Founder - Disability Accredited Snr Social Worker
Pronouns: She/Her
Autistic & ADHD

Gwen Hamers is the Founder and Clinical Director of Hamers Edge Pty Ltd, a disability services provider specialising in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, complex trauma, and psychosocial disability. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work (Avans University, The Netherlands, 2011) and is an Accredited Member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), with formal recognition as an Accredited Disability Social Worker.

With more than 13 years of post-graduate experience, Gwen has established a strong reputation in both Western Australia and internationally. She began her career in The Netherlands with Prisma, supporting children, young people, and adults with intellectual disability, autism, and complex behavioural and mental health needs. Since migrating to Australia 10 years ago, she has held senior clinical roles in not-for-profit and independent organisations before founding Hamers Edge in 2021, where she leads a team of social workers and oversees clinical quality across all therapeutic supports delivered by the organisation.

Her expertise includes conducting Functional Capacity Assessments and delivering direct therapeutic supports to NDIS participants across all ages. She is a Level B user with Pearson Clinical, enabling her to administer, score, and interpret standardised assessments such as the Vineland-3 Adaptive Behaviour Scales, ABAS-3, and SPM-2. She has undertaken extensive post-graduate specialist training in autism, trauma-informed practice, and psychosocial disability.

Beyond direct clinical work, Gwen contributes to the profession and the broader disability sector. She provides monthly consultancy to the AASW Policy and Advocacy team regarding NDIS and disability reform, ensuring social work expertise is represented at a national level. She has also contributed to university curriculum development and provides supervision to social work students and early career practitioners, strengthening the next generation of social workers.

GWEN PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
* Functional Capacity and Support Needs Assessments
* Social Work Therapeutic Support

Administrative Director
Pronouns: He/Him
Autistic & ADHD

Peter, originally from The Netherlands, brings a wealth of experience in business management and financial strategy to Hamers Edge. With a Bachelor of Business Administration earned in 2016, he has developed expertise in finance, business analysis, and stakeholder engagement through roles in large corporations in the Netherlands and Australia.

At Hamers Edge, Peter’s strong organisational expertise ensures the development of effective business strategies and cost-efficient operations. He excels in financial analysis, driving informed decision-making to support sustainable growth while ensuring compliance with evolving regulations.

Passionate about building lasting relationships, Peter works closely with stakeholders, business partners, and authorities to foster trust and collaboration. His leadership ensures Hamers Edge delivers high-quality and impactful services to NDIS participants underpinned by sound governance and forward-thinking planning.

PETER DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY DIRECT PARTICIPANT SERVICES.

Snr Social Worker | Independent Contractor
Pronouns: She/Her
Autistic (PDA) & ADHD

Following the completion of her double degree in Social Science and Social work in 2018, Celeste entered the field, working with individuals aged 18+ with psychosocial disabilities, chronic mental health and a variety of complex co-occuring presentations. She works in a recovery-focussed and neuroaffirming therapeutic way, ensuring she assesses and supports people in a holistic manner. This involves working with participants directly, yet with a broader integration of the person’s environment and systems.

Celeste’s areas of professional focus include Autism Spectrum Disorder and other Neurodevelopmental diagnoses, Neuroaffirming practice, Psychosocial Disability including but not limited to Mood Disorders, Psychotic Disorders, and Complex Trauma including Dissociative Identity Disorder.

CELESTE PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
* Functional Capacity and Support Need Assessments
* Social Work Therapeutic Supports

SERVICE AREA:
Celeste provides therapy at participants’ homes in Central Perth, NOR suburbs and the Midland area.

PARTICIPANT AGE:
Celeste works directly with teens and adults. For younger NDIS participants, Celeste takes a family systems approach.

Snr Social Worker | Independent Contractor
Pronouns: She/Her
Neurodivergent

Over the last 23 years as a qualified Social Worker, Renee has built experience in a range of areas including disability, mental health, drug and alcohol counselling and rehabilitation, corrective services, child protection, advocacy and case management.

Renee works from a gentle neuro-affirming and trauma-informed approach and take time to engage and understand a person’s family and other support structures, experiences, abilities, values and perspectives.

Her area of speciality is supporting people in a strength-based and holistic manner to improve their emotional regulation and coping strategies, which calms the nervous system and then naturally expands our tolerance and capacity for learning, communicating, trying new things and improving the overall functioning of our bodies and brains.

RENEE PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
* Functional Capacity and Support Need Assessments
* Social Work Therapeutic Support

SERVICE AREA:
Renee provides home-based therapy through Central Perth suburbs to the East, the Hills Areas and South-Eastern Corridor.

PARTICIPANT AGE:
Renee can work directly with teens and adults and uses a family systems approach with younger participants.

Social Worker | Independent Contractor
Pronouns: He/Him
Neurodivergent

Before completing his 4-year Bachelor of Social Work, Harlen spent over 25 years working in diverse business environments, including owning and managing his own small business.

Those experiences gifted him a unique skill set, including problem-solving, flexibility, and the ability to connect with people from all walks of life.

Harlen subsequently became a Social Worker with an intrinsic desire to ensure people live a life they value, supported by equal rights and opportunities.

His passion for social justice and self-determination has driven him to work alongside individuals to explore their strengths, overcome challenges, and achieve their goals. Harlen’s therapeutic approach is grounded in authentic, empathetic communication and person-centred care. Harlen strives to create a safe, affirming space where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered to define their own path. Harlen’s conviction is that people are not problems to be fixed; rather, they hold the keys to their own solutions, and his role is to walk beside them to unlock their potential.

Harlen’s lived experience of neurodivergence, mental health, and chronic health conditions has given him a deep understanding of resilience and the importance of finding meaning and purpose.

HARLEN PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
* Functional Capacity and Support Need Assessments
* Social Work Therapeutic Support

SERVICE AREA:
Harlen provides therapy at participants’ homes in the Perth Hills (Mundaring/Gidgegannup side), Swan Valley, Ellenbrook, Bullsbrook, and Midland areas.

PARTICIPANT AGE:
Harlen works directly with teens and adults.