Lucy has deep experience in facilitating co-design approaches within health and social care, including alongside CALD communities and those living with multiple or complex disability. She worked on the co-design of a new model of care for Brisbane South PHN, and is skilled in engaged with both people with lived experience of illness as well as health practitioners. Lucy has worked within the child protection system in NSW, where she and her team co-designed with families, providers and government a new model of foster care that works toward the safe restoration of children to their parents. She has also delivered co-design training to government, philanthropy and community groups, and has presented about social innovation and co-design in Australia and Colombia.
Nicole Lee
Nicole is Consultant psychologist, Adjunct Professor at the National Drug Research Institute and Director at 360Edge, a specialist consultancy for the alcohol and other drug sector. Her focus in the sector is on the translation of research to practice and policy. Her main interest is in methamphetamine practice and policy responses and in comorbidity treatment. She has worked in the alcohol and other drug sector for 28 years, as clinician, academic, educator and service manager. Nicole is a practicing psychologist, and is the National President of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy.
Nicole currently serves on the Australian National Advisory Council on Alcohol and Drugs (ANACAD), is Past National President of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (AACBT), and Deputy Editor of the Drug and Alcohol Review journal. She has previously served on the boards of the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) and the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA).
Ellen Jackson
Ellen Jackson is a workplace and coaching psychologist who has worked with organisations and the corporate sector in Sydney, Melbourne and now regional Victoria for 22 years. Her goal is to help make the people part easier at work.
Ellen has designed and delivered workplace psychology, organizational development and executive coaching projects and programs across the Technology, Financial Services, Professional Services, Agribusiness, Health Services, Education, Local Government, Manufacturing and Not for Profit sectors.
Her corporate and consulting experience combined with her high professional and ethical standards, adaptability and communication skills ensure that her services are in consistent demand.
Ellen hosts The Potential Psychology Podcast and writes on a range of topics relating to positive psychology and wellbeing. She is a regular contributor to several digital publications and she serves as a media commentator for online, print and radio.
Ellen is an accomplished speaker, presenting workshops and key note addresses to captivated audiences. She has co-authored one book, 'Turning 30: How to get the life you really want' and is presently working on her second, with the tentative title, 'Stop Stalling: The Science and Happiness of Getting Stuff Done.'
Dr Lynne Coulson Barr
Dr Lynne Coulson Barr is Victoria's first Mental Health Complaints Commissioner. Dr Coulson Barr has extensive experience in mental health, disability and dispute resolution, with specialist expertise in improving access and participation in independent complaint and review processes. She is committed to working with consumers, families, carers and services to ensure complaints are resolved in ways that safeguard people’s rights and support their recovery, and are seen as opportunities to improve public mental health services for all Victorians.
Dr Coulson Barr also has extensive experience in leading and delivering support and crisis services, including mental health, disability, out of home care, and child and family services. Dr Coulson Barr was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in March 2014, and works to promote mental health and prevention of violence in her role as Ambassador for their Alumni and Ambassadors program.
In March 2018, her office produced the major report titled ‘The right to be safe: ensuring sexual safety in acute mental health inpatient units' which outlined detailed findings and recommendations to address the significant issues of sexual safety for mental health consumers in acute inpatient environments.
Dr Madeline Fernbach
Madeline Fernbach is an established clinical psychologist and co-founder of Sound Psychology Ballarat, a private psychology practice. She holds a PhD in social psychology from the University of Melbourne.
Her research and professional work centres on exploring the impact of belonging to groups on an individual’s sense of identity. For over 20 years, she has worked to improve the sexual and social health of individuals and groups. Madeline has facilitated the development of transgender peer support groups in Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong and provides professional supervision to clinicians and managers within the health sector.
She is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Professional Association for Transgender Health (ANZPATH) and regularly speaks on gender and transgender issues. Madeline’s other passion is creating unusual textiles through sewing, weaving and spinning and she has a successful Facebook page, “Quilt Therapy”, which provides mental health information for crafty people with anxiety and depression.
Rose Cuff
Rose is a parent to three adult children and an Occupational Therapist with additional training in dance and family therapy, who has worked in child, adolescent and adult mental health services since 1986.
