Liz has dedicated more than twenty years to supporting individuals with autism and other disabilities across education, therapy and clinical practice. Her career began while studying Speech Pathology, working as a therapist in the autism field—an experience that inspired a lifelong passion for helping people reach their full potential.
Over the years, Liz has worked in a wide range of roles, including therapist, special educator, university lecturer and clinical supervisor, mentoring future practitioners as they completed their tertiary placements. She also taught at Aspect and completed postgraduate research exploring communication and relationship development for children with autism, further strengthening her knowledge of evidence-based practice and family-centred support.
Throughout her career, Liz has supported individuals from as young as 6 months of age through to adulthood, working alongside participants and their families to build skills, confidence and independence. This extensive frontline experience has given her a deep understanding of the challenges families face when navigating disability supports and the importance of providing services that are practical, responsive and genuinely person-centred.
Recognising that many families felt overwhelmed by the complexity of the NDIS and unsupported by traditional Plan Management services, Liz partnered with Mel to establish Rise & Shine Plan Management. Together, they set out to create a service that combines professional expertise with genuine understanding, ensuring participants receive more than just invoice processing—they receive guidance, clear communication and a team that is committed to helping them make the most of their NDIS plan.
Today, Liz brings together decades of clinical, educational and leadership experience to support participants, families and providers across Australia.
I am passionate about helping participants and their families feel informed, empowered and supported throughout their NDIS journey. My goal has always been to make a positive difference by combining professional knowledge with genuine compassion, ensuring every participant and family feels heard, respected and confident in achieving their goals.
I believe great Plan Management is built on trust, strong relationships and a genuine commitment to helping participants and their families make the most of their funding, exercise genuine choice and control, and live the life they choose.
Mel's journey into disability began long before founding Rise & Shine. As both a parent navigating disability supports and a professional working within the sector, she experienced first-hand the complexities of accessing services, coordinating supports and understanding the NDIS.
With a background in Early Childhood Education, Mel developed a strong understanding of child development, disability and the importance of early intervention. She has worked extensively with children on the autism spectrum and those with additional developmental needs, providing therapy assistant and educational support services alongside multidisciplinary teams.
These experiences, combined with her personal journey and years working alongside participants, families and providers, gave her a unique perspective on the challenges people face when trying to navigate what can often be a complex and overwhelming system.
It was through these experiences that Mel recognised a significant gap in the way Plan Management was being delivered. Too often, families were left feeling unsupported, overwhelmed and unsure where to turn.
Determined to change that, Mel partnered with Liz to establish Rise & Shine Plan Management—a service built on genuine relationships, clear communication and a commitment to making the NDIS easier to navigate. Their vision was simple: to provide more than just invoice processing by creating a team that understands the real-life challenges participants and families face and supports them every step of the way.
Today, Mel brings together her lived experience, professional knowledge and passion for helping others to support participants and their families through every stage of their NDIS journey. She believes great Plan Management is about far more than paying invoices—it's about building trust, reducing stress and empowering people to make the most of their funding, exercise genuine choice and control, and achieve their goals.
Mel is proud to lead a team that shares these values every day, ensuring every participant receives personalised, responsive and compassionate support. Her commitment has always been simple: to make the NDIS easier to navigate so participants and their families can spend less time worrying about administration and more time focusing on what matters most—living the life they choose.
I believe everyone deserves a Plan Manager who genuinely cares, communicates openly and stands beside them as a trusted partner throughout their NDIS journey.
That belief continues to inspire everything she does.
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PACE NDIS Provider Name & Number - Rise and Shine Disability 405 007 4839
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