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 Therapists at Colourful Minds, providing Early Intervention Supports, Therapeutic Supports, Positive Behaviour Support, and services to private 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 Sara Wernick

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

Over more than five years working with children across a range of organisations, Sara has demonstrated that her strengths, enthusiasm, and interpersonal style are highly suited to child-focused roles.

These experiences have strengthened her commitment to a trauma-informed, person-centred, and holistic approach, and confirmed that her values align closely with a neuro-affirming framework.

Since play is the language of children, Sara believes play-based therapy creates a positive ripple effect that can shape the future for the better. She is confident that with empathy and understanding, we can support children’s growth of self-discovery while empowering their families.

While society often places pressure on children to fit a particular mould, Sara is committed to being a safe and supportive presence in their lives, tailoring therapy to honour each child’s individual needs, strengths, and identity.

Sara holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, a Master's degree in Psychotherapy and Counselling, and is a registered member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).

Sara is committed to the limitless journey of lifelong learning. With patience and compassion, she hopes to gradually share the message that our differences can be understood, respected, and embraced as strengths.

Outside of work, Sara enjoys hula-hooping and has been fire-spinning for nearly 10 years. She also loves to crochet and write poetry.

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 over 2 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, I'm Logitha Chakravarthy

Logitha is the Office Administrator for Colourful Minds.

Logitha will often be the first point of contact for families. Logitha keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes so our therapists can focus on supporting the amazing children and families we work with. Whether it’s scheduling appointments, answering questions, or making sure the day-to-day operations flow efficiently, she is here to help.

Logitha is proud to be part of a team that’s passionate about creating positive change and supporting children on their journey. If you ever need assistance or have any questions, Logitha will be more than happy to help!