The Sacred Nest was created by owner Cynthia Bartolo in 2016 as both a sensory ‘play’ room for her children and a unique business idea. Her vision was to create a calming space that she could share with other families in the community who were also managing the sensory needs of neurodivergent children. Cynthia integrates lived-experience as a carer with her professional experience as a food scientist, nutritionist and polyvagal therapy practitioner to create programs that inform and inspire clients to nourish their mind and body.
After a career in the food industry, having a family brought new challenges that created a passion for learning how lifestyle and environmental factors effect health and development. With further studies in gut health, neuroplasticity, Polyvagal Theory, meditation and Therapeutic Touch, Cynthia brings a holistic, compassionate approach to her work. In 2024 she completed her Postgraduate Diploma in Human Nutrition at Deakin University, which included a 4-month placement at the Food and Mood Centre in Geelong. A link to the flyer she created as part of this placement can be found here.
NDIS Experience
Cynthia has valuable experience navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme(NDIS), as both a carer and also as an NDIS provider. Cynthia meets the requirements set by the NDIS Quality & Safeguards Commission for and is listed on the NDIS Worker Screening Database. Some of the services offered by The Sacred Nest can be claimed by self-managed and plan-managed participants.
