Melanie is a Scientist-Practitioner with a Masters and a PhD in Clinical Neuropsychology. She has over 20 years of clinical experience assessing and treating children, adults and families using evidence-based practice and has worked in government and private sectors.

Melanie is an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at Macquarie University, Sydney and publishes and lectures on a range of topics including: typical and atypical child development; cognitive, behavioural and mental health disorders across the lifespan; neuropsychological assessment and intervention; parent/child interaction, attachment and the effects of stress, trauma, maltreatment, and drug and alcohol on the developing brain and mind. 

Melanie has national and international research collaborators for her work investigating the links between genetic, cognitive and brain abnormalities in Williams syndrome and other neurodevelopmental conditions. She also heads a number of projects in the areas of child disability and neuropsychological rehabilitation and intervention.  She is on the editorial board for a number of scientific journals and has published over 85 peer-review journal articles in her field.

In addition, Melanie provides clinical and research supervision to psychologists in training. She has supervised over 80 postgraduate research students to completion. She assists with the co-ordination of the neuropsychology programs at Macquarie University. She has also been invited speaker and invited keynote speaker at a number of professional events.

At the interface of neuropsychology and the law, Melanie has extensive medico-legal expertise and experience in family law and guardianship/capacity assessments, having written single expert and narrow issue reports for family, civil and criminal law proceedings. She specialises in children and families with complex issues. Her particular areas of expertise include: child development; developmental disability (e.g., autism, ADHD, intellectual disability); behavioural disorders; mental health; abuse and neglect; stress and trauma; parenting and special education. Other areas of interest include substance abuse, parent-child attachment and personality disorders.

Recent External Appointments

• Director, ADHD Australia (2023 - present)
• SIRA authorised health practitioner
• Australian Paediatric Neuropsychology Research Network
• Special Issue Editor, Heterogeneity in Developmental Disorders. Research in Developmental Disability. (2019)
• Scientific Advisor and Board Member of Williams Syndrome Australia Limited (2016 continuing)
• Special Issue Editor, Williams Syndrome, Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. (2015)
• Editorial Board Member, Journal of Childhood and Developmental Disorders. (2015 continuing)
• Editorial Board Member, Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. (2014 continuing)

Professional Memberships

• Registered Psychologist, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
• Endorsed Clinical Neuropsychologist, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
• Endorsed Clinical Supervisor, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
• Member, Australian Psychological Society
• Member, College of Clinical Neuropsychologists
• Affiliate Member, College of Forensic Psychology
• Authorised Health Practitioner for the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA)
• Member, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts

Melanie currently convenes and teaches on the following units:

• PSYN8808 Developmental Neuropsychology
• PSYN8847 Neuropsychological Rehabilitation and Intervention

Melanie teaches on the following units:

• PSYN8853 Advanced Evidence Based Psychological Assessment
• PSYN8896 Advanced Evidence Based Neuropsychological Assessment
• PSYN8840 Neuropsychological Disorders
• PSYU3344 Neuropsychology in Clinical Practice