Darin Cairns, B.A., B.Sc., M.A.Psych, MAPS

Senior Clinical Psychologist

Darin Cairns is a Clinical Psychologist who has worked in the field of autism and child development for over 10 years.  In that time he has worked both privately, as well as within the Disability Services Commission where his roles included co-ordinator, Country Services Autism, and manager, Early Intervention Services state-wide.

He has given over 150 workshops and presentations on autism, developmental disability, developmental psychology and learning principles.  These have addressed a wide variety of audiences, including speech therapists, government agencies, school psychologists, teachers and families. In recent times he has worked extensively on training psychologists and teachers in best practice interventions for children with autism and special needs.

Darin’s own research has specifically focussed on learning principles and methods, with a strong emphasis on identifying the best ways to accelerate a person’s ability to learn independently and efficiently.  His ideas on these principles and applications have been sought and used in the United Kingdom and the United States, in areas ranging from language acquisition, attachment and more effective teaching methods.

Darin believes strongly in the importance of evidence based practice in all areas of therapy and has worked in all his roles to foster organisational systems and practices that are inclusive and empowering of families.  He is passionate about the importance of individually designing and tailoring programs for each child.

Darin is best known for his work and support of ABA due to the amount of scientific rigour and support it has attracted.  However he remains concerned that ABA has too often been simplified and diluted into methods that do not consider the whole child with a result that often does not address the broader needs of a child’s development. He has worked tirelessly to educate families, therapists and educationalists in the myriad techniques that have been shown to work for children with Autism and other learning needs.

Mandy Mason, B.Com, M.Law(Tax)

Client Service Co-ordinator  

Mandy combines extensive organisational experience gained from the managing of large projects with the practical experience of running an intensive home based ABA program for her own daughter with autism.   She is passionate about empowering parents to take an active role in their child’s program and in educating parents to use evidence based methodologies in all aspects of their child’s home and school based curricula.

Her responsibilities within L.E.A.R.N. include:

•  initial contact with families to establish an ABA program;

•  initial sessions with children and commencement of programs;

• arranging training of parents in the principles of ABA and training parents to do therapy with their children;

• employment and training of behavioural therapists;

• provision of feedback to psychologists to allow for regular updates to the program;

• supporting families through the period of establishing a home based ABA program;

• advising on the practical and administrative aspects of running therapy at home;

• liaising with speech therapists to ensure speech goals are incorporated into a child's program; and liaising with schools and kindergartens to establish Individual Education Plans and funding applications for school aides.

Mandy is also responsible for administrative aspects of L.E.A.R.N. liaison to assist families to access the new Helping Children with Autism program funded by the Australian Government.

Mandy is currently enrolled to study for a BCBA (Board Certified Behaviour Analyst) which she will complete in 2009.

Pip Meredith,

Program Manager   

Pip is qualified as a Social Trainer and has over 9 years experience working as a Behavioural Therapist with children with autism.

She was trained at Mildred Creak Early Intervention Service and has since worked with a large number of families in setting up programs for children with autism.

Her responsibilities at  L.E.A.R.N.  include -

• development of a child’s program with the child’s parents and psychologist;

• training parents and therapists to undertake therapy and to incorporate natural learning opportunities into all aspects of a child’s day;

• lead therapist in a child’s program, overseeing therapy performed by other therapists and parents and ensuring consistency throughout the program;

• working with parents to establish behaviour management plans, including toileting, sleeping and problematic behaviours; and

• assisting parents to generalise skills taught into all aspects of a child’s life, to ensure skills are functional and utilised in environments outside of the principal therapy setting.

She has a very special ability to connect with kids on the spectrum and her enthusiasm and dedication to the job is obvious to anyone who sees her sessions. Pip is adored by the children she works with.

Jacquie Paterson, MSLP, SLP (C)

Senior Speech-Language Pathologist

Jacquie is a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) with over 7 years of experience working with children with disabilities and speech and language delays.  She has worked in a variety of environments (classroom, daycare, home) as a member of an interdisciplinary team. Jacquie has worked primarily as a consultant, planning speech and language programs for children and working with families, assistants and teachers in implementing the programs. She has a special interest in early language development and dyspraxia and has focused her private practice in this area.

Jacquie was trained in Canada and worked in what she describes as “the most incredible facility in Canada”, a not-for-profit school comprised of 60% children with special needs and 40% typically developing children.  In Perth, she was the Early Child Development Clinical Specialist at Disability Services Commission as well the SLP on the Home Based Autism team. She is Hanen certified and is also trained in PECS, PROMPT and Makaton as well as various other programs.

Jacquie is a mum to young twin girls and still manages to bring lots of enthusiasm to her work!

Lucius Arco, B.Psych, M.Psych(Clinical), Ph.D., MAPS (CCP)

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Dr Lu Arco is a clinical psychologist with over 25 years experience in assessing and treating behavioural and emotional disorders of adults and children. He specialises in behaviour analysis and treatment of various problems including conduct disorders, cognitive and behavioural problems associated with neurological or developmental disorders, and staff performance management in treatment programs.

He is an experienced instructor and coach of psychologists, behavioural therapists, nurses, teachers, and support staff; and has coached and counselled many family members caring for children or adults with severe psychological problems.

Lu is a former university lecturer in clinical psychology and now works as a private consultant. Prior to consulting and lecturing, Lu was a senior clinical psychologist with the W. A. Disability Services Commission.

Lu has researched and published a wide range of clinical interventions in international journals including Behavior Therapy, Behavioral Interventions, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, and Behavior Modification.