Since 1995, she has focussed specifically on the area of supporting families where a parent has a mental illness through direct clinical practice, developing and implementing peer support programs, co-producing resources, publishing widely and conducting training and research. Since 2007 she has been the Statewide coordinator of the Victorian government funded FaPMI Program (Families where a Parent has a Mental Illness), which is coordinated by The Bouverie Centre.
Rose is passionate about building futures of hope and possibility for families where mental illness can be challenging. In her spare time, she is has a voluntary and exciting role of Executive Director of the small not-for-profit organisation, Satellite Foundation.
Dr Harish Kalra
Dr Harish Kalra is a Clinical Lead Perinatal Psychiatrist with Raphael Services and Private Psychiatrist. Harish has been working in the mental health sector in Ballarat for over 10 years now with initial 2 years at Ballarat Mental Health Services. Harish has worked in different setting around Australia for 15 years. Harish is working full time in private practice since 2011 along with his current position as Clinical Lead Perinatal Psychiatrist with Raphael Services, Ballarat.
Harish moved to Australia in 2004 after completing his qualifications from India. He worked briefly at National Institute of Mental health and Neurosciences and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, before his move to Australia.
Harish led the setting and implementation of ‘routine’ depression screening and psychosocial assessment in a private maternity setting at St John of God Hospital, Ballarat, first of its type in Australia. Harish is also pursuing his research at Global Public Health Unit at Monash University. Harish has authored many scientific peer reviewed publications including book chapters.
Ms Jane Measday and Mr Rick Corney
Jane Measday is the General Manager of Social Support at Ballarat Community Health. Ballarat Community Health provides a range of primary care and wellbeing services across the Central Highlands.
Jane has worked in a range of roles in the primary care sector over the last 22 years and is a Board Member for the Victorian Alcohol and other Drug Association. Jane has a special interest in partnership work and this has translated to learning more about working with consumers and peer workers to design programs that meet client needs
Rick Corney was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1998 and in 2014 entered the lived experience workforce with Wimmera Uniting Care. In 2017 he became Ballarat Community Health’s first peer worker and is currently working in both the Partners in Recovery and Forensic Mental Health in Community Health programs.
Recognized by VMIAC with the Victorian Consumer Worker in Community Mental Health award in 2016, Rick’s passion for his work is driven by his belief that if he can live successfully in recovery, then with the right supports others can too. As a member of the Consumer Workforce Development Group in partnership with DHHS, Rick has worked to support and develop the consumer workforce and this has led to the creation of the Connecting2community mental health program.
Dinner Speaker - Ms Jules Allen
Jules is an award winning Youth Advocate. For the past twenty years, she has worked in youth support, child protection, as a school counsellor and in private practice for young people and families in crisis.
Jules’s troubled beginnings create the backbone to her expertise in this field. Having experienced years of childhood sexual abuse and a family breakdown, Jules went on to become a youth at risk. Heavy drug and alcohol addiction lead to poor decision making. At 21 she found herself as a young Mum in a domestic violence situation.
Making the decision to be not defined by her experiences, Jules turned her adversity in to an asset. She chose to care for 32 Foster children and is the proud Mother of 4 adult children, a blend of her own, fostered and adopted. In 2013, prompted by a dare from her kids, Jules found herself as a contestant on MasterChef Australia. In quintessential style, she put her new profile to use by emphasizing the healing power of good food in raising well-balanced children.
Jules is now the face of Australian charities such as Adopt Change and Foster Care Australia. In 2010 she re-built a condemned refuge in the Solomon Islands for Women and children escaping violence and abuse. Known for her captivating, humorous and candid presence, Jules has been featured on television programs including Australian Story and The Project, and major magazines such as New Idea, the online Women's Weekly and The Collective.
Jules experience in child protection, youth support, school counselling and private practice. However, experiences from her own troubled youth have proved to be her most valuable tool, which she uses to resonate with today’s young adults.
Jules endeavours to empower youths to not only understand themselves, but for adults to understand them better too.
Louise Newman is an Australian developmental psychiatrist and clinical researcher currently based at Monash University, in Melbourne, Australia. She is an advocate for the mental health of asylum seekers. Professor Newman has a particular interest in the field of infant psychiatry where she specialises in working with parents with babies up to 3 years of age. These parents often have psychiatric difficulties themselves and the resulting transgenerational issues and impact of trauma on early development is one of Professor Newman’s primary research interests. With research staff at Monash University, she is investigating the impact of interventions for high risk parents. In addition, Professor Newman performs refugee research on school aged children investigating the impact of traumatic experiences both before they arrive in Australia and as refugees. She is a strong advocate for young refugees and works to highlight the damage that can be caused to young people by detention and the refugee experience in Australia.
