Crystal Cutler
Theme Manager – Chronic Disease
BSc Hons
crystal.cutler@thekids.org.au
Crystal Cutler joined The Kids in 2025 as Theme Manager for Chronic Disease, bringing extensive experience in clinical leadership, research, and service delivery. A qualified Occupational Therapist, she began her career researching self-management of chronic conditions before specialising as a clinician in paediatric disability, assistive technology, and home modifications.
Crystal has held senior leadership roles in the not-for-profit sector, leading large multidisciplinary allied health teams across operational and clinical management in both metropolitan and regional settings. She is recognised for her inclusive leadership style and commitment to collaboration, consistently bringing people together to work toward shared goals.
Crystal has overseen istate-wide contracts for assistive technology and home modifications, administering funding and providing clinical advisory services across the WA NDIS and federal NDIS transitions. Immediately prior to joining The Kids, she led the Customer Experience division at a large not-for-profit therapy provider, chairing Customer Reference Groups and a small charity.
In her current role, Crystal works in close partnership with the Theme Head to advance The Kids' Research Reimagined strategy. The Theme Manager role is a newly established position at the Institute, one that Crystal is actively shaping as it evolves. Her work spans the operational and strategic dimensions of the theme: from driving engagement across a diverse community of researchers, to contributing to governance, resourcing decisions, and the overall strategic direction of chronic disease research at The Kids. Central to her approach is creating the conditions for all members of the theme to do their best work: fostering connection, enabling collaboration, and ensuring the theme has the structures and momentum to deliver meaningful impact for children and families living with chronic disease.
Education and Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science – Occupational Therapy – Hons 1st Class – Curtin University
- Diploma of Leadership and Management – WA Council of Social Service & Modal