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. She 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 two books, Exploring Parenthood and Emotional Milestones: From Birth to Adulthood, both published by the Australian Council for Educational Research. Ruth is also the principle author of Rethinking ADHD : An Illness For Our Time

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.

Victoria:

Dr Vicki Anderson Neuro-Psychologist, Department of Psychology, University of Melbourne

Anne Manne Journalist and Writer

Ann Cebon Consulting Child Psychotherapist, Specialist in Infant Observation

William Hanscombe Solicitor

Professor Samuel Menahem Paediatric Cardiologist, Royal Children's Hospital and Monash Medical Centre

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