About Cathy Fagan, Founder

Cathy Fagan is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) with a Masters of Science in Applied Behaviour Analysis and Autism from The Sage Colleges (New York). Cathy also holds a Graduate Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis for Special Education, from Pennsylvania State University (world campus). She has over 15 years of experience working with children with autism in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis in both Ireland and Australia.

Her experience and education spans over three continents and she has worked for both public and private based intervention programs in both Ireland and Australia. Prior to moving to Australia in 2007, Cathy’s early ABA career began in Ireland, where she was trained in the implementation of Precision Teaching. When Cathy arrived in Australia she worked with Woodbury Autism Education and Research ABA school for two years. She then returned to Ireland where she took up employment in a Dublin based ABA school.

Cathy then returned to Australia in 2010 and held the position of Program Supervisor in the Sydney branch of the Lizard Centre. Following on from that, she worked her way up to the role of Senior Centre Clinician at the Lizard Centre in Melbourne. After Melbourne, she returned to Sydney in 2016 and took up the position of Senior Program Manager at another Sydney based service provider, before opening CUSP in October 2016.

As Cathy has a wide range of experience and education from either ends of the globe, she has developed a dynamic and adoptable approach to working with a wide spectrum of families. She is passionate about delivering behaviour analysis in a simplistic format, that is accessible to all.

Aine O’Carroll

Program Designer

Aine moved to Sydney from Ireland, back in 2019. While in Ireland, Aine completed her honours bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Care and Education. From there, she went on to complete a master’s degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis at Queens University Belfast. While undertaking her master’s degree, Aine
worked in a school for children with ASD, where the ages ranged from 5 to 18 years of age. During this time, Aine also worked as a behaviour therapist for children in the family home. Aine has always loved working with children and their families and seeing the benefits and positive impacts of an ABA program. Aine moved to Australia to learn more about Applied Behaviour Analysis in this
country and is currently completing her supervision for her global professional certification.

Hitarthi Shah

Program Designer (BCaBA)

Hitarthi has a Bachelor’s of Engineering in Electronics and Communication from her home country of India. She then studied through Florida Institute of Technology to become a Board Certified assistant Behaviour Analyst. Hitarthi is a BCaBA and has over five years of experience in the field of ABA. Hitarthi’s ABA journey started more than five years ago, when she started ABA therapy for her own daughter. She saw amazing results with her daughter and wanted to know more about the theory and structure behind Applied Behaviour Analysis. Ignited by a passion for more knowledge, Hitarthi began working with other children on the Autism spectrum in different settings, including preschool’s and the home environment.

Hitarthi is enthusiastic about using ABA techniques to assist
children with skill acquisition and to overcome the barriers to their learning. She believes in empowering parents by practical training and giving the parents the tools, they need to help their own children, in order to reach their highest potential.

Kathy Pan

Program Designer (BCaBA)

Kathy started in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis in
2012. Later, she worked at a Sydney-based ABA provider and was promoted to a senior therapist role. She joined CUSP ABA as a Program Designer in 2018. Her overall experience includes 1:1 therapy with a variety of clientele, from early intervention to adolescent children, including transitioning into the community. She has also worked extensively as a preschool, primary and high
school shadow. Kathy holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Sydney, studied Applied Behaviour Analysis at the Florida Institute of Technology and became a Board-Certified Assistant Behaviour Analyst (BCaBA) in 2018. She is  currently studying a Master of Education in Applied Behaviour Analysis at Monash University and is working towards becoming a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA).

Emma Davidson

Program Designer

Emma has a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) from the University of Wollongong and is currently studying a Master’s in Education (Applied Behaviour Analysis) at Monash University. Emma has 7-years’ experience providing Early Intensive Behaviour Intervention to children on the Autism Spectrum and those
with various other special learning needs. Emma has vast
experience working with children and teenagers. She began as a junior therapist in 2013 and quickly fell in love with supporting families and children to reach their goals. Since then, Emma has completed her Registered Behaviour Technician course, been promoted to Senior Behaviour Technician and is now working with families to design and implement effective and functional
developmental programs.