Child Development Network

The Child Development Network began in 2001 with just myself in private practice, and since has grown to include a great team.

I am a medical Doctor, having completed my medical degree at Sydney University in 1984. Following that I specialised in Paediatrics, (the health care of children) at what was then the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in Sydney.

During my paediatric training I became interested in children with developmental problems. From a medical perspective, the 'cause' of developmental problems is usually medical (neurological), even if we cannot accurately diagnose exactly what goes wrong.

To get further training in this area I went to the Children's Hospital in Boston, USA where I completed a 3 year clinical training fellowship and a Masters Degree at Harvard University.

We decided that we wanted our children to grow up Australians rather than Americans, and returned. I spent 2 years in Newcastle, NSW, as Director of a community based health facility, the 'Child and Family Centre'.

We then moved to Brisbane, where for the last 5 years I was Director of the Child Development Program for the Royal Children's Hospital. I continue to work part time for the Child Development Unit in this system, doing some clinical work as well as research and teaching. I have a position with the University of Queensland as Senior Lecturer in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health.

I left the Director position to finish my PhD (in neurological signs), and build the Child Development Network private practice. I love the clinical work - is complex, interesting, and every child is unique. In addition to the medical part, I particularly enjoy getting to know children and families as they grow and develop.