Our Team
Who we are
Our Team
Bhabhisana Baby Project has several teams, each consisting of a speech therapist, occupational therapist and physiotherapist. We work in an interdisciplinary way as our areas of expertise complement each other and in this way, we strive to give parents and their babies an integrated early intervention programme.
The Occupational Therapist
The occupational therapist focuses on multisensory stimulation, play and increasing involvement in everyday activities.
Rose
Occupational Therapist
Rosemary Luger qualified in 2001 at the University of Cape Town. She also has a Masters degree in Human Rehabilitation Studies from the University of Stellenbosch. She is NDT (Neurodevelopmental Therapy) trained and has also done the advanced NDT course in the treatment of infants. The majority of her work experience has been in the non-profit sector where she has advocated and supported the development and inclusion of children with disabilities.
She loves working with babies and their families as part of an interdisciplinary team. She has been with Bhabhisana since 2016 and puts her academic experience to good use in her research role there.
She loves working with babies and their families as part of an interdisciplinary team. She has been with Bhabhisana since 2016 and puts her academic experience to good use in her research role there.
Kate
Occupational Therapist
Kate Stuart is an occupational therapist who qualified in 2008 at the University of Kwazulu Natal. She is in the process of doing her NDT (Neurodevelopmental Therapy) training. She is passionate about her work and finds working with children with disabilities challenging, humbling, and rewarding.
She is motivated by seeing the great impact therapy can have on the quality of life for a child with a disability and their family. She works at the Cerebral Palsy Clinic based at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital and has worked at Bhabhisana Baby Project since 2019.
She is motivated by seeing the great impact therapy can have on the quality of life for a child with a disability and their family. She works at the Cerebral Palsy Clinic based at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital and has worked at Bhabhisana Baby Project since 2019.
Gina
Occupational Therapist
Gina Battersby is an occupational therapist who graduated from the University of Cape Town in 2001. with a BSc in Occupational Therapy. After graduating she worked in the UK for 8 years before returning to Cape Town. She has experience working in different settings including working in the national health service in both acute and community settings in the UK and the NPO sector and private practice in South Africa. She is NDT (Neurodevelopmental Therapy) trained and seeks out opportunities to further her knowledge base.
She loves working with children and their families and being part of their journey through the first 1000 days of their baby’s life and in her words “it holds a special kind of magic.” Teamwork and empowering parents are important to Gina and she loves being part of the family’s journey to help ease what is often a very difficult and daunting road.
She loves working with children and their families and being part of their journey through the first 1000 days of their baby’s life and in her words “it holds a special kind of magic.” Teamwork and empowering parents are important to Gina and she loves being part of the family’s journey to help ease what is often a very difficult and daunting road.
The Physiotherapist
The physiotherapist focuses on good positioning during sitting, carrying and lying and early movement, such as rolling, crawling and walking when possible. Positioning helps babies with delays to do functional activities more easily (playing, eating, looking, touching).
Lydia
Physiotherapist
Lydia Fehrsen is a physiotherapist who qualified in 2001 at the University of Cape Town. She is NDT (Neurodevelopmental Therapy) trained and has also done the advanced NDT course in the treatment of infants. She has experience in many different settings including working at a rural hospital but has been working exclusively in paediatrics since 2005 both school and hospital-based.
Her special interests are Neurodevelopment and Aquatic physiotherapy and she has worked at Bhabhisana since 2018. She is the head volunteer for The Roxy Foundation’s Adaptive Surfing clinics which provides opportunities for people with disabilities to experience the joy and benefits of surfing.
Her special interests are Neurodevelopment and Aquatic physiotherapy and she has worked at Bhabhisana since 2018. She is the head volunteer for The Roxy Foundation’s Adaptive Surfing clinics which provides opportunities for people with disabilities to experience the joy and benefits of surfing.
Ann
Physiotherapist
Ann Bullen is a physiotherapist who qualified in 1984 at the University of the Witwatersrand. She is NDT (Neurodevelopmental Therapy) trained and has also done the advanced NDT course in the treatment of infants. She has many years of experience in the field of disability, paediatrics and early assessment/ intervention within different settings including schools, hospital and the NPO sector.
Her passion is making intervention doable for parents and sharing her knowledge/ learning from colleagues in an interdisciplinary manner. She is one of the founder members of the Bhabhisana Baby project.
Her passion is making intervention doable for parents and sharing her knowledge/ learning from colleagues in an interdisciplinary manner. She is one of the founder members of the Bhabhisana Baby project.
Natalie
Physiotherapist
Natalie Melling-Williams is a physiotherapist who qualified in 1991 at the University of Witwatersrand. She is NDT( Neurodevelopmental Therapy) trained and has completed several advanced courses, as well as a Masters degree in Rehabilitation Studies from the University of Stellenbosch. This has influenced her thinking on disability and human rights, full participation and working with families and communities to achieve optimal outcomes for children with disabilities.
She has worked in hospitals, schools, private practice and NGO’s over the years. She has 22 years of experience working with children and is passionate about working with them as part of the family unit
She has worked in hospitals, schools, private practice and NGO’s over the years. She has 22 years of experience working with children and is passionate about working with them as part of the family unit
The Speech Therapist
The speech therapist focuses on safe feeding and drinking as well as developing communication and early language skills.
Faizah
Speech and Language Pathologist
Faizah Toefy is a speech and language pathologist who qualified in 1991 at the University of Cape Town. She is NDT (Neurodevelopmental Therapy) trained and has done advanced NDT courses in speech therapy and in the treatment of infants. She is also involved in teaching on the NDT courses. She has worked in the field of disability specifically with children in various settings including schools, hospitals and various NPO’s.
She feels strongly that every child has the right to intervention to ensure that they are able to function to the best of their ability within their communities. She believes that the best way to achieve this is through an integrated team approach where parents are recognised and valued as members of the team. She is one of the founder members of the Bhabhisana Baby Project.
She feels strongly that every child has the right to intervention to ensure that they are able to function to the best of their ability within their communities. She believes that the best way to achieve this is through an integrated team approach where parents are recognised and valued as members of the team. She is one of the founder members of the Bhabhisana Baby Project.
Jamie
Speech and Language Pathologist
Jamie Sareli is a speech and language pathologist who qualified in 2004 at the University of the Witwatersrand. She is NDT (Neurodevelopmental Therapy) trained and has also completed the OPT Talk Tools course (Oral Placement Therapy). Continuing professional development is very important to her and she is always signing up for new courses.
She has a passion for early intervention and works with the pediatric population, mostly with babies and children who have neurodevelopmental disorders. She works at the Cerebral Palsy Clinic based at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital, at Bhabhisana Baby Project since 2016 and in her own small private practice.
She has a passion for early intervention and works with the pediatric population, mostly with babies and children who have neurodevelopmental disorders. She works at the Cerebral Palsy Clinic based at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital, at Bhabhisana Baby Project since 2016 and in her own small private practice.
