Michaela is responsible for the strategic development, monitoring, and evaluation of Gidget Foundation Australia’s client-focussed programs. She also develops and oversees the implementation of major program funding.
Growing up in Southern Africa, Michaela developed a deep sense of community purpose and a commitment to following a career that focussed on helping others. She has worked in the not for profit and government sectors for 20 years, both in Australia and internationally. Her experience has been gained in a variety of settings from HIV/AIDS prevention and education, sustainable agriculture, and cancer support and education, to currently mental health.
Michaela has been involved in the implementation of a range of programs and services from multilateral multimillion-dollar national programs to small-scale community-based initiatives. The common theme throughout her career has been a tireless commitment to the delivery of effective and efficient programs with clearly demonstrated social impact. In Australia, Michaela has previously worked at the McGrath Foundation where she was responsible for developing the organisation’s national Breast Care Nurse program, which saw the expansion of the program from 2 to 55 nurses during her tenure. She has also held roles as Sydney Area Manager at national children’s cancer charity, Camp Quality, and Prevention Portfolio Coordinator at Cancer Institute NSW, with a specific focus on increasing participation in the NSW Cervical Screening Program.
Michaela holds a MA from Oxford University and a MSc in Demography from the London School of Economics and Political Science. When not at work, Michaela is kept just as busy by her two children!
Kate joined Gidget Foundation Australia in October 2022 as the Partnerships and Operations Coordinator. She supports the Marketing and Operations team at the Foundation.
Kate’s passion for mental health drew her to Gidget Foundation Australia, and she values how vital the specialist support services provided are for all people experiencing PNDA.
She completed her degree in Sociology at Hunter College CUNY in New York City, where she found a love for both Sociology and Psychology.
In her free time, Kate practices yoga, spends time with her two cats, and loves to play and listen to music.
Katie Peterson is a registered Clinical Psychologist and Board Approved Supervisor with AHPRA based in Tamworth NSW. Katie provides supervision, clinical support and professional development to the Gidget Foundation Australia Clinicians working with families in the perinatal period.
Katie has over 11 years of experience working in perinatal and infant mental health across private, not-for-profit and public health services in regional NSW. Most recently Katie was the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (PIMHS) clinician for the Tamworth Community Mental Health Team for 7 years as well as the Safe Start coordinator. Prior to this Katie provided general psychological services in Hunter New England area of NSW including outreach to rural communities.
Katie has extensive experience in perinatal and infant mental health drawing on attachment theory, infant development, cognitive behaviour therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and emotion focused therapy. Katie has a particular interest in attachment-related trauma, mother-infant interaction, adjustment to motherhood, depression and anxiety including perinatal OCD, and birth trauma.
As a clinician living and working in a regional area Katie is very aware of the challenges faced by clinicians working in rural communities, as well as the challenges families face due to limited services including the reliance on telehealth to access support. Katie is passionate about expanding access and providing quality perinatal mental health services across Australia.
Nicole joined Gidget Foundation Australia late in 2022 as Programs Manager after 15 years working in health and medical research as both a scientist and executive.
Nicole has a Bachelor of Medical Science with first-class Honours and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Medicine; both from the University of Sydney.
In her previous program management roles, she spearheaded and executed a number of health initiatives focussed on evidence-based/technology interventions that aimed to improve people’s health outcomes. As Head of Research for the Charlie Teo Foundation, she was responsible for finding new ways to solve challenges in brain cancer and her strong collaborative skills allowed her to bring together the right combination of clinician-scientists to address those challenges.
Nicole has experienced postpartum depression and is passionate and motivated to apply her expertise to support the Gidget Foundation in its program service delivery.
When she is not working or looking after her two small children, Nicole volunteers her time as Research Advisor to the childhood brain cancer charity, Little Legs Foundation as well as working on her start-up venture in the digital health space.
Karen is responsible for leading Gidget Foundation Australia’s clinical governance and compliance framework within a culture of continuous quality improvement. As an experienced health executive working across public, private and not-for-profit healthcare, Karen is committed to achieving excellence through health system safety, good governance practices and sound risk management.
Karen has worked extensively in perinatal mental health, supporting parents throughout her career as a clinical psychologist, AHPRA approved supervisor and health director. Karen also has expertise in corporate governance, strategic leadership, and financial management as a non-executive board member and former company secretary.
Current professional memberships include the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS), the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), the Australian College of Health Service Managers (AACHSM) and the Governance Institute of Australia (AGIA). Karen has a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology, a Graduate Certificate in Adult Education, a Bachelor of Arts (hons) degree, and is also completing a Masters qualification in Health Leadership and Management.
Eliza is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and Founder of Blackbird Counselling, a Women’s Mental Health Service managing six Mental Health Professionals providing counselling and support to assist women and families across the lifespan. Eliza has worked in mental health for the past 21 years and has been in private practice specialising in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health for the past 6 years.
Eliza created Blackbird House in 2020, a Perinatal Health and Wellness Centre on the Sunshine Coast implementing programs supporting women and families, including The Mother Mentor Program, Blackbird Playgroups and Mother’s Groups. The Wellness Centre was a way of reducing barriers to families by providing access to multiple services in one location including Pregnancy Massage, Baby Massage, a Paediatrician, Circle of Security Groups, Midwifery & Lactation Consultants, Paediatric Physiotherapy, and access to community clubs/groups.
Eliza has completed Circle of Security Facilitator Training and Newborn Behavioural Observation training through the Royal Women’s Hospital in Victoria. She has worked with the Queensland Ballet – Bumps to Babies Program through Mindstar and is a Registered Supervisor with the Australian Association of Social Workers having completed the Excellence in Supervisory Practice Certificate (PASE model) through Amovita International. She has also completed Perinatal Non-Directive Pregnancy Counselling Certification through the Australian Psychological Society.
Eliza has a diverse range of experiencing working in multi-disciplinary teams for the Department of Human Services within the Job Capacity Assessment Units, Commonwealth Rehabilitation Services Australia, Community Health Centres, Hospitals and The University of the Sunshine Coast. She has worked as an External Supervisor with the University of the Sunshine Coast supervising Bachelor of Social Work students and regularly supervises students in her practice from Psychology, Social Work and Peer Support programs.
Eliza has previously held positions with the Australasian Birth Trauma Clinical Advisory Committee and was the Co-ordinator of the Sunshine Coast Women’s Mental Health Professionals Network in 2021/22.
Eliza worked with Gidget Foundation Australia in 2018 as one of the first Accredited Mental Health Social Workers in the Start Talking Program and has recently joined as the Clinical Training Leader for Gidget Foundation Australia’s Workforce Development Program in 2022. Eliza is delighted to come on board as the Workforce Development Program Manager in October 2022.
Strephon Billinghurst joined Hawkesbury District Health Service at the time of Hawkesbury District Health Service’s transfer to St John of God Health Care in November 2015. Having previously worked as the Chief Executive Officer at the specialist private psychiatrist facility, St John of God Richmond Hospital, Strephon led the Hospital Management Team and more than 600 caregivers through successive changes involving the facility’s organisational structure, healthcare models and information, technology, and communications systems.
Before joining the St John of God family, Strephon gained extensive experience working in acute private and public hospitals. Strephon worked at Calvary Hospital Canberra, a hospital with public and private services similar to Hawkesbury District Health Service. For three years, Strephon was Calvary Hospital’s Director of Operations for the Private Services (75 beds) and prior to that; the Nursing Director – Emergency, Perioperative, Mental Health, and Critical Care for the (200 bed) public hospital services.
Before working with Calvary Hospital, Strephon worked with Flinders Medical Centre, a 430-bed public facility in South Australia as their Nursing Director – Emergency and Perioperative Medicine, and the Acting Executive Director of Nursing – Midwifery and Patient Services. Strephon’s qualifications include a Masters in Health Services Management, a Bachelor of Nursing, and a Graduate Diploma in Catholic Leadership from the Australian Catholic University.
Arabella joined Gidget Foundation Australia in early 2017 after a 20 year career in executive leadership roles in the media and communications industry in both Australia and the UK.
Arabella has a passion for improving support systems for expectant and new parents by building emotionally resilient families. Since joining the Foundation, Arabella has expanded its Gidget House program, offering face-to-face psychology support to cover 3 states and a further 13 sites (14 in total). Under her leadership, the Foundation has introduced 3 new programs providing direct support: Start Talking, offering nationwide telehealth services for regional, rural and remote communities; and Gidget Village, group therapy support and Gidget Virtual Village, a peer moderated support program for parents experiencing perinatal depression and anxiety.
Arabella recently participated in the closed group to devise the Australian Government’s Women’s Health Strategy for 2020 to 2030 in Canberra and she was a finalist in The CEO Magazines’ 2018 and 2019 Not-For-Profit Executive of the Year Award and a Finalist in the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards for 2019.
Arabella holds a Masters in Communication Management from UTS and is a Non-Executive Director of Future Women, an organisation supporting the advancement of women to connect, learn and lead.
Arabella and her husband have twins – a son and a daughter.
Jannet joined Gidget Foundation Australia in July 2022 as Executive Assistant to the CEO and comes from a corporate background in the marketing, hospitality, and airline industries with a broad range of administrative experience.
Gidget House has provided great support to Jannet’s personal PNDA journey and she is excited and honoured to be a part of this team to promote greater awareness of the importance of perinatal mental health across the community.
Outside of work, Jannet enjoys spending time with family and friends, good food, and travelling. She loves new experiences and bringing people together to have fun.
Veronica is a registered Psychologist with many years of experience working with clients from a diverse range of backgrounds. Since 2005 she has been with NSW Health where she provided psychological support for clients with mental health concerns in a recovery-orientated framework.
She has been part of a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) program and a Brief Intervention Clinic which provides immediate psychological support to clients in crisis. Veronica has facilitated groups including healthy lifestyles, creative therapies including life writing, and groups for young people.
Veronica is a supportive and compassionate therapist who is trauma-informed. She is passionate about access to support through the perinatal period and provides this through various evidence-based treatments. Veronica is trained in Eye Movement Reprocessing and Desensitisation Therapy (EMDR) and is a Board Approved Supervisor.
In the past, Veronica has worked at NCAT (Guardianship Division) and in Drug and Alcohol Services in the UK.
Mirela Leko is Gidget Foundation Australia’s Company Secretary, a voluntary position that supports the Foundation’s Board. Mirela is passionate about making a difference through empathy and service, taking on new challenges, and harnessing the power of change. As the mum of Alexander and Nicole, Mirela knows too well that the biggest challenges and changes come through the experience of parenthood, and she feels honoured to be part of the Foundation’s mission to support the emotional wellbeing of expectant and new parents.
Mirela comes to the Foundation with an extensive professional career with top-tier law firms and large global listed corporations, specialising in corporate governance, company secretarial, strategic and public mergers and acquisitions, finance, and capital markets. Mirela is currently the Group Senior Legal Counsel with Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX:RHC), and brings with her broad industry experience across healthcare, rural services, mental health, government, and infrastructure. Mirela is a strategic thinker and operator who loves a hands-on approach and seeks out opportunities to build, sustain and be part of teams that achieve great things.
Natalie joined the team at Gidget Foundation Australia in June 2017 as the Business Development Manager and is now in the role of Partnerships and Operations Director. With over 15 years’ experience in relationship management, marketing, and consumer identification/engagement, particularly in the not-for-profit space.
Natalie takes care of the Foundation’s partnerships and brand marketing initiatives.
She managed the execution of the Sony group of companies’ philanthropic arm, the Sony Foundation Australia, and more recently spent five years at the McGrath Foundation where she headed up both the Corporate & Community fundraising teams. She has also worked with a number of for-purpose organisations including; Miracle Babies Foundation, Feel The Magic, Simply Giving and the Sargood Foundation.
Lisa joined Gidget Foundation Australia as Digital Manager in January 2019 and is now in the role of Digital and Community Fundraising Director. Her role is responsible for the website, social media, individual giving and community fundraising, Gidget Virtual Villages, the Gidget Angel program, online brand awareness, and driving growth digitally.
As a member of the Gidget Founding Committee, Lisa managed the Foundation’s social media on a voluntary basis for 6 years before joining the team.
Lisa is a passionate solo mother, fundraiser, lover of all things digital, and writer.
Lisa’s personal experiences of mental ill health led her to support and inspire others through sharing her own story and through her work in the charity sector.
Lisa has been in a variety of fundraising, marketing and digital roles in the NFP sector for more than 20 years, having worked with some of Australia’s most respected charities including Youth Off The Streets, Cancer Council NSW, HeartKids, Leukaemia Foundation, The Shepherd Centre and more.
In her spare time, she loves spending time with her teen son, taking and sharing beautiful photos, volunteering, reading and using social media for good.
Sandy joined the Gidget Foundation Australia team as Clinical Practice Executive in August 2022. She has worked in various administration and customer service roles throughout the years.
Working at Gidget Foundation Australia is a perfect fit for Sandy as she experienced PNDA after having her first child and is very empathetic to anyone who is struggling during that vulnerable period of parenting.
Sandy loves spending her free time with family, bushwalking, reading thrillers, and watching true crime shows.
Jenni has supported women throughout her career with the adjustments to parenthood, including young mothers, mental health, birth trauma, families in crisis and drug and alcohol support. Jenni brings compassion, respectfulness and a non-judgemental space to her work.
Jenni’s areas of expertise and interest include women and families in the perinatal period, trauma-informed Care, the adjustment to parenthood, relationship difficulties, general anxiety and depression, PTSD, and suicide prevention.
Jenni uses the following therapeutic interventions; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion Focussed Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Strength Based Therapy and Non-Directive Pregnancy Counselling.
