She was married for 20 years to Colin Jupp, a polio survivor with a permanent tracheostomy, who died in 1989 of respiratory failure. Tessa did her General Nursing Training at Fremantle Hospital where she worked as a Staff Nurse. She gained rehabilitation experience at Royal Perth Rehab Hospital, working in orthopaedic and spinal injury wards. Tessa started and has run the Post Polio Network of Western Australia Inc (PPNWA) since 1989, and established a free in-house clinic – Polio Clinic WA – in 1990. As the CEO and clinic nurse, Tessa continues to conduct regular metro and country polio clinics, as well as researching and promoting the use of nutritional supplements in the management of post-polio health problems. She has presented at numerous National and International post-polio conferences over the years, and regularly speaks to Rotary Clubs, not-for-profit organisations, and health service providers.