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Elizabeth Watson is a practicing speech pathologist, specialising in the treatment of children with learning difficulties and autism and is the Clinical Director and Program Supervisor at the Lizard Centre.

Elizabeth is an associate member of The Association for Behaviour Analysis and was a consultant in ABA to the ACT Department of Education and Community Services from 1998 to 2002.

Liz holds a Licentiate of Australian College of Speech Therapists (1968 Sydney) and has been a member of Speech Pathology Australia since that time. Liz has a Post-graduate Diploma (Distinction) in treating adults and children with Specific Learning Difficulties from the Royal Society of the Arts—London (1997).

In 2006, after many years of work and dedication, Elizabeth had the satisfaction of opening Woodbury a school for children with autism which uses ABA methodologies. Liz is the Clinical Director and a founding Director of Woodbury Autism Education and Research.

Elizabeth has qualifications in psycho therapy and also life membership of the NSW Private Speech Pathologists Association –awarded for service to private practice. Elizabeth sits on the Autism Spectrum Disorder Speech Pathology Advisory Group and is a Media Spokesperson for Speech Pathology Australia in NSW on Autism.

Nicole Rogerson is the Director of the Lizard Centre, in Chatswood, Sydney. Nicole left her career in Marketing and Public Relations in 1999 when her son Jack was diagnosed with autism at age 3. Since that time, Nicole has devoted herself to providing Jack with the best possible intervention programs.

Together with Elizabeth Watson they established the Lizard Children’s Centre, aimed at providing world’s best practice early intervention programs not only for Jack, but for the other many other children who would follow him.

Today Lizard Children’s Centre has provided evidence-based effective early intervention programs for hundreds of children, attracting national and international recognition as a Centre of excellence.

Nicole is a frequent public speaker on ASD and has been instrumental in raising public awareness of autism across Australia in the public and political arenas. She sat on the Federal Government’s Autism Advisory Board prior to the introduction of the Helping Children with Autism funding package, and continues to push for better access to evidence-based intensive early intervention programs for children with autism.

Alanna Patterson is a Program Supervisor at Lizard as well as a Coordinator of our Social Skills Group Program. She has a Masters of Special Education from Macquarie University (2005), a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Sydney (2000) and completed a post-graduate certificate in Early Intervention in 2003 from Macquarie University.

In 2009, Alanna also completed a post graduate certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis from Penn State University in the U.S.A in order to sit for the Behaviour Analysis certification board exam and in January 2010 gained the internationally recognised qualification of Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA).

Alanna began her ABA career in Australia 1998, later working as an ABA therapist in Hungary before moving to Scotland where she attended advanced training courses in Verbal Behaviour methodology.

In 2007 Alanna accepted a 1 year, part-time position at Macquarie University as an associate lecturer within the special education department.

Michelle Furminger is a Program Supervisor at Lizard Children’s Centre and started working in Behaviour Analysis in 1998.

Michelle has a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) from the University of Tasmania and has attended many professional development training courses since that time. In 2007, Michelle was registered internationally as a Board Certified Associate Behaviour Analyst (BCABA) after completing a post graduate degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis from the University of North Texas U.S.A.

Michelle regularly attends ABA International Conferences (Chicago 2005 and 2008, Sydney 2007) and presented two research papers related to autism (toilet training and expressive language) at the ABA International Conference in Phoenix in 2009.

As well as Program Supervision, Michelle consults on the toilet training and feeding elements of many ABA programs.

Cassie le Fevre is a Program Supervisor at Lizard. She is also a registered Psychologist, completing a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology through the University of Tasmania in 2009.

Cassie joined the Lizard Centre team with 10 years experience in the area of Applied Behavioural Analysis. After receiving initial training in Australia, she completed an internship in verbal behaviour/ behavioural analysis with Dr Jim Partington and Dr Mark Sundberg in San Francisco, USA. Cassie is also completing units for a graduate certificate in Applied Behavioural Analysis through the University of North Texas in order to receive certification as a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA). Cassie previously worked as a Child Protection Case Worker in Tasmania.

Cassie has worked with children and adolescents on the autism spectrum in Centre, home and school settings. Cassie has been contracted as an Autism Consultant for various schools in Tasmania more recently to several schools in Sydney.

Cassie is also a Coordinator of our Social Skills Group Program. She presented a paper on using the observations of typical peers in order to teach play skills to children with autism at the Association for Behaviour Analysis International Convention in Phoenix in 2009.