Jenni has the following qualifications: Bachelor of Human Services, The University of Sunshine Coast 2011, Master of Social Work, The University of Sunshine Coast 2015, Circle of Security Facilitator 2019, Non-Directive Pregnancy Counselling 2020, Accredited Mental Health Social Worker 2020. Certified HypnoBirthing Educator – Mongan Method 2022.
Deb Spanner is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, with 23 years experience in working across government and non-government mental health services, as well as private practice as a mental health clinician.
Working in the area of perinatal mental health has always been an area of passion for Deb, with specialties in grief and loss, working with women and men who are survivors of domestic and family violence and sexual assault, as well as young people from diverse backgrounds. Deb also works with women who are experiencing unplanned pregnancies. Deb has had experience working in Indigenous communities and is committed to cultural safety when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. from a holistic social and emotional wellbeing approach.
Deb is trained in the use of a range of focused psychological strategies and evidence-based therapeutic approaches. She strives for excellence in service delivery and person-centered care and comes from a strengths-based, anti-oppressive perspective that is empathetic and caring.
Deb is committed to working with people on their journey through recovery, and being a partner in the building of resilience and self-empowerment.
Vanessa is a registered psychologist with 20 years experience working across a variety of clinical settings, most recently in NSW Health and in private practice.
She has worked with adults and families experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, relationship issues, addiction, and change adjustment issues. Experience working in the area of organisational psychology has also given her a unique insight into exploring the life adjustment issues for working women and their partners in the perinatal period.
Vanessa has a warm, empathic, and calm approach, with a strong focus on building a strong and caring therapeutic alliance. She believes that this is key in helping to foster hope, inner strength, and confidence to empower her clients to realise their own potential.
Vanessa works primarily from a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy approach and also draws strongly from Narrative Therapy. She recognises the importance of flexibility in treatment approaches, along with a non-judgemental therapeutic space to help best navigate client goals.
Outside of work, she is a busy mum of 3 with firsthand experience in the complex challenges facing today’s parents.
Tracey is a warm, compassionate and insightful therapist who has worked in both private and public mental health, supporting people experiencing a range of mental health challenges, for over 20 years. Tracey is a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse and a Psychotherapist / Counsellor, currently working in private practice and a school setting.
Tracey has gained specialised expertise in understanding and supporting women and their families in the perinatal period, during her years working in the Mother-Baby Unit at St John of God Hospital. In this setting, she supported many women and their families using both individual and group approaches.
Tracey’s work is informed by evidenced-based therapies, including ACT, CBT, DBT, Schema, Mindfulness, and attachment frameworks. She is also a Registered Circle of Security educator and considers this attachment-informed framework to be a wonderful guide to understanding ourselves and children’s needs.
Tracey is very passionate and committed to supporting women and their families in all areas perinatally, to feel more empowered and hopeful during a time of immense change, adjustment and often, vulnerability.
Loraine is a Clinical Psychologist who holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Newcastle.
She has over 16 years experience working in a variety of psychological settings including government agencies, non-government organisations, and private practice. Loraine has also worked overseas in roles involving trauma counselling for children and families when she worked in the Occupied Palestinian Territories with Medecins Sans Frontieres.
Loraine has an interest in multicultural mental health, mental health in regional and rural areas, and trauma, and has an interest in working with fathers within the perinatal period. She is proficient in comprehensive psychological assessments and has experience in using a variety of evidence-based assessments and interventions when working with children and adults, including the use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectic Behavioural Therapy.
Stephanie joined Gidget Foundation Australia in the role of Clinical Practice Executive in 2021. Although her background has been primarily in the advertising and music industries, her experience has always been client focussed and this is what she loves most about her role at the Foundation.
Maya Angelou said that people will forget what you said and they’ll forget what you did, but they will never forget how you make them feel. Stephanie believes that this is what the wonderful team at Gidget Foundation Australia strives to do every day, and she enjoys being a part of making sure that everyone we have contact with feels hopeful and feels supported.
Stephanie is passionate about mental health for both women and the wider community, especially in our more remote areas. Outside of work, she loves hanging out with her awesome children and grandchildren as well as reading, painting, and traveling to London and Italy whenever possible!
Lorena is a Psychologist and Clinical Registrar with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
She supports individuals and families from pre-conception to preschool age with the full range of perinatal emotional health challenges, including pregnancy, perinatal loss, antenatal depression and anxiety, birth trauma, premature birth, postnatal depression, and anxiety, adjustment issues, and parent-infant attachment. Lorena has experience in private practice, community mental health, and primary school settings.
Lorena adopts an evidence-based approach when addressing symptoms. In addition, her knowledge of psychology, psychophysiology, and neuroscience helps her understand how the brain and body connect, allowing her to have a unique understanding of perinatal practice.
Lorena aims to ensure therapy is tailored to each individual’s concerns, background, and history to help clients utilise their values and strengths to manage their distress and achieve positive outcomes. She is passionate about women’s health and encourages women to feel empowered to achieve their therapeutic goals.
Sara is a warm and passionate Clinical Psychologist with over 10 years of experience working in the perinatal mental health space, with a particular interest in adjustment to parenting, perinatal anxiety, sleep and settling stress, mother-infant attachment, parenting after childhood trauma, and recovery from birth trauma.
Sara brings a broad range of approaches including CBT, ACT, DBT, mindfulness-based strategies, attachment theory, and schema therapy to help tailor treatment to the person and their unique experiences and strengths. She is also trained in EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing), which can be used to process traumatic experiences including birth trauma.
In therapy, Sara works with clients to build an open, supportive, and collaborative therapeutic relationship as a key part of addressing their current struggles in the wonderful, challenging, and complex space of parenthood.
Emily joined Gidget Foundation Australia in June 2022 in the role of Clinical Intake Coordinator and is responsible for reviewing potential client documents, effective triage, and coordinating timely intake for new clients.
Emily has over 19 years of experience as a Registered Nurse and Midwife working in the birth suite, on the postnatal ward, and at Gidget House North Sydney at the Mater Hospital. Emily also has commercial experience working at Pfizer Nutrition, managing the Careline for S-26 infant formula. She has a passion for working with expectant parents, parents, and healthcare professionals, particularly in the area of perinatal depression and anxiety.
Beyond the doors of Gidget Foundation Australia, Emily enjoys walking across the Sydney Harbour Bridge at sunrise, spending time with family and friends, and exploring overseas destinations.
Simone has been involved with Gidget Foundation Australia since its inception.
Having begun as a Founding Committee Member, Simone has held various voluntary roles including that of Committee President. Simone was the Company Secretary for over 4 years and continues to be involved in a voluntary role managing our Gidget family of volunteers.
The Centre of Volunteering awarded Simone the North Shore Volunteer of the Year in 2021.
Simone is a Founding Committee Member, is currently in the position of Chair of the Board of Directors, and is the youngest sister of Gidget.
Dee joined the Gidget Foundation Australia team as Clinical Practice Executive in June 2022.
Dee has extensive experience in secretarial, EA and admin roles across financial, sporting, and medical fields, including various specialist practices and public and private hospitals.
Dee finds working at Gidget Foundation Australia very fulfilling and gratifying and she loves to be of service to those in need and reaching out for care. A proud team player, Dee thrives on variety and a feeling a sense of achievement at the end of each workday.
Dee can’t get by without her daily sunrise swim and recharge in the ocean.
Dr Lisa Morgan is a Clinical Psychologist based in Brisbane who has trained and worked in both the public and private mental health systems in Canada, the UK, and Australia. She began her studies and work in Canada and finished her clinical training at the University of Melbourne in 2005 and PhD in 2008. She has nearly 20 years experience working in women’s mental health with a particular emphasis on eating disorders and perinatal disorders/adjustment issues (including multiple births and carer’s issues, such as the diagnosis of a child).
Lisa’s therapeutic style is based on attachment-based theories and encourages the exploration of personal values, as well as emphasises self-acceptance and the development of values-driven goals. Only evidence-based psychological treatment methods are used in her approach to therapy, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Apart from her work with Gidget Foundation Australia’s Start Talking program, Lisa also manages a part-time practice in Manly West, Brisbane. She spends the rest of the time with her husband and three children and greatly enjoys engaging in self-compassion and relaxation through meditation, music, dance, yoga, cooking, photography, and running.
Claudia Bakewell is a Registered Psychologist with experience working in Child and Family Counselling as well as working in a private mental health hospital setting on the Mid North Coast. Claudia has a special interest in perinatal mental health and is passionate about supporting women and families with perinatal anxiety, depression, birth-related trauma and grief and loss.
Claudia is a compassionate and empathetic Clinician who tries to facilitate a supportive and caring environment for her patients. Claudia has a strong attachment focus, is trauma-informed and utilises a range of different psychological interventions including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT).
Kara is a Clinical Psychologist with 10 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families in a range of settings including community and hospital settings (child and youth mental health, perinatal and infant mental health, adult mental health hospital, tertiary family residential service for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties), primary and high schools, university clinics, and private practice.
Kara’s therapeutic approach is warm, respectful, and collaborative. She utilises an integrative approach to therapy, drawing from a range of evidence-based practices including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Family Systems Therapy, and Mindfulness-based therapy including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Kara is a trained facilitator of the Circle of Security Parenting and 1 2 3 Magic Parenting programs and is also trained in the Cool Kids Macquarie University anxiety program.
Brooke is a Clinical Psychology Registrar who values a warm, conversational, and collaborative approach to therapy. Her practice draws on approaches that best fit the person, including Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), cultivating acceptance and clarifying values (ACT), and practicing self-compassion. Brooke enjoys helping people to understand themselves and their relationships through an Attachment Theory framework.
Brooke has completed a Masters in Clinical Psychology at UOW, and a PhD in Psychology at ACU. She became interested in working in the perinatal space after having her own child, and noticing gaps in quality care during the post-partum period. Prior to Gidget Foundation Australia, Brooke has worked at Headspace and as a research academic at UTS.
Brooke has a particular interest in supporting women experiencing severe vomiting and nausea in pregnancy; helping women and birthing partners to prepare for birth and post-partum; supporting parents to build confidence in their capacity to respond to their infants; and painful sexual intercourse (a common but underreported concern for many people following birth).
Lisiane Latouche is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who brings more than three decades of experience supporting and empowering mothers, fathers, and their families experiencing perinatal anxiety and depression or faced with grief/loss in the perinatal period.
Lisiane draws her expertise from years of clinical practice in the perinatal and infant health wellbeing space and her early years in Women and Children Hospital settings ignited a passion in the perinatal period.
With studies in attachment-based practice, mindfulness, family therapy, and infant mental health, Lisiane draws from a variety of therapeutic modalities in supporting mothers, fathers, and families in a compassionate and culturally-sensitive manner.
A major part of Lisiane’s professional interests has been the facilitation of PNDA Therapy Groups, Circle of Security Parenting Groups, Wait, Watch and Wonder Groups, and more recently Mindfulness for Mums Groups which aim to provide mutual connections and support in a safe space.
Lisiane remains passionate about supporting and empowering mothers, fathers, and their families during adjustment difficulties, perinatal anxiety and depression, and related life challenges.
Joanne is a Clinical Psychologist with a passion for supporting families throughout the perinatal period. With over a decade of experience working in mental health, she has provided psychological interventions for a range of mental health issues. These include anxiety and depression (including within the perinatal period), trauma, loss, substance use, sleep disorders, emotion dysregulation, and relationship difficulties.
Joanne uses evidence-based interventions such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Schema Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Attachment-Based approaches.
Joanne was drawn to work in the perinatal space after having a baby of her own and experiencing firsthand what an amazing yet challenging transition this can be. She is passionate about helping others navigate their transition to parenthood, and build resilience to manage adversity along the way. She enjoys working with people from all walks of life, age ranges, and cultural backgrounds, and brings warmth and compassion to each session.
Alicia was also the co-founder of the parenting app Kiindred, a digital ecosystem originally designed to assist the modern-day parent, providing expert guidance and inspiration for parents with children 0-4 years. With 3 beautiful kids, Alicia has great passion and energy for supporting the modern-day parent. She believes that parenting comes with so many pressures and unknowns and early support is vital for both the physical and emotional self.
Alicia’s goal is to use her creative and strategic marketing strengths for good purpose and enable a better outcome for all parents during their perinatal journey.
Liz is a Registered Psychologist with over 12 years of experience. She has worked across a number of settings with children, teens and adults in both the UK and Australia.
For several years Liz has worked with neurodiverse children, teens and their parents, with a focus on supporting parents to bring the best out of their children, as well as in empowering children to discover their strengths and potential.
Since becoming a parent to two small children herself, Liz has developed a passion for perinatal mental health with huge empathy for the parenting journey and the struggles that can be faced amidst the joys of parenthood.
Liz recognises the importance of the therapeutic relationship in working with her clients and tailors her approach to the needs of the person she is working with. She is trained in a range of approaches including cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and person-centred counselling.
Chris Barnes is a Clinical Psychologist and has been in private practice for over 27 years. Starting her career with severely emotionally dysregulated children and their families, then working with clients focusing on grief, loss, pregnancy, and fertility, adoption, foster care, her passion for women’s emotional wellbeing has been a driving force in her career.
In therapeutic work, Chris employs various modalities such as CBT, ACT, DBT, play therapy, attachment theory, and family therapy skills. After having children of her own, Chris focused on: mediation, trauma work, EAP and training on building resilience, self- care, and stress reduction. She also completed a year-long Infant Observation with NSWIPP and then seven years ago she started work at Gidget House as a Clinician.
