Clinical Director
Lauren
Lauren has been a part of Woodbury since 2011 where she started as a Clinical Supervisor and has since stepped into the role of Clinical Director.
Lauren started her professional journey with an undergraduate degree in psychology after learning about autism within one of her lectures. She was fortunate enough to find a position within an ABA school in the UK where she started as a junior therapist. Over the years she progressed to a senior therapist role and a classroom teacher allowing her the opportunity to gain valuable experience within the classroom. Since then she has successfully completed a mastered in special education as well as gaining the relevant experience and supervision to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).
Lauren moved to Australia to be part of the Woodbury team and has played an integral part in the development of Woodbury’s specialised curriculum and the training and coaching of their highly qualified teaching and therapy team.
Through her experience within ABA, Lauren has had the opportunity to work with a variety of individuals, mainly with a primary diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, ranging from early intervention through to adult services. This broad experience, across age groups and with a variety of developmental and emotional disabilities, provides her with a very practical and functional application of ABA. She has strong interests in the field of verbal behaviour, group learning and integration. Lauren has a true passion for the discipline and endeavours to continue to support and guide Woodbury in its aspiration to provide quality and meaningful education to our students.
Clinical Supervisor
Sinead
Sinead is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst with over 10 years of experience working with children and adults with developmental delays. Sinead first became interested in learning more about autism when a close family member was diagnosed with the condition. Since then, she has completed studies in Psychology (BA hons), Understanding Disabilities (cert), Best Practises in Educating Individuals with Autism (cert) and a Masters Degree in Special Education and Applied Behaviour Analysis.
Sinead has forged a career striving to help individuals with autism and other developmental delays reach their full potential. Sinead has worked in both the education and health sector and with individuals across the lifespan from early intervention to adulthood. Sinead joined the Woodbury team as Clinical Supervisor in October 2017. Her special interests include food selectivity and developing communication skills.
Speech Pathologist
Karen
Karen is a speech pathologist from the US where she lived in two very cold places, Michigan and Colorado. Prior to moving, she worked as a speech pathologist for 9 years.
Karen is a LAMP certified speech pathologist and has many years experience working with Speech Generating Devices (SGD). Prior to coming to Woodbury, Karen has spent 7 years working in a private non-profit ABA school, very similar to Woodbury. Most of her work has been in early intervention and with primary school-aged children. During this time she was also working in her own private practise as well as working part time at the Children’s Hospital to help run their summer AAC camp. She found this fun and an eye opening experience to be with children using their communication devices in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.
Karen moved to Australia 3.5 years ago, and feels very lucky to be part of the Woodbury team; “It is my passion to work with children on the autism spectrum and their families so I am grateful to be part of the Woodbury team”.
Teacher
Donna
Donna has worked with children since 1983, first as an orthoptist, mother and then as an early child hood teacher and Child Care Centre Director.
After 2003 she was drawn to working in early intervention after assisting several children with additional needs in child care settings, and knowing that her university time had not prepared her for the plethora of special education need in the community. She has worked with toddlers, pre-schoolers, primary and high school students who have additional needs throughout her career.
She was fortunate enough to be offered a teaching position at Woodbury in 2006 when it first opened. Woodbury was her first exposure to the principles of using Applied Behaviour Analysis in teaching. She went back to University recently to gain a post graduate certificate in learning difficulties as feels Woodbury has given her a well rounded education in behaviour management, and dealing with children with severe and moderate disability in autism.
As a teacher she continues to learn from her students, families and colleagues as every student is different and one teaching strategy definitely does not fit all.
Teacher
Rebecca
Rebecca has 10 years of experience in Applied Behaviour Analysis; her first experience was in delivering home therapy to families using service providers and her initial training in ABA with service providers such as Aspire and ABI.
She has been a teacher at Woodbury since July 2010. Rebecca has a Bachelor in Arts (majoring in Psychology), along with a Masters in Special Education, specialising in emotional and behavioural concerns. Currently, Rebecca is undertaking coursework to become a BCBA and is intending to complete this by the end of 2018. Rebecca’s particular interests are in helping children develop their self-help skills with regard to daily living tasks, communication, helping students manage and identify their own behaviours (where possible) and making the transition to other schools as smooth as possible for both the children and their families. Rebecca is also passionate about training others in ABA, including staff and other stakeholders, so more people can see the benefits of this powerful tool.
Teacher
Emily
After graduating from university with a Bachelor of Education (Primary), Emily moved to the United States and worked as a teacher in a small preschool for children with Autism. This was where she first encountered ABA in a classroom setting. Upon returning to Australia Emily knew she wanted to continue working in the ABA field and began at Woodbury in 2012.
Emily is extremely passionate about embedding ABA into naturalistic teaching opportunities. She is particularly invested in creating a classroom environment that promotes independence, teaches flexibility and encourages students to express themselves in a functional way.
Teacher
Annie
Lori-Anne (Annie), started Woodbury in 2018.
Annie’s initial encounter of Woodbury was after an in class observation when they first opened in 2006. It was this experience which ignited Annie’s passion for teaching. Now, after completing her studies ( and a short break to start a family) she has come back to Woodbury and is excited to be part of this amazing team.
She first began her career in the Early Childhood Sector, completing a Diploma in Children’s Services. She then went on to complete a Bachelors Degree which covered the birth the 12 year age range and gained valuable experience working with children in both the classroom and outside school settings. While on maternity leave she completed post graduate studies in behaviour support teaching.
What she enjoys most about working in Woodbury is the relationships and bond that are built with your students and their families. Annie says “The students at Woodbury have taught me so much already and I can’t wait to see what my future at Woodbury holds”.
Therapy Team
Meet the Woodbury Therapy Team.
Woodbury is proud to have a dedicated team of highly trained ABA therapists who work in our school providing vital support within the classroom.
From left to right is:
Nicole (Senior therapist, RBT), Crystal (Junior therapist), Lynda (Senior therapist, RBT), Shaya (Junior therapist). Natalie (Senior therapist, RBT), Pui Ka (Junior therapist), Clarissa (Junior therapst), Simona (Junior therapist)
Not pictured is Amanda, Angie, Stephanie and Marae (Junior therapists)