Our People

Robyn Elliott

Robyn Elliott, B.A.Hons, G.D.Org Ch & Dev, M.Fam.Ther, M.S.W.  is a Mental Health Social Worker and Family Therapist with over 30 years' experience in the health and welfare, and tertiary education fields. An employee of La Trobe University since 1998, she is the Course Lead for Family Therapy in the Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy. Courses in family therapy are delivered in conjunction with The Bouverie Centre. While her clinical practice is with individuals, couples and families, and individual and group supervision across a range of presentations, her area of special interest is trauma and other mental health challenges that might benefit from the systemic integration of more individual approaches such as EMDR, havening, DBR and IFS. This interest crosses over into her work in the education of family therapists, and particularly how to resource students to manage performance anxiety in both clinical and supervision contexts. Robyn has provided consultation and training nationally and internationally to health and welfare professionals in family therapy, trauma, and in the supervision of family therapists.

Elizabeth George

Elizabeth George is an occupational therapist and family therapist at The Bouverie Centre. She enjoys working collaboratively with families across all life stages. Her work with families is informed by her extensive clinical experience in the public mental health sector in a range of acute and community settings, with older persons, adults, and youth. Her main interests include exploring different approaches of supporting families who have experienced trauma, as well as working with families where a member has mental illness, group work, and professional supervision.

In her current role she works with families at Bouverie and provides training, consultation and support to clinicians and organisations.

Sandy Jackson

Sandy Jackson is a family therapist and occupational therapist at The Bouverie Centre. She is a member of the Academic Team and Strengthening Connections Program. Sandy has considerable clinical experience in the areas of public mental health, community health, and child, couple and family therapy and is experienced in leading teams. She is passionate about integrating couple and trauma work with systemic family therapy, professional supervision, family inclusive practice and healthy teams.

Fiona Young

Fiona is a Social Worker and Clinical Family Therapist. Fiona teaches family therapy as part of our postgraduate programs as well as training and supervision. Fiona has worked in community-based agencies for 20+ years with experience including community development and advocacy, and since 2014, community-based counselling for individuals, groups and families around issues such as mental health, trauma, family violence, parenting and separation. Fiona has an interest both individual and systemic approaches to the treatment of trauma.

Jacqueline Cleary

Jacqueline leads our Family Care Coordination Team and is the first clinical point of contact for families who are interested in accessing our Family Therapy Clinic.

Holding postgraduate qualifications in Psychology, Social Work, Play Therapy, Psychotherapy and Family Therapy, she brings nearly 20 years of clinical experience. Her roles have spanned a diverse range of settings, including forensic facilities, government and welfare organisations, public hospitals, mental health as well as in private practice. Her clinical focus has been on infant, child, and adolescent mental health, with specific interest in working with child and adolescent survivors of sexual assault.

Jacqueline is dedicated to supporting children and their families in recovery from trauma and abuse. She is committed to improving attachment relationships using the power of therapeutic play interventions. She has a keen interest in utilising relational neuroscience and interpersonal neurobiology to help both children and families gain a clear, practical understanding of challenging behaviours and improving relational patterns.

Kate Cordukes

Kate Cordukes is a family and arts therapist with 25 years' experience across settings, including juvenile justice, substance use, and mental health.

She is currently the Manager of Clinical Services at Bouverie, where she facilitates learning and development workshops focused on developing clinical skills.

Bringing creativity to her clinical practice, Kate has a particular interest in brain development, emotional regulation, and systemic approaches that foster more responsive family communication.

To contact, please email Kate Cordukes.

Jess Krummel

Jess Krummel, Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications), Masters Social Work (2009) and Masters Clinical Family Therapy (2021). Jess is a qualified Social Worker and Clinical Family Therapist.

Jess has worked long-term in the field of mental health and trauma. She has extensive experience working with refugees and asylum seekers; sexual assault support services; and therapeutic out of home care.

Jess joined the Bouverie Centre since the beginning of 2023, since then she has worked as a Family Therapist in the Strengthening Connections program for Women in Prison and in her current role as Family Care Coordinator for families seeking Family Therapy with the Bouverie Centre.

Jess holds a particular interest in the intersection between systemic family therapy and trauma frameworks.

To contact, please email Jess Krummel

Kimberlee Holley

Kimberlee Holley (She/Her) BHumServ (LTU), MSW (LTU), MCFT (LTU) is a social worker and clinical family therapist with a strong history of working relationally in the areas of trauma and mental health.

