene gained experience working as a Behaviour Therapist and Youth Worker, supporting children and young people across home, school and community environments. Through these roles, she developed experience supporting communication, social skills, emotional regulation, self-care and positive behaviour, while working closely with families, caregivers and other professionals.

Her experience has included supporting students from diverse backgrounds, facilitating individual and group-based activities, advocating for young people experiencing challenging circumstances and working alongside multidisciplinary professionals including social workers, occupational therapists, speech pathologists and physiotherapists. These experiences have strengthened her understanding of the importance of looking at the whole person and considering their relationships, environment, strengths and support network.

Shirene particularly enjoys supporting neurodiverse children and young people to develop their emotional, social and everyday living skills in ways that feel achievable, engaging and meaningful to them. She enjoys incorporating a child or young person’s interests into sessions and recognises that learning and connection can often happen most naturally through play and shared activities.

Outside of her professional interests, Shirene has a strong interest in music and physical activity. She enjoys using music, movement, games and active play as opportunities to build engagement and connection with children and young people.

Shirene values working closely with families, caregivers, schools and other important people within an individual’s support network. Through a collaborative approach, she aims to build consistency across different environments and ensure that strategies are realistic, practical and relevant to everyday life.

Shirene holds a Bachelor of Social Work and is a registered member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). She is fluent in English and also speaks some Arabic.

Hi, I'm Onisha Sitaula

Onisha is one of the passionate Play-based Therapists at Colourful Minds, providing Early Intervention Supports, Therapeutic Supports and services to private clients.

Onisha is a social worker with years of experience in statutory child protection and out-of-home care. Outside of her professional work, she writes songs, plays guitar, and enjoys painting - creativity is something she values both personally and in the work she does with children and families.

In child protection, Onisha has worked directly with children and families at key points of contact with the statutory system, conducting assessments, developing safety plans, and working collaboratively with families to understand their circumstances and identify the support that would be most meaningful for them. Further, she has supported children living in foster and kinship care, worked closely with carers and parents, and collaborated with schools, allied health professionals, and other services to ensure a thoughtful and coordinated approach around each child.

Onisha has had the privilege of working with children and families from many different walks of life, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and children with a range of abilities and developmental needs. She approaches every person she works with, focusing on their innate strengths, their story, and their understanding of what support looks like for them.

Onisha works from a strength-based and dignity-focused approach. She believes that every child and family already has something within them to build on, and her role is to walk alongside them in a way that feels respectful, steady, and genuinely collaborative. Advocacy is central to how she works — she is committed to ensuring that children and families feel informed and meaningfully included in the decisions that shape their lives.

Onisha holds a Master's degree in Social Work and is a registered member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).

She is fluent in English, Nepali and Hindi.

Hi, my name is Mickhaela David

I am the Office Administrator at Colourful Minds and help support the smooth day-to-day operation of the practice.

My role includes coordinating appointments, responding to enquiries, assisting with administrative processes and providing ongoing support to families, therapists and other members of our professional network. I aim to make communication with Colourful Minds clear, welcoming and straightforward, ensuring that families receive the information and assistance they need throughout their journey with us.

I understand that navigating services, appointments and documentation can sometimes feel overwhelming. I am here to answer questions, help coordinate next steps and ensure that each enquiry is handled with care, professionalism and attention.

I am proud to be part of a compassionate and dedicated team that is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of children, individuals and their families.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or require assistance. I will be more than happy to help.

Tell us more about your family

We would love to get to know your family better and discuss ways to support your family best. Contact us if you have any questions, comments or want to receive more information. We can send you our Colourful Minds Program Overview today with detailed information.

Let's talk

Via email: info@colourfulminds.com.au
Phone: 1300 27 1818

Office Hours Monday-Friday
9 am to 6 pm

Location Our clinic is located at 2 Kent Street, Belmore 2192 NSW Sydney, Australia.

We are a mobile service and visit children and their families: - Inner-West Sydney - South-West Sydney - North-West Sydney - Central Sydney - Eastern Suburbs - South Sydney - Sutherland Shire