Alex Brown is a registered Psychologist in NSW. She studied at the Australian College of Applied Psychology (for NSW registration) after completing a Bachelor of Psychology at the University of Wollongong in 2003.

Alex is an associate member of the APS and a member of AACBT (Australian Association of Cognitive Behaviour therapy).

In 2008 Alex successfully completed training to enable her to administer ADOS and ADI-R (diagnostic testing for Autism Spectrum Disorder). Alex also administers a range of psychological assessments at Lizard Children’s Centre (such as WPPSI and WISC tests).

Alex joined the Lizard Children’s Centre team in 2006 after working in a part-time capacity on some of our programs. Alex comes to us from Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care where she was working as a Behaviour Programmer. She also worked voluntarily as an Intern Psychologist for Autism Spectrum Australia where she worked on the Autism Information Line and assisting with playgroups and social skills groups.

Alex is a Program Supervisor on our ABA early intervention programs and our Social Skills Group Programs.

Nicole Williams is a Program Supervisor at Lizard as well as providing in home and in-school behaviour management services.

Nicole achieved a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology from Macquarie University in 2004 following on from her Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) which she completed at the same university.

Nicole has been an autism-specific Educator and ABA Therapist for over 14 years. She has worked with children with Autism ranging in age from 18 months to 20 years in Australia and in the United States.

Sibel Tenish is a Program Supervisor at Lizard. Sibel completed a Master of Health Science (Behavioural Science) at the University of Sydney and has a Bachelor of Arts degree (Psychology) from Macquarie University. Sibel also completed a training internship in Precision Teaching at the acclaimed Morningside Teachers’ Academy in Seattle, USA. Sibel is currently completing her Psychology internship.

Sibel began working at Lizard in 2003 in our Educational Solutions academic remedial programs, coordinating and overseeing these programs. She continues to provide consultation and training for these programs.

Sibel has also worked for many years as a Senior Behaviour Therapist, and more recently as a Program Supervisor and Behaviour Consultant.

Sibel’s skills are highly valued in introducing children to their ABA programs and quickly developing their attending skills as well as overcoming any challenging behaviours, to provide the child with a positive and motivating therapy experience.

Sibel also assists the training of new ABA therapists by teaching
and demonstrating practical therapy techniques to new junior therapists.

Lucy Cummins is a speech pathologist who graduated from Charles Sturt University with a Bachelor of Health Science (Speech Pathology) degree. Lucy has extensive experience in the following areas: communication disorders; language and learning; literacy and social skills disorders; articulation; dyspraxia; eating and oral motor problems. She is a member of Speech Pathology Australia.

Lucy is a member of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) and is undertaking the professional self regulation (PSR) program to further enhance clinical skills in the profession.

Lucy is also trained in the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis. In addition, Lucy manages our Academic remedial programs, Educational Solutions, in conjunction with our team of trained tutors. This program provides effective remediation for school aged children with learning difficulties.

Julia is a Speech Pathologist who has been working at Lizard Centre since October 2008. She graduated from Sydney University with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) degree.
Julia’s areas of specialty involve assessment and therapy for a variety of communication delays and disorders such as language and literacy, articulation and dyspraxia, social skills, voice, stuttering, and eating as well as oral motor difficulties.

Julia is a member of Speech Pathology Australia and is part of the professional self-regulation program offered to members to further advance clinical skills within the profession. Julia was trained in the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis in January, 2007 and worked part-time as a Level 2 Applied Behaviour Analyst at Woodbury School for children with autism until October 2008.

Bec Middeldorp formally joined the Lizard Centre in 2008 after years working as a junior ABA therapist whilst completing her studies at the University of Sydney in Occupational Therapy.

In addition Bec has worked for 4 years at the renowned Holdsworth Community Centre in Sydney’s East as a Support worker/team leader Children/Adult Disability services. Bec’s unique blend of skills in both areas of Occupational Therapy and Behaviour Analysis makes her a valuable addition
to the Lizard team.

Bec provides OT assessments and input into our early intervention programs assessments.

Sarah Clark is a Senior Behaviour Therapist and Intern Psychologist at Lizard Centre. Sarah has a Masters of Health Science (Behavioural Science) and a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from Sydney University. She has also completed professional development units in advanced topics in ABA at Florida Institute of Technology.