In 2018 she co-developed and facilitated the Gidget Village group program for GFA and is now the Senior Clinical Team Leader. Chris is a registered Supervisor with AHPRA and provides supervision to Clinicians within Gidget Foundation Australia and helps coordinate recruitment. She is a member of the APS, and a fellow of the College of Clinical Psychologists and enjoys being involved in the media and presenting on PNDA, raising awareness of parental emotional well- being in the community.
Dr Erin Seeto is a Counselling Psychologist, based in Sydney, and has worked in various settings including hospitals (UK NHS), community, local government, education, specialist services, and private practice.
Following her Masters in Social Work in Scotland, Erin worked in the field of learning disability and mental health for a number of years. Moving to London, Erin then pursued her Doctorate in Psychology which is where her interest in adjustment, identity, and post-traumatic growth developed while working with individuals who had experienced acquired brain injuries.
Erin’s additional interest in perinatal mental health led her to Gidget House shortly after settling in Sydney. Erin sees the importance of increasing awareness of both women’s health and perinatal mental health issues where small changes can have a substantial positive impact on clients and their families. As a Clinician, Erin is committed to working with diverse cultural populations and sensitively adapts her practice to the cultural needs of her clients.
After considerable perinatal training, Erin was motivated to continue this work on a permanent basis. Erin’s recent experience within this field has focused on adjustment, grief, loss, pregnancy, and post-traumatic growth. Utilising this experience, Erin draws on a systemic approach to understand the difficulties that clients face within the perinatal period.
Over the last 10 years, Erin has dedicated time to building her career through expanding her role to include developing and facilitating training of health care professionals to individuals, small and large groups. Erin is a Board-approved supervisor providing supervision to psychologists, accredited mental health social workers, and other professionals within the mental health field.
Additionally, Erin is on the board of the Australian Psychology Society NSW College of Counselling Psychology advocating for the needs of the membership specifically and the profession, more generally.
Adriana is a Registered Psychologist with a special interest in working with women and their families throughout pregnancy and the early years of parenthood.
Adriana has over 20 years experience working with a range of clients and presentations such as anxiety and depression, family and domestic violence, trauma, addictions, LGBTQI+, clients from culturally diverse backgrounds, and First Nations clients. Adriana is passionate about working with women experiencing distress, depression or anxiety in the perinatal period (including difficulties with conception, assisted reproduction, adoption, perinatal loss – miscarriage, termination, stillbirth – pregnancy, birth, birth trauma, and the first years following birth), or who are going through difficulties relating to the challenges of motherhood; this includes attachment and mother-baby interactions. Adriana is committed to providing evidence-based and compassionate therapy and draws from a range of psychological interventions including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), attachment theory, EMDR, and psycho-dynamic therapy; she is also a certified Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator.
In addition to working in the perinatal field, Adriana also works with adults with a range of concerns including mood disorders, anxiety, and trauma. She also provides therapy to Spanish speakers and supervision to other psychologists.
Adriana is a registered non-directive Pregnancy Counselling Support Medicare provider and provides support through Gidget Foundation Australia’s Start Talking program.
Paula is an accredited mental health social worker with 20 years experience. Paula has worked in women’s health all of her working career and is passionate about her role as a women’s health and family advocate, working respectively with empathy and care.
Paula has specialised in group work and outreach care in the perinatal period within a maternity hospital where the major emphasis was on informing women about the importance of emotional attachment and identifying when they need to reach out for help.
Paula works from a strength-based solution-focused model and her counselling is informed by Attachment Theory, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, trauma-informed care, relaxation and mindfulness and the systems and family centred theory approaches to women and families.
Paula’s aim is to empower clients by providing interventions that are individually shaped and self-directed, allowing them to explore issues that are relevant to their circumstances during the perinatal period.
Lyndal is a passionate registered psychologist providing services in private practice. She has worked with a wide range of client presentations across a variety of settings in regional NSW.
Lyndal has an interest in perinatal mental health and supporting parents through their time of a significant life adjustment. Lyndal draws on people’s strengths and values to build resilience and self-compassion.
Lyndal’s therapeutic approach is drawn from evidence-based interventions. She applies collaborative trauma-informed care with a recovery focus. Therapeutic interventions include Psychoeducation, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, and Mindfulness.
Demelza is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, registered with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), and she also holds a Masters in Clinical Family Therapy, both from LaTrobe University, Bundoora.
She has worked with both individuals and families, across a number of public and private sectors, in both Victoria and Queensland, to support people with a range of issues including anxiety; depression; family and parenting; relationship issues; grief and loss; reproductive loss; trauma; conflict and conflict resolution; family separation; family violence; and life transitions.
With a relational focus towards her work, Demelza has been described as a warm, caring, and nurturing practitioner, who uses a range of Focused Psychological Strategies, in combination with Social Work and Family Therapy theories in her practice. She has a particular focus on attachment theory; strengths-based practice; and narrative therapy with clients in the perinatal period; and understands the transition to parenthood, can be both an exciting and challenging journey, covering many issues from conception to 12 months old.
Demelza has completed perinatal specific training with the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE), and the Perinatal Infant Mental Health Intensive course through the Centre for Perinatal Psychology. She likes to work collaboratively with her clients and will tailor interventions, according to specific needs.
Kim met Gidget in her first year of high school, their friendship continued after school, through pregnancy and beyond. She was an original Gidget Founding Committee member and is passionate about supporting mums (and their families) and finding ways to better diagnose and support those affected by PNDA.
After accepting an executive leadership role with Procter and Gamble (P&G) in Switzerland and then Singapore, Kim took some time away from Gidget Foundation Australia. During her time in Asia, she participated in P&G’s pro bono program with several not-for-profits including the Singapore Special Olympics. Kim is a strong advocate for equality and inclusion and was the functional lead for P&G in ANZ, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Kim is a Non-Executive Director with the Arrow Foundation and a member of AICD.
Kim, husband Phil, and three children returned to Australia in 2021, providing Kim with the perfect opportunity to re-join the Gidget Founding Committee.
Orietta is a registered psychologist in private practice with over twenty years of experience. She has worked across various settings including adolescent and adult drug and alcohol services with NSW Health, in primary and high schools with Catholic Care, University of Wollongong, NSW Department of Juvenile Justice, and Red Nose.
Psychological support provided draws from various theoretical frameworks promoting healthy emotional and psychological well-being to enhance the parent-infant relationship. She works collaboratively with clients from a positive and strengths-based perspective, meeting clients where they are at and exploring realistic, achievable options. Orietta draws from trauma-informed practice whilst remaining present-focused, providing a holistic approach respectfully embracing clients’ entirety of their life experience.
Orietta’s areas of interest are founded in early intervention to support parents in their parenting experiences, and all this may entail throughout the perinatal period, specifically birth trauma, adjustment issues, baby loss, and parent-infant relationships.
Attachment models, Circle of Security, and developmental theories underpin clinical perspectives.
Enza has worked as a Clinical Psychologist and consultant in London and Australia, in mental health and disability Services, health and community services, inpatient units, and in rehabilitation for over 30 years. She has worked clinically with clients in a range of therapies (obtaining training at the Tavistock Clinic and Queens Square in London) and has worked with the community, forensic, WorkCover, TAC, residential, nursing, and medical staff, and NDIS.
Enza is an AHPRA approved Clinical Supervisor. She has represented mental health and intellectual disability on academic and research panels at London universities.
Enza is an Associate Fellow for the British Psychological Society and a member of the Australian Psychological Society. Enza has experience in infant and toddler observation and attachment theory.
Radmila is a Registered Psychologist with over 12 years of experience in perinatal mental health. She has worked in a perinatal setting where she has supported families with individual, couple and group treatments.
Radmila practices within an integrative framework, to help clients better understand their patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. Also, believing that the therapeutic relationship is central to the process of therapy and change. Creating a safe space for clients to talk and to feel supported, is her priority.
Radmila is an accredited Circle of Security facilitator and has a passion for working with parents of young children in strengthening their relationships. In addition, Radmila has facilitated perinatal depression and anxiety (PNDA) programs, as well as professional training (‘train the trainer’) in PNDA therapy programs.
Being a parent herself, to three teenagers, is a fulfilling and challenging job so to ‘recharge’, Radmila enjoys regular long coastal walks.
Jillian is a Clinical Psychologist, with about 15 years of experience working with adults with severe mental illness and their families in QLD Health, in community, inpatient and management positions. For the last 3 years she has been in private practice at Coolangatta.
Jillian has a gentle approach, and is professional, practical and personable. She aims to create a safe, supportive and hopeful space, where people can explore their struggles, work towards their goals, connect with their own strengths and thrive during this perinatal period. She draws on a range of evidence-based therapies that are tailored to best support the client and their unique circumstances. Therapeutic frameworks include CBT, ACT, DBT, Interpersonal therapy, and most recently she has been trained in EMDR.
Jillian’s professional interests include perinatal adjustment, depression, enhancing the parent-infant relationship, and a particular interest in birth trauma.
She has worked in a variety of private practice, health and university settings over the last 7 years, including teaching postgraduate psychology students at UTS, and interim clinic director at the Flinders University Psychology Clinic. She has been with Gidget House since 2016 and has loved every moment working and supporting her incredible clients through challenging times.
She uses an evidence-based approach drawing on modalities such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to tailor an individual treatment plan. She is so passionate about women’s health she is also studying to be an OB/GYN.
Gidget Foundation Australia is not able to provide crisis support.
Please refer to the below support options:
If you need urgent medical help please call 000
The PANDA National Helpline is available Mon-Fri 9am-7:30pm 1300 726 306
For 24 hour crisis support please call Lifeline 13 11 14
Melinda is a registered psychologist with experience in various settings across the lifespan.
She has worked with children, adolescents, adults and families experiencing depression, anxiety, adjustment and stress-related disorders in private practice, public hospital and not-for-profit sectors. She has extensive experience in working with individuals from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, including working with professional interpreters. With a special interest in perinatal mental health and wellbeing, Melinda is passionate about supporting expectant and new parents to adapt and thrive in this most important- yet often challenging- stage of life.
Her primary therapeutic orientations are Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She believes that the therapeutic relationship between herself and each client is central to her work, and she strives to create a warm and welcoming space where each individual feels heard and valued.
Melinda is committed to lifelong learning, and recently returned to university to gain her Master of Clinical Psychology degree. She is currently working towards her area of practice endorsement in clinical psychology.
Lori is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with a Masters in Psychodynamic Counselling and over 20 years working in counselling and clinical roles. Lori worked for 14 years in a residential substance rehabilitation unit for women and their babies and young children. There she developed a passion for working in the areas of perinatal mental health and the parent-infant relationship. Lori has also worked in Employee Assistance Programs and in private practice, and in both arenas has worked with clients in the perinatal phase of life. Lori has experience in supporting parents with a range of issues including depression, anxiety, emotion regulation, adjustment to parenthood, supporting the parent-child relationship, balancing work and parenthood, relationship stress, trauma and domestic violence.
Lori is a warm and compassionate clinician and uses a relational, trauma-informed approach in her work, which also incorporates approaches such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and an understanding of Attachment Theory. Lori provides a safe and non-judgemental space for you to seek support and appreciates the opportunity to work with you on this part of your journey.
Rowena is a registered Psychologist and mother of two teenagers. She has been working in child and family health services for the past 23 years with comprehensive experience in perinatal mental health. Rowena also works for an early parenting service assisting parents adjust to the challenges of parenthood, treating perinatal depression and anxiety, facilitating parent-infant/toddler groups, father’s groups, Circle of Security Parenting programs, and meditation groups for staff and mothers. She is also an accredited Triple P facilitator.
Rowena’s therapeutic approach relies on evidence-based interventions that are attachment-focused and trauma-informed, underpinned by compassion and cultural sensitivity. She has a keen interest in schema therapy and self-compassion practices.
Justine is a warm, insightful and supportive therapist, who has worked for over 20 years as a Clinical Psychologist. She has gained specialised expertise in the perinatal period while working at Karitane Randwick and St John of God Burwood. In these settings, she has used individual and group treatments.
As a Registered Circle of Security Parent Educator, she has also facilitated several such groups. Justine recognises the importance of having appropriate support to navigate the journey to parenthood, including those that have had difficulty with conception, pregnancy losses, and birth trauma. She also has a particular interest in helping those experiencing perinatal anxiety.
Her work is largely informed by attachment-based therapy and interpersonal neurobiology. In therapy, Justine draws on a wide range of evidence-based psychological approaches, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Schema Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Therapies.
Justine also has relationships with a number of professionals working in the area. These include Perinatal Psychiatrists, Midwives, Parentcraft nurses, Child and Family Nurses, and perinatal mental health teams to ensure that where appropriate there is additional input and support. Justine is a Member of ACPA (Australia Clinical Psychology Association) and a Board Approved Supervisor with APHRA.
Marije Vrieze is a registered psychologist who has worked with children, adults and families for over 20 years.
Her work is focused on supporting individuals and couples dealing with a range of issues, including anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, grief and loss and relationship issues.
Originally trained as a child and family psychologist in The Netherlands, Marije has a special interest in the early bonding process between parent and child and supporting families through parenting challenges.
She has worked in variety of public and private settings and holds a Graduate Diploma of Systemic Therapy (Family Therapy) through Relationships Australia. She currently also works for the Red Nose Foundation and has extensive experience in supporting parents perinatally.
Her therapeutic approach draws from a number of theories and interventions, including psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and radical exposure tapping.
Joanne is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and has over 10 years counselling experience working with clients of all ages, including children, adolescents, adults and the elderly. Joanne has a breadth of experience and a passion for working with individuals, couples and families during the perinatal period and beyond.
