The Developmental Cognitive Neuropsychology Research Unit

Staff Details

Pamela Joy - Head of Unit

Qualifications: B.A. (Syd.), M.A. (Syd.), M.Sc. Clin.Neuropsych. (Macq), PhD (Macq.)

Professional Affiliations: Registered Psychologist (NSW), Member Australian Psychological Society, Member College of Clinical Neuropsychologists, Member Australian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment, Honorary Associate Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science at Macquarie University, Honorary Associate in the Psychology Department at Macquarie University, Clinical Associate Lecturer Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine at the University of Sydney, Member of the Council of State Health Senior Psychologists, Member of the DCN/MSc National Advisory Committee, Clinical Associate Professor, Macquarie University.

E-mail: PamelaJ@chw.edu.au
Phone: (02) 9845 2832
Fax: (02) 9845 2088

Pamela Joy is Head of the Developmental Cognitive Neuropsychology Research Unit, Deputy Head of the Psychology Department at The Children's Hospital at Westmead and a Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist working in the Child Development Unit. She has worked at The Children's Hospital at Westmead for more than 20 years and has extensive experience in assessment and management of children with acquired and developmental disorders.

Pam completed her doctoral thesis "Gender, developmental and genetic influences on linguistic, spatial and executive functions" in 2003 under the supervision of Professor Max Coltheart. Her primary research interest is characterising the developmental course of visual processing disorders in childhood and she has completed a number of case studies of children with prosopagnosia and visual agnosia. Other research interests include assessment and outcome of children with genetic disorders such as TS, NF-1 and maternal PKU and investigation of the neuropsychological sequelae associated with paediatric brain tumour.

Ruth Brunsdon - Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist

Qualifications: B.A. Hons (Macq.), M.Sc. Clin.Neuropsych. (Macq.), PhD (Macq.)

Professional Affiliations: Registered Psychologist (NSW), Member Australian Psychological Society, Honorary Associate Division of Linguistics and Psychology, Macquarie University, Associate Member of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, Member of the International Neuropsychological Society, Honorary Associate of the Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science, Honorary Associate of the Department of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Member of Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Neuropsychologists.

E-mail: RuthB2@chw.edu.au
Phone: (02) 9845 2804
Fax: (02) 9845 0685

Ruth is a Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist working in the Rehabilitation Department. She has worked at the Children's Hospital at Westmead for the last 9 years in a clinical position that involves neuropsychological assessment and long-term management of children and adolescents with acquired brain injury.

Ruth completed her PhD entitled "Cognitive Neuropsychological Rehabiltiation and Developmental Disorders: A success story" in 2005 under the supervision of Professor Max Coltheart and Associate Professor Lyndsey Nickels. Ruth was awarded a Macquarie University Vice Chancellor's Commendation and the APS 2006 Excellent PhD Thesis in Psychology award for her PhD work. Her primary research interest is the cognitive neuropsychological assessment and treatment of paediatric disorders (both language and visual processing disorders). Other research interests include dyslexia and dysgraphia, object agnosia and prosopagnosia, topographical disorientation, paediatric neuro oncology and foreign accent syndrome.

Ruth is also actively involved in teaching and is currently involved in supervising students in the Clinical Neuropsychology Post Graduate Programs at Macquarie University and Sydney University, for both clinical placements and research. Since 2003 she has been course convenor for the Cognitive Neuropsychology Course, Clinical Neuropsychology Program, Macquarie University.

Ellen Northcott - Clinical Neuropsychologist

Qualifications: B.A. Psych Hons (University of Sydney); D.Clin.Neuropsych. (Macquarie University)

Prfessional Affiliations: Registered Psychologist (NSW).

E-mail: ellenn@chw.edu.au
Phone: (02) 9845 2759
Fax: (02) 9845 0685

Ellen worked in the DeCog graduate position in 2007 and currently is working as a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Rehabilitation Department at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Her doctoral research looked at the neuropsychological and language profile of children with Benign Rolandic Epilepsy. Current research interests include paediatric neurology and cognitive remediation.

Sara Coombes - Clinical Neuropsychologist

Qualifications: B.Psych Hons. (Macq.), M. Clin.Neuropsych. (Macq.)

Professional Affiliations: Registered Psychologist (NSW).

