Child Development Network

As both a psychologist and a speech pathologist I am passionate about helping children to develop and learn. My experience of being a parent has highlighted the importance of involving home and school in supporting children.

In therapy I am excited by the challenge of using the principles of practice to develop creative solutions that are relevant to children, families and schools. Working with the Child Development Network gives me an opportunity to bring together both areas of knowledge and experience to provide separate or integrated services to support young people and their families.

I have many years experience as a speech pathologist working with children and adolescents with speech and language difficulties. More recently I have been working in a large independent school as a psychologist.

I initially trained as a speech pathologist in Adelaide and I have experience working with children in a variety of settings, including schools, health care facilities and specialist services such as The Glenleighden School and the Cerebral Palsy League.

While living in Indonesia I took the opportunity to begin studies in psychology that eventually led to a Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental) from Queensland University of Technology. My experience as a psychologist includes working in schools, working with a multidisciplinary child assessment team, and trauma counselling with children in care.

I am particularly interested in assessment and support for children with complex learning needs, treating anxiety and mood disorders, developing self-regulation, and developing social skills and communication in children with developmental disabilities.

I also have a strong interest in literacy learning in children, and have written theses at honours and masters level in this area. I have co-authored a number of journal articles in the area of literacy and have worked on several major literacy-based research projects at the University of Queensland. I am planning to continue my studies into aspects of the knowledge base provided for teachers at university that equips them for teaching reading to children in schools.