Andrew Fuller
Andrew has recently been described as an "interesting mixture of Billy Connolly, Tim Winton and Frasier Crane" and as someone who "puts the heart back into psychology". As a clinical psychologist, Andrew Fuller works with many schools and communities in Australia and internationally, specialising in the wellbeing of young people and their families. He is a Fellow of the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Learning and Educational Development at the University of Melbourne.
Andrew has been a principal consultant to the national drug prevention strategy REDI, the ABC on children’s television shows, is an Ambassador for Mind Matters and is a member of the National Coalition Against Bullying.
The concept of "resilience" offers a coherent framework for the creation of schools that are sensitive to the developmental needs of young people and their teachers. As Andrew describes, resilience is "the happy knack of being able to bungy jump through the pitfalls of life – to rise above adversity and obstacles."
He is the author of Tricky Kids, Guerilla Tactics For Teachers, Help Your Child Succeed At School, (Raising Real People (Acer), From Surviving To Thriving (Acer), Work Smarter Not Harder And Beating Bullies. Andrew has also co-authored a series of programs for the promotion of resilience and emotional intelligence used in over 3500 schools in Britain and Australia called THE HEART MASTERS.
Andrew has established programs for the promotion of mental health in schools, substance abuse prevention, and the reduction of violence and bullying, suicide prevention programs and for assisting homeless young people. Andrew continues to counsel young people.
Andrew conducts workshops for organisations, parents, students, teachers and health professionals on a wide range of topics.
Professor S. Caroline Taylor Am
Professor Taylor AM is a consultant, trainer, writer, public speaker and advocate with expertise in the area of child sexual abuse; violence against children and women; improving the capacity for organisations to address this violence; advocating for policy and legislation reform to enhance the response of statutory authorities; providing specialist training to police, law, health and welfare professionals with regard to child abuse and family violence.
An awarded researcher and author Caroline has received numerous national and international awards for her work and advocacy. A feature of Caroline’s work has been its ability to influence and reform a domain normally reserved only for trained lawyers – the area of law and its treatment of sexual abuse victims. State and federal Hansard documents record her influence and her selfless advocacy which has often come at great personal cost.
Caroline is Patron of the New South Wales Victims and Witnesses of Crime Court Support Service, a member of the Clinical Advisory Board of SAMSN (Survivors and Mates Support Network) which is a specialist national organisation for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse; and Founder of Children of Phoenix, a registered charity that assists children and adults affected by childhood sexual abuse. Caroline has been an academic consultant to Interpol’s Specialist Crimes Against Children unit (2011-2016) and was the first academic invited to given the Opening Keynote Address at the 29th Meeting of Interpol’s Specialist Global Committee on Crimes Against Children Meeting at Interpol’s European headquarters in Lyon, France in 2011. In a life and career marked by a series of ‘firsts’ Caroline was the first Chair in Social Justice at Edith Cowan University and also the first non-police officer to given the opening Keynote Address at the Asia Pacific Police Commissioners conference in NSW in 2004.
Caroline provides regular specialist training to Victoria Police at their academy and other police jurisdictions by invitation. In November 2016 Caroline was invited as one of only 13 survivors of childhood sexual abuse from around the world be part of the world’s first global forum for survivors held in Strasbourg, France. As part of this forum Caroline gave an invited, individual address to the Counceil de Europe (Council of Europe) which convenes the Lanzarote Convention. Caroline’s presentation and her ideas were so well received she has been invited back to advance the ideas she presented to aid and support childhood victims and survivors of sexual abuse around the world.
