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A group people all wearing blue SWAN shirts, smiling and waving to the camera. They are sitting and standing outside the Yallingup Maze Cafe at the SWAN Family Christmas Party.

Our Team

As a Disabled Persons and Families Organisation (DPFO), everyone at SWAN either has a disability, is a family member of a person with disability, or both. Between us we have extensive knowledge and experience about disability, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), mainstream and disability services available.

Our Team

Nick Avery – CEO

Nick is an autistic parent of two autistic young adults, and has been volunteering, advocating and working in the south west disability sector since 1999. Her background is in Youth Work, Community and Disability Services, and she is a licenced Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor. Nick is a member of the Steering Committee for Every Australian Counts, representing the grassroots group in systemic advocacy and co-design with the National Disability Insurance Agency, a Board member for the Autistic Self Advocacy Network Australia and New Zealand (ASAN-AUNZ), and Co-Chair for the Self Manager Hub Board.  She has been involved with SWAN as a volunteer since 2010, a year after the organisation was founded, and became an employee in 2014. Her knowledge of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is extensive, and she’s very experienced in providing individual and systemic advocacy. Nick also has physical disability.

Photo of Mel Jacobson, a woman with wavy shoulder-length blonde hair, blue eyes and glasses. She has blue eyes, is smiling and wearing a black top.

Mel Jacobson – 2IC Coordinator

Mel works for SWAN one day per week, and is a Registered Psychologist for a local therapy provider in her other role. She’s a licenced Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor, and delivers the two-day workshop with Nick around the south west a few times each year. Mel does an amazing job working with Nick on grant writing, reporting, project management and is an huge support to the SWAN team. Mel has family members with psychosocial disability, and has been volunteering for SWAN since 2015, before joining the team as a staff member in 2017.

A photo of Kylie Robinson, a woman with teal coloured, long wavy hair, dark framed glasses and fair skin. She's smiling at the camera.

Kylie Robinson – Coordinator

Kylie has two autistic family members, and comes to SWAN from a background working in Education Support and as a Disability Support Worker, and volunteers extensively in the Busselton community. She coordinates our group programs, AutStars and YES Program, and is also in charge of our JumpStart Youth Film Project. Kylie is a fantastic mentor for youth with disability, and has been volunteering for SWAN since 2018 before joining the team as a staff member in 2020.

A photo of Ronnie Madge, a woman with short, wavy dark hair, dark framed glasses, brown eyes and fair skin. She is smiling at the camera.

Ronnie Madge – Coordinator

Ronnie has two autistic family members, and has been volunteering for SWAN as a Board member (and former President) and mentor at our group programs since 2016 before joining the team as a staff member in 2022. She has a background as an Education Assistant and as a Disability Support Worker, volunteers extensively in the Busselton community, and has terrific knowledge and experience in a wide range of areas.

Image of Rikki McCabe, a fair skinned woman with short brown hair, wearing glasses. She is smiling at the camera.

Rikki McCabe – Coordinator

Rikki is an autistic parent of three neurodivergent children, two of whom are autistic. She joined the SWAN team in 2023 and works for SWAN three days a week. Rikki has a background as a health care professional, and now works in adult education in her other role. She is passionate about increasing acceptance and understanding of autism through education.

A photo of Tina Williams, a woman with short dark hair, fair skin and grey eyes. she's wearing a red top

Tina Williams – Admin Volunteer

Tina has been volunteering for SWAN as Admin since 2013. She’s the backbone of SWAN, surrogate Mum to the whole team, and truly irreplaceable. Tina has family members with disability, and brings a lifetime of invaluable knowledge, experience and insight to SWAN and the work we do. 

Our Board

Ant Pursell – President
Amy Munro – Vice President
Grant Avery – Treasurer
Amiee-Jade Pember – General Board Member
Clare Gibellini – General Board Member
Kate Heaslip – General Board Member