Since joining the Bouverie Centre in 2023, Kimberlee has worked as a Clinical Family Therapist, providing family therapy to families and supporting systemic change within the Centre’s services. Her work is grounded in attachment and trauma-focused models, with a particular interest in fostering relational growth and resilience in families.

Kimberlee’s professional experience spans clinical practice, service development, and leadership roles across diverse settings, including child and adolescent mental health, perinatal mental health, and Aboriginal Controlled Community-based services. She is committed to culturally responsive and trauma-integrated approaches that strengthen family systems and promote connectedness.

Kelly Tsorlinis

Kelly Tsorlinis is a trained Social Worker and Clinical Family Therapist and in 2006 completed the Master of Clinical Family Therapy at The Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University. She has worked in the community sector in the areas of community health, family-based services, sexual assault, child protection and child and adolescent psychiatry.

She currently works at The Bouverie Centre as a Clinical Family Therapist. Kelly has a clinical interest in mental health and working with children/adolescents and their families, Single Session Work, First Nations families and working with family members with ASD within a systemic framework, trauma - EMDR and Havening Techniques and how these can be integrated within systemic approaches.

To contact, please email Kelly Tsorlinis.

Tara Schintler

Tara Schintler is a Clinical Family Therapist and Mental Health Social Worker. She works in the Clinical and Academic Programs at the Bouverie Centre. She has worked in the areas of family violence, sexual assault and private practice where she has worked with individuals, couples and families as well as providing supervision to clinicians working in the area of trauma. Tara has a specific interest in the area of complex trauma and has extensive experience in EMDR and Havening techniques.

Allie Bailey

Allie Bailey is a family therapist, trainer and clinical supervisor with The Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University. She has provided family violence consultation, training and research to the community, academic and government sectors for over twenty years, particularly in the area of screening and risk assessment. Allie is also a family dispute resolution practitioner and child consultant, has worked as a Practice Specialist in Family Law, Child and Family Services, and youth mental health to augment family sensitive and family inclusive practice in these areas.

Nicholas Barrington

Nicholas Barrington is a psychiatric nurse and family therapist. Nick has been employed within the Mental Health Program at The Bouverie Centre since 2019, prior to which he worked for 15 years in the mental health sector across a range of settings.

In his current role, Nick provides training to mental health and community services, as well as supporting implementation and practice change activities.

Having worked in public mental health services in a wide variety of roles, Nick has come to appreciate the complex and interconnected nature of human experience. This has driven his passion for family therapy and systemic practice. Combining this with his experience in child and adolescent wellbeing, Nick is particularly interested in how these ideas can improve the lives of young people and their families.

Nick completed his Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing at The University of Sydney in 2008, and his Master of Family Therapy at La Trobe University in 2016.

To contact, please email Nicholas Barrington.

Kristie Bishop

Kristie creates engaging, accessible digital learning experiences that make complex ideas simple and fun. Skilled in instructional design and eLearning tools, she collaborates with experts to craft interactive, learner-focused content. Passionate about using tech and creativity to boost learning outcomes, Kristie brings fresh ideas, detail, and energy to every project.

To contact, email Kristie Bishop.

Franca Butera

Franca Butera, Senior Family Practice Consultant and Systemic Clinical Family Therapist, is a social worker and family therapist at The Bouverie Centre. She has 25 years’ experience as a clinician, trainer and consultant in a variety of settings including acute, rehabilitation and community health. She has extensive experience working with individuals, couples and families who have been impacted by trauma, mental health and disability including acquired brain injury.

Franca received the Anita Morawetz Scholarship, University of Melbourne in 1998 and the Anita Morawetz Research Prize, Victorian Association of Family Therapists for a Masters Thesis – substantial and scholarly contribution to the field of Family Therapy in 2000.

View Franca's research profile.

Patrick Carroll

Patrick Carroll is a social worker and family therapist with over 20 years’ experience in mental health, homelessness, and child protection related services. He has led multidisciplinary teams and provided clinical supervision and professional development across diverse settings.

In his current role, Patrick coordinates and delivers training to mental health and community service professionals, while also supporting service innovation and practice change.

Patrick is committed to inclusive and anti-oppressive practice. He has a particular interest in working with individuals and programs that support LGBTQI+ clients, children, and adolescents. He is a strong advocate for brief intervention models such as single session thinking, which aim to create meaningful impact in every client interaction.