Allan Sparkes CV, VA
Allan Sparkes is a Deputy Commissioner of the Mental Health Commission of NSW. He is a former NSW Police Officer, who served in an operational capacity for 20 years, most of which as a criminal investigator. Allan is one of Australia’s most highly decorated citizens. He is one of only 5 Australians in the past 41 years to receive Australia’s highest bravery decoration and civilian award, the Cross of Valour. In August 2016, the Governor General of Australia announced Allan is to be awarded a subsequent Australian Bravery Decoration, the Commendation for Brave Conduct for saving the life of a man who had fallen onto train tracks at Redfern Railway Station in 2014. No other Australian has ever received these two honours. He is a recipient of other significant awards for bravery and service including the NSW Police Commissioners Valour Award. Allan is a passionate advocate for mental health and suicide prevention, using his lived experience of PTSD, depression, suicidality and recovery. He has been a volunteer member of the NSW Police Mental Health Intervention Team since 2014 and member of the Mental Health Commission of NSW Suicide Prevention Advisory Panel. He is also an Australia Day Ambassador and an Ambassador for beyondblue, Soldier On and Kookaburra Kids
Associate Professor Michael McDonough
Associate Professor. Michael McDonough has practised as a specialist in Addiction Medicine for over 30 years and is currently employed as Head, Addiction Medicine & Toxicology Unit at Western Hospital. The latter position involves management of inpatients and outpatients referred because of tertiary problems related to Substance Use Disorders, the teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate medical trainees, a research program and this service also operates TeleHeath and satellite clinics to North-West rural Victoria. A/Prof. McDonough has a special interest in Quality Use of Medicines, Clinical & Forensic Toxicology, in particular relation to Addiction Medicine practise. From 2010 - 2014, he served as Chief Adviser in Addiction Medicine to the Department of Health (Vic).
Kristy Steenhuis
Kristy Steenhuis founded SOS after she lost her husband Matt to suicide in November 2005. Kristy found there appeared to be nowhere to turn for people who experience the aftermath of bereavement as a result of suicide and that something desperately needed to be done to assist people in these circumstances. Aware that she was not alone and that there were many others who needed support, Kristy went about establishing SOS - Survivors of Suicide; not only to help those left behind but also to aid prevention and promote an awareness that support does exist and there is someone who will listen and can understand. Some years later SOS continues to support people with nowhere to turn. Kristy has undertaken a range of suicide prevention training, speaks at various forums and is a member of the Ballarat Suicide Prevention Network and Suicide Prevention Australia. She also is an active participant in suicide prevention activities and training and communicates these across various forums in the broader community.
Indigo Daya
Indigo Daya is a Melbourne-based mental health consumer leader, advocate, expert in peer work, trauma and recovery, and organisational change agent. Indigo has extensive experience within mental health as a facilitator, keyworker, arts program coordinator, peer worker, activist, advocate, writer and manager. She is also a qualified trainer, has spoken at conference’s across Australia and overseas, and has almost 9 years of experience in the corporate sector in project management, human resources and marketing.
Indigo has a PhD in Madness (from the university of life) in addition to more traditional qualifications of a Bachelor of Business, Diploma of Management and Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment. She has completed five units in psychology as well, but decided she would rather participate in the brilliant emerging peer work profession than live as a disgruntled psychologist.
Coming Soon
Pieter is the Director of the Mediros Unit for Neuropsychotherapy – a company that provides training in Neurobiology and Neuropsychotherapy. He also teaches at the University of Queensland in the School of Psychology and the School of Social Work and Human Services and is the Director of the Master of Counselling Program. Currently he is involved in full time teaching and research in the fields of neurobiology and neuropsychotherapy as well as clinical training for clinicians, psychologists and general practitioners.
Pieter has been in private practice for the past 25 years. Pieter holds Honours Degrees in Philosophy and Psychology, a Master Degree in Clinical Psychology and a PhD. Pieter is a member of the Australian Psychological Society and the APS College of Clinical Psychologists. Pieter was a Professor in Clinical Psychology at in South Africa (University of the Free State) and also taught at Universities in the USA, Canada and Holland.
Pieter specialises in Neuropsychotherapy and is an expert in anxiety and mood disorders. He has published 6 Scientific Books and 60 scientific articles. He has been involved in research in extensive clinical trials and presented research papers at 40 International Conferences worldwide. Pieter’s latest book – BrainWise Leadership was published in Oct 2013 and is co-authored with Connie Henson.
He is a member of the Global Association for Interpersonal Neurobiology Studies, He is a member of the editorial board of the International Journal for Neuropsychotherapy and Chief Editor of The Neuropsychotherapist.