Joanne has worked in a range of practice areas, including Private Practice in Newcastle and Taree for the past 3 years. She works with a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, PTSD, perinatal mental health, domestic violence, sexual assault, trauma, substance abuse, stress, parenting issues, relationship difficulties, attachment issues, bereavement, grief and loss, BPD and other mental health issues. Her work includes a collaborative approach with clients and families and is informed by therapeutic frameworks with a solid evidence base, including a strengths approach.
Joanne has undergone extensive training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Mindfulness), Narrative Therapy, Trauma Therapy, Grief, Loss and Bereavement Counselling, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, CBT and Couples Counselling.
Apart from her work at Gidget House, Joanne also has a Private Practice on the NSW Mid North Coast, where she lives with her family.
She has worked for a number of years with parents in therapeutic contexts. Amanda appreciates the emotionally taxing nature of parenting, around fertility, birth trauma, perinatal loss, infant caring, and other needs. Her focus is on providing consistently warm, empathetic, and compassionate support for parents and their families.
She has worked most recently in a public hospital environment providing support to women during the antenatal period, as well as patients on the adult inpatient mental health ward. Robyn has also had considerable experience working in community mental health settings.
Robyn has a particular interest in supporting new parents to navigate all areas of the perinatal period such as pregnancy-related concerns, adjustment to parenthood, perinatal anxiety and depression, and birth trauma.
Robyn provides a warm and supportive environment for parents to explore and address concerns relating to parenthood, recognising that it’s often hard to acknowledge they may be struggling in this role.
Robyn draws upon a wide range of evidence-based psychological approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness-Based Therapies.
Amanda is an excellent communicator who takes great care in treating her clients with respect, sensitivity, and kindness. Amanda has both a personal and professional interest in assisting new mums, and has much empathy, compassion, and is non-judgemental in her work.
Amanda is an experienced counsellor and is trained in several approaches of therapy, including; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, CBT, Circle of Security, Neurodevelopmental Care, Family Therapy, Trauma-Informed Care, Grief & Loss Therapy, Schema Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy, Art Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Relaxation Training, Assertiveness Skills, Contemplative Therapies, Interpersonal Therapy, and Mindfulness.
Kate has worked and studied in psychology for over 20 years across private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. She is passionate about supporting her clients to foster meaningful, purposeful, and satisfying relationships, connections, and lives.
Kate works from a value-based, trauma-informed, and recovery focussed perspective. She values empowerment, hope, respect, and authenticity. When working with clients she utilises evidence-based therapies such as CBT, ACT, Emotion Focussed Therapy, Neuropsychotherapy, and Mindfulness and Relaxation Training. Kate is also a Clinical Hypnotherapist.
Kate has a special interest in depression, anxiety, and trauma as experienced by women during the perinatal period. She also works with grief, loss, and trauma experiences connected to the birth experience, pregnancy loss, and IVF conception complications.
Ange is a compassionate and caring clinician who understands how challenging it can be for people to reach out and seek support, especially in rural areas. Ange has lived and worked in rural NSW all her life. She is passionate about providing support and empowerment to parents as they navigate their journey through early parenting. She has experience working with perinatal depression and anxiety, birth trauma, perinatal loss, and complications during pregnancy.
Ange works from an Attachment and Family Systems approach and is familiar with techniques such as CBT, Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy.
Deeva is passionate about working with individuals and families and supporting them to heal the wounds of early trauma, attachment, and intergenerational trauma.
Deeva has a special interest in mindfulness-based therapies such as Somatic Experiencing and Internal Family Systems and compliments this with a range of evidence-based practices such as CBT, ACT, and Interpersonal Psychotherapy.
Deeva understands that each stage of the journey of parenthood is a special, yet challenging time for many. She feels incredibly privileged to support families through the significant life transition and challenges of fertility, conception, birth, and the first year of infancy. Her priority is to provide a nurturing space for clients so that they feel safe in exploring and processing their vulnerabilities and strengths and collaboratively finding ways to optimise their mental health.
Raphaella has a Bachelor of Science (Honours in Psychology) from the University of Sydney, a Master of Clinical Psychology from UTS, and is completing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a focus on mindfulness therapies for reducing parent stress.
Susan offers warmth and empathy supporting parents during the peripartum and postpartum period, coping with changes to relationship dynamics, along with the challenges of adapting to life as a parent. Her preferred approaches to treatment involve evidence-based interventions that focus on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, including Grief and Loss therapy.
Susan is a passionate advocate of perinatal mental health and empowering parents to develop skills to build resilience and emotional well-being. In her psychology honours thesis, she explored the incompatibility of maternal ambivalence with the positive social constructions of motherhood and how this influences psychological adjustment to parenting.
Dr Tiffany Hense is a Registered Clinical Psychologist, who is passionate about family mental health and wellbeing, especially within the perinatal period. With more than a decade spent working in both public and private practice across Sydney, she has experience providing support and therapy across the lifespan, from infancy through to adulthood. Her work draws on many evidence-based models of care, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and systemic and relational therapies. She also has a particular interest in attachment and the parent-infant connection.
Tiffany is keen to help parents and families harness their strengths and resources to help navigate the challenges that may arise during the perinatal period, including anxiety, depression, grief and loss, relationship concerns, and adjustment issues. She aims to provide a warm, empathic, safe, and collaborative environment for families to explore and process their experiences.
Anthea is an Endorsed Mental Health Occupational Therapist with additional training in Psychological Sciences.
Anthea has more than a decade of experience working in perinatal, infant, and youth mental health. She has worked across inpatient and community settings, supporting the psychological, social, and emotional wellbeing of parents through grief and loss, pregnancy, birth trauma, and the postnatal period. In addition to her work with Gidget Foundation Australia, Anthea works with Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA).
Anthea is passionate about practicing from a strengths-based model of care, working collaboratively with clients to help them identify their own treatment goals. Anthea is particularly interested in attachment theory and is a Registered Circle of Security Parent Educator. She integrates various models of evidence-based therapy into her practice including CBT, ACT, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness.
Anthea values creating a warm and respectful environment, empowering clients to navigate challenges in their parenting journey.
Christie is a registered Clinical Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA) and a board-approved clinical supervisor. She has held both clinical and senior leadership roles assisting in clinical program development and delivery, supervising teams, and is experienced in assisting clients to find a therapeutic approach to best meet their recovery needs. Christie is an experienced clinician having worked across a variety of settings including community health, private practice, schools, and private hospitals. She has professional interests in clinical areas including perinatal health, leadership development, and eating disorders.
Christie is passionate about providing a client-centered approach and utilises evidence-based therapies, she also is the founder of the mental health app, The Compassionate Parent App. She has completed perinatal specific training from the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) and The University of Sydney’s Perinatal Mental Health Course.
Luciana Lanza is a Clinical and Counselling Psychologist with 30 years of experience in mental health in both private and public practice. She has worked in a diverse range of settings from public adult psychiatry including hospitals to GP clinics with a diverse range of patients from children to adults including people from culturally diverse backgrounds. After having her third child, she has dedicated herself exclusively to her private practice and her professional development as a psychologist and psychoanalyst.
Luciana has extensive experience with the full range of mental health difficulties including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and addiction. Luciana has a keen interest in working with women in the antenatal and perinatal periods. Her warmth and understanding of the very real difficulties and challenges faced by families have inspired her to work closely with mothers, fathers, and children during this significant life transition. Person-centered and Psychoanalytic approaches inform her practice where she believes strongly in the individual’s capacity to find the keys needed to find a solution with the appropriate support and facilitation by the therapist. Additionally, she has a keen interest and maintains abreast of the research in neurobiology and attachment theory which she uses to inform her practice.
Rachel is passionate about families being as healthy as possible. Drawing upon 15 years of experience with children and families, she believes that compassionate relationships, exploring people’s strengths, and creativity are the pathways to healing. Rachel’s dedicated perinatal practice is ‘Three Little Birds Perinatal Psychology’ which came about since having her own 3 children and discovering to her dismay that there is little real-life support for parents as they navigate transitioning into parenthood, struggling with issues like conception, pregnancy loss, disability, birth trauma, bonding, and the physical and emotional demands of parenting issues.
Rachel has a solid background in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Strengths-Based & Narrative Therapies, and Family Systems Therapy. For her perinatal work, she expands upon this practice, incorporating methods from advanced training in relevant modalities. With Rachel, you can be guaranteed an understanding ear and a big dose of enthusiasm. And there is always a warm cuppa, too!
Anna is a warm and empathic Clinical Psychologist with a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Flinders University in South Australia.
Anna has experience working in hospital, school, university, and private practice settings. Becoming a mother reinforced her interest in supporting families during pregnancy and the adjustment to parenthood. In addition to working in the perinatal field, Anna has experience working with children and adolescents.
Anna’s approach encourages self-compassion and draws upon evidence-based psychological therapies including cognitive behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness-based therapies, and attachment theory. Anna is a certified Circle of Security facilitator. She is also a registered yoga teacher and facilitates prenatal and postnatal classes for mothers and babies in addition to trauma-sensitive yoga.
Anna currently sees clients on behalf of the Gidget Foundation Australia’s Start Talking Program.
Rachel is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and has worked in the perinatal mental health field for over 17 years. She is passionate about the importance of supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of new parents as they navigate their parenting journey. Rachel has experience providing support to families in relation to a number of issues including; adjustment to parenting, perinatal emotional distress, depression, anxiety, birth trauma, grief and loss, domestic violence, and infants born with a chronic illness or disability.
Rachel is a warm and compassionate clinician and is aware of how daunting it can be to seek counselling support. She is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment. Rachel works from a strength-based, trauma-informed approach. She works collaboratively with her clients to understand each individual’s situation, acknowledging each person’s cultural background, beliefs, and support networks.
Rachel is informed by family systems theory and additionally draws on principles from attachment theory, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness practices, cognitive behavioural therapy, and solution focused therapy.
Rachel is also a trained practitioner and facilitator of the Circle of Security Program. Rachel has recently completed an Advanced Certificate in Bowen Family Systems theory and is undertaking a Masters of Social Work, Counselling from the University of NSW.
Kylie is a Clinical Psychologist, with more than twenty years of experience working with adults and families in NSW Health, and more recently in private practice. She also holds an allied health consultancy position with a community nursing team, which supports vulnerable families with early parenting and promoting healthy infant development.
Kylie offers a compassionate, respectful, and collaborative approach, drawing from a range of evidence-based therapies to best support the individual goals of each person, and all kinds of families. Therapeutic frameworks include CBT, ACT, and Narrative therapy, as well as Family, and Schema therapies. She has a particular interest in parent-child relationship (Attachment Theory) models, including Circle of Security, Emotion Coaching, and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy.
Kylie’s professional interests include perinatal adjustment, anxiety and depression, birth trauma, OCD, early parenting, the parent-infant relationship, and supporting other clinicians as an approved supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia.
Amanda is a kind and empathic psychologist with over 12 years of experience across several settings including private hospitals, not-for-profit, tertiary education, medical centres, private practice, and crisis counselling services. Amanda also works in a private hospital treating inpatients who struggle with eating disorders, mood disorders, trauma, and general mental health issues.
Amanda’s interest in perinatal mental health sparked when she became a mother herself in 2014. She particularly enjoys working with perinatal anxiety and adjustment for new parents.
Amanda has completed training in relationship-based approaches to parent-infant support through the Centre for Perinatal Psychology, Perinatal Loss training through the Perinatal Loss Centre, and Perinatal Non-Directive Counselling training through APS Professional Development. Amanda’s work also draws on CBT, ACT, DBT, and Mindfulness-based interventions.
Along with her comprehensive training, Amanda reflects on her own experiences as a parent to empathise with and support her clients. Amanda believes that a strong therapeutic relationship is the most important factor in positive change. Every person is unique in their strengths and identity and deserves an individual and tailored approach to their recovery.
Emilie is warm, intuitive, and collaborative as an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with ten years experience in the field of child and adolescent mental health and family therapy. She has worked with couples, individuals, and families in the treatment of depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and recovery from trauma in various community, health settings, and inpatient contexts. She is trained in and strongly influenced by psychodynamic psychotherapy, attachment-based therapies, and Narrative Therapy techniques.
Emilie’s previous experience in various hospital settings extends to providing therapy to families facing complex loss and facing challenging mental health issues including post-traumatic stress disorder, sudden death, grief and loss, and addiction. She is passionate about incorporating themes of rupture and repair, reparative attachment, and restorative connections into her work. This also includes an emphasis on the neuroplasticity of the brain and its ability to heal. She has also collaborated on and independently developed art therapy modules in the inpatient setting for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and various mood disorders. As such, she also employs creative approaches in her work where this may be helpful for clients who engage in therapy with her.
Emilie aided in the establishment of the Australian Association of Social Workers Mental Health Practice Group in 2020 and has formerly worked to educate, resource and train other social workers to obtain their accreditation as Mental Health Social Workers.
Jodie Wood is a registered Psychologist and currently works for Gidget Foundation Australia at Frances Perry House in Melbourne, and in private practice. Jodie has over 20 years of experience working in the community and not-for-profit sectors, providing therapy for women, children, and their families, particularly where there have been experiences of trauma and relationship difficulties.
Jodie has a passion for supporting families during the perinatal period. She works with a range of issues such as depression, anxiety, birth trauma, infertility, coping with fertility treatment, grief, loss, difficulties in relationships and family dynamics, adjustment, and transition to parenting.
Jodie is committed to providing evidence-based therapies and integrates several therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Psychodynamic and Interpersonal Therapy, among others. These approaches can help you gain an understanding of yourself, current difficulties, learning new ways to reduce distress often triggered by the significant changes during the perinatal period.
