Our Team

Meet the Chrysalis Collective family

Founding Directors

About Ainsley

Our Director and Senior Support Coordinator, Ainsley Ackerman, has worked in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) space for over 3 years as a Support Coordinator and more recently as a Team Leader in Support Coordination. Prior to this, Ainsley worked in Disability Employment Services as an Employment Consultant and comes from a strong customer-centered background.

Ainsley has both worked and lived experience in the disability sector, and understands the ‘what, when, why and how’ of finding and linking in the right supports and services to help NDIS participants achieve their goals and live a full and happy life.

She is passionate about helping others, making a positive impact, and ensuring that everyone has equal opportunity and support. To Ainsley, it is all about connecting with people, understanding their needs and problem-solving in order to make a difference in people’s lives.

Ainsley was born on the Sunshine Coast, relocating to the Bundaberg region at the age of 12 to live the farm life. Returning to the Sunshine Coast in 2014, Ainsley has continued to enjoy the coastal lifestyle since.

In her free time, Ainsley is a self-care queen. She loves reading, visiting the beach and a quiet day at home. Ainsley also enjoys spending time with family and friends, and attending regular Reformer Pilates classes.

Ainsley is offering Level 2 Support Coordination and Psychosocial Recovery Coaching, and works full time hours Monday to Friday.

Please reach out if you want Ainsley on your support team!

Qualifications and Experience:

  • Certificate IV in Youth Work
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • First Aid
  • CPR
  • Lived experience
  • Disability Employment Specialist 2020-2021
  • Team Leader - Support Coordination 2023-2024
  • Support Coordinator 2021-Present

About Jade

Our Director and Senior Support Coordinator, Jade Clarke, brings with her over 5 years combined experience in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) space as a child representative, Local Area Coordinator and Support Coordinator.

Jade has worked and lived experience in the disability sector collaborating closely with both children and adult NDIS participants with a variety of impairments including:

  • Intellectual;
  • Cognitive;
  • Neurological;
  • Sensory;
  • Physical; and
  • Psychosocial.

Jade is a motivated and high performing professional with experience in accounts payable and receivable, bookkeeping and payroll as well as coordination, operational, project management and administration roles in government, private and not for profit sectors.

Jade has supported numerous family members with illness and disability, and has had to personally navigate a plethora of government systems such as Medicare, Centrelink, QLD Health, QCAT, Aged Care and NDIS from a consumer perspective. This experience has brought invaluable knowledge and skills to her role in Support Coordination and her clients continue to appreciate the advice and wisdom she can bring to the table.

Jade has lived on the Sunshine Coast since the early 90s. She is a wife, a mother, a carer and has managed a small family business whilst continuing to be employed in the local community for the last 12 years.

She has a passion for home and interior design, a flare for writing, a love of animals, enjoys baking, and is in her element when entertaining and spending time with family and friends.

You know what they say! If you want something done, ask a busy person!

Jade is offering Level 2 Support Coordination and works full time hours Monday to Friday.

Please reach out if you would like Jade on your support team!

Qualifications and Experience:

  • Small business owner since 2013
  • Certificate III in Business Administration
  • Certificate I and II Information Technology
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • First Aid
  • CPR
  • Lived experience
  • Child Representative
  • Local Area Coordinator 2020-2022
  • Support Coordinator 2022-Present

Support Coordinators | 

Psychosocial Recovery Coaches

About Saraa

Saraa Spaens is Chrysalis Collective’s very first employee and we are so lucky to have her!

Saraa has a wealth of lived and worked experience across multiple areas of the health, disability and aged care industries. Saraa has been employed as an Aged Care Worker (including palliative and end of life care) and Assistant in Nursing, both facility and community-based; a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Support Worker; Care Coordinator; and Support Coordinator. She is also experienced in recruitment, rostering and customer service support.

Saraa prides herself on the ability to adapt to fast paced environments, managing the complex challenges of daily living with a disability. Saraa is neuro-affirming and particularly shines working alongside neurodiverse clients and clients with psychosocial diagnoses and complex behaviours, however, is highly skilled and versatile and able to support a range of disabilities and needs.

