Hi, I'm Carol Utens

Carol is the director at Colourful Minds. She is also a behaviour consultant and does the admin for Colourful Minds. Carol is an enthusiastic, driven professional with over 15 years of experience in the mental health care setting, supporting children and adults. Carol finds her job very rewarding and is thankful to be able to contribute to a child’s colourful future and that of their families.

All the behaviour we show is a form of communication and Carol is intrigued about the meaning of this behaviour. She specialises in the connection between body and mind and applies an inclusive, person-centred and holistic approach in therapy sessions. Carol focuses on where the child and family are in their journey and supports and advises them according to their needs and wishes.

Carol has a Bachelor's in Sports & Physical Education, a Bachelor of Health Care in Psychomotor (play) therapy and a Master's in Social Work. Furthermore, Carol also gained experience in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Carol has been working in different therapy settings such as schools, day-cares, in-home and clinical settings.

Carol is a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).

In her spare time, Carol likes to play soccer, go for a hike and loves to camp and travel.

Carol speaks fluently English and Dutch.

Hi, I'm Walaa Katta

Walaa is one of the behaviour consultants at Colourful Minds.

Walaa’s passion lies in working with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities. Walaa completed her honours in Cross-Cultural psychology. Walaa also holds a Bachelor's in Liberal Arts and Science (Psychology) from the University of Sydney, and a Diploma in Counselling. Currently, Walaa is completing her Masters in Psychology.

Walaa is a member of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)

Walaa has 4 years of experience working with children with Autism, ADHD, and ODD as an Allied Health Assistant and Support worker. In these roles, she worked alongside occupational therapists and psychologists to develop and implement behavioural support plans. She also has experience in family-based therapy with children with various neuro-developmental disorders and cognitive delays. Walaa takes a strength-based, person-centred approach to therapy. She believes children and families each have their strengths, knowledge, and skills that can be supported to ensure they meet their therapy goals. She enjoys developing resources specific to child needs, including visual boards and social stories.

Walaa’s experience enables her to work with individuals of different ages, abilities, and cultural groups. She can create tailored programs and collaborate with different support networks to achieve the child’s goals.

In her free time, Walaa likes to spend time with family and friends, explore new places, and try new foods.

Walaa speaks English and Arabic fluently.

Hi, I'm April Sia

April is one of the behaviour consultants at Colourful Minds.

April is a Registered Play Therapist under the Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association (APPTA) and is a Certified Autism Specialist through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). April is a member of the Australian Association of Special Education (AASE)

April gained her master's at the Academy of Performing Arts (film production) and in Art philosophy. April is completing her Master of Special Education at the Asian Teacher’s College.

April has 8 years of work experience with children with autism and ADHD. April has worked in community centres, schools and NGO’s to support children, parents and educators. She uses a variation of methods to work on emotional regulation, social skills, problem-solving techniques and other goals that fit the child’s individual needs. These methods include Sand Play Therapy, Lego®-Based Therapy, Aut®Play Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, Theraplay ®, and Six Bricks intervention.

April enjoys using play-based activities with children who are neurodiverse to help them develop specific skills and boost their self-esteem. For example, April supported a child by producing a Lego movie and a picture book to exhibit them to others. This activity supported the child in gaining confidence, working on their social skills, improving communication, using fine motor skills and receiving positive feedback from others.

In her free time, April likes to play board games with her son, watch movies, water paint and volunteer as a clown when she has the time.

April can hold therapy sessions in Cantonese, Mandarin and English.

Hi, I'm Bushra Faisal

Bushra is one of the behaviour consultants at Colourful Minds.

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/parents on 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 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 Chantal Milani

Chantal is a Behaviour Consultant at Colourful Minds with a psychology and behaviour support background. She holds a Bachelor of Psychology and is completing a Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced).

With nearly four years of experience working with children with disabilities across various settings, Chantal has supported children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and a range of other neurodevelopmental and complex needs, providing tailored support. She is passionate about helping children enhance their social communication, emotional flexibility, and self-advocacy skills to support their independence and well-being. Specifically, she enjoys the process of discovering what works best for each child, adjusting strategies as needed, and seeing the impact that small changes can make in their daily lives.

Chantal takes a practical and collaborative approach, working closely with families, and professionals to ensure strategies remain effective beyond her sessions. She values adaptability, ensuring that interventions evolve alongside each child's growth and changing needs. She tailors her approach using a mix of structured supports, visual aids, and interactive techniques to foster meaningful learning experiences.

Chantal is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS).

Outside of work, Chantal enjoys journaling, going for walks with her dog, trying new foods, and learning new languages. She is always eager to expand her skills and knowledge, both professionally and personally.

Chantal speaks English fluently