Jo is a sensitive, caring, accredited mental health social worker, with 15 years experience. Jo offers focussed psychological strategies, from a strength based approach. Jo is empathic and passionate about helping those during their precious time with young children.
Jo works with individuals, couples, and families, across the lifespan, in community mental health and private counselling, specialising in anxiety, depression, PTSD, PNDA and numerous mental health conditions, as well as offering useful psychoeducation. Jo has exemplary listening skills, feeling strongly that “being there” 100%, is paramount.
As a parent herself, Jo provides holistic, understanding, non-judgmental care, to help adjust to parenthood. Jo worked in Brighter Futures and is an experienced counsellor with a BSc, Psychology; a Masters, Social work and a Masters, Counselling (SW).
Jo specialises in a variety of evidence-based practices selected to meet individuals needs including Attachment theory, Psychotherapy, Trauma-Informed Care, CBT, ACT, Mindfulness, and Radical Exposure Tapping (RET), helping manage debilitating trauma experiences. Jo is also a certified facilitator of the Circle of Security parenting program.
Samantha is a dedicated practitioner who aims to provide a safe and empowering environment, allowing clients to discuss and explore concepts to create a meaningful life and a sense of holistic wellbeing.
Practitioners hold the knowledge of best practice and evidence-based interventions that can support clients in achieving their goals, but there is no greater expert in the therapeutic relationship than the client themself. Nobody knows more about what they are thinking and feeling, which goals are important, what works, and what does not more than the client. Working alongside clients and tapping into shared expertise, the aim is to work towards notable improvement.
Holding a Masters of Social Work, Samantha is registered in providing Focused Psychology Strategies from a range of counselling modalities. Together we can explore which interventions best meet individual needs.
In addition to this qualification, Samantha holds a BA- Early Childhood Teaching, BA- Social Science and is currently studying a Post Graduate program in Sexology.
As an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW), Samantha realises that people do not sit in isolation. We are all members of relationships, families, and communities, all of which impact our lives. This becomes an important consideration when working towards wellbeing.
Samantha has a passion for supporting and advocating for women and families living in regional and rural areas and as a lifelong learner, ensures that she continually develops her practice knowledge to provide a service that can support the clients that she has the privilege of working alongside.
Lucy is a clinical psychologist who has a special interest in working with parents during the perinatal period. Lucy has been working in her own private practice since 2012 and is currently based in Ballina NSW. Lucy is also part of the consulting team with Sustaining NSW Families. Previously, she has also spent time working with Tresillian Family Care Centre focussing on supporting mothers and fathers with early parenting. Lucy is a qualified Circle of Security Facilitator and is also completing a Ph.D. which is focussed on understanding factors influencing birth experiences as well as the impact of birth experiences on women and the mother-infant relationship.
Lucy has a warm, supportive and compassionate approach. She enjoys supporting parents to explore ways of achieving a satisfying parenting experience consistent with their family values. Her aim is to work collaboratively with parents to promote a secure, loving bond between them and their baby. With four children of her own, Lucy understands firsthand many of the challenges that come with parenthood.
We are all unique, so Lucy tailors treatment to fit the needs of each individual and family. Lucy uses various therapeutic approaches, dependent on the presenting issue and what works for the client. Treatment is informed by attachment theory, interpersonal neuroscience, and compassion focussed therapy. Lucy has also completed additional training in the area of trauma including eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) and has a special interest in birth-related trauma.
Memberships
Member World Association of Infant Mental Health (WAIMH)
Member Australian Association of Infant Mental Health (AAIMHI)
Member Australasian Marcè Society
Member EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA)
Member Centre for Perinatal Psychology
Shetal is a warm and compassionate clinical psychologist, who recognises the challenging nature of engaging in therapy, particularly during the perinatal period. She takes a non-judgemental and strength-based approach, facilitating a space where clients feel able to safely explore their difficulties, working sensitively with clients to achieve their goals.
Shetal has a BSc in Psychology, an MSc in The Foundations of Clinical Psychology, and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from various UK universities. Most recently, Shetal developed and led the Psychology arm of a Community Perinatal Team in the UK, and is passionate and motivated to continue working in this area. She also has interests in complex trauma, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, low mood, low self-esteem, and depression, and especially enjoys offering group interventions.
Shetal is endorsed as a Clinical Psychologist by AHPRA and is authorised to provide clinical psychology services under Medicare. She has specialist training in attachment-based therapies including Circle of Security and Video Interaction Guidance, as well as other treatment modalities, namely Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Schema-Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT). This means she is able to offer flexible, integrative client-centred, and evidence-based interventions to people with a variety of difficulties.
Dr Jacqui Kemmis-Riggs is a warm and caring Clinical Psychologist who is passionate about perinatal mental health and early intervention. She currently works at Gidget House at the Mater Hospital and private practice.
Jacqui has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Sydney and a Master of Clinical Psychology and PhD from UTS. Her doctoral research focused on developing and evaluating a family-based intervention to improve parent-child relationships and associated outcomes for young parents and their toddlers who have experienced complex trauma. Jacqui has clinical experience in outpatient hospital, community and clinical research settings working with adults, adolescents, children and families. She is dedicated to collaborating with clients to enhance their strengths and help navigate the challenges that often come with the journey to parenthood.
Jacqui draws on a range of evidence-based treatment approaches including: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Schema Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Mindfulness-based therapies and attachment and family systems frameworks.
Marnie is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker working with Gidget Foundation Australia and in general counselling with parents. Marnie has over 20 years experience in clinical and leadership roles in community health general counselling and multidisciplinary child and family health teams, perinatal mental health, working with individuals, families/couples, and facilitating group work with parents and infants.
Marnie brings compassion and a collaborative, relational approach to her work with clients and her practice is trauma-informed, recovery and strengths-based and explores identity, meaning, and values. The range of issues includes life transitions – particularly in the perinatal period, understanding relationships, transitions to parenting, regulating emotions, identity, parent-infant relationships, grief and loss, trauma, depression, and anxiety. Marnie also draws on attachment theory, relaxation skills, and mindfulness.
Marnie works with clients to support meaning-making, insight, change, and recovery, bringing curiosity, hope, and genuine regard to her work and relationships with clients.
Mia Birkner is a clinical psychology registrar with a passion for perinatal and infant mental health. Her practice is informed through a holistic approach where individuals seeking treatment are recognised as a “whole person” rather than as a diagnosis or label. Mia strives to create a non-judgemental space where individuals feel comfortable exploring their concerns and aims to work collaboratively with them in achieving their treatment goals through an evidence-based approach.
Mia is experienced in the assessment and treatment of a range of issues, including anxiety and mood disorders, and has worked in a variety of clinic settings. She has experience working with adults, children, and families.
Mia works primarily from a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy approach, however, draws from a range of different therapeutic frameworks. Mia understands that seeking therapy can be an intimidating and draining experience for some and is inspired by her Client’s courage to seek treatment. As such, she aims to create a supportive and safe environment for her client to assist them in flourishing via building their self-reliance, flexibility and improving their overall wellbeing.
Mia has a Master of Clinical Psychology from UTS and a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) from Macquarie University. She is also a member of the Australian Clinical Psychology. Mia is also able to offer services under the MBS Pregnancy Support.
Sarah is a UK-trained Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years experience in clinical practice on Sydney’s northern beaches, working in both the public and private sectors, across the age spectrum. Sarah brings a wealth of life experience and clinical expertise, has the capacity to deeply engage with people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, understand their needs, activate change and foster wellbeing. Sarah has extensive experience addressing anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and relationship problems, and also has a special interest in the early attachment bond.
Strong compassionate and collaborative relationships are especially important during the perinatal period, and Sarah’s work draws upon the evidence-based models of cognitive-behaviour therapy, acceptance & commitment therapy and the relational psychotherapies to inform her approach. Sarah looks forward to meeting prospective Gidget House Manly clients to help families access the necessary psychological support required during these important formative years.
Heather is a registered psychologist providing Medicare approved and private counselling and psychology services.
Practicing for 15 years, Heather has provided services in a broad range of settings including psychiatric outpatient group programs, forensic/correctional offender rehabilitation, and community settings including homeless hostels and rural/remote communities in her work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service. She works with adults, older adults, adolescents, and LGBT clients experiencing a variety of issues including depression, anxiety/panic, stress, grief and loss, trauma and relationship issues.
Heather has a special interest in supporting parents in all aspects of parenting; from nurturing parent/child bond to managing difficult behaviours. Heather’s experience includes supporting parents to cope with the anxiety that becoming a new parent can evoke, riding the IVF roller coaster, navigating and responding to a developing child’s changing needs, to managing the task of parenting following separation and re-partnering, or coping with the loss of a child.
Heather’s approach is warm and down to earth and emphasises achieving outcomes as directed by the client. She tailors her approach depending on client need and draws from Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and attachment-based parenting approaches. She is accredited to deliver Circle of Security Parenting and 123 Magic Parenting.
Alia is a warm and gentle psychologist with over 15 years of experience predominately working with women, children, and families across public and private organisations. Alia has previously worked with mothers in a refuge; birth, adoptive and foster parents; and survivors of abuse and trauma. Alia is currently working at a private psychiatric inpatient hospital with adult and youth patients.
Alia works from a strength-based perspective, providing empathy, support, and authenticity within the working therapeutic relationship. Alia utilises modalities of CBT, DBT, ACT, EFT, and Mindfulness within therapy. Alia works compassionately with clients to increase safety, healthy attachments, and self-care. Therapy can help via empowering clients with skills, informed decision making and problem-solving, and building a life worth living based on their values and goals. Cultural sensitivity, recovery-focus, and trauma-based practices are woven within therapy. Alia works with clients to build awareness, insight, and hope for the future, with a focus on the strengths and courage that it takes to engage in therapy.
Outside of work, Alia is a mum of four children aged between 15 to 3 years old, so she has lived experience and understanding of the juggle that many parents experience today.
Emma is an approachable and passionate Psychologist who has experience in a range of clinical settings, including Willoughby Tresillian Residential Unit and the Centre for Emotional Health at Macquarie University. Emma completed her postgraduate training in Clinical Psychology at Macquarie University. Her dissertation focused on attachment theory and parental mentalisation. Emma is a member of the APS (Australian Psychologist Society), the APS Perinatal and Infant Psychology Interest Group and the Australian Association for Infant Mental Health.
Emma’s therapeutic approach is to work collaboratively with individuals in a safe and non-judgemental environment. Emma tailors her treatment approach to work flexibly based on individual needs and preferences, while incorporating therapies with a strong evidence base. Clients value the safe and nurturing environment that Emma provides for them, allowing them to build the skills they need to overcome difficulties, experience joy and improve their wellbeing.
Elisa is a warm and compassionate registered psychologist with a Masters in Clinical Psychology. Elisa has a passion for perinatal health and supporting people facing a variety of life challenges. She values taking a holistic and collaborative approach in helping clients achieve their goals. Her practice draws upon a range of evidence-based therapies, including CBT, DBT and attachment-based therapy. Elisa has experience working with children, adolescents and adults in both individual and group contexts. She has worked in community mental health, research and hospital settings.
Lisa is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with a Masters in Social Work specialising in infant and perinatal mental health. She has worked in the perinatal mental health field for over fifteen years. She is passionate about the importance of supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of new parents, particularly mothers as they journey through pregnancy and into the early parenting years. Lisa has experience providing support to families in relation to a number of issues including; adjustment to parenting, perinatal emotional distress, depression, anxiety, birth trauma, grief and loss, stillbirth, neonatal loss, young Mums, relationship stress and domestic violence. Lisa has been working as a Manager of Child and Family Services for a residential Mum and Bub unit supporting mothers in building connected relationships with their children whilst they participate in treatment for their mental health and substance use for over a decade. She is also a Child and Family Partner with Emerging Minds who work to support children of parents with mental health issues and their families.
Lisa is a warm and compassionate clinician and works to promote a safe and nurturing space for parents seeking support. Lisa works from a strength-based, trauma-informed approach and is a trained practitioner and facilitator of Circle of Security and Parents Under Pressure (PUP). Lisa believes the relationship we form with our clinician is what helps us find healing so has a very flexible approach that is client centred.
Lisa finds sometimes words and talking are not the only path to healing so offers a variety of creative art and drama based ways of processing as well as Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), family systems theory and additionally draws on principles from attachment theory, acceptance and commitment therapy, Cognitive Behavioural therapy, and solution focused therapy.
Lisa looks forward to walking with you and your family as you find your own way through the joys and challenges of parenthood.
Marian is a warm, empathic registered psychologist with over 20 years’ experience as a therapist. She has worked with a wide range of client presentations across a variety of settings including Alcohol and Drug counselling services; generalist counselling services; mental health project management; Family Dispute Resolution, and in private practice.
Marian works with individuals and couples, specialising in the treatment of anxiety, depression, PTSD and childhood sexual abuse. Marian offers focused psychological strategies, from a client centred, collaborative, positive psychotherapy approach. She is experienced in a variety of evidence-based therapeutic models, including CBT, ACT, DBT, EMDR, Schema Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Mindfulness and EFT.
Marian’s orientation to clients is one of unconditional positive regard and radical acceptance. In addition to offering psychoeducation, skills development and a variety of therapeutic interventions, Marian believes that a strong collaborative working partnership with clients is essential to achieve good therapeutic outcomes.
Roshini is a registered psychologist with experience working with diverse client groups including children, adolescents, couples, and families. She has worked in a variety of settings including local government, schools, private practice and non-profit/community health. She is particularly experienced in working with individuals affected by trauma, and working with clients from non-English speaking backgrounds.
