Office Bearers

Jess is a consultant in Rehabilitation and Disability Medicine and clinician-researcher with over 20 years’ experience working alongside people with disability. She leads the Inclusive Care Clinic and CARE Ability service at Flinders Medical Centre and is a Clinical Research Associate at Flinders University. Her work focuses on improving access to specialist healthcare for people with disability, with a particular interest in adults ageing with cerebral palsy, and she sees AADDM as playing a vital role in advocating for specialist multidisciplinary teams and models of care that improve health outcomes for people with neurodevelopmental disability.

Alexis has worked as an Adult Rehabilitation Physician in NSW for 20+years supporting adults with Intellectual Disability. She is currently working as a Staff Specialist in two NSW Specialist Intellectual Disability Health Services in Sydney Local Health District and Northern Sydney Local Health District. She has a special interest in Transition Care and previously held executive roles in ACI Transition Care Network. She is a current member of Policy and Advocacy Committee, RACP. She is past member of the Guardianship Division of NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Melanie is a psychiatrist at the Queensland Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability and Autism Health. In addition to her clinical work at the centre, Melanie participates in several initiatives both in Queensland and nationally to improve the education and training of psychiatrists and other health practitioners in developmental disability medicine. She sees AADDM’s role as connecting clinicians from across Australia to share skills and experiences to improve healthcare equity and outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Executive Committee

Cathy is a psychiatrist, Director of the Queensland Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability and Autism Health, and a Senior Research Fellow with Mater Research Institute-UQ, The University of Queensland. She has worked across clinical care, education and research to improve the lives of people with intellectual disability and autistic people over the last 20 years. She sees AADDM’s strength in bringing together medical and health professionals from across disciplines to address the diverse health needs of people with intellectual and developmental disability.

Anne is a General Paediatrician at the Queensland Children’s Hospital, with special interests in developmental disabilities, acquired brain injury, obesity and the transition of care for young people with complex needs. She is involved in teaching medical students as a Clinical Senior Lecturer in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Queensland. Anne has been a member of AADDM since 2004 and continues her advocacy role through the NDIS Reference Group of the RACP.

Margaret is a Specialist General Practitioner (Developmental Disability) and works in multidisciplinary teams at the Centre for Disability Health, and My Therapy House. She is also Lecturer in Disability, Flinders University. Margaret considers that AADDM’s key roles include: providing a forum for GPs, Specialists & Associate Members to network, hear what is happening in the disability field, provide a sounding board for clinical issues, and lobby on behalf of people with developmental disability.

Helen is a medically trained epidemiologist and Principal Research Fellow at the Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia.  She has led the development of infrastructures to understand determinants and improve the health and quality of life of those with developmental disability and their families, and has independently established a vibrant multidisciplinary research group in childhood disability. She believes AADDM should act as an important vehicle for research translation.

Christel is a medical consultant for Disability Services, Women’s and Children’s Health Network, Adelaide South Australia. Christel obtained her medical degree in 2004 and Fellowship of The Royal Australian College of General Practice in 2007. Christel has a diploma in Child Health from the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Adelaide and is recognized by the RACGP as having extended skills in Developmental Disability. Christel is involved in undergraduate, post graduate and overseas trained doctor medical education and assessment. Christel considers that AADDM’s key roles are: collegiality and collaboration to improve health and to advocate respect and equal treatment for those with intellectual disability.