Help your child thrive

Catina Adams is a Midwife and Nurse academic. She coordinates the Child, Family, and Community Nursing course at La Trobe University. She submitted her Ph.D. in May 2022, which asks how the Enhanced Maternal and Child Health program supports women who are experiencing family violence. Her research interests include family violence; perinatal anxiety; Child, Family, and Community nursing practice; father-inclusive practice; Scholarship of Teaching and Learning; online learning; telehealth; and Clinical Governance.

Domenica works on various projects across APAC that are dismantling access and inclusion barriers that marginalise disabled people, their families, and community and service support systems. Domenica is the National Project Director for Reimagine Australia overseeing the strategic vision of THRIVARY, along with the design, build and launch of the THRIVARY App. Domenica is also the co-founder of an accessibility tech start-up in Asia working in collaboration with community to close the digital and telecommunication access gap for over 170 million Deaf and Hard of Hearing people across the region.

As an early childhood teacher, Jane centred her practices on the rights of all children and families. She became more passionate about the role of the first five years in developing positive attitudes toward diversity within all children; authentic inclusion of children with disabilities; and the importance of partnerships in meeting the needs of all children. Her research interests centre on supporting educators to include children with disabilities in ECEC services. Jane works with children and families in a supported playgroup environment as a stepping stone to further inclusion, and enjoys inspiring students to be passionate, inclusive educators at University of Wollongong.

Trish has worked in the field of early childhood for 40 years across many parts of the sector including preschool, long day care, family day care, child protection, disability services and adult education at TAFE and university. Trish is a strong advocate for the participation and inclusion of children with disability in their community – in particular inclusion in child care settings. In her advocacy work, she is the Chair of the national entity, Reimagine Australia – formerly Early Childhood Intervention Australia.

Genevieve is a psychologist with 15 years of experience working and consulting in the disability sector. She is an honorary senior research fellow with the Centre for Disability Research and Policy at the University of Sydney. Genevieve is passionate about community-based participatory research, and developing programs and services that improve access for children with a disability and their families. She completed her PhD in 2019 on technology-based training and support for rural and remote practitioners working with autistic children, and continues researching and consulting across these areas. Genevieve is Chair of the Content Council and has led the development of THRIVARY content and resource verification.

Ariane is a Lecturer- Teaching Specialist (Clinical Practitioner) with expertise as an Endorsed Nurse Practitioner and Child and Family Health Nurse. Ariane has 15 years experience working with Children and Families in the community and in residential services supporting families with sleep and feeding difficulties, minor childhood illnesses and also completing health and developmental assessments. Ariane has worked for Flinders University since 2014, after completing her Masters Degree. She is interested in supporting graduate students to enhance their skills in supporting families and children in a child focused, relationship-based way. As a Nurse Practitioner Ariane enjoys the opportunity to provide care in her clinic for families and children with common issues associated with early childhood and parenting young children. Her work is underpinned by Attachment Theory and Understanding Normal Brain Development in early childhood and how this is best supported in parenting practices. She is also interested in Maternal and Infant Mental Health and supporting women who are parenting with mental health struggles.

Stacey is the CEO of Kindred, a not-for-profit that build the capacity and confidence of families with young children with disability or developmental delays. She is passionate about creating contemporary programs and supports that empower caregivers to navigate the systems and evidence-based information, connect with other families, and feel hopeful and positive about their and their child’s future. Stacey is a Social Impact Fellow and is an advocate for inclusion in education and community for people with disability and their families.

Leah is a speech language pathologist, clinical researcher, lecturer and management consultant (health, disability and education). She provides independent expertise and advice to projects and organisations in research, policy and programme design, development and evaluation, clinical governance, and project management. She is a clinical researcher (motor speech, cleft palate and mHealth) and a lecturer in the Masters of Speech Pathology program where she helps prepare the next generation of speech pathologists for professional and clinical practice. In her PhD, Leah is researching speech interventions and service delivery options for children with cleft palate.