Contact Pieter:
pieter@mediros.com.au
p.rossouw@uq.edu.au
www.mediros.com.au
Trauma and the Brain, A Neuroscience Approach - Download
Dr. Richard Chambers
Dr Richard Chambers is a clinical psychologist in private practice specialising in mindfulness-based therapies. He also works as a consultant at Monash where he is involved in developing a university-wide mindfulness program. He has been teaching and researching mindfulness for over 9 years and regularly provides lectures and workshops. He also consults to a number of educational institutions interested in implementing mindfulness in the curriculum, as well as a growing number of businesses.
Richard is actively involved in research and is currently involved in studies at Monash University, The University of Melbourne and Orygen Youth Health. He is a developer of Smiling Mind, an iPhone and web app designed to make mindfulness meditation accessible to young people, and is co-author of Mindful Learning (Exisle/Shambhala), on the role of mindfulness in education.
Mindfulness In Clinical Practice - Download
Ms Lee Squire
Ms Lee Squire is affectionately known as the dynamic little pocket rocket from Fernwood. With 33 years of experience in the Health and Fitness industry and in Business, Lee's personal life challenges ensure a refreshingly honest, powerful and authentic experience. Lee shares her honest and raw personal story on how she operated on a daily basis as a highly functional alcoholic business woman for many years winning many National and Local Business Awards along the way. Lee remained determined with a strong resolve to achieve the impossible at times before surrendering herself powerless over alcohol and hitting her rock bottom in 2012 aged 49. Her life was in crisis, chaotic and spiralling completely out of control as she battled alcoholism and the voices in her head. Lee dug deep within to find her strong resolve because she knew she was her own problem and solution at the same time. Her authentic self finally won the battle as she surrendered powerless over alcohol. Lee continues to inspire and lead women as she rebuilds a life filled with happiness, passion, purpose and intention as a loving wife and Mum of 3 gorgeous boys, successful business woman, friend, colleague, fitness coach, mentor, presenter and future author
Dr Dianne Kirby
MBBS MSc (Addiction Studies) FRANZCP (Cert Addiction Psych) FAChAM
Dr Dianne Kirby is the Consultant Psychiatrist and Addiction Medicine specialist for the Substance Use Mental Illness Treatment Team (SUMITT) at Melbourne Health. She is also a consultant psychiatrist with Bendigo Health.
Dr Kirby spent many years as a general adult psychiatrist in community psychiatry, both inner city and rural, before developing a passion for addiction, which led to her completing an International Master's of Science in Addiction Studies (awarded jointly from Adelaide University, Kings College London, & Virginia Commonwealth University in the USA). Dr Kirby went on to complete advanced training in Addiction psychiatry, followed by additional medical training in Addiction Medicine.
Dr Kirby has recently commenced her role as the dual diagnosis consultant psychiatrist with SUMITT. In addition to being a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), and a fellow of the Australasian Chapter of Addiction Medicine (AChAM), Dr Kirby is a member of the Australian Association of Smoking Cessation Professionals (AASCP), and is recognised as a tobacco treatment specialist.
Throughout her career, Dr Kirby has been involved in teaching and examining medical students and psychiatric registrars. Dr Kirby is a keen advocate for an integrated approach to the treatment of addiction, and to increasing the expertise of mental health clinicians and psychiatrists in diagnosing and managing addictive disorders within the psychiatric setting.
Dr David Best is Associate Professor of Addiction Studies and is a joint appointment with Monash University. He is from Scotland and qualified initially with a first class honours degree in Psychology with Philosophy, before achieving a Masters with Distinction in Criminology. His PhD was about the explanations drug and alcohol users provide for their addictions and how this shapes their perceptions of what is possible in the future. He has worked in academic research at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, the Institute of Psychiatry in London, Birmingham University and the University of the West of Scotland. He has worked in policy research at the Police Complaints Authority, the National Treatment Agency and the Prime Ministers's Delivery Unit.
Coping With Trauma In Recovery From Substance Use - Download
Dr. Louise Hayes
Dr Louise Hayes is a clinical psychologist. She works as an academic at the Orygen Youth Research Centre, University of Melbourne and has research interests in adolescent, child and parent mental health and wellbeing. Louise is also an ACT Trainer who is part of the Association for Contextual Behavioural Science (ACBS) training community. She also works as a clinical psychologist in private practice.