Sarah joined the Lizard team in 2007 after working in the autism and ABA field for 7 years. Previously she had worked as a key worker and in residential support for children and adolescents with ASD living in group homes as well as a position with DADHC in Residential Support and Respite work with adults with disabilities. Sarah has also been a Disability Support worker for respite care with Autism Queensland.

Some of the additional training Sarah has undertaken is; Relationship Development Intervention Workshop (Connections Centre, L.A.), Intellectual Disability Rights Service training, Medication Management Training (Sunnyfield), Mealtime management- nutrition and swallowing and Makaton training (Sunnyfield). Sarah is a member of the Association of Psychologists in Developmental Disability Services

Catherine Landry is a Senior Behaviour Therapist at Lizard Centre. Catherine comes to us from Nova Scotia in Canada, where she was schooled and attained her Bachelor of Science with Psychology and Biology. In 2008, Catherine was registered internationally as a Board Certified Associate Behaviour Analyst (BCBA).

Catherine’s resume is also impressive because of her extensive history of community service from an early age in the areas of child services, disability, mental health and autism in particular.

Catherine has spent the last few years studying and working in ABA with special expertise in behaviour management.

Kerri McDonnell is a Senior Behaviour Therapist at Lizard Centre. Kerri began her training in ABA in 2005 after receiving an Honours degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Ulster.

While visiting Australia in 2006 she was introduced to the Lizard Centre and began working on home programs under Lizard supervision. Following this, Kerri returned to her native Ireland to take up a position at the internationally acclaimed Red Door ABA School in Dublin where she became proficient in the methodologies of Precision Teaching and Verbal Behaviour. On her return to Australia Lizard was delighted to sponsor her Australian work visa.

Ryan trained as a Junior ABA Therapist in 2006 and since that time has worked in ABA and autism full time. Ryan has worked with many children and families over that time as a therapist and school shadow.

Ryan has worked with children across the Autism Spectrum and as a Group Therapist. Ryan was recruited through our Talent Identification Scheme and currently works in the role of Senior Behaviour Therapist.

Evelyn Chan is a Senior Behaviour Therapist at Lizard Centre. Evelyn gained her Honours degree in English literature at Queen’s University in Ontario. Evelyn has worked in ABA and verbal behaviour in Canada, Ireland and now in Australia.

We are delighted to sponsor Evelyn’s work visa so that our families can benefit from her skills and experience.

Kate is in her final year of a Bachelor of Arts-Psychology with the Diploma of Education (Primary) Degree at Macquarie University. She received her ABA training at Lizard in 2008 and has experience working on In-home Programs as well as Pre-School Shadowing.

In June 2008, Kate joined the Lizard team working on ABA programs as well as tutoring for our Educational Solutions Programs. Prior to her work at Lizard, Kate volunteered with English and Mathematics programs for learning disabled children.

Sarah first became involved with the Lizard Children's Centre in 2007 when she worked on several of our in-home programs. After a move to Brisbane and two years gaining further experience in Early Intervention & ABA, she returned to Lizard in the role of a Senior Therapist in our Brisbane Outreach program.

Sarah has an Undergraduate degree in Social Work from UNSW and is currently studying for her Masters in Developmental Disability through the University of Sydney.

Madhura is a Senior Behaviour Therapist at Lizard Centre. Madhura completed her diplomas in Remedial Education and in Early Childhood Care and Education in Mumbai, India. She has been actively involved in CAER (Centre for Ability Enhancement and Recreation), a therapy and support centre for children and adolescents and young adults with disabilities in Mumbai founded by her mother. Madhura has travelled throughout India providing training for the parents and carers of children with disabilities. She completed a Bachelor of Applied Social Science from the Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP) in 2009.

After coming to Australia, Madhura worked as junior therapist on Lizard in-home programs until being recruited through our talent identification scheme into the role of Senior Behaviour Therapist. Madhura also works as a groups therapist and tutor for our academic remedial progra

Michelle Backley holds a Bachelor of Science [Psychology] from the University of New South Wales and is currently working in the role of a group therapist and an Educational Solutions tutor.

Michelle has worked on various Lizard Programs with children across the Autism spectrum, since her initial training in 2005. As well as home programs, she has shadowed a number of lizard children in both a pre and primary school environment.

Michelle has also worked as an ABA therapist at Woodbury [School for Autism Education and Research].