About the Team
This program brings together a strong team of experts from across Australia—people who work in diverse areas of children’s health (paediatrics, psychiatry, psychology, child and family health services, allied health), family mental health, Indigenous health, social policy, knowledge translation, strategic partnerships, epidemiology, statistics and simulation modelling, and more.
Valsamma Eapen
Scientia Professor and Chair of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychiatry, UNSW
Sue Woolfenden
Professor of Community Paediatrics, University of Sydney
Aunty Kerrie Doyle
Professor and Associate Dean, Indigenous Health, WSU
Desiree Silva
Professor of Paediatrics, University of Western Australia
Jenny Anne Downs
Professor, The Kids Research Institute Australia
Jane Kohlhoff
Associate Professor, UNSW and Director of Research, Karitane
Ann Dadich
Professor of Human Resources and Management, WSU
Andrew Page
Professor and Chair of Epidemiology, Translational Health Research Institute, WSU
Lynn Kemp
Distinguished Professor in Nursing, Western Sydney University
Katherine Boydell
Professor and Head of the Knowledge Translation Lab , UNSW
Ilan Barry Katz
Professor, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW
Virginia Anne Schmied
Professor of Midwifery, WSU
Raghu Lingam
Professor of Paediatrics, Population Child Health, UNSW
Kenny Lawson
Associate Professor, UNSW
Shanti Raman
Director of the Department of Community Paediatrics, SWSLHD
Ping-I Lin
Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University
Adam Walker
Senior Lecturer, UNSW
Nicole Deen
Lead of Capacity Building, Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY)
Rebekah Grace
Professor and Centre Director of Transforming early Education And Child Health Research Centre, WSU
James Rufus John
Senior Scientific Officer, SWSLHD
Sara Cibralic
Research Associate, UNSW
Katarina Ostojic
Research Fellow, The University of Sydney
Maite Diez
Research Assistant, University of Sydney
Feroza Khan
Research Assistant, UNSW
Hayley Robinson
Programme Manager, UNSW
Karlen Barr
Research Officer, SWSLHD
Michael Hodgins
Senior Research Associate, UNSW
Paul Sanders
Research Fellow, Western Sydney University
Rob Doyle
Associate Lecturer, Western Sydney University
Anna-Marie Kanaan
Statewide Integrated Care Manager, Karitane
Erin Brandtman
Program Lead System Navigator, Fairfield Integrated Child and Family Hub
Lee Bratel
Community Programs Manager, Karitane
Kate Short
Clinical Specialist Speech Pathologist, SWSLHD and Senior Lecturer, University of Sydney
Tom McClean
Head of Research and Social Policy, Uniting
Kate Finch
Deputy CEO
Suzie Forell
Research Fellow, Health Justice Australia
Cathy Bucolo
Manager, Capability, Health Justice Australia
Joseph Descallar
Biostatistician, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research
Christa Lam-Cassettari
Senior Research Associate, UNSW
Fatme Hassoun
Service Navigator and Research Officer, UNSW
Chris Phillis
Clinical Service Navigator and Child and Family Health Nurse, Karitane
Linda Pao
Developmental Paediatrician, Karitane
Alicia Montgomery
Developmental Paediatrician, SLHD
Clare Brennan
Director, First Steps Count
Sophie Nicholls
Research Officer, University of Sydney
Amy Wallace
Aboriginal Research Assistant, University of Sydney
Toni Carson
Centre Leader at First Steps Count
Lauren Vaughan
Manager, Children, Young People and Families, HNELHD
Amy Finlay-Jones
Head of the Early Neurodevelopment & Mental Health team, The Kids Research Institute Australia
Sini Borgen
Research Assistant, The Kids Research Institute Australia
Bec Young
Research Assistant, The Kids Research Institute Australia
Jackie Davis
Co-Director of ORIGINS, The Kids Research Institute Australia
Nina D'Vaz
ORIGINS Biobank Manager, The Kids Research Institute Australia
Jo Cole
Research Assistant, The Kids Research Institute Australia
Grainne O’Loughlin
CEO, Karitane
Bree Katsamangos
Program Manager, Mission Australia
Sharon Goldfeld
Professor, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Suzy Honisett
Manager, National Child and Family Hubs Network
Susan Prescott
Professor of Paediatrics, University of Western Australia
Catherine Wade
Principal Research Specialist in the role of Portfolio Lead, Discovery, Parenting Research Centre
Louise Baldwin
Research Officer, Queensland University of Technology
Ngarra Wakulda Aboriginal Consultation Group supports First Steps Count by providing culturally informed guidance for the STARS for Kids Research, FSC and other stakeholders. It aims to strengthen engagement with the Biripi community. Their work ensures research projects and FSC programs are respectful, community-led, and effective in improving outcomes for children and families.
