Working together to improve the lives of people with brain impairment
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ASSBI Student AmbassadorsASSBI would like to thank ALL the students who have volunteered as Student Leaders and Ambassadors for 2020. We hope that you enjoy your time with ASSBI. We'd like to thank all those Ambassadors from 2019 and hope those of you who have finished your tenure as an ambassador will stay with us as student members. Click here to RENEW as a student member, to see all the benefits of being a member Click here. Membership is still only $80 ($144 for 2 years). We are still recruiting for 2020 in Brisbane, Sydney, Far North QLD and Wellington, NZ. We have both undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of universities and disciplines, Speech Pathology, Clinical Psychology, Neuropsychology, OT, Physiotherapy to name a few. Student roles with ASSBI include a National Student Co-ordinator, Regional Team Leaders and Student Ambassadors. The National Student Co-ordinator is responsible for supporting ASSBI's student team leaders and ambassadors across Australia and NZ. The student Co-ordinator is supported by the student liaison officer and liases with the executive committee regarding student events and provides updates to students about opportunities for students. All student representatives receive free ASSBI membership for one year, while Team Leaders and the National Student Co-ordinator also receive a complementary ASSBI conference registration during their tenure. |
| DR DANA WONG |
| JONATHAN REYESNational Student Co-ordinator 2018-2020 Contact: student@exemail.com.au |
TEAM ADELAIDE |
 | Philip dobekTeam Leader 2020 Clinical Psychology, University of Adelaide Philip is currently undertaking his second year of the Honours degree of Bachelor of Psychology (Advanced) at the University of Adelaide. He has an interest in the research of development mechanisms of anxiety and depressive disorders, as well as their clinical treatment. Having personally witnessed the impact brain impairment can have, he was inspired to spread word of the importance of researching brain impairment by being a student ambassador for the ASSBI. Going forward, Philip aspires to completeHonoursand Postgraduate studies in order to become a practicing clinical psychologist and researcher. |
| Tayla BLeckyStudent Ambassador 2019 Tayla is currently completing her Masters of Occupational Therapy at Flinders University. She has developed a strong interest in brain injury after completing a placement on an acute stroke ward. She has a passion to learn about brain injury rehabilitation strategies and has volunteered for Car Free Me, a program designed to help those who have experienced brain injury access transport independently. She hopes to further her knowledge in this area through her final placement in rehabilitation. |
| Stella LycosStudent Ambassador 2020 Stella Lycos is in her third year of a Bachelor of Psychological Science at the University of Adelaide. She is majoring in neuroscience and has a strong interest in addiction, clinical neuropsychology, and cross-cultural psychology. She is currently a volunteer counsellor for those affected by drug and alcohol addiction and has been a lab assistant on a project exploring traumatic brain injury and its impact on cognition and learning. Stella hopes to become a clinical psychologist and continue working with those battling addiction. |
nusrat asadStudent Ambassador 2020 Nusrat Asad is a current third year Bachelor of Psychological Science student at the University of Adelaide. She is interning at the Centre for Creative Health at the Royal Adelaide Hospital with the aim to produce a journal publication outlining the effects of live music in acute hospital settings, under the supervision of Michelle Cripps, the director. Nusrat has experience interning at the Fringe, exploring the effects of the Fringe on mental health and wellbeing. She has a particular interest in health psychology and hopes to pursue postgraduate studies in psychology. |
THERE IS NO TEAM BRISBANE FOR 2020
TEAM PERTH |
| RACHAEL MUMME
Team Leader 2019-21 Rachael Mumme is currently completing a combined masters/doctorate program in Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Western Australia. Along with a supervisory team of Dr Michael Weinborn, Dr Stephanie Rainey-Smith and Dr Romola Bucks, her doctoral research begins to investigate how cognitive variability within an individual is related to Alzheimer's disease. Rachael has practical experience with individuals with both acquired brain injury and dementia from a number of hands on volunteering roles. |
| KELSEY SEWELL Student Ambassador 2020 Kelsey is currently in her third year of her Bachelor of Science, majoring in Psychology, at Murdoch University. Her major interest is in neuroscience, and she is currently working towards her first publication, which is a systematic review investigating the relationship between multilingualism and Alzheimer’s Disease. Kelsey plans to go on to complete Honours and Postgraduate studies in the hope of becoming a clinician, researcher or academic. |
| DANIELLE FYNN
Student Ambassador 2020 Danielle is completing her combined masters/doctorate in Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Western Australia. Her thesis explores the relation of alexithymia and metacognition as predictors of functional outcomes in acquired brain injury; under the supervisory team of Dr Michael Weinborn, Assoc. Prof Carmela Pestell, Dr Rodrigo Becerra and Dr Gilles Gignac. Danielle is a support worker in the community and has practical experience in dementia, mental health and disability. Inspired by the role neuropsychology plays in brain injury rehabilitation, Danielle hopes to increase functioning, decrease disability and re-establish quality of life in people living with brain impairment in the future. |
