Meet the team

Your support team

The Living Dreams Disability Services team are passionate, experienced and dedicated to helping you achieve your health and wellness goals.

Focused on more than just the results, our team will also make you feel welcomed, valued and supported during your health journey.

 

Pablo Piedrabuena

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
EXERCISE SPECIALIST

    • Adaptive Special Needs Fitness Training Master

    • Adaptive Special Needs Trainer Level 1 & 2

    • Adaptive Special Needs Nutrition Coach

    • Adaptive Special Needs Life Skills Instructor

    • Adaptive Special Needs Group Instructor

    • Cert III & IV Personal Training

    • Diploma in Sport Nutrition

    • Blue Card

    • First Aid / CPR

  • Pablo who lives with ASD Level 1, depression, anxiety, and PTSD, has seen firsthand the profound impact that active therapy and a supportive network can have on one’s life. This personal experience is the driving force behind the founding of Living Dreams Disability Services. Pablo understands the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and wanted to create a safe, welcoming, and accepting space where people can exercise, receive the support they need, and feel a true sense of belonging.

    In 2007, Pablo began going to the gym, which became a pivotal moment in his life. Exercise helped him lower anxiety levels, clear his mind, and realize that with dedication and perseverance, any goal is achievable. This experience inspired him to become a Personal Trainer in 2009, following by getting his Diploma in Sports Nutrition, Adaptive Special Needs Training Master, amongst many other qualification, with the mission of helping others find happiness and improve their well-being. He has since then, helped hundreds of people in the special needs community live a better life.

    Pablo, through his commitment and dedication, became a Sponsored Profesional Natural Bodybuilder, who travelled the world representing Australia and winning many titles including 2x world titles. He also wrote a short book called ‘Just Breathe’, hoping this would help others who might be or have experience similar life situations.

    Through Living Dreams Disability Services, Pablo is committed to providing an environment where individuals with disabilities do not have to mask their true selves or feel overwhelmed. His goal is to ensure that everyone who comes through the doors of Living Dreams feels accepted, supported, and empowered to achieve their personal goals.

 

Craig Parton

HEAD OF OPERATIONS
ALLIED HEALTH ASSISTANT / SUPPORT WORKER

    • Bachelor of Business Administration

    • Cert 3 in Allied Health Assistance

    • Cert 3 in Individual Support

    • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

    • Yellow Card

    • Blue Card

    • First Aid / CPR

 

Jacqui Nix

SENIOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

    • Bachelor of Occupation Therapy (1999)

    • Using and Interpretting the Sensory Profile in Practice

    • Blue Card

    • Yellow Card

  • Jacqui has been an Occupational Therapist for over 24 years, including working as a Director in Qld Health. 

    Her clinical background as an “urban” generalist allows her the flexibility to work across a range of therapy activities, from conducting home assessments to prescribing compression therapy, and a lot more!  She enjoys working with people from all walks of life and finding innovative solutions and tailoring plans to suit her clients. 

    Jacqui believes the most important part of her work is making a difference in someone’s independence and quality of life.

 

Maria Piedrabuena

PSYCHOLOGIST

    • Bachelor of Psychological Science

    • Graduate Diploma of Psychology

    • Masters of Professional Psychology

    • Blue Card

    • Yellow Card

  • Maria is a registered Psychologist with extensive experience working with children, adolescents and adults with special needs, mental illnesses and trauma.

    Maria believes that therapy doesn't have to be boring. Learning about ourselves, our emotions and our rollercoaster lives can be done whilst having fun. This is why, she strives to create a nurturing and fun environment where clients can feel safe and supported.

    Maria loves having the opportunity to guide individuals through this journey. Maria utilises a range of therapeutic styles including client centered therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), mindfulness and play therapy.

 

Morgan Hodgson

PSYCHOLOGIST

    • Bachelor of Psychological Science

    • Graduate Diploma of Psychology

    • Masters of Professional Psychology

    • Positive Behaivious Support Qualifications:

      • Fuctions and Formulations Unit 1, 2 & 3

      • Multi-Element Interventions Unit 1, 2, 3 & 4

    • Yellow Card

    • Blue Card

  • Morgan provides a safe and validating environment to children, adolescents and adults with a broad range of presentations, including: Depression, Anxiety, trauma, PTSD, Autism, ADHD, adjustment, parental burnout and low self-esteem. Morgan strives to create a comfortable and welcoming environment to ensure all clients feel at home and can safely begin their journey to better understand themselves.