Bridget Scott B.App.Sc.(Occupational Therapy)

Senior Occupational Therapist

Bridget has almost twenty years experience working with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities and a range of physical and neurological disorders. Bridget worked for Disability Services Commission until 1998, when she entered private practice to specialise in working with autism.

Louise Thornton, B.Sc.(Hons) Psychology

Senior Behavioural Therapist

Louise graduated with first class honours from her  B.Sc (Hons) Psychology degree undertaken at Lancaster  University, UK in 2006.

She subsequently undertook training as an ABA therapist with PEACH and has worked as a therapist in both home and school settings for the past 2 years.

Louise is currently undertaking her supervision to become a Clinical Psychologist to allow her to use her extensive practical experience to write programs for children with autism.

In addition, Louise is responsible for the running of programs targeting social skill development in L.E.A.R.N.’s Social Skills Program and Peer Play Programs.

Louise brings extensive experience along with a passion for evidence based learning theory to L.E.A.R.N.

Bex Walding, B.Sc.(Hons) Psychology

Senior Behavioural Therapist

Bex has a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Psychology from the University of Reading, U.K.

She undertook extensive training with the Autism Partnership in the UK and before joining L.E.A.R.N. has worked for a number of years as a self employed Behavioural Therapist while continuing to undertake training.

Bex is currently undertaking supervision to become a Clinical Psychologist and to take her extensive practical experience and apply it to programming for children

Bex is part of the team of personnel responsible for developing L.E.A.R.N.’s Playgroup as well as Lead Educational Tutor in L.E.A.R.N.’s Evidence Based Education Extension Program.

Bex is an enthusiastic and energetic therapist who is passionate about kids on the spectrum.  

Jodie McKenna, B.Sc.(Hons) Psychology

Senior Behavioural Therapist

Jodie graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) Psychology from Lancaster University in 2007. Whilst at University Jodie worked as a behavioural therapist for children with autism and continued to do this full time after finishing University.

Jodie is enthusiastic about ABA and finds the job very rewarding. She has worked in both home and school settings and implements programs with a positive and fun manner.

Jodie will play an active role in liaising with schools to ensure consistency across home and school program goals.  She will also work as an Educational Tutor in L.E.A.R.N.’s Evidence Based Education Extension Program which commences in September 2008.

Annabel (Bell) Simpson,

Behavioural Therapist

Annabel, or Bell to her kids, has had significant experience working with children. While undertaking her Law Commerce Degree at UWA she has undertaken training with L.E.A.R.N. to become a Behavioural Therapist and currently works as a therapist in many of our home based programs.     

She has a passion for working with children with autism which is evident in her enthusiasm and interaction with our children.

She continues to undergo training in all aspects of Behavioural Therapy to become a senior therapist and is currently undergoing training to work as an Educational Tutor in L.E.A.R.N.’s Evidence Based Education Extension Program which commences in September this year.

 In addition, Bell will be actively involved in L.E.A.R.N.’s Social Skills Group, Peer Play Program and Holiday Learning Programs.   

Pippa Bills, B.Sc. (Hons) Psychology

Behavioural Therapist

Pippa joined L.E.A.R.N. during August. She graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons) Psychology from the University of Reading in 2007.

Pippa has extensive experience working with children having special needs, including autism, and she is looking forward to contributing to the L.E.A.R.N. team.

Kane Hronsky

Behavioural Therapist

Kane has long experience in the area of ABA – his mother is a psychologist and autism therapist and Kane first helped to provide therapy in an ABA session with his brother, who has autism, at the age of 6. Since commencing his Bachelor of Psychology degree at Edith Cowan University in 2006, Kane has worked as a self-employed behavioural therapist delivering early intervention to young children with autism.

Operating independently required Kane to develop a high level of behaviour management skills, and the ability to adapt and respond to the child’s individual learning needs.

Kane is a welcome addition to the L.E.A.R.N. team and brings unique experience to the position.

Angela Gelavis, B.Pharm. M.P.S.CD

Behavioural Therapist

Angela is a registered Pharmacist with over 16 years of experience in both the retail and hospital sectors in Australia and the United Kingdom. She graduated from Curtin University having been awarded the Mayhew dispensing prize.

She has considerable experience in training having been an undergraduate supervisor for the Curtin University School of Pharmacy. She also performed a post graduate training role for the Pharmaceutical Council of WA.

Angela is very dedicated to her role as a mother and has great empathy with children of all ages. Having gained considerable experience in liaising with an array of health professionals in her previous role,she has a special interest in ensuring the integration of behavioral therapy as part of broader treatment programs.  

Her responsibilities at L.E.A.R.N. include assisting in the development of the centre as well as undertaking therapy with children.

Hacinta Lazic

Behavioural Therapist

Hacinta has extensive experience working with children with special needs, including in a school, daycare and home environment.  She is trained as a ABA therapist and is studying towards a Bachelor of Psychology.

In her programs she has special responsibility for ensuring children that attend daycare and kindy can apply home based goals at daycare and kindy, and kindy goals at home.  She has a special interest in teaching social skills to children on the spectrum and is actively involved in LEARN’s Social Skills programs.

Andrea Blair, B.Ed.

Behavioural Therapist

Andrea has recently completed her Bachelor of Education at Edith Cowan University which included a placement at an autism unit where she trained in the principles of ABA.

Andrea has extensive experience as a teaching assistant to children with special needs. She now is undergoing training with L.E.A.R.N. to further her passion of working with these children.

Andrea is a highly capable therapist as well as being a popular member of the L.E.A.R.N. therapy team.