I provide expert comment to the media about a range of issues – women’s emotional health, parenting, issues affecting health professionals, Victims of Crime issues and specifically about the experience of loss when someone is missing.

I am an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, Academic Researcher and speaker.

I use an evidence based approach to sharing the stories that might resonate with readers – working on both sides, as a freelance writer and as a researcher/mental health clinician I understand the power of a strong narrative.

People often ask me how I came to speak to the media – a path not traditional to Social Workers. The long answer is that way back in 2004 I found myself employed in the only position of its kind in Australia – counsellor for those left behind when someone is missing. Over the years as my career has moved forwards working with as the Manager of the Victims of Crime Bureau for NSW Department of Justice and Attorney General and the Australian Federal Police my understanding of the subject area has deepened I have been invited to speak about my knowledge in the media, at Australasian conferences and internationally focussing on grief, loss and criminality.

I am the recipient of a Winston Churchill Memorial Fellowship – funded to travel internationally to research the experience of loss when someone is missing, the author of ‘Supporting those who are left behind’ and ‘A Glimmer of hope– stories of courage for families of missing people’ and most recently (2012) the recipient of an Australian Postgraduate Award to complete my Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) to research the complexity of hope when someone is missing, with the University of New England.

In 2013 I spoke at the First International Conference on Missing People hosted in the UK and in 2014 at the International Conference on Grief and Bereavement in Melbourne Australia. I have been invited as a Keynote speaker to the Hunter Region Australian Association of Social Workers Conference as well as a sessional speaker at the Australasian Homicide Conference.

My media credits include SBS insight, Sunrise, the David and Kim Show, the Today show, Mornings with Kerrianne, ABC Radio National, Nova FM, JJJ Hack Program, Drive time with Richard Glover and various regional radio programs and podcasts for counselling/media sites.

For other examples of my work as an expert commentator click here and here

To contact me for comment or other enquiry please visit this page.