Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
The Team 2011
Assoc Prof & Reader Cheryl Dissanayake is the Director of OTARC. She is also an Associate Professor 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 Advisory Committee, and the Patron of Autism Victoria. She is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Psychological Science at La Trobe University and a Honorary Professorial Fellow 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 or view Professor Prior's list of publications
Dr Josephine Barbaro, is a Post Doctoral Research Fellow at La Trobe University. She completed her PhD with a study in Prospective identification of autism in infancy at OTARC 2010. Josie was a recipient of a Sir Robert Menzies Scholarship in the Allied Health Sciences in 2007. She has three papers published on the early detection on ASDs in infants and toddlers, with two more to follow this year. She is currently a post-doctoral research fellow at OTARC, with a focus on the education of the early signs of autism to primary health care professionals and the detection of ASDs in very young children.
Dr Kristelle Hudry is a Lecturer in Developmental Psychology in the School of Psychological Science at La Trobe University. She has recently returned to Australia following five years abroad in London. During this time she held research posts at Goldsmith’s, University of London, the Institute of Child Health, University College London, and at the Institute of Education, London, as a member of the newly-formed Centre for Research in Autism and Education. Kristelle maintains active collaboration within the Preschool Autism Communication Trial (PACT) and British Autism Study of Infant Siblings (BASIS) networks. Her main interests fall broadly within the early development of infants and toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorders or those assessed as at high risk of an ASD diagnosis. This includes investigations into language and communicative development, and patterns of interaction between parents and these young children. She also provides training in behavioural observation and diagnostic assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorders (e.g., ADOS) to professionals and researchers. To view Dr Hudry's profile.
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. View Dr Ihsen's profile (PDF 115 KB)
Dr Amanda Richdale was formerly an Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology at RMIT University. She is now a Research Fellow at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe 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.
Dr David Trembath, Post Doctoral Fellow, comes to our centre from the University of Sydney where he lectured in Communication and Lifelong Disability; Augmentative and Alternative Communication; and Professional Development. He has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology, 2001), a Master of Applied Science by Research (High Distinction, 2005), and recently completed his PhD (USYD, 2010). His interests include Autism Spectrum Disorders; cross-cultural and interdisciplinary practice in speech pathology; assistive technology; inclusive education; and participation across the lifespan. His current areas of research are Communication Interventions for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders; Peer Mediated Interventions for children with disabilities, and the experiences of volunteers who use augmentative communication. View Dr Trembath's profile.
Dr Giacomo Vivanti is a Research Fellow at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre. His previous work experience includes a clinical internship at the University Hospital of Siena, Italy, a research fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the MIND Institute, University of California at Davis, under the mentorship of Prof. Sally Rogers. In 2009, he was the recipient of the INSAR (International Society for Autism Research) award for best behavioural dissertation on Autism. He is the author of two books and numerous articles on clinical practice with children with autism in Italian, as well as empirical research papers published internationally in peer-reviewed journals. His current research is focused on (1) investigating the cognitive processes underlying action understanding, imitation, and learning in autism and (2) developing and implementing treatment strategies for young children in the autism spectrum. Dr. Vivanti is a member of the Italian Ministry of Health committee on Autism treatment and a scientific consultant for numerous research institutes, treatment programs serving people with autism and non-profit associations for the rights of children with disability in several different Countries. View Dr Vivanti'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. View Ms Wilks' profile.
OTARC research staff
- Ms Carmela Germano, Lab Manager
- Ms Emma Baker, Research Assistant
- Ms Ru Cai, Research Assistant
- Ms Lindsay Pamment, Research Assistant
Student members and their research areas
- Ms Sarah Chan, PhD candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
Study of memory in children with high-functioning autism. - Ms Katherine (Kat) Crea, DPsych candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
The development of mental health and wellbeing in toddlers at high-risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders. - Zena Elhassan, DPsych candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
A study to determine if the simplified elimination diet (a diet that excludes foods that contain additives, salicylates and amines) can improve sleep and daytime behaviours in children who have autism. - Ms Parise Nichole Gentikoglou, Honours candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
Examining how sleep problems in children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affect mother’s sleep and well-being. - 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 Claire Forsythe, MPsych candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
Investigating Social Attention in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- Ms Germaine Gerkis –DPsych candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
Language processing in children with high-functioning autism using eye-tracking.
- Mr Kavi Jayasinghe, DPsych candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
Sensory Symptoms and Repetitive Behaviours in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
- Ms Clare James, MPsych candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
Targeting sleep problems in children with autism with behavioural interventions.
- Ms Rebecca McStay, DPsych candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
A study investigating caregiver wellbeing across the lifespan. - Ms Heather Nuske, PhD candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
Cognition of the Social World in Autism: Insights through Eye-Tracking.
- Ms Nicole Porter, Clinical Masters candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
The association between language skills and executive function in young children with ASD - Ms Lisa Rumney Clinical Masters candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
Interaction styles and language scaffolding of parents and young children with ASD
- Ms Michelle Smith is a fourth year under graduate student, studying a Bachelor of Speech Pathology with honours, School of Speech Pathology, La Trobe University.
Music and movement based treatment for children with ASD
- Ms Xeut Ying Tan is a fourth year under graduate student, studying a Bachelor of Speech Pathology with honours, School of Speech Pathology, La Trobe University.
Key word signing for children with ASD
- Mr Alex Zammit, DPsych candidate, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University.
The effect of attention on the production of spontaneous facial mimicry in adults with a high-functioning autism.
Honorary Members of the OTARC team
Ms Amanda Golding BA Dip Ed (Monash, 1975) has worked as a teacher, in the family business and as Executive Officer for Autism Victoria (1991 – 2007). During her time with Autism Victoria, Amanda developed a detailed knowledge of autism and the many issues faced by parents and professionals affected by this complex and demanding disorder. Amanda convened the highly successful Inaugural World Autism Congress held in Melbourne in 2002 as well as numerous seminars, forums and presentations focussing on Autism Spectrum Disorders. Since leaving Autism Victoria, Amanda has worked as a consultant and in a number of voluntary roles. She is currently the senior autism consultant to the Parenting Research Centre, a committee member of the Autistic Family Support Association, a life member of Alpha Autism Inc and director of the recently established Autism Noticeboard. Amanda’s involvement with autism emanated from her eldest son’s diagnosis in the mid 1980s and their involvement in one of Dr Dissanayake’s earliest research projects examining emotional attachment in young children with autism. Amanda is an Honorary Member of OTARC.
Wojciech Nadachowski BA hons (La Trobe 2001) is an honorary member of OTARC, supporting the development and implementation of a Communications and Fundraising strategy. During his time at Alpha Autism, Wojciech was co-creator of Drawtism: Play Pictionary for Autism, Australia’s first national awareness and fundraising campaign for Autism. Wojciech also has a keen interest in the niche application of mobile devices for those experiencing communication challenges, and is part of OTARC’s Mobiles for Autism project.
