The Developmental Cognitive Neuropsychology Research Unit
The Children's Hospital at Westmead and The Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science
Our Mission
The DeCog unit strives to be a centre of excellence in developmental cognitive neuropsychology research and to promote a high standard of training and clinical practice in neuropsychological assessment and treatment of developmental and acquired cognitive disorders.
Annual Report 2007 
Goals
To establish a centre of excellence in developmental cognitive neuropsychology research by:
- extending research collaborations and conducting multidisciplinary research within CHW, MACCS and with prominent research institutes interstate and overseas.
- submitting publications in national and international peer reviewed journals
- securing research grants for DeCog and CHW.
To extend clinical practice in the treatment of cognitive disorders by:
- developing theoretically driven and empirically proven assessment and treatment methods.
- establishing a 'state first' Learning Difficulties clinic at CHW which will offer assessment and treatment for children and adolescents with reading and spelling disorders.
- developing tools, methods and norms to facilitate early diagnosis of developmental cognitive disorders
To promote training and education in developmental cognitive neuropsychology by:
- offering a post graduate clinical paediatric neuropsychologist position in the DeCog Unit with clinical attachment to the Child Development Unit and Rehabilitation Department.
- providing supervision and research opportunities for post-graduate neuropsychology trainees.
- holding a bi annual international DeCog conference
- presenting DeCog research at national and international conferences
What is the Developmental Cognitive Neuropsychology Research Unit?
The Developmental Cognitive Neuropsychology Research Unit (DeCog) was established in March 2000 as an outreach unit of the Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science (MACCS) based at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. The Unit is a joint initiative between the two institutions and aims to establish a centre of excellence in developmental cognitive neuropsychology research. The Unit is staffed by neuropsychologists from The Children's Hospital and is financially supported by MACCS through the provision of a salary for a full time postgraduate position in neuropsychology. This position not only provides clinical cover for the neuropsychologists, but also offers a unique career development opportunity for a new graduate. The Unit has a well established track record of publications, conference presentations and successful grant applications.
This document was updated on Tuesday, 22 July, 2008
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