Formed in Melbourne in July 1989, the Rett Syndrome Association of Australia Inc. (RSAA) is a not-for-profit organisation that is managed by a Committee of volunteers, most of whom are parents or grandparents of Rett syndrome children. The Association seeks to enhance the quality of life for persons with the syndrome and their families and be of assistance to anyone interested in the disorder.

Current members of the RSAA Committee elected at the Annual General Meeting on 16 December 2023 are as follows:

Executive:

President          

Claude Buda (NSW)

Head and Shoulder photo of Claude Buda

Claude Buda, father of Annelise who has Rett syndrome, was elected to the position of President of the Rett Syndrome Association of Australia (RSAA) at the 2018 annual general meeting held in Melbourne. Claude lives in Sydney

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: +61 (0) 411 089 156

Vice-President 

Bill Callaghan, OAM. (VIC)

Head and Shoulder photo of Bill Callaghan

Bill Callaghan was President of RSAA from its formation in 1989 until 2018 and lives in Geelong, Victoria. His daughter, Joanne, who was diagnosed with Rett syndrome in 1986, passed away in 2004, 11 days short of her 33rd birthday. Bill was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours announced by the Commonwealth Government of Australia in June 2012 for “Service to community health through the Rett Syndrome Association of Australia”.

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: +61 (0) 418 561 796

Secretary

Mary-Anne Rome (VIC)

Treasurer          

Tony Cagliuso (SA)

Head and shoulder photo of Tony Cagliuso - Committee member and Treasurer

Tony Cagliuso is the Treasurer of RSAA and has a daughter Raquelle with Rett Syndrome. Raquelle turned 27 years of age in 2020 and the family were advised of her diagnosis of Rett Syndrome just before Raquelle’s 8th birthday, a time in which Rett Syndrome was still relatively unknown. Tony has been on the committee for many years now, initially as a State Representative, and for the past 3 years as the RSAA Treasurer. Tony is self-employed, owning and operating a plastics manufacturing business, and in his spare time he enjoys spending time with his daughter, family and friends, and the occasional round of golf.

Email: [email protected]

Family Support Co-ordinator   

Sue Hallenstein (VIC)

Sue Hallenstein joined RSAA in 1989 and lives in Melbourne, Vic. Her daughter May was provisionally diagnosed with Rett Syndrome around 1986.  May passed away in 2016 aged 33 years. She has been on the RSAA committee for many years and supports the Rett Syndrome community in her role as RSAA Family Support Coordinator.

Other Committee members:

Brett Anslow (NSW)

Jayne Bowden (TAS)    

Colleen English (NSW)

Caroline Fitzpatrick (WA) .

Eric Gowans (SA)

Liat Haynes (QLD)

Kristy Klingner (SA)   

To contact us, please click here.

 

Other Volunteers ( Not Committee Members)

Volunteer Membership Administrator

Gary Grocott (NSW)

     Email: [email protected]

     Mobile: +61 419 603 730

Volunteer IT and Website Administrator

Michael Russo (QLD)

Email: [email protected]