Annette Demack
Clare Stevens
Judit Veperdi
Nora Kosztolanyi
Nina Jorgensen
Emily Sharp
Jody Florance
Angela Duncalfe
Natalie Nelson
Susi Gabri-Csordas
Noah Roberts
Chiara Sommers
Joshua Baker
Richard Gruss
Olivia O’Shea
Courtney Marshall
Helena McIlwain – In Loving Memory
Annette Demack
Managing Director
Annette has worked in Special Education and the Disability sector for over 30 years. She has a particular passion for and extensive knowledge of working with people with physical impairment, particularly cerebral palsy. For more than 20 years Annette has been involved in programs using the principles of Conductive Education.
Annette has been a classroom teacher and leader, early intervention educator and leader, team member and leader, head of school, member of a mainstream P-12 campus administration team, lecturer and consultant to other programs in the area of Conductive Education. She has had papers accepted on the Queensland experience at national and international Conductive Education conferences and has presented at many training sessions and local professional development throughout Queensland.
She has extensive experience in working with and leading professional teams, including Conductors, teachers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, dieticians, nurses and teacher aides. In these teams, Annette has gained the respect of many professionals and been able to achieve excellent results for students across all areas of development.
Clare Stevens
Senior Physiotherapist
Clare has been working as a physiotherapist in the paediatric and disability field for more than thirty years, twenty of which have been with Conductive Education programs. She has been part of the CEQ team as a senior therapist since 2012, working hands-on in programs including Hydrotherapy. Clare is passionate about working with children and young adults with complex needs and their families. She believes Conductive Education provides the best holistic approach and enjoys working in a transdisciplinary team.
Clare has extensive experience in wheelchair and complex seating prescription, powered mobility and all other Assistive Technology applications and prescriptions.
Clare is a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association and the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine and endeavours to stay informed about all relevant, latest research and maintains professional connections in the field. In her role as a senior physiotherapist at CEQ she enjoys the mentoring and coaching aspect and has presented at several conferences and seminars.
Judit Veperdi
Conductor
Judit is a Hungarian, Pető-trained Conductor. After finishing her studies in 2012 at the International Pető Institute, she worked there with pre-school aged children with Cerebral Palsy and Spina Bifida. Subsequently, she was employed for 2 years at the Move & Walk Institute in Sweden where she worked in the intensive training department. While there Judit developed and lead Conductive Therapy groups and individual programs for people with Cerebral Palsy and Stroke. Prior to her Conductor training, Judit was a teacher.
In July 2015 Judit moved with her family to Brisbane and began working at Conductive Education Queensland soon after arriving. As a Conductor with CEQ, she has shown great flexibility and leadership. She is able to motivate participants to greater improvements and promotes professional skills within the CEQ team. Judit leads and supports a wide range of group and individual CE programs, hydrotherapy sessions and technology access. She enjoys working within the stimulating transdisciplinary team of professionals and assistants at CEQ.
Nora Kosztolanyi
Conductor
Nora is a Pető-trained Hungarian Conductor with more than 27 years of experience teaching children with neurodevelopmental disorders in different countries around the world. Nora works with the babies & young Children at CEQ.
Nora is a part-time senior teacher with Education Queensland and a registered teacher with the Queensland College of Teachers. She has delivered training and professional development in Conductive Education since 2005.
Nora has been working collaboratively with Occupational, Physio and Speech Therapists, mainstream and specialist teachers in developing individualised programs that meet the students’ needs. She is responsible for planning, developing and implementing an outstanding early intervention curriculum for young children based on the Principles of Conductive Education.
Nina Jorgensen
Occupational Therapist
Nina is a qualified occupational therapist who aims to build relationships with participants to provide the best occupational therapy for their needs. She has a particular interest in integrating play into therapy to develop school readiness and fine motor skills.
Her experience with children and young adults in rural Vietnam taught her the value of working within a transdisciplinary team, which is one of the aspects that drew her to Conductive Education. As a member of Occupational Therapy Australia, Nina is committed to staying up to date with the most recent occupational therapy research. Nina aspires to use the holistic approach of Conductive Education, in combination with the principles of occupational therapy, to enable individuals to achieve their goals and participate in their valued occupations.
Emily Sharp
Physiotherapist
Emily is a graduate of Master of Physiotherapy and Bachelor of Exercise Science at Griffith University in 2016. Emily is an AHPRA and APA registered Physiotherapist and has been working at Conductive Education Queensland since 2017. She is pursuing her passion for working with children and young adults and enjoys the dynamic and motivating nature of Conductive Education group programs. Emily is involved with leading and supporting group programs, individual Physiotherapy sessions, hydrotherapy and swimming lessons, technology access as well as equipment advice and prescription. Emily works closely with the professionals and assistants at CEQ to support each participant to reach their goals.
Jody Florance
Volunteer Director
Jody is a dynamic, creative and committed volunteer who, amongst other things produces our artwork and coordinates CEQ events such as the CEQ Charity Race Day.
Jody has been involved with Conductive Education “CE’ programs since she began attending the early intervention program at Xavier Special School in 1996 with her son Cameron when he was 16 months old. Cameron has Cerebral Palsy, Autism & Epilepsy, and his early prognosis was not a positive one. Jody embraced the dynamic holistic nature of CE and incorporated it into their every day (busy) life, this eliminated the need for multiple individual specialists & allied health appointments.
Through Conductive Education, Cameron has astounded the medical profession and everyone who knows him. Jody’s commitment to Conductive Education Queensland is to ensure CE is available to other people whose lives may be changed in the most wonderful way through the practice.
Angela Duncalfe
Volunteer Director
Angela has been a determined and tireless worker in the disability sector for over 20 years. She is the parent of a son who has cerebral palsy. She is committed to seeking out and ensuring quality education, therapy, leisure and lifestyle options for people, particularly with physical and multiple disabilities. Angela keenly pursues access to quality programs to maintain and improve life skills, which ultimately enhance life choices for people with physical and multiple disabilities.
Angela has been involved with Conductive Education programs since she and her son, Michael began attending the early intervention program at Xavier Special School. Angela has a strong belief in teaching children to be actively involved in the learning process. By providing these learning opportunities, individuals’ independence is maximized and their participation in community life is increased. Angela is passionate about setting realistic but high expectations. It is through empowering parents and carers to set high standards and working towards achieving attainable outcomes that goals are reached. Instilling a belief in a child to do better, can be the beginning of a rewarding journey.
Angela believes that CEQ offers opportunities for people with physical and multiple disabilities and promotes a community where all members can work and enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle in a more inclusive way.
Natalie Nelson
Program Assistant
Susi Gabri-Csordas
Program Assistant
Noah Roberts
Program Assistant
Chiara Sommers
Program Assistant
Joshua Baker
Program Assistant
Richard Gruss
Program Assistant
Olivia O’Shea
Program Assistant
Courtney Marshall
Program Assistant
Helena McIlwain – In Loving Memory
Program Assistant