Our Team

Experts in brain injury, complex cases and behaviour support services

Our staff are very experienced psychologists. Most practitioners have more than 10 years’ experience in brain injury and behaviour support. In total, the practitioners have conducted thousands of neuropsychology assessments and behaviour management interventions.

Diverge offers a community based state-wide service, which means that we see people in their own homes and other places within the community.

We have regionally based clinicians and we offer face-to-face and telehealth services.

  • Samantha Burns

    Manager

    MA (Clinical Neuropsychology)

    Samantha is a clinical neuropsychologist who has worked in the field of psychology and behaviour management for over 25 years. She was a founding member of the ABI Behaviour Consultancy and has previously worked for the Southern Region Behaviour Intervention Support Team (DHS) and the Epworth Hospital Rehabilitation Team. Samantha has particular expertise in working with clients who present with a high level of complexity (e.g. highly aggressive clients, complex family based interventions, severe mental health and ABI issues). She regularly presents specialist training programs across Victoria and has been invited to train psychologists interstate and in New Zealand.

  • Jan Loewy

    Service Mentor & Clinical Supervisor

    MA (Clinical Neuropsychology)

    Jan has over 30 years clinical experience as a neuropsychologist. Her roles have included Neuropsychologist in the Brain Injury Unit at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Neuropsychologist at Arbias, and Senior Neuropsychologist at the Multiple Sclerosis Society of NSW. She was a founding member of the Victorian PACS service (Positive Approaches to Challenging Situations) and the ABI Behaviour Consultancy. She is currently a Service Mentor and Clinical Supervisor at Diverge Consulting.

  • Dr Kathryn Hoskin

    Neuropsychology Assessment Co-ordinator

    DPsych (Clinical Neuropsychology)

    Kathryn is a neuropsychologist with 20 years experience in hospital and community-based assessment, rehabilitation and behaviour management. She has previously worked for arbias, the ABI Behaviour Consultancy and Epworth Rehabilitation (Cedar Court), and currently works as the Neuropsychology Assessment Coordinator at Diverge. Kathryn has published articles regarding the relationship between neuropsychology assessment and everyday abilities and presented research on working with clients with ABI and sexually inappropriate behaviour. She specialises in working with clients, their families and teams to manage challenging behaviour after ABI.

  • Genevieve McMahon

    Paediatric Co-ordinator

    MA (Clinical Neuropsychology), MCFT, Grad. Dip (Mental Health Sciences)

     

    Genevieve is a neuropsychologist with over 30 years experience in both adult and child rehabilitation. She has worked as a neuropsychologist at the former TAC Rehabilitation Centre, Epworth Hospital (Richmond and Camberwell), South West Brain Injury Service (Albury), arbias, Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre and the Royal Children’s Hospital, as well as related roles with the Melbourne Citymission’s Statewide ABI Paediatric Coordinators, the Headstart Program (Monash University) and Victoria University. Genevieve is the Coordinator of Paediatric services at Diverge and has a strong interest in understanding the long-term impact of brain injury for children, and the implications for education, as well as the impact of brain injury on families.

    She has completed the Developmental Psychiatry course at the Mindful Centre and has completed studies in Family Therapy through the Bouverie Centre to develop her understanding and skills in these areas of interest.

  • Dr Adrian Kamer

    Training Co-ordinator

    DPsych (Clinical Neuropsychology)

    Adrian is a clinical neuropsychologist with experience in conducting comprehensive cognitive and behavioural assessments with complex clients.  He has previously worked in clinical research investigating the early detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, and currently holds a position as a senior clinical neuropsychologist in the public health sector as part of the Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Service.  Adrian has a particular interest in the diagnosis and management of complex clients with acquired brain injury (ABI) with multiple co-morbidities. He has experience with adult neurology, traumatic brain injury, stroke, dementia, mental health, drug and alcohol, and behavioural interventions across the lifespan. He is currently the Training Coordinator at Diverge Consulting and is passionate about providing ongoing education opportunities for clients, families, other clinicians and the general public.

