About

I'm an educational and developmental psychologist at St Margaret's Berwick Grammar and an academic at the University of Melbourne, where I teach graduate courses on counselling skills and group work. With over two decades of experience in schools and private practice, I'm deeply committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.

My Doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Melbourne inspired my current research, which explores the connections between relationships, listening, and wellbeing. I've developed a new approach called 'Listening for Connection', which I'm currently researching. This approach emphasises that truly listening to children has a profound impact on their wellbeing and relationships. At St Margaret's Berwick Grammar, I've led the co-creation of a whole-school mental health and wellbeing strategy, which won an Excellence Award for Best Student Wellbeing Program at the 2023 Australian Education Awards.

I'm actively involved with the Australian Psychological Society (APS) as Convenor of the APS National Positive Psychology Interest Group, a Fellow of the APS College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists, and an Affiliate Member of the APS College of Counselling Psychologists. As a Psychology Board-approved supervisor, I also enjoy mentoring and supporting other psychologists.

My research and practice are guided by the belief that our greatest need is to be seen, heard, accepted, and valued by others. As a psychologist working with children, my aim is to listen deeply to children and to help them build strong and supportive relationships so they can thrive. Through my 'Listening for Connection' research, I hope to contribute to our understanding of effective listening practices and their impact on children's wellbeing.