Assoc Prof. Emma Sciberras

I am an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at Deakin University and a Clinical Psychologist. I am also an Honorary Research Fellow at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. I have worked in the area of ADHD for 15 years starting with a position coordinating the ADHD Assessment Clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital from 2005 to 2010.

I hold a National Health and Medical Research Council Career Development Fellowship (2016-2021) focused on ADHD research. My research aims to develop evidence-based behavioural interventions to improve outcomes for young people with ADHD. My research also focuses on understanding the developmental course of ADHD and the factors that can help children with ADHD to have positive outcomes over time.

Through my position on the AADPA board, I will contribute expertise in Clinical Psychology. I am a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). My strong track record in ADHD research (>120 publications, ~$9M in research funding) will be invaluable in advocating for funding for the organisation and supporting AADPA activities more broadly. I will also contribute to considerable community engagement experience.

I am committed to reducing the stigma associated with ADHD and working to ensure evidence-based information about the disorder is disseminated to the general community. I have been on the board since 2018 and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I hope to be able to continue to work with you all over the next few years.

Dr Alison (Sally) Poulton

I bring to the AADPA more than 20 years clinical and research experience and a commitment to improving the understanding and the clinical management of ADHD, including advocacy for better services for affected adults.

My 19 research papers and reviews have included investigating the effects of stimulant medication on growth and physical development. I have recently published 3 studies which failed to find any evidence to support a dose ceiling or any major problems with exceeding recommended stimulant doses. Research conducted with the assistance of AADPA indicated that observing a maximum dose tends to promote polypharmacy.

I have served on the NSW Stimulants Subcommittee for more than 12 years including 5 years as Chair. I have contributed to the NSW Criteria for diagnosis and management of ADHD. This gives me a broad understanding of the impact of prescribing regulations on clinical practice. I am committed to the rational reform of ADHD management guidelines.

As a paediatrician treating a condition which, for many people is lifelong, I am very concerned about the great difficulty adults with ADHD have in accessing affordable treatment, particularly for medication. My vision for ADHD management is a lifespan ADHD specialised clinic treating people with ADHD without age limitations. I am developing such a service in the public sector.

It is important for people with ADHD and their teachers and families to understand what it means to have ADHD. This is explained on my popular educational website which has had 697 visits in the past 30 days.

Prof. Christel Middeldorp

I am a professor of child and youth psychiatry, which is a conjoint position at the University of Queensland and Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service. For my clinical appointment, I work at the Child Development Service of the Queensland Children’s hospital, a specialist service for assessment and intervention of children with developmental problems, such as ADHD. The aim of my research is to improve the outcomes of the children with mental disorders, including ADHD, that are at the highest risk for persistence of symptoms into adulthood.

To that end, I try to identify both biological and environmental factors influencing persistence of psychiatric symptoms in childhood and to develop or adjust treatment programs targeted at children at highest risk for poor outcome. As part of this research, I perform a clinical trial to study whether addressing parental mental health also improves the outcome for the children.

As a board member of AADPA, I have been leading a study on the outcome of children with ADHD that are treated in child and youth mental health service. Recognition of my expertise also becomes apparent from my appointment by minister Greg Hunt as co-chair of the children’s mental health and wellbeing strategy.

Dr Lev Fridgant

I have been an active participant of the Tasmanian branch of the college, currently hold deputy chair position. I have been involved with the ACT College branch both as a member and as a secretary. I have also been involved in the training of registrars, supportive colleagues and have had a long-standing interest in doctors health matters. I had been on a board of AHPRA ACT and have contributed to AHRPA matters in Tasmania.

I have treated children and adults will ADHD over the last 20 or more years, and I am currently a financial member of the AADPA, having joined at the inception of the group. I am keen to advocate on behalf of the Tasmanian patients and colleagues, in matters relating to diagnosis, assessment and management of ADHD in a variety of formats.

Dr Shelley Gray

I have been involved in the diagnosis and management of ADHD for more than a decade in General Practice. I have personal experience that I bring to my work in General Practice, understanding the variability of diagnostic features, and approaches to management, associated comorbidities.

I have been involved in VAADHDIG since its inception in 2015. As a GP of more than 30 years experience, rural and urban trained, and a parent of 2 neurodivergent children, I have a significant level of ” coal face experience” in the diagnosis, treatment and interdisciplinary care of patients with ADHD. While I have no previous experience in a Board position, I have been running my own practice for 20 years.

Assoc. Prof. Tim Silk

I am a cognitive neuroscientist specializing in paediatric imaging in order to understand the brain-behaviour interface. I head the Brain and Cognitive Development Lab at Deakin University and hold honorary positions with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, and Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne. My research aims to identify ‘neuroimaging markers’ that can be used to distinguish common neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders and to monitor neurocognitive development.

I have worked in the ADHD field for 15 years and have held two NHMRC Fellowships focusing on ADHD. Currently, I lead Australia’s largest longitudinal imaging cohort of children with ADHD, in order to understand how brain structure and function change across childhood and adolescence, and how those changes reflect clinical and functional outcomes. Internationally, I also contribute to the ADHD working groups of the Enhancing NeuroImaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) and the Psychiatric Genetics Consortia.

I bring to the committee experience having founded and chaired a charity raising public awareness and research funding for Bipolar Disorder, been an elected executive for the Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society, and on the Australian Brain Alliance Steering Committee. Having been involved in AADPA since its conception and a director over the last year, I am enthusiastic to see it’s continued growth and contribution towards advocacy, policy and research of ADHD across Australia. I will be co-hosting the AADPA national conference in 2021.

David Nolte

Being an ADHD autodidact and passionate advocate who also has ADHD, I am a member of UKAAN, CADDRA & APSARD. By attending 10 Adult ADHD Conferences since 2010, I have networked many major players in this field. As a sole pharmacy proprietor since 1979 I have worked with ORT Sud, the indigenous, mental health and Life long ADHD individuals (both formally diagnosed and yet to be screened) and try and advocate their timely and cost-effective journey to obtain care and treatment.

I am passionate about having the 1970 DPU Regulations for ADHD treatment revisited through COAG and have the CADDRA Formulary of ADHD medications be incorporated into our PBS Listing. By correcting the administrative flaw to allow other medical practitioners to screen, diagnose and treat Lifelong ADHD, it will allow fair and timely access to this neurological condition (surrounded by numerous mental health co-morbidities). I have served as a Melbourne City Councillor, National Councillor of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and former member of the Pharmacy Board of Victoria (pre-AHPRA).

Key issues to be addressed by the Board include ( but not limited to ) implementing the Deloitte’s Report 2019, having ADHD treatment incorporated throughout all Australian Public Hospitals [eg ED screening(accidents], Addiction Medicine, screening and treatment throughout all Judicial and Correctional Facilities and screening for ADHD (and other related issues) from Kindergarten onward to intervene early and change educational outcomes. I seek your support to change outcomes for a fairer and more equitable system