Saraa has natural insight and aptitude in supporting participants that are needing someone that really understands their sensory, environmental and emotional triggers, and can proactively identify and action mitigation strategies in a timely manner.

Saraa is passionate about quality time with her family, fitness, nutrition, travel, and equality and disability advocacy. Saraa was born in New South Wales and has lived on the Sunshine Coast since 2002.

She is a wife to a lovely French man, a mother to four beautiful children and also a qualified personal trainer. In her limited spare time, Saraa is studying to become a Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner but don’t worry she isn’t going anywhere soon and is very invested in growing with our company.

Personally, Saraa is an inspiration to us all and has faced much adversity in her young life. Many of us cannot fathom nor have overcome what Saraa has managed to date. Despite all of this, Saraa remains positive, upbeat and is our powerhouse firecracker! Saraa is easily one of the most quick-witted and funniest people you will ever meet.

To know her is to adore her and to spend time with her is a positive and uplifting experience.

Saraa’s interests and hobbies include gym workouts; weight training; bush and beach walks, swimming, art (including painting, sketching and digital sketching).

Saraa is offering Psychosocial Recovery Coaching and Peer Support.

Saraa is presently working for Chrysalis Collective on a casual basis Monday to Friday.

Please reach out if you want Saraa on your support team!

Qualifications and Experience:

  • Certificate III and IV in Fitness
  • Certificate III in Individual Support
  • First Aid
  • CPR
  • Lived experience
  • Personal Trainer 2019-Present
  • Aged Care Worker 2016-2024
  • Assistant in Nursing 2020-2024
  • Care Coordinator 2023-2024
  • Support Coordinator 2023-2024
  • NDIS Peer/Support Worker 2021-Present
  • Psychosocial Recovery Coach 2025

About Karen

Karen Geltch has been working in the registered National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) service provision space for over 2 1/2 years as a Support Coordinator and Operations Manager. During this time, she has been working with parents, carers and families supporting young adults and children on the Autism Spectrum primarily on the Sunshine Coast. Karen describes having had the privilege of walking alongside many participants and families as they navigate the complexities of the NDIS. Through these shared journeys, she has witnessed firsthand the unique challenges faced by those living with comorbid mental health conditions. Karen comes from a strong customer-centered background and also has substantial experience in the banking industry. This lady knows her numbers!

Karen is passionate about the role of a Psychosocial Recovery Coach within the NDIS framework stating it offers an approach that goes beyond traditional support, focusing on coaching to build on strengths, knowledge, skills, resilience and decision making.

Karen draws from both worked and lived experience identifying as both a carer and NDIS Plan Nominee. She deeply understands the challenges individuals face in accessing the right supports and services. She is committed to guiding our participants and families through the process of identifying and connecting with resources that align with their unique goals and aspirations.

Karen prides herself on being a great listener and commits to connecting, communicating and supporting participants in a manner that is caring, kind, responsive to their needs and in the way they are most likely to understand. Karen will walk alongside her participants to support them through the complexities of the NDIS.

Karen is New South Wales born and bred but holidayed regularly on the Gold Coast with her family throughout her childhood and as an adult. It was during this time, Karen formed a real soft spot for Queensland. In 2021, when an opportunity presented itself for Karen to relocate her elderly parents and four sons to the Sunshine Coast, she jumped at the chance!

Karen is a real people person. She loves our beautiful beaches, coastal vibe, and music and restaurant culture. In her spare time, Karen enjoys spending time with her family, partner and friends; listening to a good self-help podcast; climbing Mount Coolum; visiting the beach; swimming; and watching the sunrise and sunset. She is also not opposed to the odd Netflix and chill binge session.

Karen is offering Level 2 Support Coordination and Psychosocial Recovery Coaching with immediate capacity for new referrals.

Karen is presently working for Chrysalis Collective on a casual basis whilst her case load grows with availablity Monday to Friday.

Please reach out if you want Karen on your support team!

Qualifications and Experience:

  • Diploma in Management (Australian Institute of Management)
  • Certificate III in Individual Support
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • First Aid
  • CPR
  • Lived experience
  • NDIS Plan Nominee
  • NDIS Operations Manager 2022-2025
  • Support Coordinator 2022-Present