As a speech pathologist with a background in complex hospital care, Anabel has worked in trauma units, intensive care, and rehab wards from North Queensland to London. She’s seen people at their most vulnerable: recovering from brain injuries, cancer, and strokes—often with their dignity, independence, and communication hanging in the balance.

After returning to Tamworth for family, she saw a critical gap: people were being discharged from hospital with serious speech and swallowing issues, but with no one in the region able to follow up once they were home.

“We were saying goodbye to people who could technically walk, but couldn’t swallow or speak properly—and there was no one to help them once they left.”

So she built the solution herself.

Anabel founded ASK Healthcare, a mobile and clinic-based practice that supports patients across NDIS, My Aged Care, iCare, and private funding streams. But what makes her work unique isn’t just her expertise—it’s that she’s brought hospital-grade technology and innovation right into the community.

“I’m now the only person in the community setting in this region offering FEES—flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. It’s a camera down the nose to assess the swallow, usually only available in big-city hospitals.”

Her gear? Portable. Her clinic? Right here at DPARTMNT.

Using the green meeting room as a pop-up procedure space, Anabel brings in clients for consultations, consent, and care—all without the cold, clinical vibe of a traditional hospital. It’s professional, private, and welcoming.

“I tell people, you’ll come in, grab a coffee, feel like you’re in a work space, not a waiting room. And that changes everything.”

For Anabel, DPARTMNT is more than a place to work—it’s a catalyst for preventative care, community referrals, and innovative thinking. She collaborates with fellow members like Erin and Chris from JustBeeCos for NDIS client referrals, and partners with GoCo for aged care assessments. It’s the kind of ecosystem she didn’t know she needed—but now can’t imagine working without.

“I’ve worked in the biggest hospitals in London, and yet this space here lets me do things that are truly game-changing for rural communities.”

Whether she’s helping a Parkinson’s patient stay out of hospital, or designing low-effort therapies that slot into a client’s daily routine, Anabel’s approach is quietly revolutionary.

She’s not just treating patients—she’s transforming what care can look like in regional Australia.