To contact, please email Patrick Carroll.

Nella Charles

Nella Charles is a family therapist and clinical psychologist at The Bouverie Centre where she has worked as a clinician, teacher and clinical supervisor of family therapy for over 25 years. She has particular experience working in the areas of disability, acquired brain injury and mental health across the lifespan. Areas of interest include integration of trauma treatment into systemic therapies, use of creative methods in family, group work and supervision and systemic views of resilience that highlight the critical role systems play in supporting family strengths.  In addition to her work as a clinician and systemic practice consultant, Nella coordinates Bouverie’s Postgraduate Enrichment Program and Family Therapy Community of Practice.

Qualifications: B.B.Sc (Psych), Grad.Dip Fam. Ther, MClinPsych, AAFT, MAPS, EMDRAA.

View Nella's research profile.

To contact, email Nella Charles.

Olivia Dwyer

Olivia Dwyer is a Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist and Art Therapist. She currently works as a Clinical Supervisor and Trainer in the Practice and Service Development team at the Bouverie Centre.

Olivia has previously worked in private practice and across a range of public settings as a child psychotherapist, supervisor, and practice lead. She has supported infants, children, young people, their families, and communities through roles in sexual assault counselling, family violence and infant parent psychotherapy, out-of-home care service development, and in providing leadership and supervision for practitioners working with people from asylum seeker and refugee backgrounds.

To contact, please email Olivia Dwyer.

Alison Elliott

Alison Elliott is a First Nations Cultural Consultant to the Bouverie Centre. Alison has proud family connections to Wiradjuri country (Dubbo NSW) but grew up on Dharug country ( Sydney NSW) She also has strong connections to her Irish lineage.

The Focus of her consultation role spans across many of the pillars at Bouverie :
The Clinical, Academic, Research and Training Teams
Within the Academic space, Alison provides cultural supervision for the Academic Teaching staff, she also provides guest leures within the 3 years Masters of Family Therapy course and provides continued consultation involvement within the First Nations Graduate Certificate in Family Therapy course.

Within the Clinical work, Alison is a qualified family therapist within the Working the Mob team and sees families within our Wednesday Walk in Telehealth clinic.

Within the Training space, Alison delivers training within many of Bouverie PD suite of courses and also provides cultural consultancy on adapting existing training into more culturally safe content and the way it is delivered.
Within the Research areas, Alison has been involved in projects relating to the First Nations staff and students and families attending the Bouverie Centre.

To contact, email Alison Elliott.

Tanudja Gibson

Tanudja Gibson BSc (Hons) (She/Her) is Team Leader of Digital Communications and Learning Design and MERTIL Project Manager at The Bouverie Centre. She focuses on creating online courses that are engaging and effective, drawing on adult learning principles to make professional development practical, interactive and relevant. Since joining Bouverie in 2020, Tanudja has managed the Centre’s short course and MERTIL (My Early Relational Trauma Informed Learning) training portfolios, taking responsibility for course production, resources, participant engagement, licensing and course refreshes, while keeping a close eye on quality and brand.

She holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Microbiology from the University of Western Australia and micro-credentials in learning design (UTS Open). Her expertise includes instructional design, adult learning and editing, with a growing focus on the thoughtful use of AI in course design, delivery and reach. She is also developing parent and practitioner resources, including short-form modules to support families and professionals.

To contact, please email Tanudja Gibson.

Jo Howard

Jo Howard is a social worker and family therapist. She has worked with family violence and families for over 30 years in service delivery, clinical supervision, training and research and policy. She first published on the emerging issue of adolescent family violence in 1994. In 2009 she gained a Winston Churchill Fellowship to research best practice responses to adolescent family violence across the United States and Canada.

Her contribution to adolescent and adult family violence includes developing and leading research projects, practice and practice development and guidance, contributing to several books and key journals, working to build cross agency partnerships and training practitioners.

Hanna Jewell

Hanna Jewell (She/Her) is a social worker and family therapist. She is currently the Statewide Coordinator of the Families where a Parent Experiences Mental illness (FaPMI) Program. The program operates local FaPMI teams in Area Mental health and Wellbeing Services across Victoria supporting the mental health workforce to address the needs and health outcomes of families where a parent experiences mental illness. She also manages the Clinical Supervision training component of the Practice and Service Development Team.  As a family practice consultant working at The Bouverie Centre for over 15 years she has interests and a focus on providing workforce training, practice support, clinical supervision and implementation both small and large scale to improve the way mental health services respond to families affected by mental illness.