Roshini’s interest in working with clients in the perinatal space arose through her work with young mothers, while working as a youth counsellor. She has assisted expectant and new fathers to work through the challenges of being a parent, supporting their partners, and balancing work/home responsibilities. She also worked with refugee and asylum seeker women through pregnancy/parenting, and understands the impact that trauma can have on an expectant parent’s mental health and functioning.
Kirrilee is an Accredited Mental Health Social Work Practitioner who is registered with the Australian Association of Social Worker (AASW).Completing a Undergraduate degree in Social Work with the University of Newcastle and Masters degree through Flinders University.
Kirrilee is a passionate social work practitioner providing evidence-based therapeutic interventions that are underpinned by core values of dignity, empathy, respect, and aims to create a safe and empowering environment for individuals to work collaboratively.
Her practice framework incorporates various treatment modalities and theoretical understandings to support mothers in treatment. Kirrilee has experience supporting individuals and the ecology to address interpersonal issues, trauma, grief and loss, mood disorders, anxiety and behavioural issues that may be impacting on their daily functioning and attachment with baby.
Kirrilee understands by providing therapeutic interventions that are tailored to women and their families this can support sustainable and positive treatment outcomes. Lived experiences shape people’s perspectives and view of the world and becoming a mother and parent can be both challenging and extremely rewarding, which is why it is crucial that both mum and family members needing extra support feel comfortable to do so.
Kirrilee sees telehealth patients on behalf of Gidget House through the Start talking telehealth program.
Tanuza is a registered psychologist who works with clients across the age range including, children (in the context of family therapy), adolescents, and adults. She has broad experience with a variety of presentations including complex trauma, eating disorders, addiction, adjustment issues, grief and loss, mood and anxiety disorders, perinatal mental health, parenting as well as family and relationship challenges.
Tanuza’s approach is holistic and client-centred, supporting the diverse needs of her clients, their families and communities. Her warm and caring nature enables her to instantly build rapport with clients and their support networks. Tanuza employs evidence-based interventions such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness-based therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Scheme Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour therapy (DBT).
Tanuza is also a bilingual clinician with Transcultural Mental Health Centre (TMHC) having worked extensively with clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. She is a mindfulness group facilitator for women’s health and wellness, as well as a sessional clinician with the Multicultural Problem Gambling Service (MPGS). Tanuza has developed specialist knowledge in child protection and early intervention in her previous work with the Department of Human Services.
Sally is a Clinical Psychology Registrar who holds Bachelor of Psychology (UNSW), a Master of Clinical Psychology (UNSW), and a PhD in Psychology (University of Melbourne).
She has experience supporting adults, children, and families with diverse emotional and behavioural difficulties, adjustment to life events, and interpersonal loss or grief. She has a special interest in assisting women and their families during the perinatal period.
Sally aims to provide a warm, safe, and hopeful space for clients to explore their difficult experiences, work towards their goals, and thrive. She is committed to tailoring therapy to each client’s needs using evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Schema Therapy, and attachment-based frameworks.
Sally has worked in a range of settings including outpatient community mental health, private practice, and not-for-profit organisations. Prior to her clinical training, she worked in health promotion research.
Sylvia is a kind and empathetic psychologist who has experience in working with children, adolescents, young adults, and their families. Sylvia has experience in a variety of presentations including mood and anxiety disorders, emotional dysregulation, interpersonal difficulties, symptoms of trauma, attachment issues and perinatal mental health.
Sylvia has a special interest in working with adolescent pregnancies, young mothers and people who identify from the LGBTIQIA+ community. Sylvia has experience in working from a trauma informed lens and developed a passion for understanding how intergenerational trauma can impact early attachment during the perinatal period.
Sylvia integrates an eclectic approach to therapy utilising various frameworks such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and strength-based models.
Clients value the safe and non-judgmental space Sylvia is able provide for them. All whilst supporting them through their journey and reaching their goals to lead a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Jarrod is a Director of Verifact, a company established 25 years ago, which now has a national presence delivering services in Corporate Investigations, Traffic Management, Health, Emergency Response and Integrated Services.
Jarrod holds a Bachelor of Applied Science and has completed the Company Directors course with the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Jarrod holds a Bachelor of Applied Science and has completed the Company Directors course with the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Kara has lived experience of PNDA and is a mum to Amelia, Bianca, and Charlton. All were IVF babies with their own unique stories. Kara is supported by her husband Shaun and is honoured to have been the Chairperson of Gidget Foundation Australia since December 2018, and prior to that, a Non-Executive Director since March 2016.
Kara is an accomplished corporate governance professional with over 25 years of global equity capital markets, commercial, regulatory, and corporate compliance experience across large ASX listed, unlisted entities, and start-up entities. She brings extensive knowledge of corporate governance, company compliance, and broad industry experience across financial services (banking and investment banking), retail, property, higher education, industrial (oil, mining, and manufacturing), and at the Australian Stock Exchange (primary and secondary capital markets) to the Board.
Kara was raised in Guyra NSW and is an advocate for the provision of mental health services to rural and remote areas. She is a JP, has a Masters in Legal Studies, and a Business degree.
Clare is a warm and compassionate Clinical Psychologist with a passion for supporting parents during the perinatal period. She has gained specialist experience in perinatal mental health through her work at St John of God Raphael Services. Clare recognises the enormity of the transition into parenthood and provides a warm, caring, and non-judgmental environment to collaboratively work with parents to explore their difficulties. She has a particular interest in supporting parents who have experienced trauma either early in their own life, through the loss of a child, or birth trauma.
Clare has a depth of experience from working with clients with a range of difficulties and has worked across various settings, including private practice and both inpatient and outpatient services. She focuses on the unique needs of each individual client and provides evidence-based treatment that is trauma-informed. All of her work is underpinned by attachment theory and draws from a range of therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Mindfulness, and Compassion practices.
Alexandra (Zarnie) Berthold is a founding committee member of Gidget Foundation Australia, our Designer, and was a close friend of Gidget’s.
Zarnie has been preparing graphic design material for the Foundation since its inception and is Director of Limedesign Media, a graphic design agency she has been operating for 14 years. Prior to this, Zarnie’s career focused mainly in the publishing sector, in senior roles including Production Manager and Art Director. Zarnie still works for many publishers as a freelance Graphic Designer and Art Director and continues to work in the charity space, for various charity clients.
Zarnie is married with four children and is a passionate advocate for PNDA support and mental health.
Amelia works on the Clinical team reviewing, implementing, and managing timely intake, effective triage, and appropriate care for clients and to provide support for Gidget Clinicians.
Accompanying her 12 years of clinical management experience and inception of clinics in London, Amelia is a Registered Counsellor. This dual focus of clinical management and Counselling ensures her role as Program Clinician is focussed on the client experience. Connecting with their needs and those of our Clinicians is the driving focus of her work with Gidget.
Beyond the doors of Gidget Foundation Australia, Amelia fills her cup with the simple pleasures of Sydney life: expansive skies, saltwater, family and friends.
Peni spent the first 20 years of her career in Hong Kong and the UK, working in Broadcasting. She worked predominantly in the sporting sector and was fortunate enough to work on the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and found herself on the European Golf Tour, The Tennis Tour and covering the cricket circuit. Peni came back from overseas 10 years ago and has since managed to maintain being a mum as well as freelancing in the broadcasting world.
Peni Bailey is the Gidget House and Start Talking Program Manager, previously Peni was in the role of Clinical Practice Manager. Peni manages existing Gidget House locations, establishments of new locations, and the Start Talking telehealth program. Peni also takes care of Clinical recruitment for these programs.
When she’s not at Gidget, Peni can be found either watching or taking her three children to cricket, water polo, swimming, rugby, soccer and netball before going home and making the beds!
Nicki joined the Gidget Foundation as its Hospital Program Manager, leading the expansion of our Gidget Emotional Wellbeing Screening Program.
Nicki has a wealth of experience having been on the hospital side of the launch of the original Emotional Wellbeing Screening Program, firstly at North Shore Private Hospital as Maternity Services Manager and later at The Mater where she was also the Maternity Services Manager.
Prior to moving into maternity management, Nicki worked as a delivery suite midwife and midwifery educator. She has a Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Nursing in Advanced Clinical Education.
Away from work Nicki is learning Spanish with a group of friends.
Eliza joined Gidget Foundation Australia in 2018 and supports the administration team.
Eliza grew up in Sydney and has spent time living in London & Melbourne. After finishing school, she completed a Bachelor of Music and pursued a career in the entertainment industry working in Sydney, Melbourne and Japan.
In 2018 she decided to commence studies at Macquarie University as an aspiring clinical psychologist.
Working with the Gidget Foundation has provided invaluable experience and insight into the field of psychology. Away from work and her studies, Eliza spends her time practising yoga and reading.
Libby is a founding member and was the first President of the Gidget Foundation. She was a close friend of Gidget’s.
Libby has a background in public relations and event management and more recently interior design. Libby’s role within the committee is event management as well as interior design for the growing number of Gidget Houses.
She is married to Jarrod Bowditch, a Board Director, and together they have three teenagers.
Jacqui is a mum to her beautiful little boy, Gidget’s middle sister, a founding member of the Committee, and a freelance Executive Producer.
Juggling her role as mum and freelance executive producer working in various agencies keeps her very busy.
Having produced many large-scale events – both corporate and sporting, corporate videos (including our Gidget DVD Behind the Mask) and communications campaigns both locally and in the UK, Europe and USA, she brings to the foundation a wealth of knowledge and experience along with a passion to make a change in supporting families in need.
Steph has extensive experience in executive management, finance, program delivery and stakeholder communications across the corporate and community sectors. She is currently the Sydney and Central NSW Division Manager for CanTeen and previously held positions as General Manager for the Gidget Foundation and CEO of the Australian Charities Fund.
She has also been a Board member of CUFA and a member of the advisory/fundraising committees for Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, The After Party Project and the Gidget Foundation. Prior to her work in the community sector, she owned a corporate events business following a lengthy career in corporate finance and investor relations at Qantas.
Steph has a Bachelor of Commerce from University of NSW and an MBA (Executive) from the Australian Graduate School of Management. She is CPA qualified and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Lou Hunter is a founding Committee member of the Gidget Foundation and close school friend of Gidget.
Relishing her primary responsibility as Coordinator of the Raffles and Auctions for all the Gidget Foundation fundraising events, from which the collective funds raised over the years have contributed significantly to the facilities and services that help women just like Gidget.
The fashion industry is where Lou has invested a lot of her career, working with numerous Australian and International labels both in Retail Sales and Training, and in Wholesale and Distribution.
Passionately advocating for removing the stigma surrounding all mental health issues is an ongoing crusade for Lou.
Allan is one of Australia’s most highly decorated citizens, being one of only 5 Australians in the past 44 years to be awarded the Cross of Valour (CV) Australia’s highest bravery decoration. He is also the only Australian to be awarded the Cross of Valour and a subsequent National bravery decoration, the Commendation for Brave Conduct, along with other significant awards for bravery and service including the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to Mental Health Organisations and the Community, and one of only 10 Australians to receive the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Having lived experience of trauma related mental illnesses and recovery, Allan is a passionate advocate for proactive approaches and greater education relating to the physiological risks being faced by people of all ages in today’s society. He is a Former Deputy Commissioner of the Mental Health Commission of NSW, a Fellow of the Royal Society of NSW, the Chairman of the National Police Bravery Awards Committee, a member of the NSW Police Mental Health Intervention Team, Patron of the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation, and an Ambassador for Australia Day, Beyond Blue and Kookaburra Kids. He is a renowned keynote speaker, a best-selling author with Penguin Random House Australia and a self-confessed rugby tragic.
Appointed as a Non-executive Director of the Gidget Foundation on 7 September 2016. Jessica is an experienced finance professional, with over 16 years of experience working in the financial services industry. She brings her experience in financial reporting, risk management and company compliance in both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors to the Board. Jessica is currently a Partner of KPMG Australia in Audit, Assurance and Risk Consulting, working with clients in both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors.
Jessica holds a degree in Commerce (Accounting) from Macquarie University, is a member of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and is a Registered Company Auditor.
Dr Vijay Roach is an obstetrician and gynaecologist in private practice at North Shore Private Hospital and the Mater Hospital. His public practice is at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney.
As President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), he also lectures at the University of Sydney.
Patrick is a veteran executive of the subscription television industry and holds the position of CEO of FOXTEL.
He was formerly the CEO of FOX Sports Australia – the nation’s major sports television producer – and spent the previous decade helping to build FOXTEL into the major media company it is today as Executive Director of Sales and Product Development. Patrick has degrees in Law and Economics.
Catherine Knox was the founding CEO of the Gidget Foundation, a position she held from 2006 to 2017. During this time, Catherine developed and established innovative emotional support services for families. She also created the Parents Matter in the Workplace initiative, which supports emotional wellbeing for new working parents and reinforces the positive returns for employers who invest in diversity and inclusion.
Catherine has degrees in Education (USYD), Gender and Cultural Studies (USYD) and Social Impact (UNSW). She is co-author of Beyond the Baby Blues, and collaborator on the DVD Behind the Mask. Catherine is currently a director of the Gidget Foundation and provides professional support to the Asylum Seekers Centre. She was the recipient of the 2013 Woman of the Year for the Davidson electorate.
Kerryn has a background in commerce working as an accountant for a number of years with PwC before moving into hotel sales and marketing, working in Sydney and overseas.
Kerryn is deeply involved in charity work, volunteering for organisations such as Bear Cottage and fundraising for a local charity – Peninsula Pals.