    Morgan utilises a person-centered and strengths based approach whilst tailoring the treatment to the unique needs of the individual. Morgan uses evidence based psychological approaches including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Reminiscence Therapy, Play Therapy and Mindfulness. Morgan also engages in counselling.

    It can be difficult knowing when or how to reach out, and finding a psychologist that works with you can be like finding the right shoe - it may take a few goes! At Living Dreams Disability Services, Morgan can warmly help with beginning or continuing your wellbeing journey.

 

Kim Herberg

PSYCHOLOGIST

    • Postgraduate Diploma in the Practice of Psychology in Applied Behaviour Analysis

    • Master of Applied Psychology

    • Bachelor of Science in Psychology with Honours

    • Bachelor of Science Majoring in Psychology

    • Blue Card

    • Yellow Card

  • Kim is a registered Psychologist dedicated to supporting children, adolescents, and adults to feel safe, heard, and empowered. She is known for her warmth, empathy, and ability to create a welcoming environment where clients can be themselves without judgment.

    Kim’s background in Applied Behaviour Analysis and behaviour support enables her to deliver evidence-based, tailored interventions that address the unique needs of each client. She draws on a client-centred approach and integrates a variety of therapeutic modalities, including Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Play Therapy. Her practice emphasises understanding how the environment and learned behaviours influence life stressors and responses, supporting clients to build resilience and achieve lasting positive outcomes.

    With experience working alongside individuals with diverse needs, Kim is especially passionate about helping people in the special needs community. She is driven by a genuine belief that every person deserves the opportunity to thrive, and she goes above and beyond to make a positive difference in her clients’ lives.

 

Emily Mammino

EXERCISE SPECIALIST / AUSLAN

    • Cert III & IV Personal Training

    • Boxing CS3 for Parkinson's Disease

    • Boxing skills and fitness

    • Pre-post natal

    • First Aid / CPR

    • Blue Card

    • Yellow Card

  • Emily has experience in supporting clients from all walks of life and helping them not only lose weight, gain strength, become more functional in the gym but also increase confidence, self-esteem and independence. She uses various forms of training such as weight training, HIIT, and boxing.

    Emily grew up with a hearing impaired father and is fluent in AUSLAN. She is a big believer that fitness is for everyone, including those who are deaf and mute. She understands the unique needs of the deaf and mute community and is dedicated to helping them achieve their fitness goals.

    Her expertise in Auslan ensures that communication is never a barrier to achieving your fitness goals.

    She always puts the client first and listens to their goals and needs with great care and empathy. Emily feels that she has more to give to clientele who may benefit from having a trainer who is fluent in AUSLAN.

 

Andrey Heredia

SUPPORT SPECIALIST

    • Professional Degree in Psychology – Colombia

    • 3 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, and adults with special needs

    • Skilled in creating personalized strategies and activity planning to promote independence and wellbeing

    • Yellow Card

    • Blue Card

  • Andrey is a psychologist from Colombia with over three years of experience supporting children, adolescents, and adults with special needs. His professional background has allowed him to adapt activities and design personalized strategies that help each person achieve their goals, gain independence, and build confidence.

    What drives him is seeing people grow, overcome challenges, and enjoy a better quality of life. Andrey strongly believes that progress is more sustainable when families are actively involved, so he always works to include them as partners in the support process, ensuring lasting and meaningful results.

    Those who know him describes him as patient, empathetic, responsible, and creative. Beyond his professional skills, he brings energy and enthusiasm through his passion for dance and sports, which he often uses as engaging tools to connect with and motivate clients. This unique combination of training, creativity, and commitment inspires him to go above and beyond to make a positive difference in people’s lives.

“It's so great to come across a personal trainer who truely enjoys helping all types of people reach not only their health & fitness goals, but also helping people become more confident in themselves, motivating them to live a healthier lifestyle, physically & mentally.”

— KEVIN