The team working to develop the National Guidance includes people with diverse knowledge, skills, experience, and perspectives relevant to the National Guidance.
Professor Dawn Adams (Project Co-lead)
Dawn (she/her) is the Endowed Chair of the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC) at La Trobe University. She is a neurodivergent clinical psychologist and academic who co-produces research with autistic people, families, educators, and policymakers, with a focus on autistic students’ wellbeing, belonging, and inclusion in school settings.
Professor Suzanne Carrington (Project Co-lead)
Suzanne (she/her) has 30 years of experience working in universities including teaching, research, international development, and various leadership roles. She is a qualified teacher, and has worked in early childhood, primary, secondary, and special schools. She was also the Program Director of the School Years Program for Autism CRC from 2013–2022. Suzanne’s areas of expertise are in inclusive education, ethical/transformative leadership for inclusive schools, disability, and teacher preparation for inclusive schools.
Dr Emma Goodall (Project Co-lead)
Emma (she/her) is an auDHD (autistic and ADHD) researcher and public policy professional working within Australasia to improve life outcomes for neurodivergent individuals. She is an experienced and qualified teacher at pre-school and school levels and has worked across all levels of education as a teacher, specialist teacher, and consultant, including working with federally funded autism projects.
Associate Professor Kate Simpson
Kate (she/her) is the Director of the Autism Centre of Excellence (ACE) in the School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University. She is also the Program Director of Griffith University's postgraduate autism studies program. Kate is a qualified occupational therapist and a teacher (primary and special education). She brings over three decades of experience working with autistic people and their families.
Dr Annetta Cayas
Annetta (she/her) is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Griffith University, and lectures in teacher education at Queensland University of Technology. She is also a registered secondary teacher and a parent of neurodivergent children. Annetta's research explores the intersection of families and schooling and investigates how educational policy and school requirements for parent engagement impact the day-to-day experiences of diverse young people, parents, families, and educators.
Dr Elizabeth J. Cook
Elizabeth (she/her) is autistic and has ADHD. She is currently a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the School of Education at Queensland University of Technology, and a sessional academic at Edith Cowan University. Elizabeth has over a decade of experience in education, evaluation, and applied research. She has contributed to large-scale evaluations for education departments, government agencies, and not-for-profits across early childhood, school, and higher education sectors.
Dr Louise White
Louise (she/her) is an autistic researcher, a registered teacher, and mother of autistic children. She is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Autism Centre of Excellence at Griffith University and at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC) at La Trobe University. Louise has won many awards and accolades for her doctoral research, which looked at identifying ways to effectively support autistic students’ transition on from secondary schooling. Louise is an inclusive curriculum consultant and has taught in primary and secondary schools in both Australia and England.