With a passion to educate people about postnatal anxiety and depression, Kerryn was appointed as an Ambassador for the Gidget Foundation in 2012.
In addition to her charity work, she enjoys reading, swimming and running and is currently working on a children’s book.
Kerryn is married to the former New South Wales Premier, Mike Baird, and together have three children – Laura, Cate & Luke.
Dr Felicity Chandler is a Clinical Psychologist and mother of two young children.
She holds a Bachelor of Psychology with Honours, and a Doctor of Clinical Psychology. She has extensive experience in developmental psychology and has a particular interest in the attachment relationship between child and caregiver. Her honours research explored the relationship between chronic maternal depression and social-emotional outcomes during middle childhood, and her doctoral research focused on the internal working models of caregiver attachment in children with autism spectrum disorder.
Felicity is passionate about helping parents reach their potential during a time of big adjustments. She is also experienced in supporting people on the autism spectrum, and is very happy to help parents with autism and Asperger’s navigate the world of pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood.
Sayeeda is a clinical psychologist who has worked with parents and children for 15 years.
She has worked in both public and private settings, including in a mother baby residential unit. Sayeeda draws from Acceptance and Commitment therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy when working with parents and also has training in running the circle of security group intervention. She values establishing a respectful and collaborative relationship with the parents that she works with.
Linda is a Clinical Psychologist with 30 years experience in child and adult mental health. With training in couple and relationship counselling and married with her own two grown up children she brings empathy, skill and life experience to her work .
Apart from her work at Gidget House, Linda also has a Private Practice in Sydney CBD working with both men and women. Specialising in working with anxiety, Linda sees assisting new families adjusting to parenthood as an important life transition that both members of the couple ideally be involved in. As such she likes to include both parents in consultations when possible and appropriate.
Dr Ingerith Martin is a clinical Psychologist with a Masters of clinical psychology and PhD from the University of NSW.
Ingerith has over 15 years experience treating mental health problems, with expertise including management of depression and anxiety across the lifespan, relationship difficulties, adjustment to grief and loss as well as perinatal mental health.
Her approach encourages self-compassion and validation of difficult emotions and draws upon evidence based psychological interventions including cognitive behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, attachment theory and mindfulness skills to assist women struggling with anxiety, depression and adjustment to parenthood throughout the perinatal period.
Ingerith sees clients on behalf of the Gidget Foundation at Karitane House, Randwick.
Fiona is a Clinical Psychologist who holds a Bachelor of Science (Psychology Hons), a Masters of Clinical Psychology and a PhD from the University of NSW.
She has experience working in hospital, community and private practice settings and assess and treats individuals experiencing difficulties with mood, anxiety, trauma, grief and relationship issues. In addition to working in the perinatal field, Fiona also has expertise working with children, adolescents and families with a range of behavioural and emotional concerns.
Fiona is committed to providing evidence based and compassionate therapy to the individuals and families that she treats and draws upon CBT, ACT, attachment and family systems frameworks in her therapeutic work.
Lindsay is a registered psychologist and has completed her Masters of Clinical and Organisational Psychology.
At present, she works at Gidget House, St John of God Hospital, in the Mother-Baby unit and facilitates outpatient Postnatal Depression and Circle of Security groups as well as works in her private practice. Lindsay has experience in treating patients with a range of psychological disorders including anxiety and depression, personality and bipolar disorder, etc, Lindsay has a particular interest in treating mothers who have experienced perinatal and/or postnatal depression and anxiety or who have experienced general difficulties relating to the challenges of motherhood/parenthood. Lindsay utilises a range of different psychological interventions including Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment therapy.
Sarah is a Clinical Psychologist (registrar) with a combined Clinical Masters/PhD from the University of New South Wales. Her own personal experience into motherhood highlighted a gap in mental health support services for young mothers and was the catalyst for her to specialise in the area.
Sarah works for the Gidget Foundation and in private practice. While she works with clients across the lifespan, her areas of specialty include perinatal mental health, sexual health, parent management training, behavioural conduct issues in young children and anxiety disorders. In the perinatal mental health space, Sarah works with mothers, partners and families struggling with adjustment difficulties, anxiety related to impending changes, depression, understanding hormonal shifts, puerperal psychosis, attachment issues and ongoing behavioural difficulties with other children adjusting to the changes in the family unit. Sarah tailors treatment for the individual needs of the client (or family) using a combination of evidenced-based interventions including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Family Systems Models, Motivational Interviewing, solution focused therapy, Circle of Security and Mindfulness.
Sarah’s work experience is diverse, with experience in both inpatient and outpatient contexts, private practice and in the non-for-profit sector. Previous workplaces include Gosford Mental Health Unit, St Vincent’s Public and Canterbury Child and Family Community services. In addition to clinical work, Sarah has a doctorate from UNSW, with her research investigating the interrelation of anxiety disorders and memory.
Tahira Haider is a Clinical Psychologist (registrar) and a few months shy from completing her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of New England. Tahira works for the Gidget Foundation and in private practice. Within the perinatal mental health arena Tahira works with mothers and partners struggling with adjustment difficulties, depression, anxiety and attachment issues. Tahira adopts a person-centered approach using a range of evidence based therapeutic approaches which include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Gottman Couple Therapy, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution Focused Therapy and Interventions used from a Positive Psychology Approach. Additionally, Tahira has worked in multiple settings, including an inpatient private hospital, community mental health and tertiary psychological services.
Dina is Clinical Psychologist and completed her Clinical and Pathological Psychology Degree in Paris. With over 20 years experience as a French-Australian clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, she now works in private practice in Sydney.
Dina started her career working with children and their parents in a number of mothers’ groups for African migrant women based at early childhood centres, childcares and day care centres through Community Services in Paris. After migrating to Australia in 2001, Dina had the opportunity to work as part of the Perinatal Infant Mental Health Services in Campbelltown and Liverpool for 9 years. Since then, her passion to support women and their families in the perinatal period has continued to grow and remains the main focus of her practice today.
When Dina meets mothers and fathers, her goal is to support them and their family throughout the pregnancy and postnatally. She has worked with parents on a range of issues including: conception, fertility, grief and loss after miscarriage, abortion, uncertainties about the desire to have a child and foetus abnormalities. Dina patiently believes in early diagnosis and intervention to reduce the risk of perinatal depression and anxiety, trauma and PTSD (birth related trauma and past traumatic experiences) and postpartum psychosis.
Dina is a strong advocate for parents who are entering this new phase of their life with all the associated dreams, hopes, fears and challenges. She is there with them on the journey of parenthood to enhance their parenting skills and most importantly to recreate a healthy life balance as a self-confident individual, parent, partner and professional.
Dr Rachelle Jones is a registered and endorsed Clinical Psychologist. She completed a Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) at Griffith University, Queensland, and a Bachelor of Psychological Science at the University of Queensland.
She is a proud member of the Australian Psychological Society and its Perinatal and Infant Psychology Interest Group. Rachelle is an accredited facilitator of the Circle of Security Parenting group program, which is a group focused on helping parents reflect on their strengths and struggles in a non-judgemental way.
She has presented her research at a number of conferences and is a published author in the area of hospital design and parenting.
Dr Tania Slaviero is a Clinical Psychologist with a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She currently works for the Gidget Foundation and in private practice at the Balwyn Medical Hub in Melbourne, specialising in perinatal psychology. Tania also works as a Locum at Mitcham Private Hospital Perinatal Mental Health Unit providing care for women with mental health conditions that develop or exacerbate during pregnancy or after birth.
Tania has provided support to new mothers experiencing difficulties with their newborns and toddlers in the residential unit at the Mercy Health O’Connell Family Centre in Melbourne. Prior to completing her doctorate she was the Resilient Families Program Manager at the Royal Children’s Hospital where she developed the Resilient Families Student Curriculum implemented in schools and facilitated parent education.
Tania offers support with family planning, pregnancy and parenting. She takes a collaborative approach to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of parents and infants, and enjoys helping them make a smooth transition into family life. Tania’s interest in working with children and parents stems from her time spent as a Primary School Teacher.
Tania believes in taking a holistic approach to health care that considers all members of the family unit. She draws from a wide range of psychological approaches and tailors her care to suit the specific needs of her clients.
Kirsty is a registered psychologist and has completed a Masters of Organisational Psychology at UNSW.
Her own experiences and challenges in adjusting to early motherhood whilst juggling a career in the corporate sector, fuelled her desire to shift her specialisation to the perinatal domain, and her passion to work with expectant and new parents.
She is a co-founder of The Parents Village – a perinatal support service in Sydney’s east – which provides counselling, prenatal education, parenting workshops, career coaching, and postnatal support groups for expectant, new and seasoned parents.
Kirsty’s primary therapeutic interests and experience is in treating individuals and couples who have experienced difficulty in their adjustment to pregnancy and/or parenthood, and who have struggled with pre and/or postnatal anxiety and/or depression, and relationship issues.
Kirsty utilises a range of different psychological interventions including Psychotherapy, Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Lana is a Clinical Social Worker and Arts Psychotherapist with a passion for working with women, their partners and children during the perinatal period and beyond. Lana has a warm and empathic approach, and uses a unique blend of traditional talk therapies and creative modes of therapeutic interventions to help her clients resolve their challenges and move forward. Lana specialises in helping women to heal from childbirth trauma, and assists ABTA – The Australasian Birth Trauma Association.
Lana’s interest in helping expectant and new mothers began during her first clinical social work placement at The Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney over 13 years ago, and when she became a mother herself in 2014, this passion only grew. Lana has been in private practice for 7 years, and has over 12 years’ experience working with children and families both in Australia and the UK.
In addition to her work for the Gidget Foundation, Lana Co-Founded The Parents Village in 2016 where she supports expectant and new parents as they transition into parenthood, helping them to cope with changes to identity, relationships, and careers.
Lana employs a combination of evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, as well psychotherapy and mindfulness based techniques, and her sessions are tailor made to suit the individual needs of each client. Lana’s integration of the creative arts such as drama, music, movement, ritual, play, storytelling and visual art into her counselling approach allows clients additional options for conveying and understanding their feelings particularly in times when “words are not enough”.
Agata (Agi) is a warm, compassionate and insightful clinical psychologist with over 20 years’ experience working with clients at various life stages, from perinatal mental health to age care psychiatry.
Agi has a special interest in supporting mothers and fathers in their experience of parenting and has worked at Karitane’s Perinatal Mood Disorders Unit for over 11 years, where she focuses on perinatal depression and anxiety, adjustment to parenthood, grief, loss and parent-infant relationship. Agi also has a private practice where she works with both men and women, specialising in assessment and treatment of depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, difficulties with emotion regulation, self-esteem issues, grief and loss and adjustment to life changes and disabilities.
Agi aims to provide a safe and nurturing environment where clients can deepen their understanding of their emotional difficulties and develop skills to make helpful life changes and improve emotional well-being. Her approach is flexible, individualised and informed by attachment theory. She draws upon evidence-based treatment models including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness, Circle of Security, Tuning into Kids, and Marte Meo.
Eliza is a Clinical Social Worker and the Founder of Blackbird Counselling, an organisation that provides counselling and support to assist women with the emotional adjustment to pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. Eliza has spent her professional life pursuing her passion of supporting women through one of the most significant transitions of their life. Eliza uses a variety of evidence based approaches to underpin her framework including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; Systems and Attachment Theory. Eliza has a specialised interest in developing Postnatal Recovery Plans with women and using mindfulness approaches to developing Self Care Plans. Eliza brings compassion and a non-judgemental attitude to her work at all times.
In 2018, Eliza developed ‘The Women’s Series’ facilitating four workshops addressing issues that impact upon women across the lifespan including Adjustment to Motherhood and Settling Babies Workshops. She also developed the Blackbird Mother Mentor Program, an 8 week pilot program linking new and experienced mothers in an effort to reduce social isolation. She is a registered Circle of Security Parenting Program Provider and has recently completed the Excellence in Supervisory Practice Certificate through Amovita International. She has also completed her Perinatal Non-Directive Counselling Training Certification through the Australian Psychological Society.
Eliza has appeared on ABC radio and is a regular contributor to Kids on The Coast magazine speaking about infertility, postnatal depression and maternal mental health.
Eliza is currently studying a Graduate Certificate in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health from the NSW Institute of Psychiatry.
Lena joined the Gidget Foundation in 2019 as the Foundation Administration Manager, responsible for implementing and managing a range of administrative functions to support the delivery of all Gidget Foundation Australia’s programs, services and organisational operations.
Previously at Universal Magazines, Lena managed the subscriptions and customer service for all subscriptions across 25 titles.
Away from work, Lena’s teenage daughter and son keep her busy, especially with their sporting activities.
In addition to her family, she is actively involved with the Armenian Community group – volunteering her time with fundraising and volunteer co-ordination programs.
Dr. Kathryn Austin is an Obstetrician Gynaecologist who completed her specialty training in 2017 and further completed Maternal Fetal Medicine subspecialist training in 2019. Prior to embarking upon a career in medicine she worked in hospital and community pharmacy and as a counsellor with Mothersafe.
Kathryn has been a director of the Board for the state and federal Australian Medical Association (AMA). She is currently on the AMA NSW Council and the AMA NSW Charitable Foundation Advisory Board. Kathryn has been involved with various government and professional body committees that oversee quality healthcare, medical leadership and women’s health. Kathryn completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course in 2014.
Janice is a Clinical Psychologist who holds a Masters of Clinical Psychology and PhD from The University of New South Wales.
In addition to her work with the Gidget Foundation, Janice works in public health and in research in the field of medical psychology. Her research investigates the impact of early life stress on emotional wellbeing and attachment in children and their parents.
