My background brings together education, psychological research and clinical experience. I began my career teaching in Australia before taking up academic and research appointments at the University of Southern California Medical Campus, American University Graduate School and Georgetown University Medical School.

My work has included research into learning, emotional development, psychological assessment and clinical practice. I received a teaching and research award associated with a grant from the US National Institute of Mental Health for whom I then consulted. I have worked as an educational and psychological consultant to government and professional organisations in Australia and the United States.

Alongside my academic work, I have practised as a psychotherapist, including working with children and adolescents at Austin Hospital in Melbourne. I continue my private psychotherapy practice in Melbourne.

I am a Licensed Mental Health First Aid Instructor and a Board Member of the International Society for the Psychoanalytic Study of Organisations (ISPSO). Over the years, I have delivered more than 70 research presentations, professional workshops and conference papers.

Why Nurture Wellbeing?

With Nurture Wellbeing, I bring these experiences together to help adults better understand young people and the challenges they face.

I believe that understanding a young person's wellbeing means looking beyond the individual to the relationships, experiences and environments that shape their everyday life.

Families, friendships, education, social media and the wider community all play a part. What happens in one area of a young person's life can affect how they feel, behave and relate to others in another.

My presentations aim to help make knowledge accessible and useful, particularly for parents, grandparents, educators and others who care about young people.