View Hanna's research profile.

Liz Malone

Liz Malone BSW, MCFT is a qualified social worker and family therapist. Liz has worked in a range of community settings in parenting support and with children, adolescents and their families, particularly in the context of homelessness and trauma. Liz joined Bouverie in 2023 and continues her clinical work as a family therapist in Bouverie's Rapid Access Family Therapy Service.

At Bouverie, Liz is primarily engaged in workforce and service development, both locally and nationally, via training, supervision and project work. It is a source of great joy to Liz to be able to support workers and services to strengthen their family inclusive practice.

To contact, please email Liz Malone.

Deb Mountjoy

Deb Mountjoy is a Systemic Practice Consultant in the Practice and Service Development program.  She is a Family Therapist and has extensive experience primarily in the trauma and youth mental health sectors. Deb provides, supervision, reflective  practice and training to leaders and practitioners.

Angie Nyland

Angie Nyland (she/her) is a social worker, trainer, and project worker on the Practice and Service Development Team at the Bouverie Centre. She has a key role in the coordination and delivery of supervision related activities including clinical supervision training, group reflective practice training, and implementation support. Angie has extensive experience in individual and group supervision, and reflective practice in a range of contexts with over 20 years’ experience leading teams and delivering outreach and centre-based counselling, casework and case management in the alcohol and drug, mental health, community health, Aboriginal health, youth, and justice sectors. She enjoys working with individuals and organisations to strengthen and sustain strong supervision and support practices and is committed to enabling accessible and collaborative services that can improve the wellbeing of communities.

To contact, please email Angie Nyland.

Jane Schinas

Jane Schinas is the Senior FaPMI Project and Data Officer and is responsible for contributing to and supporting the co-ordination of the Families where a Parent has a Mental Illness (FaPMI) program at a state level and for supporting FaPMI Co-ordinators located in the Area Mental Health Services across Victoria. Jane has extensive experience working on system and program developments in the tertiary education sector and in primary mental health, and has a particular interest in health consumer and carer advocacy.

Karen Story

Karen Story B.A., Dip. Soc. Stud.(Social Work), MCPP, MCFT is qualified social worker, teacher, child and adolescent psychotherapist and family therapist. Karen joined Bouverie staff (ABI team) in 2011 after extensive clinical, group therapy and consulting experience in child and adolescent mental health, foster care, teaching and community and public welfare. She has extensive experience in training, consultation and service development both locally and interstate.

In her current role at The Bouverie Centre, as a member of the Community Services team, she is involved with teaching and facilitating training and workforce development in the areas of family inclusive practice and single session work, among others. She sees families in the clinical family therapy program. Areas of particular interest include Single Session philosophy and practice in short and long term work, working with children and adolescents in the context of their families, use of narrative tools such as the Tree of Life, emotion coaching and emotion intelligence, group work and research.

To contact, please email Karen Story.

Dalitso Mbewe

Dalitso Mbewe is a project support officer with experience across a range of sectors including policy, community development, diversity and inclusion strategies and initiatives. Dalitso has a particular interest in systemtic interventions that improve outcomes for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and in particular young people from these communities who are facing disadvantage.

Dalitso brings her experience working in government to support the pathways and partnerships team to establish new relationships across the public and private sector. In addition with strong project, organisational and problem solving skills, Dalitso contributes to the operational management and program governance of projects across Bouverie.

To contact, email Dalitso Mbewe.

Sandra Nolan

Sandra Nolan a Gunditjmara woman who also acknowledges her Welsh heritage, has worked in the Victorian Public service for two decades.

Initially Sandra implemented the Wur-cum barra Employment strategy for Department of Health and Human Services in the Loddon region.

After working as a project worker for Bidja's Place at the Centre Against Sexual Assault in Bendigo, Sandra moved to Melbourne to take up the role as Senior Advisor Aboriginal Engagement once again at DHHS.

During this time while working closely with Youth Justice, Child Protection and Disability within the department, Sandra completed her Graduate Diploma of Family and Child Practice Leadership.

In 2016 Sandra took up the role of Koorie Education Manager for the Department of Education across the Southwest region, maintaining that role until earlier this year before joining the Bouverie Centre.

To contact, email Sandra Nolan.

