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Our People

Cathy Basterfield
Karen Bloomberg
Marnie Cameron
Naomi Commons
Josseline Creta
Chris Gormley
Dr Teresa Iacono
Meg Irwin
Hilary Johnson
Katie Lyon
Gayle Porter
Melinda Smith
Barbara Solarsh
Lyn Tatt
Denise West
Mandy Williams

Cathy Basterfield B.App.Sci. (Speech Pathology)


Cathy is a Speech Pathology Consultant and a Makaton Presenter.

Cathy has worked in the area of Augmentative and Alternative Communication for over 15 years. She is currently working with CARM (Communication Aids and Resource Materials) to develop accessible resources.

Cathy is interested in developing functional resources as a means to enhancing communication, key word sign and gesture, challenging behaviour and training.


• Karen Bloomberg B.App.Sci. Speech Pathology; M. Sc. (AAC) FSPAA.

  
  Karen coordinates the Education and Training Portfolio and is a Speech Pathology Consultant. She was made a Fellow of the Speech Pathology Association of Australia in 1996.

  Karen has worked in the area of augmentative communication for over 25 years and has written and lectured extensively on this topic. She is currently State Coordinator of Makaton Victoria and National Training Coordinator for Makaton Australia. She is also an Adjunct Lecturer at La Trobe University – School of Human Communication Sciences.

  Karen is particularly interested in key word sign, early communication skills, challenging behaviour and autism, and resource development.
  

• Marnie Cameron B.App.Sci. Speech Pathology

  
  Marnie coordinates the Early Years Portfolio and is a Speech Pathology Consultant, a qualified Makaton Presenter, and a Workplace Trainer and Assessor.

  She works towards enhancing support for people working with young children with complex communication and mealtime issues. She recently established the WOW (Wide Open Wide) network to provide information, resources and support to anyone working/living with young children with complex mealtime issues.
  Marnie has a particular interest in developing resources and technology.

• Naomi Commons B.App.Sci. (Speech Pathology)

  
  Naomi Commons has recently returned to Australia from the U.K. where she combined working as a Speech Pathologist with travel. She joins the Communication Resource Centre as a full time Speech Pathologist Consultant.

  Naomi provides services for both residential and adult day services. Her role also involves student supervision and participation in Communication Resource Centre community capacity building projects.

• Dr Teresa Iacono Ph.D (AAC)

  Teresa is the Senior Researcher, working part-time at Communication Resource Centre (under secondment from the Centre for Developmental Disability Health Victoria, Monash University).

  Teresa has a particular interest in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), reading development , early language intervention and counseling issues for people with complex communication needs.

  Research

• Meg Irwin B.App.Sci. (Speech Pathology)., Grad Dip (Health Services Management).

  
  Meg is a speech pathology consultant with over 20 years experience working with people after acquired neurogenic injuries
  
  She is currently an executive member of the Victorian Brain Injury Recovery Association. She has a long-standing interest in culturally responsive practice and is a member of the Multicultural Interest Group and the Aboriginal Health Working Party of a metropolitan public hospital. She currently co-ordinates student placements at the Communication Resource Centre.
  

• Hilary Johnson Dip. Sp.Thy., M.A (Ed)., FSPAA.

  
  Hilary is the Manager of the Communication Resource Centre and also works as a speech pathology consultant. She was made a Fellow of Speech Pathology Association of Australia in 1996.
  
  Hilary has worked in the area of disability for over 25 years and has written and lectured extensively on this topic. She is currently Chair of the ISAAC (International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication) Executive Committee, an Adjunct Lecturer at La Trobe University – School of Human Communication Sciences and Consultant Speech Pathologist with the Royal Children’s Hospital Saliva Clinic.
  
  Hilary has a particular interest in eating and drinking skills, saliva control and early communication skills.

• Katie Lyon B.App.Sci. Speech Pathology

  
  Katie joined the team in 2002 as a new graduate speech pathologist under the Mentee Program. She is a qualified Makaton Presenter.

  Katie supports Big Mouth Camps for school-aged children using electronic communication devices. She also works with CARM (Communication Aids Resources and Materials) to develop accessible written information.

  Katie has a particular interest in developing individualised communication aids and resources, working with preschool children and adults with complex communication needs, their families and support staff and providing education and training for people who support people with complex communication needs.
  

• Gayle Porter B.App.Sci. Speech Pathology

  Gayle is a speech pathology consultant. She has extensive experience in augmentative and alternative communication.
  Gayle has particular skills in the language development of young children with complex communication needs. She has developed pragmatic vocabulary organisation for dynamic displays. She provides support to people in early childhood services

  
  

• Melinda Smith OAM

  AMelinda is a community development worker Her role includes education and training and involvement in community capacity focused projects. She is the Chapter President for ISAAC OZ.
  Melinda is a strong advocate for people with complex communication needs and uses her writing expertise, art and creative ability to facilitate communication.
  Melinda is particularly interested in access rights, creative expression, technology and communication and disability rights awareness.
  

• Barbara Solarsh Ph.D (Communication Pathology)

  Barbara is a speech pathology consultant and is coordinating the setting up of a database of community capacity development projects being implemented by the Regional Communication Services across Victoria.
  Barbara has had over 10 years experience working in the field of community based rehabilitation. She was responsible for setting up the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) training program at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa as well as a community based rehabilitation program in a rural area.

• Denise West B.App.Sci. Speech Pathology

  Denise co-ordinates the Statewide Networks and Partnerships Portfolio and is the Manager of CARM (Communication Aids and Resource Materials) She is also a speech pathology consultant .
  Denise has worked in the area of augmentative communication for over 18 years and has written and lectured extensively on this topic.
  She is particularly interested in early communication skills, models of training and service delivery, community development and community capacity building.
  

• Mandy Williams B.App.Sci. Occupational Therapy, Acc OT

  Mandy co-ordinates the Information and Resources Portfolio and is an Accredited Occupational Therapist.
  Mandy has worked in the area disability for over 25 years. She is co-founder and co-editor of the Enhancing Communication and Participation through Sensory Stimulation (ECAPSS) Newsletter and was co-convenor of the National ECAPSS Conference September 2001. She lectures extensively about using a sensory-focused approach to enhance participation for people with complex needs. She has several publications to her credit including “Activities for Everyone - Art and Craft” (2003).

• Administrative Team

  Chris Gormley and Josseline Creta co-ordinate all administration duties.
  

• Co-located Services Staff

  Yvonne Sherburn and Jenny Lumsden are the team at CARM

  Yvonne and Jenny create a variety of aids and resource materials for individuals and service providers. They also incorporate pictographs into accessible documents.
  Yvonne provides training in Boardmaker and other communication software programs.

  Lyn Tatt R.N. Dip Social Services (Community Development)

  Lyn is the Victorian GISS co-ordinator and trainer.