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 CEO of EarlyEd, an early childhood intervention service based in Sydney. Kerry brings to this role a background in Speech Pathology and experiences working in the health, community and early childhood intervention sectors in Australia and overseas.
Kerry is particularly interested in creating opportunities for families and professionals to share their knowledge, perspectives and experiences supporting children to play, learn and develop by creating resources that are readily available.
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, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. A leading contributor to influential CCCH reports and policy, he has shaped early childhood intervention nationally and internationally.
Trained as a teacher and psychologist, he completed a doctorate at the University of Surrey. A founding member and former President of ECIA (Victoria), he has led conferences and advanced policy and training in the field.
John Forster has been Chief Executive Officer at Noah’s Ark in Melbourne, Australia, since March 2000. Noah’s Ark supports over 2000 children with disabilities and their families. Supports are in the home, in children’s services and at school. Prior to Noah’s Ark, John managed child and family, employment and aged care services.
John believes young children with disabilities should have a full life. Noah’s Ark has promoted changes to attitudes and services through its innovations. John is a past national President of Early Childhood Intervention Australia and has been a member of many government advisory bodies.
John is co-author of The Key Worker: Resources for Early Childhood Intervention Professionals (2012) and other resources and articles. He has a child with a disability.
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.
Maili Lindberg volunteers as a School Learning Support Officer (SLSO) at a local primary school. She loves spending time with friends and family and enjoys expressing her creativity through art and Lego building.
Maili has lived experience of disability and is deeply passionate about helping create a more inclusive world for everyone.
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.
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.
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.