E-mail: SaraC2@chw.edu.au
Phone: (02) 9845 2759
Fax: (02) 9845 0685

Sara Coombes worked in the DeCog postgraduate position in 2000 and currently has five years clinical experience working as a clinical neuropsychologist in the Rehabilitation Department at The children's Hospital at Westmead.

Her research interests include cerebellar functions and disorders and reading remediation.

Associates

Melanie Porter - Clinical Neuropsychologist and Lecturer in Neuropsychology

Qualifications: B.Psych Hons. (Macq.), M. Clin.Neuropsych. (Macq.), PhD (Macq.)

Professional Affiliations: Registered Psychologist (NSW), Member Australian Psychological Society, Member College of Clinical Neuropsychologists.

E-mail: melanie.porter@psy.mq.edu.au
Phone: (02) 9850 6768
Fax: (02) 9850 6059

Melanie worked in the Developmental Cognitive Neuropsychology Unit (DeCog) neuropsychology postgraduate position in 2004 and then in the Rehabilitation Department and the Neuro Developmental Disorders Clinic at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. She currently holds an honorary clinical neuropsychology position at The Children's Hospital at Westmead and predominantly sees patients from the Neuro Developmental Disorders Clinic. In addition to her honorary clinical position, Melanie is a lecturer on the Master of Clinical Neuropsychology Program at Macquarie University. Melanie is responsible for the Developmental Neuropsychology and Recovery and Rehabilitation Units of this program.

Melanie's research interests include developmental cognitive neuropsychology, developmental cognitive neuropsychiatry, genetics and rehabilitation. Melanie completed her doctoral thesis "The Cognitive Neuropsychology of Williams syndrome, Autism, Down Syndrome and Asperger's Syndrome" in 2004 under the supervision of Professor Max Coltheart. She is currently working on a project in collaboration with the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute and St Mary's Hospital in the UK, investigating the relationship between cognitive and genetic heterogeneity in Williams syndrome. Melanie also recently commenced a project on social processing within DeCog and MACCS, exploring social processing in children with brain impairment. This project involves the development and evaluation of a cognitive neuropsychological model of social processing, as well as the development and evaluation of assessment tools and intervention programs. The desired outcome will be to aid the identification and treatment of social processing deficits following developmental and acquired brain impairment.

Graham C Menzies - Clinical Neuropsychologist

Qualifications: B.Sc. Psych (Hons) (University of Edinburgh, Scotland), M. Clin. Neuropsych. (Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia)

Professional Affiliations: Registered Psychologist (NSW)

E-mail: Graham.Menzies@swahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Phone: (02)9845 6686
Fax: (02) 9635 3948

Graham Menzies has previously worked across the Rehabilitation Department, Neurodevelopmental Disorders Clinic and Developmental Cognitive Neuropsychology Research Unit at The Children's Hospital at Westmead with children and adolescents with acquired brain injury, neurological and congenital neurodevelopmental disorders. Currently he works as a clinical neuropsychologist in Westmead Hospital where he assesses adults across all medical settings including neurosurgical, neurological, psychiatric and geriatric settings. He retains involvement with DeCog as an honorary member.

Past research involvement have included investigating the efficacy of stimulant medication in management of attention problems for children with acquired brain injury. Present research interests include deep brain stimulation and neuropsychological predictors/outcomes in patients with Parkinson's disease and children and adults with cerebral palsy.

Antonella Rocca - Clinical Neuropsychologist

Qualifications: B.Psych. Hons (Macq.), M. Clin.Neuropsych. (Macq.)

Prfessional Affiliations: Registered Psychologist (NSW), Member Australian Psychological Society.

E-mail: antonella.rocca@sswahs.nsw.gov.au

Rivendell (Tuesday and Thursday, every 2nd Monday)
Phone: (02) 9736 2288
Fax: (02) 9743 6264

Gna Ka Lun (Wednesdays and every 2nd Monday)
Phone: (02) 4634 4444
Fax: (02) 4634 4410

ICAMHS, Cordeaux St (Fridays)
Phone: (02) 4621 5000

Antonella worked in the DeCog graduate position in 2005 and currently is working as a Clinical Neuropsychologist across three sites within the Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (ICAMHS), Sydney South West Area Health Service (SSWAHS). Her master's research involved adapting the Westmead Post Traumatic Amnesia Scale for 4-5 year old children. She has also been involved in other research projects including the cognitive effects of dietary supplementation in PKU and Anorexia Nervosa. Current research interests include post traumatic amnesia and cognitive remediation.

