Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
The Team
Dr Cheryl Dissanayake is the Director of OTARC. She is also a Senior Lecturer in Developmental Psychology at the School of Psychological Science at La Trobe University and an established researcher with a strong national and international reputation in autism research. She is a member of the Autism Victoria Professional Panel and Convenor of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Group, a reference group of the Autism Victoria Professional Panel.
View Dr Dissanayake's profile.
Professor Margot Prior is the Chair of the OTARC Board, and the Patron of Autism Victoria. She is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Psychological Science at La Trobe University and a Research Professor in the School of Behavioural Science at The University of Melbourne. She has been a researcher in the field of family and child development for more than 30 years, focusing in autism and learning difficulties in children. She has also been a Chief Investigator in the 20 year, longitudinal study of Australian children 'The Australian Temperament Project'. Professor Prior recently published a major review of early intervention practices for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (with J. Roberts), entitled "Autism: A Review of the Research to Identify the Most Effective Models of Practice in Early Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders".
View Professor Prior's profile.
Dr Danuta Loesch is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Psychological Science at La Trobe University and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Murdoch Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, and The University of Melbourne. She is a medical geneticist with special expertise in anthropometry, Fragile X syndrome and Autism.
View Dr Loesch's profiile
Dr Elfriede Ihsen is an Honorary Research Fellow at OTARC and the School of Psychological Science at La Trobe University. She is a Developmental Psychologist interested in the development of children with disabilities, especially congenital blindness and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Dr Edith Bavin is Associate Professor in the School of Psychological Science at La Trobe University. Her research interests are in studying early language development in children who are developing normally, as well as those with specific language impairments and other disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorders.
View Dr Bavin's profile.
Ms Amanda Golding is an Honorary Member of OTARC. She is also CEO of Amagol Services, which provides assistance for not-for-profit organisations and companies with their day to day governance, management and communication tasks. From 1991 to 2007 Ms Golding was the Executive Officer for Autism Victoria, and in 2002 she convened the highly successful World Autism Congress held in Melbourne.
Dr Catherine Marraffa (MBBS FRACP FRCPCH) has worked with children with a wide range of developmental disabilities, both physical and intellectual, over the last 20 years. She is the Deputy Director, Developmental Medicine at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, and Paediatrician to the Autism Assessment Team of the Integrated Mental Health Service. She has been in this position for 14 years. Previously, she was a Consultant Paediatrician at Central Middlesex Hospital, London, for a period of 6 years. Dr Marraffa is currently Chair of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Victorian State Committee (Paediatrics and Child Health Division) and has been in this position since 2004. She has co-authored several recent papers and book chapters on children with Autism and other related topics.
Dr Cliff Picton is currently the Ombudsman at La Trobe University. Prior to taking up this position he was Associate Dean (International) in the Faculty of Health Sciences, and prior to that, Head of the School of Social Work and Social Policy at La Trobe University. As an academic in the School of Social Work, Dr. Picton has taught and researched in a number of areas including grief and loss, ageing, disability and adoption. He is a member of the Victorian Government's Ministerial Advisory Council of Senior Victorians. He has published a number of articles and books and has been a regular broadcaster on social issues over the past 35 years in Australia and Britain.
View Dr Picton's profile.
Dr Christine Bigby is a Reader and Associate Professor in the School of Social Work and Social Policy at La Trobe University. Her research interests are in intellectual disability policy and practice and in particular issues associated with aging. She is the author of three books, the latest of which is "Planning and Support for People with Intellectual Disability: Issues for Case Managers and other Professionals" published by Jessica Kingsley and University of New South Wales Press in mid 2007. She is also editor of the journal "Australian Social Work". She has taken an active role in debate and analysis of disability policy, and for the last 2 years has convened the annual Roundtable of Intellectual Disability Policy.
View Dr Bigby's profile.
Ms Liza Bolton (Corporate Nominee) is a young and vibrant entrepreneur with a wealth of global experience, diverse industry knowledge and a natural flair for life. After spending 10 years working for blue chip organisations in senior marketing and strategy roles in Australia, USA, UK and Europe, she founded in 2006 her own creative organisation, Cracked Pepper Communications, which is located in Melbourne. Liza Boston is a social entrepreneur who believes a curious 'new economy' is emerging, in a world of climate change, ubiquitous broadband and a well networked, socially aware audience base whose hearts and minds are difficult to capture. Her creative ability and her understanding of industry allow her to expertly navigate diverse audiences. She is also on the Board/Advisory Committee of the Menzies School of Health Research-Ochre Arts Event and the Melbourne Storeroom Theatre Workshop.
Dr Amanda Richdale is Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology at RMIT University. Her research interests include children's sleep development, the behavioural management of children's sleep disorders, and issues related to the development and management of children with developmental disabilities, particularly autism spectrum disorders. She has published widely concerning sleep problems and their management in children with autism and other developmental disorders and maintains a strong connection with the autism research community. She is on the editorial board of Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
View Dr Richdale's profile.
Ms Lisbeth Wilks is the Administrative Officer of OTARC. She has an adult son with Autism Spectrum Disorder and an adult step-son with Down syndrome. She was one of the original members of the Autism Family Support Association and is a Past President of that organisation. She has also been involved with Autism Victoria and has served on its committee. She is a member of a number of disability-oriented organisations. In 2006 Lisbeth published a novel for junior teens about a sibling growing up in a family with two siblings with intellectual disabilities. Lisbeth has a wide network of contacts in the field of intellectual disability.
OTARC research staff
- Ms Irene Giaprakis, Research Assistant
- Ms Carmella Germano, Research Assistant
- Ms Melinda Goodyear, Research Assistant
Student members and their research areas
- Ms Josephine Barbaro, PhD candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
Prospective identification of autism in infancy. - Ms Sarah Chan, PhD candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
Study of memory in children with high-functioning autism. - Ms Cherie Green, PhD candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
A mixed longitudinal study of growth in boys with autistic disorder. - Ms Rucha Joshi, PhD candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
Autism in females, an area which to date has had relatively little attention given the small proportion of females (to males) affected with an ASD (1:4). - Ms Amanda Newbign, DPsych candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
Social understanding and social responsiveness in school-aged children with high-functioning autism from the self and other's perspective. - Ms Felicity Chandler, DPsych candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
The development of caregiver attachment and self understanding in school-aged children with high-functioning autism. - Ms Jessica Mifsud, DPsych candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
Further explorations of pretence abilities and deficits in young children with high-functioning autism.