Sarah MacDermott
(Chair)

Sarah qualified as a Speech Language Pathologist at W.A.I.T. (now Curtin University) and then worked in a range of roles within Disability Services Commission. She then lived and worked in Los Angeles California and completed an MA in Education. Over the course of her career Sarah has worked in a variety of roles in home, clinic, centre based and school settings and increasingly specialised in working with individuals on the Autism Spectrum. Sarah is Hanan Certified, is an SAS (Secret Agent Society) social skills program facilitator, and a Certified Special Needs Quality Life Coach.

Sarah is also the proud mother of twin daughters who are now young adults and who are both on the Autism Spectrum (this was included with their permission).

Sarah has been a long-time WAADF Board member and was the founding Chairperson of WAADF when it became incorporated in 2004.

Christine Bosch
(Co-Vice Chair)

Christine Bosch qualified as a Speech Pathologist and Audiologist in South Africa in 1996 and has 26 years clinical experience including speech sound disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, language disorders, auditory perceptual disorders, autism. She worked in schools and private practice in Johannesburg and was involved in training pre-primary teachers of the private schools in Johannesburg in speech, language and auditory perceptual development. She was the Chairperson of the Speech-Language Hearing Association Private Practitioners’ Group from 2004 until 2010 when she immigrated to Australia with her husband. Christine then completed her training as an ASD diagnostic assessor and joined WAADF.

Christine worked at Therapy Focus and was awarded the Leadership Award in 2017 for her work in setting up and co-ordinating the Autism Diagnostic Portfolio and assessment service at Therapy Focus.

Christine is the founder of Ocean West Autism Diagnostic and Speech Pathology Services. Christine loves working with and advocating for autistic people and their families. She is also passionate about upskilling clinicians in providing intervention autistic individuals.

Nikki Campbell
(Co-Vice Chair)

Nikki currently works at Therapy Focus in her capacity as a speech and language pathologist and as part of their Autism Diagnostic Team. She is a practicing member of Speech Pathology Australia with 20 years of clinical experience, mainly in the provision of services to paediatric clients.

After qualifying as a Speech and Language Pathologist and Audiologist in 1999 and completing her Master of Science in Speech Pathology in 2003, Nikki went on to work in New York City (USA), London (UK), and Cape Town (South Africa). In 2015 she moved with her family to Perth. Nikki has a special interest in ASD diagnostics and is passionate about working with clients with ASD.

Julie May
(Treasurer)

Coming Soon

Emina Cholich
(Secretary)

Emina Cholich is a Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience working with neurodivergent people and their families. She has worked across various community and hospital settings with children and adults, and currently works in the private system. Her interventions are person-centred, collaborative, incorporate family and consider functional capacity across all systems the individual engages with.

She has a particular interest in Autism diagnostic assessment. She is committed to providing an evidence-based, neurodiverse-affirming, and collaborative assessment process which focuses on the individual learning more about themselves, and integrating their diagnosis as a unique and positive aspect of their identity. As well as learning to manage the challenges that come along with it.

She has completed research in the area of Autism Diagnostic assessment gold standard processes, and received a National Prize from the APS for her research and clinical work throughout her Clinical Psychology Training at University.

Emina has travelled abroad and done outreach work in Indonesia and Lithuania. In Lithuania part of her role was to work with the education department and provide training to their teaching staff in practical ways to support autistic and other neurodivergent children to safely and successfully engage in mainstream classrooms.

Scott Sadler
(Temporary Web Manager)

Scott has worked on the WAADF website since late 2012 and currently works at Spectrum Space (formerly Autism West) since July 2013, managing all IT related matters such as the website, social media, newsletters and membership. He also assists with event management and administration duties.

Scott grew up with autism and previously worked almost 10 years in a library. He has studied his Certificate 3 and 4 in IT, and enjoys snooker, reading, movies and supports the West Coast Eagles.

In 2017 Scott was a semi-finalist for the Western Australian Young Achiever Awards in the Community Service and Volunteering Award category.

After 10 long years with WAADF, Scott is stepping down from his role, though he is continuing to support WAADF until a replacement can be found.

Jodie McMorrow
(Membership Officer)

Coming Soon

Diane Kounis
(Ordinary Member)

Diane has been involved in education over 30 plus years in early childhood, primary and high school contexts and joined WAADF in 2019.

She holds degrees from W.A.I.T (Curtin) and ECU.

As a Consultant her role is to support schools in managing inclusion and assuring the adjustments for students with disabilities are made so that curriculum access is equitable.

Working with students with disabilities and their families has allowed her to experience and advise on pathways for families to consider in their child’s education and transition into adult life.

John Schad
(Ordinary Member)

John Schad is a teacher with over 8 years’ experience in working with individuals with autism. Before coming to Perth, John worked for 12 years at the Princeton Child Development Institute (PCDI) – a private, centre-based educational program for individuals with autism. During his employment there he attended Holy Family University and received a Masters of Education, with duel certifications in Primary Education and Special Education. While at PCDI he worked in a variety of roles including teacher and trainer in the institute’s Adult Life-Skills Program. This included a five-year appointment at Mountainview, one of the Institute’s group homes, where he resided with his family and 5 adults with autism, under the Teaching Family model of intervention.

Since moving to Australia John has worked at the School of Special Educational Needs: Disability as a Consulting Teacher with the Autism Education Service, providing support to schools and students with ASD. While working at SSEND, he completed a graduate certification program at the University of West Florida and is now a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst.

He currently is the Program Coordinator for the Specialised Learning Program for Students with Autism at Samson Primary School. The program provides evidence based interventions for students with ASD.

Regina Ledo
(Ordinary Member)

Regina Ledo is a Psychologist with over 25 years experience in working with individuals with autism and their families. Regina studied at Murdoch University; while undertaking post-graduate studies she joined the landmark Murdoch University Young Autism Project and began her career in supporting individuals with autism. She spent 12 years at the Princeton Child Development Institute (PCDI) – a private, centre-based educational program for individuals with autism, the majority of these as a trainer in the institute’s early intervention, education, and adult programs. This included a five-year appointment at Mountainview, one of in the institute’s group homes, where she resided with her family under the Teaching Family model. Regina is currently in private practice, consulting to families and agencies supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

Jennifer Hogan
(Ordinary Member)

Jenny Hogan trained in medicine and in paediatrics in WA, with over 20 years of both rural (Port Hedland and environs) and metropolitan experience, and has been practising developmental paediatrics from the Fremantle Child Development Service since 2004.

She is an accredited ASD assessor with Child Development Services, and enjoys helping children and their families through the process from diagnosis of Autism to functional and fulfilled adulthood.

Jenny is a longstanding WAADF member and is also a member of the Neurodevelopmental Behavioural and Paediatric Society of Australasia (NBPSA).

Brodie Cooper
(Ordinary Member)

Coming Soon