Suzanne Benson - Clinical Psychologist and Clincial Neuropsychologist

Qualifications: B.A. Hons Psych. (UNSW), M. Clin.Psych. (Macq.), M. Clin.Neuropsych. (Macq.)

Professional Affiliations: Member Australian Psychological Society.

E-mail: SuzannB7@chw.edu.au
Phone: (02) 9845 2818
Fax: (02) 9845 0685

Suzanne has worked for 25 years in the area of paediatrics and disability. Her particular areas of interest include family adjustment and the behavioural and emotional issues for children with both developmental and acquired disorders.

Louise Parry - Clinical Neuropsychologist

Qualifications: B.Sc. Hons (Adelaide), M. Clin.Neuropsych. (Macq.)

Professional Affiliations: Registered Psychologist (NSW), Member Australian Psychological Society, Member College of Clinical Neuropsychologists.

E-mail: Louise.Parry@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Phone: (02) 9382 1191
Fax: (02) 9382 1200

Louise Parry worked in the DeCog neuropsychology graduate position in 2002 and in the Brain Injury Unit at The Children's Hosptial at Westmead in 2003 and 2004. She currently works as a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the neurology department at Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick and holds an honorary clinical neuropsychology position at the Children's Hospital at Westmead.

Louise's research interests include the neuropsychological outcomes of acquired brain injuries in paediatric populations, such as traumatic brain injury, epilepsy and brain tumours. In addition, Louise is interested in the cognitive and neuropsychological aspects of rehabilitation within these conditions.

Polly Pickles - Clinical Psychologist

Qualifications: B.A. Hons English (Birmingham UK), B.Sc. Hons Psych. (Birmingham UK), M.Sc. Clin.Psych. (Aberdeen UK)

Professional Affiliations: Member Australian Psychological Society, Member College of Clinical Neuropsychologists.

E-mail: PollyP@chw.edu.au
Phone: (02) 9845 2766
Fax: (02) 9845 2088

Polly has worked in the area of paediatrics for nearly 30 years initially in a Community Health Child and Family position after leaving a teaching position in the post graduate Psychology Department at Sydney University. She has worked in the Child Development Unit at CHW since 1991 and now also co-ordinates the Neurodevelopmental Disorders Clinic alongside Pam Joy. Her current interests include the neuropsychological assessment of children and adolescents with complex developmental and/or medical conditions.

Jane Cramsie

Qualifications: B. Sc (Psych) (UNSW), M. Clin. Neuropsych (Macquarie University)

Professional Affiliations: Registered Psychologist (NSW)

Email: Janec1@chw.edu.au
Phone: 9845 2766
Fax: 9845 2088

Jane has been working within the Child Development Unit at the Children's Hospital at Westmead since March 2008. She has previously worked as a paediatric Neuropsychologist at Sydney Children's Hospital and in several adult settings. Her current research interests include cerebellar contributions to cognition.

DeCog Postgraduate Position: Previous Incumbents

• 2000 - Sara Coombes
  B.Psych Hons. (Macq., Sydney), M. Clin.Neuropsych. (Macq., Sydney)
• 2001 - Jacinta Gracey
  B.Science Hons. (University of Melbourne), Doctorate of Psychology (University of Melbourne)
• 2002 - Louise Parry
  B.Sc. Hons (Adelaide University), M. Clin.Neuropsych. (Macq., Sydney)
• 2003 - Signy Wegener
  B.Psych. Hons (Macq., Sydney), M. Clin.Neuropsych. (Macq., Sydney)
• 2004 - Melanie Porter
  B.Psych Hons. (Macq., Sydney), M. Clin.Neuropsych. and PhD (Macq., Sydney)
• 2005 - Antonella Rocca
  B.Psych. Hons (Macq., Sydney), M. Clin.Neuropsych. (Macq., Sydney)
• 2006 - Graham Menzies
  B.Sc. Psych (Hons) (University of Edinburgh, Scotland), M. Clin. Neuropsych. (Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia)
• 2007 - Ellen Northcott
  B.A. Psych Hons (University of Sydney); D.Clin.Neuropsych. (Macquarie University)
• 2008 - Tania Malouf
  Speech & Hearing Sc (Macquarie University), B. Sc (Psych) Hons (Macquarie University)

Students

D.Psych.

• Peta Minton
• Lauren Gillett
• Farah Budhani