Meet Our Team

The Northern Centre for Child Development is a multidisciplinary paediatric practice in Melbourne and North Eastern Victoria.
We work with families, children and schools.

OUR CLINICAL TEAM

AMANDA ABEL

PAEDIATRIC PSYCHOLOGIST, FOUNDER

 Amanda Abel is a paediatric psychologist, mum, and founder of Northern Centre for Child Development (NCCD). While she is not currently taking new clients in Melbourne, Amanda is part of the NCCD team which consults regularly in Beechworth in North-East Victoria.

Working directly and indirectly with hundreds of clients each year, Amanda’s mission is for every child to achieve their best outcomes by equipping families and educators with the tools they need to help kids thrive - and that’s house NCCD was born.

Amanda draws on her own experiences of being a parent along with her extensive training and well-honed skill set to get families thriving. She is Circle of Security Parenting® trained and is a registered SOS Feeding Therapist for children who are problem feeders.

Having worked with families for over two decades, as a psychologist for the past 15 years in a variety of settings, Amanda loves building the confidence of the adults in the lives of children so that they can connect meaningfully, help them reach their full potential, and live a life that reflects their values.
She has worked in a variety of settings in both the public and private sectors prior to founding NCCD, which has allowed her to gain extensive experience helping a wide range of clients. Amanda’s honours thesis investigated the social skills, friendship expectations and attention of high functioning children with autism, and this was presented in 2004 at the 3rd Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Forum, Melbourne.

Amanda frequently presents at both academic and parenting events, as well as many other events hosted by PR companies in Melbourne. Amanda is media trained, appearing on Channel 7 and 9 News and regularly features in print media and on ABC Perth Radio. In 2022 Amanda co-founded online parenting program ToddlerToolkit with paediatrician Dr Daniel Golshevsky, and in addition to her clinical and management work at NCCD, she provides consultation to child-centred brands to ensure their engagements with, and advertising to, children are responsible and ethical. 

KIM McGREGOR

SENIOR PSYCHOLOGIST 

  Kim McGregor is a registered Psychologist with a Master’s degree in Educational & Developmental Psychology. She has worked extensively with infants, children and their families in not for profit, early childhood, specialised school and government multidisciplinary settings providing assessment, diagnosis and treatment for their developmental, cognitive, social, emotional and learning needs.

While Kim enjoys working with and celebrating all children as they grow and develop, her experience and interests include understanding the specific strengths, abilities and support needs of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, developmental delay, intellectual disability and learning disabilities to reach their full potential through comprehensive assessment.

Her goal is to always work from a person centred and family focused partnership with parents providing clear communication, empathy and support throughout the journey of understanding and helping their child. She incorporates evidence based therapies to support skill development, having trained in CBT programs such as The Cool Kids Anxiety program (Cool Kids) and the Secret Agent Society program (SAS) and in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).

While Kim has spent most of her life in Sydney, she now enjoys all that Melbourne has to offer with her family and pets.

ALEX ALMENDINGEN

PSYCHOLOGIST 

  Alex is a registered psychologist with a Master’s degree in Educational and Developmental Psychology. Within school-based and public mental health settings, Alex has experience in conducting comprehensive mental health assessments and delivering evidence-based psychological therapy for young people and adolescents with a range of behavioural, emotional, psychosocial, and neurodevelopmental challenges.

Alex is also committed to strengthening the confidence and capacity of caregivers to support their children’s development and overall wellbeing. Through his person-centred, empathic, and collaborative approach, Alex is dedicated to building and maintaining a trusting, safe, and supportive therapeutic environment for all his clients and their families to create lasting positive changes.  

CHRISTINE FLAVEL

PSYCHOLOGIST 
Currently on maternity leave

  Christine is a psychologist having completed a Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology. Christine has worked with a range of ages (children, youth and adults) in helping them understand mental health concerns including anxiety and depression, support with coping through stress and change, and setting and achieving goals. Christine also conducts psychoeducational and diagnostic assessments primarily for learning difficulties, autism and ADHD. Christine’s masters thesis explores how parents of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities have coped during the COVID-19 pandemic to make suggestions on how families can be supported better.

Using a strengths based approach and working with clients to find what works for them, Christine will often utilise Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy to explore and achieve client goals. Outside the clinic, Christine enjoys spending time with her puppy and eating cruffins (croissant muffins).

JENNY THOMSON

PSYCHOLOGIST 

  Jennifer is an empathetic psychologist who enjoys supporting the mental health and well-being of children, adolescents, and their families. She aims to provide a warm and accepting therapeutic environment, exploring presenting issues in engaging and creative ways. She is passionate about early intervention and strives to work collaboratively with caregivers, schools, and other professionals to create long-lasting, positive change.

Jennifer brings a holistic and strength-based approach to her psychological practice, drawing from a range of evidence-based assessments and
therapeutic techniques to suit the needs of her clients. She has a particular interest in working with learning difficulties, building social skills and emotional regulation, behavioural difficulties, and neurodevelopmental disorders.

DONNA DE BORTOLI

PSYCHOLOGIST 

  Donna De Bortoli is a registered Psychologist with a Masters degree in Psychology who has recently returned to the profession after taking leave to raise her three daughters, who are now all young adults!

