Child Development Network

I am a developmental paediatrician and did my training in paediatrics at both the Mater Children's and Royal Children's Hospitals in the field of community child health.

I am originally from New Zealand so I pronounce my vowels a bit differently to Aussies, but consider myself an Aussie now!

I continue to work for Queensland Health at the Royal Children's Hospital for part of my week and am very involved at a local and national level in education and training in community child health.

I have completed a Master of Public Health and did some research in the area of diagnosis of autism which was done in collaboration with Dr Michael McDowell. This work has been widely discussed in various forums and has been published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health in 2005. I continue to have a strong interest in the field of autism and autistic spectrum disorders and include observational assessments of children with suspected autism/ASD into diagnostic evaluations if indicated.This process provides solid evidence for any diagnosis as well as provides valuable information at an individual level for planning interventions.

In addition to my professional training, my knowledge of children's development and behaviour has been greatly enhanced by my personal experience of parenting my own two children. This dimension of my life helps me understand the practical realities of life, families and the constantly changing issues that present at various ages and stages.