Deafblind Services Team

One of Melanie’s key roles is to help people who are deafblind – and their communication partners – understand accessible ways of communicating.

With more than 15 years’ experience as a speech pathologist in the disability and community health sectors, Melanie provides one-on-one and family-focused support and guidance so that opportunities to develop communication, and explore and understand the world, can be provided.

While much of Melanie’s experience over the years has been working with early years and school-age children, this experienced disability services specialist works with people of all ages who have combined hearing and vision loss.

A natural presenter, trainer and mentor who has been with SensesWA since 2008, Melanie ensures information is always clear and relatable. She develops information resources, and regularly presents workshops and webinars. In 2011 Melanie presented at her first international Deafblind Conference.

Additionally, Melanie is a Project Officer with Deafblind Information Australia and a Key Word Sign Presenter. Out of work she is dedicated to mothering her large family, rowing and furthering her Auslan studies.

London-trained Paul Garwood teaches people who are blind, deafblind or visually impaired how to master a range of orientation and mobility skills so that they can travel through the world safely, confidently and  independently.

Never afraid to make learning fun for children or adults, Paul provides personalised, one-on-one instruction and guidance so that they not only improve existing skills, such as using a white cane, auditory cues or GPS assistive technology, but they also learn new daily living practices for a variety of environments.

The Senior Orientation and Mobility Specialist also has dedicated training in Low Vision Rehabilitation, assessing people with partial sight and then helping them maximise their residual vision through the use of aids and adaptive technologies.

An accessibility advocate and inclusion champion with more than 30 years’ experience, Paul takes times to mentor the next generation of orientation and mobility specialists, is trained in basic Auslan, qualified to teach Braille, and is a Guide Running and Para-Guide Triathlon participant who represented Australia in Cross Triathlon.

Qualifications and Training

• Diploma in Higher Education Vision Rehabilitation Studies
• Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS)
• Registered Orientation Mobility Specialist (ROMSA)

Theresa brings over 20 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist (OT). Since 2019, she has been a member of the Deafblind Therapy team at SensesWA, serving as an OT, behaviour support practitioner, and deafblind consultant.

Before joining SensesWA, Theresa's career spanned various facets of healthcare, including inpatient neurorehabilitation, rehab-in-the-home, and acute care for patients with complex needs. Despite her diverse background, Theresa discovered her true passion for deafblindness and CHARGE syndrome later in her career.

Theresa graduated with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in 1999 and furthered her education with a Master's in Public Health in 2012, enhancing her evidenced-based practice and advocacy for comprehensive, person-centred care. She is a collaborative health professional, working closely with individuals, their families, and interdisciplinary teams to ensure holistic support and empower individuals to achieve their best life.

Qualifications and Training

• Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Hons) 1999
• Masters in Public Health (2012)

A natural problem-solver, Rachel Williams helps people with combined vision and hearing loss build their independence, performance and safety when it comes to everyday tasks. 

Compassionate and intuitive, Rachel looks for creative solutions to everything from meal preparation and household chores, to enjoying hobbies and leisure activities.  

Rachel brings experience in the aged care sector to her role, as well as specific experience supporting older Australians who are blind or vision-impaired.  

As a SensesWA Occupational Therapist, Rachel works with people who are deafblind to address not only day-to-day challenges, but also the emotional and psychological impact of combined vision and hearing loss. 

Graduating from Curtin University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, Rachel is trained to carry out comprehensive assessments, partnering with clients and their families to design and implement personalised solutions. 

Rachel has been a guest tutor for occupational therapy students at ECU, and for optometry students at UWA, sharing Assistive Technology and strategies for low vision and blindness. In her spare time, she has been busy learning Auslan. 

Rayan is an Orthoptist specialising in the eye health of children and adults who are deafblind. With specific training in the assessment, diagnosis and non-surgical management of eye disorders, Rayan works to deliver personalised care and support.

Visiting people with impaired vision in their home, Rayan gently guides them step by step through a comprehensive functional vision assessment, including tests to determine visual acuity and visual field, and contrast and light sensitivity, as well as overall eye health.

This comprehensive assessment helps Rayan create tailor-made support systems that can make a huge difference to people with both vision and hearing loss. When their day-to-day is seamless and comfortable, they are freer to get on living life.

Trained in Sydney, Rayan moved to Perth to take up her role with SensesWA after working as an Orthoptist in community eye testing, surgical centres and health support.

Since 2022, she has been involved in Cambodia Vision – The Gift of Sight, travelling to Cambodia as a volunteer to help those in small rural villages who have debilitating eye disease.

Qualifications and Training

• Master of Orthoptics

Hannah McPierzie is a globally respected presenter and educator who combines her outstanding skills as a teacher with her lived – and learned – experience of being deafblind.

Through her personal journey and 15 years’ experience working with students with disabilities, Hannah is breaking down invisible barriers through understanding, compassion and communication.

Presenting workshops and information sessions at schools and universities, she builds critical awareness of deafblindness and sensory loss, helping people develop skills and capacity to self-advocate.

Mentor, natural collaborator, accessibility enthusiast and campaigner, Hannah is experienced at working with Neurodiverse peoples, including those with Autism, Down Syndrome, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Epilepsy, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) and people with complex communication needs, including Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users.

Chair of Deafblind West Australians, a representative on the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Consultative Committee, and a Children’s Tumour Foundation CTF Hero, Hannah has a Bachelor of Education – Primary Students with Special Education Needs. She was 2024 Valedictorian for the Leadership WA LeadAbility Course and gained her Emerging Leaders in Governance qualification in 2023.

As a leading deafblindness consultant, researcher and Certified Practising Speech Pathologist, Meredith’s goal is to foster inclusion, adequate and appropriate support and awareness of the needs of people with deafblindness throughout the community.

Among her many notable contributions, Meredith was involved in the 17^th Deafblind International World Conference Planning and Scientific Committee, leads the Deafblind Information Australia Project and in 2023 was elected Vice-President of Deafblind International.

She completed a PhD exploring interactions between adults born with deafblindness and the people who support them, Meredith has been involved in numerous research projects with Deakin University, Monash University and the University of Melbourne, and regularly presents at national and international conferences.

A natural communicator with three decades of experience in the allied health and disability sector, Meredith works with SensesWA to deliver training in deafblind awareness and deafblind communication methods and strategies, undertake research, manage projects and develop resources.