  • Dr Sara Fratti

    Clinical Neuropsychologist

    PhD (Clinical Neuropsychology)

    Sara is a clinical neuropsychologist with more than 7 years experience as a clinician conducting comprehensive neuropsychological assessments to diagnose a variety of brain-related conditions. Sara is fluent in both English and Italian and is able to conduct assessments using both languages. Sara primarily provides assessments and interventions to adults of all ages including young adolescents aged 16 and over. She has a particular interest in the diagnosis and management of complex clients with ABI. Her expertise includes adult neurology, dementia, drug and alcohol, stroke, traumatic brain injuries and behavioural interventions. Sara also holds a position as a clinical neuropsychologist at arbias ltd. and has previously worked with the Brain Disorders Program of Austin Health and St. Vincent’s Hospital.

  • Nicolette Ingram

    Clinical Neuropsychologist

    MPsych (Clinical Neuropsychology)

    Nicolette is a clinical neuropsychologist, with experience conducting comprehensive neuropsychology asssessments with children, adolescents and adults. She has previously worked in paediatric, Cognitive Dementia and Memory Service (CDAMS), general neurology and aged psychiatry settings. Most recently, Nicolette has worked with children and adolescents to help them and their care team to understand their barriers to learning in the context of complex trauma, substance use, mental health issues and low school attendance rates. Nicolette also has a background in research regarding neuropsychology assessment protocols and factors influencing recovery following mild traumatic brain injury.

  • Dr Penny Analytis

    Clinical Neuropsychologist

    DPsych (Clinical Neuropsychology)

    Penny is a clinical neuropsychologist with experience conducting comprehensive neuropsychology assessments with children, adolescents and adults. She has previously worked in paediatric rehabilitation, Cognitive Dementia and Memory Service (CDAMS), and general neurology. Penny also has a background in research regarding family wellbeing in families with a child with an acquired brain injury and positive behaviour support.

  • Dr Brendan McLaren

    Clinical Neuropsychologist

    DPsych (Clinical Neuropsychology)

    Brendan is a clinical neuropsychologist with experience conducting comprehensive neuropsychological assessments with adults, adolescents, and children. Brendan has experience with the assessment and management of acquired brain injury and traumatic brain injury and has worked in Cognitive Dementia and Memory Service and neurorehabilitation settings.  Brendan has a background in research regarding the development of smartphone technologies that enable frequent and convenient cognitive assessment of people with Huntington’s disease, a rare neurodegenerative disorder.
  • Joel Goutler

    Clinical Neuropsychologist

    MPsych (Clinical Neuropsychology) 

    Joel is a clinical neuropsychologist with experience in conducting comprehensive neuropsychological assessments with adults, adolescents, and children. He has previously worked in the brain injury rehabilitation program (BIRP) in NSW and in private psychological practice. He has a special interest in the assessment and management of acquired brain injuries and functional neurological disorder. Joel is experienced in adapting psychological therapies for clients with a brain condition and draws from a wide range of treatment modalities including positive behaviour support, cognitive behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, motivational interviewing, and aspects of Schema therapy.

  • Michelle Catena

    Practice Manager

    Our Practice Manager, Michelle is a compassionate, organised and resourceful professional who holds decades of experience in front and back of house allied health management, administration, and customer service experience. 

    Michelle’s role as Practice Manager at Diverge Neuropsychology is responsible for safe and efficient clinic operations. Michelle is a warm, friendly and compassionate Practice Manager who is the face of the clinic and can assist you with all of your administrative requirements.

    Michelle’s experience and skills include provision of best practice customer service to clients, government agencies and other organisations. Ensures clinic systems, policies and procedures comply with legislation and industry requirements. Understanding of NDIS, Transport Accident Commission, Medicare, Private Health Fund and various government and private third-party referral systems and processes. Possession of excellent communication skills accompanied by a genuine warmth and empathy to support individuals from all ages and abilities to easily build meaningful and long lasting customer relations.