THERE IS NO TEAM SYDNEY FOR 2020 |
THERE IS NO Team Far North Queensland for 2020 |
Team Melbourne |
| TaYLOR RAE JENKIN
Team Leader 2022 Taylor is in her third year of the combined Master of Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology)/PhD Programme at The University of Melbourne. Her research is based at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, where she works under the supervision of Professor Vicki Anderson, Doctor Sarah Knight and Kate D'Cruz. She is passionate about investigating the implementation of family-centered care in paediatric acquired brain injury neurorehabilitation. |
| SOPHIE O'KEEFE
Student Ambassador 2020 Sophie is an occupational therapist and PhD candidate at La Trobe University. Her doctoral research is exploring early return to work intervention approaches following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury under the supervision of Associate Professor Natasha Lannin and Associate Professor Mandy Stanley. She currently works as an academic at La Trobe University. |
| NICK SATHANANTHAN
Student Ambassador 2020 Nick Sathananthan is a current combined Master of Clinical Neuropsychology and PhD candidate at La Trobe University. Nick has a keen interest neurorehabilitation and improving clinical translation. His program of research is investigating the effectiveness of a new group intervention aiming to improve participation in meaningful life activities in survivors of acquired brain injuries under the supervision of Doctor Dana Wong. |
| louisA selvaduraiStudent Ambassador 2020 Louisa Selvadurai is a Doctor of Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology) candidate at Monash University. Her doctoral research is investigating the cerebral effects of a rare neurodegenerative disorder, Friedreich ataxia, through the use of brain MRI. She is supervised by Professor Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis, Dr Ian Harding, and Associate Professor Louise Corben. Louisa has undertaken clinical neuropsychology placements in inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation settings, which has led to her interest in the contribution that neuropsychologists and other allied health professionals make in the rehabilitation of individuals following an acquired brain injury. |
| AMANDA TANStudent Ambassador 2020 Doctor of Dental Surgery, University of Melbourne Amanda has been interested in the study of consciousness and brain injuries since her early undergraduate days. Amanda first found out about ASSBI as Academic Vice President of the Premedical Society, after their stall was approached by Ambassadors on UQ’s clubs and societies' day. Amanda was responsible for organising and planning academic seminars, and took the initiative to collaborate with ASSBI for the first time in the UQ Premedical Society’s history on a neuro seminar for premed students. Amanda’s experience being a Sydney ASSBI Ambassador in 2019 was great and she aspires to plan more events during this year. Looking forward to 2020. |
Team Newcastle |
| WINIFRED ASARE-DOKUTeam Leader 2019-2020 Winifred is a current Doctor of Philosophy (Psychiatry) candidate at The University of Newcastle. Her doctoral research is investigating mental health of the mining industry in Ghana and Australia under the supervision of Dr Jane Rich, A/Prof Carole James, Prof Brian Kelly and Dr Kwasi Amponsah-Tawiah. Winifred is a Clinical Psychologist by training and has experience working with individuals with mental health challenges including children and adults with brain impairments affecting their cognitive functions. |
| KIMBERLEY WALLISStudent Ambassador 2020 Kimberley Wallis is a current Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology - Science) candidate at The University of Newcastle. Kimberley’s doctoral research is investigating the validity of a new measure of social skills for use in individuals with an acquired brain injury, under the supervision of Dr Michelle Kelly and Dr Linda Campbell. Kimberley’s interest in neurorehabilitation started following her father’s strokes and her continued experience working as a support worker for people with brain injuries. |
| lucy fryStudent Ambassador 2020 Lucy Fry is commencing her first year in a Bachelor of Speech Pathology at the University of Newcastle. She has a keen interest in Speech Therapy and the rehabilitation of patients with traumatic brain injury or stroke. Lucy is looking forward to her studies and developing her knowledge in brain impairments and their effects on language and speech. |
| AVNI ARISHA KUMARStudent Ambassador 2020Speech Pathology, University of Newcastle Avni is currently completing her third year of Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) at the University of Newcastle. She is a United Nations (Humanitarian Affairs Asia) Peace Ambassador and works with various NGO’s. Avni has a keen interest to introduce rehabilitation and management strategies in countries lacking speech pathology services to improve individual’s speech and/or language abilities. In future, she would love to work with children and adults with acquired and traumatic brain injury. |
TEAM TASMANIA
| sarah skromanisTeam Leader 2019-21 Sarah Skromanis is a current Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (Psychology) candidate at the University of Tasmania, Launceston. Sarah’s research is focused on examining the extent to which contextual information informs social cognitive abilities among individuals with an acquired brain injury. Sarah is specifically focusing on social disinhibition and the contextual factors (e.g., high-stake versus low-stake social situations) that may govern this process. She is being supervised by Dr Cynthia Honan, Dr Allison Matthews, Dr Christine Padgett and Dr Mandy Matthewson. Sarah hopes to develop her interest in this area, both clinically and in a research capacity.
