Elsa Bertschi

Elsa is an Orton-Gillingham educator at SPT and is currently studying a Master of Speech Pathology at the University of Tasmania. She brings a rich and diverse background to her role, with experience as both a musician and an educator.

Originally from Launceston, Elsa moved to Melbourne for university, then relocated to Switzerland to undertake a Master of Music Performance (French horn). She met her husband—also a musician—during this time, and together they worked as orchestral musicians in Portugal, Switzerland, and Ireland, where they had three children. Knowing they wanted to live somewhere sunnier, Elsa’s husband transitioned into a new career while in Ireland, and the family were fortunate enough to be relocated to Syndey in 2017. Soon after, their fourth child was born.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Elsa and her family moved to Hobart. When her youngest child began kindergarten, she started working as a teacher aide at their local primary school. This role sparked a keen interest in supporting children with literacy difficulties, prompting her to complete Orton-Gillingham training with Linda in 2022 and MSL (Multisensory Structured Language) in 2023.

At the beginning of 2025, Elsa joined SPT after reaching out to express her interest in working in the field. She is passionate about inclusive education and enjoys balancing her work, studies, and family life. Elsa loves walking with her dogs, reading, and looks forward to future hiking and travel.