Christine Johnston is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at Western Sydney University and a member of the Transforming Early Education and Child Health Research Centre. Christine teaches and researches mainly in the areas of early childhood intervention and evidence-based practice.
Christine maintains a strong involvement in the early childhood intervention field both nationally and internationally through her teaching, her work with professional groups and her research.
Danielle Tracey is a Professor in the School of Education and the Translational Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University. Professor Tracey has a strong international reputation in the fields of educational and developmental psychology, disability studies, and evaluation.
Her career objective is to understand and advance the physical, psychological and social wellbeing of vulnerable people and communities, especially people with disabilities.
She works in partnership with communities to construct and complete meaningful research that fosters real-world impact. This expertise is underpinned by her substantial experience as an Educational and Developmental Psychologist and program manager in the community sector.
Kerry Dominish, is currently the CEO of EarlyEd, an early childhood intervention service based in Sydney. Kerry brings to this role a background in Speech Pathology and a wide range of experiences working in the health, community and early childhood intervention sectors in Australia and overseas.
A key feature of her career has been developing resources to ensure families and professionals have access to the information they need to support children in their care. More recently this has involved using web based and social media platforms to provide family members and professionals, with opportunities to share their own knowledge, perspectives, and experience.
Through membership on early childhood intervention Boards Kerry is actively involved in promoting evidence-based practices particularly those that recognise the importance of support for the whole family. Kerry is also regularly involved with projects that provide all children with opportunities to play and learn in their local community.
Matthew Breaden is a Research Officer at Western Sydney University. He is also a Registered Music Therapist and has worked with children and adults of all ages in allied health centres, private practice, school, and home settings.
Matthew focuses on strengths-based approaches to intervention and has a particular interest in ecological approaches to therapeutic work, including the involvement of families. His PhD investigated the applicability of using Figurenotes in music therapy by children with autism and their families.
Dr Tim Moore is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Community Child Health (CCCH) at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, at The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. He heads a small team with responsibility for monitoring, reviewing and synthesising research literature on a wide range of topics relating to child development, family functioning and service systems. He has been the principal writer on numerous CCCH reviews, reports and policy briefs, many of which have had a significant impact on policy and practice, nationally and internationally.
Tim trained as a teacher and psychologist at the University of Melbourne, subsequently completing his Doctoral studies at the University of Surrey on self esteem and self-concept in children. He was a founder member of Early Childhood Intervention Australia (Victorian Chapter) and served as its President for 10 years. He has convened numerous ECIA state and national conferences, and has played a leading role in the development of policy and training in the early childhood intervention field.
Donna Guise is a Sessional Academic and Research Officer in the School of Education at Western Sydney University. Her research interests include mathematics education, evidence informed teaching practices, and the relationship between teacher beliefs, instructional approaches, and classroom practice. Donna’s PhD explored the planning and teaching of mathematics through problem solving in primary classrooms.
Amy is a passionate disability advocate whose own lived experience has driven her commitment to creating a more accessible and inclusive world.
While Amy lives with a disability, it is not what defines her, it is simply part of the rich and full life she leads. With a long history of community involvement; including volunteering at a local toy library, One Meal, and childcare centres, Amy has always found purpose in supporting others. Today, she channels that same energy into her social media platforms, where she creates content dedicated to raising awareness around accessibility and inclusivity, reaching thousands of followers across Instagram and TikTok.
Amy is also a creative at heart. During COVID, she founded her own small business producing handmade sewn items, including scrunchies and pet bandanas, a passion project that continues to grow alongside her advocacy work.
Jenny Thollar is the mother of a now adult daughter who was diagnosed as having a Global Developmental Delay. Jenny and her family live in rural NSW.
Janine Lindberg is a working mother of three children. Her eldest, now 20 years old, was diagnosed as having a Global Developmental Delay.
Barbara Thollar is the grandmother of four granddaughters, one of whom was diagnosed as having a Global Developmental Delay. She moved to rural NSW to be more able to support her daughter and granddaughter.
Kirstin O’Shea’s daughter received a Global Developmental Delay diagnosis when she was 3 ½ years old. This diagnosis was followed by ones of Intellectual Disability, Autism, ADHD, language disorder and anxiety.
Clare Gibson is a mum of two premature sons. Nate, her eldest was diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay as a baby. He is now 12 years old and has since been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, ADHD and an intellectual disability.
Elyshia Kingston is a proud mother and Team Leader for Out of Home Care within an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation.
Through her lived and professional experience, Elyshia is committed to advocating for inclusive, trauma informed and culturally responsive systems. Elyshia has a strong passion for early intervention and improving the lifestyles of children, individuals and families, while also supporting professionals to deliver best practice.