Donna has worked with a range of children and parents, helping to manage behavioural, social, emotional and educational concerns. She has worked across school settings, in private practice and in government sectors, conducting thorough assessments, developing intervention plans and working with children and their families to assist with implementation of strategies and programs. Subsequently, she helped establish the inaugural Parenting Research Centre, a Victorian government initiative, researching evidence-based best practice programs that demonstrated their effectiveness in achieving significant positive outcomes.

Drawing on her extensive experience and her commitment to evidence-based therapies, in conjunction with her own parenting journey, Donna is committed to helping parents and children achieve their therapeutic goals.

ZOE LAZARIDIS

PSYCHOLOGIST 

  Zoe Lazaridis is a dedicated and highly skilled psychologist with a strong background in clinical psychology. She holds a Master of Psychology (Clinical) and a Master of Psychology (Professional).

Zoe's passion for psychology began during her undergraduate years, where she completed a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at La Trobe University. Her commitment to excellence is evident in her clinical experience, where she has worked with diverse populations, including children with autism and individuals seeking mental health support.

Zoe's research expertise includes conducting systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials. She is also an experienced workshop facilitator, helping high school students build resilience and enhance their well-being. With a strong ethical foundation and a commitment to evidence-based practice, Zoe is a valuable asset to the field of psychology.

CRAIG HILDEBRAND-BURKE

EDUCATIONAL and DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGIST

  Craig is an Educational and Developmental Psychologist, Member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and Fellow of the APS College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists.

Craig completed his post-graduate training at the University of Melbourne, and has broad experience working with adolescents and their families as a psychologist, and previously as a teacher.

Craig has a calm, gentle and empathetic approach when working with clients, supporting them and their families through the process of treatment and assessment. He adopts a range of therapeutic approaches from an evidence-based perspective that is both neuro-affirming and trauma-informed. He has experience working with mood and anxiety disorders, neurodevelopmental differences, and personality and identity difficulties.

Additionally, Craig has a particular interest in working with young people who are D/deaf and hard-of-hearing, as well as CODA individuals. He draws on lived experience as well as an awareness of Deaf culture, and uses interpreters with clients who use Auslan.

Craig is passionate about taking a client-centred approach to psychology to foster young people's ability to understand themselves and achieve their goals.

PAMELA RABAHI

PSYCHOLOGIST

Pamela is a warm and approachable psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and is currently completing her Clinical Registrar Program.

Throughout her journey, she has worked with both children and parents, helping children reach their full potential and offering guidance and support to parents throughout the process. Her experience spans both public and private settings, including school and forensic settings.

Pamela is deeply committed to understanding each client’s unique challenges and tailoring her support to meet their individual needs. She blends her professional expertise with a genuine, empathetic approach, creating a comfortable, non-judgmental space where clients feel at ease.

Pamela believes in fostering a supportive environment where clients can Openly explore their concerns and work towards their goals with confidence.

ANNETTE  PHILLIPS

ART THERAPIST

  Annette Phillips is a qualified art therapist and practicing artist with a deep passion for working with children and young people. Her journey began as an illustrator and artist, where she discovered the profound impact creativity can have on emotional well-being. This realization inspired her to help others find their voice through art.

At the Northern Centre for Child Development, Annette utilizes a gentle, playful, and person-centred approach, focusing on each individual's unique story and needs. She works through a trauma-informed lens and embraces neurodiverse affirming, anti-oppressive, and feminist ideologies, celebrating diversity in all its forms.

Annette is dedicated to supporting children and adolescents in managing their mental health, navigating challenging times, and building self-compassion. She believes in the power of art to explore and express emotions that might be difficult to articulate with words. Curiosity, compassion, and creativity are at the heart of her practice.

Believing that strong, trusting relationships are key to the therapeutic process, Annette helps her clients gain greater insights into themselves and the world around them. Her work aims to foster resilience, self-awareness, and emotional growth in young individuals.

JOANNA BENNET

Educational & Developmental Psychologist

Joanna is an Educational and Developmental Psychologist and a Board Approved Supervisor experienced working with children and families using a neuroaffirming, trauma-informed approach, emphasising each client’s unique strengths.

Experienced in early intervention services, her work focuses on fostering positive developmental outcomes for children by creating supportive and affirming environments. Joanna is passionate about supporting parents in their journey and is trained to facilitate the Circle of Security Parenting program, a model that aims to strengthen the connection between parents and their children. Joanna has a particular interest in working with neurodivergent clients and mental health issues, such as anxiety.

In addition to her therapy work, Joanna is experienced in conducting diagnostic assessments for a range of disabilities, including autism, ADHD, specific learning disorders (such as dyslexia), and intellectual disability. Joanna particularly enjoys supporting families to understand and interact with the assessment process in a meaningful way to meet their individual needs.

OUR PROVISIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

OUR ADMIN TEAM

LIANE RÖHR

RECEPTION - MON TO THURS

CHARLOTTE HUNTINGTON

RECEPTION - FRI & SAT

ALANA RYLES

PRACTICE MANAGER - TUES TO THURS (REMOTE)
Copyright © 2023 Northern Centre for Child Development®
Copyright © 2023 Northern Centre for Child Development®
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