Naomi Summers

Naomi Summers is a strategic and creative professional with deep experience across information technology, education, telecommunications, and the arts. She brings a unique blend of business insight and digital expertise to every project, delivering solutions that are both innovative and practical. Naomi is known for her ability to translate complex ideas into clear, engaging experiences—whether developing eLearning content, leading cross-functional initiatives, or driving digital transformation. Her collaborative approach and adaptability make her a trusted partner across diverse teams and industries.

To contact, email Naomi Summers.

Ellen Welsh

Ellen Welsh is the Digital Operations Coordinator at Bouverie, supporting digital, clinical, and operational functions that enable the delivery of high‑quality, family‑centred care. She works closely with clinical teams and internal stakeholders to coordinate systems, processes, and day‑to‑day clinical operations that underpin frontline service delivery. Ellen also contributes to project management across the organisation and is leading the development of Bouverie’s new Family e‑Hub, supporting the delivery of accessible digital services for families and communities.

She holds a Master of Engineering and a PhD, bringing strong analytical and project management capabilities to her role. Ellen’s work focuses on improving operational efficiency, supporting clinical services, and delivering digital initiatives that strengthen Bouverie’s service delivery.

View Ellen's research profile

Dr Anna Tudehope Booth

Dr Anna Tudehope Booth (B.A., Grad Dip [Psych], Ph.D. [Psych]) is a Research Fellow with a background in developmental psychology, and a special interest in translational research with vulnerable families and the workforces that support them. Anna’s research has focused on infant mental health, attachment, parenting during adversity, family stress, family violence and maternal and child health. She joined The Bouverie Centre at the beginning of 2020 after working and studying at Deakin University, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and The University of Melbourne.

Anna has worked in population-level cohort engagement and research management; program innovation and evaluation; trauma-informed workforce development; and in education and training. Anna is involved in research partnerships with government and with community service organisations that provide services for families experiencing conflict and violence, trauma and abuse, and social disadvantage. Anna enjoys using qualitative and mixed methods approaches to answer her research questions.

View Anna's research profile.

Dr. Zoe Cloud

Dr Zoe Cloud (she/her) is a Clinical Research Fellow at the Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University. Zoe coordinates the Clinical Research Program at the Bouverie Centre, and her research examines family relationships, women’s relational health, family safety, parent-child relationships, attachment theory and the evaluation of early intervention parenting programs. Zoe is also an AHPRA registered psychologist.

View Zoe's research profile

Kristel Krella

Kristel Krella is a PhD candidate and Research Assistant at the Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University. Kristel’s research focuses on enhancing safety for families affected by domestic and family violence and improving systems through multidisciplinary collaboration and promoting lived experience perspectives. She is interested in using research to initiate and support policy-level change for vulnerable families, and in identifying mechanisms to translate this research into practice. Kristel is also a qualified social worker with experience supporting vulnerable children and families across statutory, healthcare and community service organisations.

View Kristel's research profile

Dr Peter McKenzie

Dr Peter McKenzie (PhD, MA ClinFamTher, BA (Hons) SocSc) is an anthropologist,  clinical family therapist and academic/research fellow. He currently holds the Carer Academic (mental health) position at The Bouverie Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, which focuses on families, caring & the lived experience workforce. He has significant personal caring as well as professional experience as a family practice consultant, supervisor and trainer in the professional development of the clinical and lived experience mental health workforces. He is currently the Chair of TANDEM, a Board member of Mental Health Carers Australia, a former Board Member of the Australian BPD Foundation and a member of the Australian Association of Family Therapy.

View Peter's research profile.

Dr Felicity Painter

Dr Felicity Painter is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University. Felicity holds a PhD in developmental psychology, specialising in research on parenting, child adjustment and family functioning.

Working collaboratively with clinicians, community partners, and government stakeholders, Felicity contributes to the development of evidence-based practice for family therapy and work in family trauma contexts. Through integrated, mixed methods research this work generates new knowledge about the early identification of relational and developmental risk within families, informing clinical practice and early intervention efforts.

Nicole Paterson

Nicky Paterson (she/her) is a qualified social worker with a Master of Social Work from the University of Melbourne. She has experience in direct practice and research, as well as project design, implementation and management, spanning not-for-profit, government and university sectors. Nicky has a passion for supporting communities to engage stakeholders, integrating the perspectives of those with lived experience, and applying evidence-based strategies to enhance outcomes for children and families. Nicky is currently using her skills to contribute to research and knowledge dissemination at the Bouverie Centre.

To contact, email Nicole Paterson.