About Us
Ruth Schmidt Neven
established the Centre for Child and Family Development in
1994. She is a child psychotherapist who trained at the
Tavistock Clinic in England, and a registered psychologist who is a member of the Australian Psychological Society. Ruth came to Australia in 1989 to
take up the first position of Chief Psychotherapist at the
Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, a post she held until
1994.
With over 25 years experience of work with
children parents and adolescents, Ruth is committed to
promoting knowledge and understanding about child and family
development in the broader community. She was a founder of
the innovative national support service Exploring Parenthood
in the U.K., and she writes and lectures extensively on all
aspects of child development, runs training programmes in
Australia and overseas, and acts as an adviser to Human
Services Departments and in the educational field.
Ruth has written four books, Exploring
Parenthood, Emotional Milestones: From Birth to
Adulthood, Rethinking ADHD: Integrated approaches to helping children at home and at school and Core Principles of Assessment and Therapeutic Communication with Children Parents and Families.
The Consulting Reference Group
The Consulting Reference Group is an informal
multidisciplinary advisory group of senior professionals who
keep the Centre up to date with developments in areas
relating to the development of children, parents and young
people in a changing society.
Dr. Jennifer McIntosh Clinical Child psychologist, family therapist and research consultant. Director Family Transitions
Emil Neven Adult psychotherapist and head of Pastoral Care, Monash Medical Centre
Diane Penkethman Head, The Currajong School Malvern
Dr. Sharne Rolfe Educational and developmental psychologist, Centre for Equity and Innovation in Early Childhood, University of Melbourne
Dr. David Sturrock Consultant adult psychiatrist in private practice
Ann Cebon Consulting Child Psychotherapist, founding member,
Victorian Association of Psychotherapists
Elisabeth Hanscombe Adult Psychotherapist
Dr. Jacinta Coleman Developmental and Behavioural Paediatrician Monash Medical Centre
Michael Grose Parent Educator Consultant and Writer
Anne Manne Journalist
and Writer
William Hanscombe
Solicitor
New South Wales:
Lorraine Rose
Psychologist and Psychotherapist, Founding Member of the
Parent Infant Foundation
Queensland:
Dr Janet Rhind Child
Psychiatrist, and member of the Brisbane Centre for
Psychoanalytic Studies
Western Australia:
Dr. Lynda Chadwick Paediatrician State Child Development Centre
South Australia:
Dr. Rebecca Coleman Clinical child adolescent and family psychologist Founder, Kindness for Kids programme