Mindfulness (Workshop) - Download
Dr. Cathy Kezelman
Dr. Cathy Kezelman is a medical practitioner, mental health consumer, President of Adults Surviving Child Abuse (ASCA) www.asca.org.au , director of Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC) and a foundation member of the national Trauma Informed Care and Practice Advisory working Group. She sits on a number of government and independent mental health and child protection advisory committees. Dr Kezelman worked in medical practice for twenty years, mostly as a General Practitioner. She has held leadership roles in ASCA for ten years, including two terms as Chair, as an advocate for informed responsiveness to complex trauma and a trauma informed approach to care. In February 2012 she was appointed ASCA President. She is a prominent voice in the media and at conferences, as well as author of her own memoir chronicling her journey of recovery from complex trauma: Innocence Revisited- a tale in parts. She is co-author of Adults Surviving Child Abuse 2012 Practice Guidelines for Treatment of Complex Trauma and Trauma Informed Care and Service Delivery Adults Surviving Child Abuse: Authors Kezelman C.A. & Stavropoulos P.A.
A Journey From Childhood Trauma, A Personal Account - Download
ASCA Practice Guidelines - Download
Dr. Katherine Mills
Dr Katherine Mills is a Senior Lecturer and NHMRC Research Fellow at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre. Her research focuses on the epidemiology and treatment of co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, in particular, post traumatic stress disorder. Dr Mills has published widely in the area. In her short career she has had over 30 articles accepted for publication in leading substance use and psychiatric journals, and been a chief investigator on grants totalling over $2.5 million. Her current position is funded through and NHMRC Career Development Award. Dr Mills has received awards for excellence in science and research from the Australasian Society of for Traumatic Stress Studies (2004), the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and Other Drugs (2007), and most recently, the prestigious US based College on problems of Drug Dependence (2009). In 2010 she was awarded two departmental awards in recognition of her academic accomplishments and the impact of her work on the community.
Dr. Neelofar Rehman
Neelofar is a Clinical Psychologist with a special interest in the psychological treatment of complex trauma and comorbid substance related disorders. She practices body based interventions guided by neurobiological research on brain-plasticity. In her recent role as the Director of Allied Health and Therapy Programs, she led the process of establishing dual diagnosis focussed intervention programs within the context of day-patient services at St John of God Pinelodge Clinic and has piloted a group therapy program based on the principles of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. She has been actively involved in training and supervising trainee Psychologists, conducting GP education sessions and has presented her work at National and International conferences.
Dr. Danny Sullivan
Dr Danny Sullivan is Assistant Clinical Director of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare) where he is clinical lead at the state wide Community Forensic Mental Health Service. There he is engaged in the assessment and management of mentally disordered offenders, with a special interest in sexual offenders. He is pursuing a PhD in the treatment of deviant sexual arousal with anti-androgen medication and provides expert evidence in criminal, civil and family law jurisdictions.
Sexual Offending & Mental Health - Download
Prof. John W.G. Tiller, MD
Dr Tiller qualified in medicine and science in New Zealand, holds a Doctorate of Medicine from The University of Melbourne, is a Fellow of both the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, and completed specialist training in child psychiatry.
His primary clinical research interests are the assessment and treatment of depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and psychoses. He is a recognized expert in psychopharmacology and electroconvulsive therapy, and is frequently called on nationally and internationally for advice, lectures and seminar in these areas.
He is the immediate past chair of the Victorian Medical Postgraduate Foundation (VMPF), chairman of Health Education Australia Limited (HEAL), and a director and founding director of Therapeutic Guidelines P/L.
He has an interest in effective governance, especially in health, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), an examiner for the Company Directors course, and a participant in the AICD Nexus peer review program.
Sharon Witt
Sharon Witt has been immersed in teen world for over two decades in her role as a Secondary Educator, author and Presenter to adolescents and their parents around the country. Sharon is also a regular media commentator on parenting and educational issues and is often called upon to comment on radio, print media and national television. She is also the author of the best-selling Teen Talk series of books that have helped many thousands of teenagers across the country navigate their adolescent journey. Her latest book Teen Talk - Parent Talk provides an abundance of collective wisdom and common sense principles in raising resilient and happy teens. Sharon is passionate about equipping educators and parents in understanding key issues affecting our young people, and providing practical strategies for helping them make positive choices.
Janina Fisher Ph.D.