Since completing my undergraduate study in neuroscience and psychology, the way communication develops and impacts upon behaviour has been my passion. During my masters and PhD in New Zealand, I developed interventions to enhance the communication skills and adaptive behaviour of children with a range of significant and multiple disabilities. My research focus over the past few years has extended to look at effective intervention approaches to enhance adaptive behaviour for those who have a diagnosis of a rare genetic syndrome. Specifically, how principles of behaviour analytics can be adapted to enhance the communication skills of children with rare genetic syndromes through direct intervention and improve quality of life outcomes for the children and their families.
I joined the University of Newcastle in early January 2020 after completing a joint post-doctoral position at the University of Queensland and Griffith University where I worked on a number of projects aimed at supporting families of children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, Angelman syndrome, and autism. I now teach into the Special and Inclusive program in the school of Education. My teaching focuses on behaviour management and intervention approaches, assessing and enhancing communication skills, and early intervention for those with a wide range of disabilities.
I joined the University of Newcastle in early January 2020 after completing a joint post-doctoral position at the University of Queensland and Griffith University where I worked on a number of projects aimed at supporting families of children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, Angelman syndrome, and autism. I now teach into the Special and Inclusive program in the school of Education. My teaching focuses on behaviour management and intervention approaches, assessing and enhancing communication skills, and early intervention for those with a wide range of disabilities.