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| rachel breenStudent Ambassador 2020 Rachel Breen is a current PhD candidate (Medical Studies) at the University of Tasmania, Launceston. She has previously completed a Bachelor of Psychology (hons). Rachel has a strong interest in health psychology and community health, which has led to collaborative work with non-for-profit organisations in Tasmania. She also has experience as a casual academic for units including dementia care, the brain and dementia, and several undergraduate psychology units. |
| Jaclyn KostaStudent Ambassador 2020 Jaclyn Kosta is a third year student studying in Bachelor of Psychological Science at University of Tasmania. Jaclyn has a specific interest in neuropsychology in particular acquired brain injury. |
Team Auckland
| Emma TomasTeam Leader 2020 Emma is currently completing her fourth year of the Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy (Honours) program at Massey University. Her honours research project will investigate aphasia awareness in New Zealand; in hopes of providing further education and support in the community. Emma has a strong interest in children and adults with neurogenic communication disorders. This interest has come from her previous experience working with complex clients who have been affected by neurological impairment, such as TBI or stroke. In 2019, Emma completed a six-week placement at Waitakere Hospital, working with patients in the acute, rehabilitative and community setting. This year she was hoping to complete a rural interprofessional placement where she would be working alongside other health professionals in a similar setting. Emma looks forward to being part of a wider team in helping raise awareness for people with brain impairment. |
| mikayla ScottStudent Ambassador 2020 Mikayla Scott is a current Speech and Language Therapy Student at Massey University. She has a growing passion for stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation due to inspiration invoked by the field of neuroplasticity. She is also motivated to increase the efficacy of compensatory rehabilitation by raising awareness of strategies that assist people with aphasia and cognitive communication disorders to live successfully. This year she hopes to complete a placement in a hospital to gain experience working with people who have experienced a TBI or stroke. |
Sára zsadanyiStudent Ambassador 2020 Sára Zsadanyi is studying for her postgraduate diploma in Psychology with the aim of entering into a master's degree in Neuroscience or Neurorehabilitation. She has had many years of experience working with elderly people with dementia and children with Autism and Angelmans Syndrome. She hopes that one day her research can make a change in the world, whether it is for one person or for many. |
| Sahil pratapStudent Ambassador 2020 Sahil Pratap is currently completing a postgraduate diploma in science (in Psychology) at the University of Auckland. He is interested in Psychology through learning about different aspects of the subject in undergraduate studies and during his time, he is working with Geneva Healthcare. He is interested in brain impairment and all the challenges that come with it due to his experience working with clients who have brain impairment. He wishes to understand more about this topic and others as he wants to complete a masters in health psychology and become a health psychologist. |
| tash thompsonStudent Ambassador 2020 Tash is completing her final year of the Master of Speech Language Therapy programme at the University of Auckland. Her interest in brain injury and rehabilitation was sparked during her undergraduate psychology degree, while completing papers in neuroscience and reading the works of the late Neurologist Oliver Sacks. Tash is passionate about working alongside people with acquired brain injury and their families, helping them negotiate the often profound changes associated with post-injury life. Research in neurological rehabilitation is also a keen interest of Tash’s, and she hopes to contribute more to this field in the future. Under the supervision of Dr Clare McCann, her current research investigates factors associated with verbal fluency in late adulthood, with the aim of creating normative data of verbal fluency scores for older New Zealand adults. She has previously undertaken a study looking at the role of singing in affective prosody recovery for people with aphasia. Tash’s passion for science education saw her briefly work as a Journalist for a psychology magazine before continuing with postgraduate study. |
