Hi, I'm Carol Utens

Carol is the Director of Colourful Minds and also works as a Behaviour Consultant while managing various administrative responsibilities. 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.

She holds a Bachelor's in Sports & Physical Education, a Bachelor's in Health Care with a focus on Psychomotor (Play) Therapy, and a Master's in Social Work. In addition, she has completed training in Cognitive Behaviour 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).

Committed to lifelong learning, Carol stays up to date with the latest developments in the field and is currently working towards obtaining her Behaviour Support Practitioner core registration.

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 April Sia

April is one of the dedicated Behaviour Consultants at Colourful Minds.

She is a Registered Play Therapist with the Australasian Pacific Play Therapy Association (APPTA) and a Certified Autism Specialist through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). She is also a proud member of the Australian Association of Special Education (AASE).

April has completed her Master of Special Education through the Asian Teacher’s College. She also holds a Master’s degree in Film Production from the Academy of Performing Arts and a Master’s in Art Philosophy.

With over eight years of experience working with children with autism and ADHD, April has supported children, families, and educators across community centres, schools, and NGOs. She tailors her therapeutic approach to each child’s individual needs, focusing on emotional regulation, social skills, and problem-solving strategies.

April draws from a wide range of therapeutic methods including Sand Play Therapy, Lego®-Based Therapy, AutPlay® Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, Theraplay®, and the Six Bricks intervention. She is especially passionate about using play-based activities to support neurodiverse children in building skills and self-esteem.

A memorable example of her work includes helping a child create a Lego® movie and a picture book, which they proudly shared with others. This project helped the child develop confidence, strengthen their social and communication skills, refine fine motor abilities, and experience positive social feedback.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her son playing board games, watching movies, water painting, and volunteering as a clown when she can.

April provides therapy 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

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, I’ll be more than happy to help!