She has extensive experience working with emotional and behavioural concerns faced by children, adults, and families, and draws upon CBT, ACT, mindfulness, and attachment frameworks to support her clients.
Janice is passionate about early intervention and delivering evidence-based therapy in a compassionate, collaborative, and empowering way.
Dr Katherine Schmidhofer is a registered psychologist with a PhD from the University of Sydney. At present, she works at Gidget House at the Mater Hospital and private practice.
Katherine has over 15 years experience working with children and families with a range of developmental, behavioural, emotional and relationship difficulties in both community and private practice settings. Commencing her own motherhood journey reinforced her interest in perinatal work and strong desire to focus on helping others who may be struggling at this time.
Katherine is committed to providing evidence-based therapy to the mothers, fathers, and families who she treats. She compassionately utilises a range of different psychological interventions including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and attachment and family systems frameworks in her therapeutic approach.
Niamh comes to Gidget House with a diverse professional background. Initially trained and working in Business and Marketing, Niamh has over 10 years’ experience in health and community-oriented organisations many of which have involved developing services for society’s most marginalised groups.
In 2008, Niamh joined the pioneering HIV organisation, ASHM (Australasian Society for HIV Medicine), as a Senior Project Officer, where she made notable contributions to the NSW Health HIV Strategies.
This role required her to engage with GPs and other specialist clinicians and Allied Health Disciplines and develop interorganisational relationships with peak bodies such as the Ministry of Health and other Government departments, Local Health Districts, Public Health Networks.
Niamh has worked at the Cancer Institute NSW Fact Tree, Australian Red Cross and with NGO Recruitment, among others.
Outside of work, Niamh enjoys fun times with friends, hubby and two kids. Niamh has experienced PNDA herself and is passionate about our cause.
As a warm and friendly people person, Cathy comes to Gidget Foundation Australia with a broad range of experience gained in the primary care sector.
Cathy has worked across a number of primary care organisations – Northern Sydney Division of General Practice, the Sydney North Shore and Beaches Medicare Local and most recently the Sydney North Primary Health Network.
With her previous registered nursing background combined with knowledge gained working with GPs and practice staff, psychologists and the mental health referral system, GP and practice nurse education and communications, Cathy works to promote Gidget Foundation Australia’s programs and services to healthcare providers in both rural and urban areas.
Carla Anderson is a psychologist who has been working in her own private practice for the past fourteen years, with a special interest working with families within the perinatal period.
Carla’s passion with the perinatal period began in 2000 through a volunteer peer support and group coordinator role with the Queensland Postnatal Disorders Association, whilst completing her psychology degree and becoming a mother herself. From here, Carla’s passion grew, taking on other volunteer positions as a telephone grief counsellor and national trainer for Bonnie Babes Foundation and Angel Babies Foundation for a number of years, training professionals around the country in support and counselling skills for families who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death of a baby.
Carla has also been involved in a number of national projects and training programs within the perinatal field, and recently published a journal article on Pregnancy-related fears.
Carla is passionate about supporting women and their families in all areas related to the perinatal period such as infertility and IVF issues, pregnancy related concerns, antenatal/postnatal depression, grief and loss, and adoption. As well as supporting families with the transitions to parenthood and the day to day juggling of family life. Carla provides a professional, personalised and caring space to process whatever difficulty clients are experiencing.
Jennifer is a Registered Psychologist and Relationship Counsellor, who has developed great passion, empathy and insight while working in both private practice and the NFP space.
Alongside her clinical studies in psychology, Jennifer has completed a Graduate Diploma in Relationship Counselling (Couples and Family Therapy) and is a trained practitioner and facilitator of the Circle of Security Program, as well as being trained in Marte Meo (child and parenting development support). In her work she draws upon several evidence-based treatments, including strategies from Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, and systemic interventions (exploring current concerns or conflict in family history and relational patterns).
Her early work in genetic counselling and facilitation of carers workshops both in metropolitan and rural areas, led to an ongoing interest in the advocacy and support of parents and in the complex journey of pregnancy and parenthood. Jennifer has also worked as a Family Coach, supporting the mother-child attachment by providing both residential and in-home mental health support services.
She has practiced for many years in a specialty clinic supporting individuals who have been diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum and continues to conduct therapy and assessment and the co-ordination of parenting support groups there.
Jennifer strives to create a warm, welcoming and safe environment for individuals to receive support.
Russell is a friendly, approachable and experienced Psychologist/Relationship Counsellor. Russell has been a Psychologist for 15 years and has also been a Registered Nurse. Russell has worked in perinatal mental health at IVF Australia, where he helped individuals and couples deal with infertility, sterility, donor eggs/sperm/embryos, the stress of fertility treatment, alternate pathways to parenthood, depression, anxiety, miscarriage, stillbirth, neo-natal death, and other forms of loss. Russell has a special interest in helping individuals and couples who are going through fertility treatment or dealing with the aftermath of fertility treatment.
Russell also enjoys helping people with relationship issues and has an extensive background in relationship counselling through working at Relationships Australia, IVF Australia and in private practice. Russell has a special interest in helping couples to productively manage conflict, using evidence-based strategies, and educating couples so that they can avoid the common pitfalls that destroy relationships. Russell completed Level I, II and III Certification training at The Gottman Relationship Institute in Seattle. The Gottman Relationship Institute is world-renowned, having conducted intensive, long-term scientific studies into why marriages succeed or fail. In addition, Russell has received training in Emotion Focused Therapy by Dr Leslie Greenberg (one of the founders of EFT).
Russell works for Gidget House at The Mater Hospital on a Wednesday, he also has a private practice in the Sydney CBD, and is studying a Master of Clinical Psychology.
Seeking help can feel confronting. People are sometimes anxious because they don’t know what will happen in a counselling session. Russell knows that this can be a very difficult time. If you could use some support, Russell would like to help.
Jill is a compassionate and caring Clinical Psychologist, who has worked in her own private practice for 14 years.
Jill is passionate about supporting and empowering parents during the perinatal period. Her passion for this area began during her Clinical Masters degree when she had the opportunity to provide counselling to women in the perinatal period, and to run groups at Early Childhood Centres and a local branch of the Australian Breastfeeding Association on adjusting to motherhood.
Jill uses an integrative approach incorporating cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and a mindfulness-based approach to processing emotions. Jill has completed additional trauma-focused training, including Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR). She is trained in Parent-Child Interventions, including being a CIRCLE OF SECURITY™ Registered Parent Educator.
Jill works in our Start Talking program and is passionate about supporting women with perinatal anxiety and depression, birth trauma and promoting positive parent-infant relationships.
Natasha has over 20 years of professional experience, providing psychological therapy, helping individuals, parents, children, and families in a wide variety of settings.
Prior to her years working in private practice and at Gidget House, Natasha worked in the Public Sector as a Clinical Psychologist, Allied Health Team Leader and Manager at Randwick Family Care Cottage and the Residential Unit for Karitane, where she provided both individual, parent-infant and group-based programs for postnatal depression and anxiety and parent-infant relationship issues.
Natasha has worked in Adult Mental Health in acute inpatient wards and rehabilitation services. Natasha undertook her Clinical Psychology training at community and residential Child & Family Mental Health Services.
Ms Helen Qin is a highly professional and compassionate bilingual (English, Mandarin) Clinical Counsellor/Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with more than 8 years of clinical experience. She is a professionally trained and qualified personal and relationship/marriage counsellor.
Helen’s work is based on the person-centred approach that places human dignity firmly in the centre. She works to help you understand the source of your problems and to help you find the solutions and develop the skills so you can create the life you want.
Helen’s clinical counselling strategies include CBT, ACT, solution-focused, mindfulness, strength-based, interpersonal psychotherapy, trauma-informed approach as well as Gottman Method for couple counselling/therapy and systemic family approach. She applies the bio-psychosocial assessment to understand the client and the situation thoroughly.
Kate Staff is a Clinical Psychologist, based in Toowoomba, with over 15 years experience providing direct support to infants, children and their families in both the public and community sectors.
Prior to moving to Toowoomba in 2014, Kate lived in Central Queensland, where she worked in a range of community roles. Kate also became a mum to her two children during this time.
Since relocating to Toowoomba, Kate has been working in acute mental health services. She is trained in Theraplay (Level 1), Circle of Security and a number of Perinatal Infant Mental Health Programs, which she delivers regularly on an individual and group basis.
Kate works from a range of theoretical frameworks and she draws upon several evidence-based treatments, including strategies from Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Kate’s experience working with infants has highlighted the importance of early intervention, which starts in the perinatal period. Kate is therefore passionate about supporting new and expectant parents as they commence their journey into parenthood.
Sarah is a registered Psychologist with 16 years of clinical experience in a variety of areas. She also has a post-graduate diploma in Systemic Family Therapy. The early part of her career was in the field of bereavement for the leading UK child bereavement charity, Winston’s Wish. She then worked in UK schools implementing a project aimed at improving mental health in students and teachers.
After having children of her own, Sarah became interested in the field of perinatal mental health. Upon returning to Australia she began working with perinatal service, The Raphael Centre. After relocating to a regional town, Sarah set up her own practice focusing on clients in the perinatal period. She works on the Start Talking program and is passionate about ensuring those in regional or remote areas have access to good mental health care. A couple of years ago, Sarah took a break from clinical work to become a qualified pre/post-natal yoga teacher, and now teaches a few classes a week.
Sarah’s clinical work is underpinned by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Systemic Family Therapy.
Julie Redican is a highly qualified and experienced Clinical Psychologist, who has extensive knowledge and understanding of a wide range of psychological concerns across the lifespan. She knows that underpinning any successful therapy is the quality of the therapeutic relationship, and has the warmth, compassion, life experience and sense of humour to be with clients where they are at.
She began her work with perinatal clients 30 years ago with the Benevolent Society’s Early Intervention Programme at the (then) Paddington Women’s Hospital and has subsequently enjoyed promoting the wellbeing of women, children and families in a variety of milieu including community health, hospital, and private practice settings, as well as at a centre for reproductive technology where she also developed and ran a group programme for women and couples undergoing assisted reproduction, the ‘Fertility Feelings’ group. She is an experienced Circle of Security Group facilitator.
Drawing from a range of therapeutic approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Systemic Family Therapy, and Attachment-Based approaches, Julie individually tailors therapy for each client to facilitate their movement toward what they most value, and to equip them with the understanding, skills and knowledge to continue growing as a person and a parent into the future.
She is the proud mother of two gorgeous high school-aged girls and works Gidget House North Sydney.
Christine is an experienced and caring Clinical Psychologist who has been in private practice for over fifteen years with expertise in supporting persons in the perinatal period and beyond. Christine has a warm approach and a keen focus on building a strong and caring therapeutic relationship.
In addition to her private work, Christine has worked in a variety of hospital settings in Brisbane and Toowoomba, in particular the Mater Mothers Hospital where she gained valuable experience as an inpatient psychologist working with mothers with perinatal anxiety and depression, conception difficulties; complicated pregnancies, premature births, pregnancy loss, and birth trauma.
Her work is informed by attachment-based therapy and interpersonal neurobiology. A combination of evidence-based approaches is used in treatment including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Therapies.
Anna-Lisa is a clinical psychologist who practices predominantly in perinatal mental health and adjustment during the early years of parenthood. In addition to her work with Gidget House Anna-Lisa works at Karitane assisting parents with depression, anxiety, grief, loss, and parent-child relationship difficulties.
Anna-Lisa holds a Master of Clinical Psychology and PhD from Macquarie University. Her doctoral research focused on psychological characteristics that contribute to adjustment to motherhood, including investigating the impact of age and method of conception on parenting adaptation. She has previously worked in research and teaching at Macquarie University, and clinically in early intervention, child anxiety, and at St John of God mother-baby unit.
Anna-Lisa uses an integrative approach to therapy largely informed by attachment theory while also including evidence-based interventions from cognitive behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and dialectical behaviour therapy. Anna-Lisa is also a certified Circle of Security Parenting Group educator.
Elizabeth is a registered psychologist in private practice. She has worked in a variety of non-government and hospital settings for 12 years prior to joining the Gidget Team of Psychologists 3 years ago.
A major part of her work over those years has been in women’s health, with the focus in the last 7 years being with the perinatal population, treating and supporting mothers and fathers who are suffering from anxiety and depression; experiencing adjustment issues; and dealing with grief/loss.
Elizabeth continues to facilitate various behavioural change groups with men and women within a family safety framework, and is a Circle of Security trained group facilitator. With postgraduate studies in family systems therapy, couple therapy and clinical hypnotherapy, and currently studying a Masters in Depth Psychology in the USA, Elizabeth draws from a variety of modalities within an attachment and psychodynamically based framework.
She is passionate about empowering mothers and fathers to step on the path towards conscious and confident parenting, helping them cultivate a deeper understanding of the personal and interpersonal aspects that contribute to the challenges at this time.
Lettitia is a psychologist with many years of experience in perinatal mental health and other areas of adult mental health including anxiety, depression, life transition, and adjustment, with a special interest in working with adults who have a history of complex trauma and helping them transition and navigate the complexities inherent in the adjustment to parenthood.
Lettitia has worked in both the public (Mother-Baby residential unit) and private sector. Lettitia has worked at Gidget House for the past 6 years and has been in private practice on Sydney’s North Shore for the past 7 years.
She uses a multimodal, integrative approach to therapy, whilst drawing on her Masters in Psychoanalytic Theories she also utilises ACT, DBT, Mindfulness, solution-focused and trauma-informed interventions. Lettitia uses a Biopsychosocial approach to assessment and likes to work closely with other health professionals in her client’s network to ensure the best possible outcomes.