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Meet Nadia

Developmental Educator

Behaviour Support Practitioner

Equine & Animal-Assisted Therapist

Director, Montrose Hills Therapy

Nadia is the founder of Montrose Hills Therapy and an experienced Developmental Educator, Behaviour Support Practitioner and Equine & Animal-Assisted Therapist. Her career has always centred on helping people build confidence, develop practical life skills and achieve meaningful outcomes that extend well beyond appointments.

Before establishing Montrose Hills Therapy in 2024, Nadia spent 20 years teaching at TAFE, working with high school students, school leavers, adults, apprentices, trainees, employees and employers undertaking workplace training/teaching. Throughout her teaching career, she also supported people with disability, where she discovered her passion for helping individuals build capacity, independence and confidence in ways that were meaningful to them. This experience inspired her to transition fully into the disability sector.

While completing a Graduate Certificate in Disability and a Master of Disability Policy and Practice at Flinders University, Nadia worked as a Local Area Coordinator, strengthening her understanding of person-centred practice, capacity building and the NDIS. In 2024, she established Montrose Hills Therapy to bring together everything she had learned throughout her career and create a service that reflects her values one that is collaborative, strengths-based, relationship-focused and centred on the individual rather than their diagnosis. In 2026, Behaviour Support services were introduced, further expanding the ways participants and families could be supported.

Nadia is a practising Developmental Educator registered with Developmental Educators Australia (DEA), a registered NDIS Behaviour Support Practitioner, and a certified equine, nature and animal-assisted therapy practitioner.

For Nadia, Montrose Hills Therapy is far more than a business it is the culmination of decades of professional experience, lifelong learning and personal understanding. She believes the best support doesn't happen to people; it happens with them. Every participant brings their own strengths, goals, experiences and aspirations, and Nadia sees it as a privilege to walk alongside participants as they build the confidence, skills and independence to live the life they choose.

Her understanding of disability extends far beyond her professional qualifications it's also deeply personal. As the mother of three neurodivergent daughters, she understands first-hand the realities of navigating diagnosis, therapy, education and advocacy. She knows the work that continues long after appointments. This lived experience shapes her practice.

Equine & Animal-Assisted Therapy is a natural extension of both Nadia's professional work and her lifelong love of horses. Having ridden and owned horses since she was young, she has always appreciated the unique connection, trust and healing that animals can offer. When one of her daughters struggled with traditional therapy but flourished around horses, it reinforced what Nadia had experienced throughout her life: meaningful relationships with animals can create opportunities for growth, confidence and emotional wellbeing that traditional settings sometimes cannot.

Qualifications

Master of Disability Policy and Practice (Flinders University)

Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies (Flinders University)

Bachelor of Further Education and Training (University of Southern Queensland)

Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAFE Queensland)

plus TAELLN411 Address Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Skills and TAEASS502 Design and Develop Assessment Tools

Diploma of Management (Business, Hospitality, Tourism, Events) (TAFE Queensland)

Certifications

PBS Together - Boot Camp: Essential Skills for Behaviour Support Practitioners

ESP Practitioner. Equine Supported Programs (ESP) Certificate in Learning Growth and Healing (LG&H) Practitioner

Equine, Animal, Nature Assisted Learning and Therapeutic Practice (Equine Supported Programs)

Yellow Card (Qld)

Working with Children Clearance Blue Card

NDIS Worker Screening

NDIS Worker Orientation Module

National Police Check

First Aid and CPR Certificate

VET Teacher of the Year, 2016, North Queensland

Memberships

Full Member of Developmental Educators Australia (DEA) Member Number #3324688

Animal Therapies LTD

Insurance

Prorisk Healthcare Professionals

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