Our Expert Collaborators
Steven Dupon | Gaming | Social Media 101
Founding Director of the Institute of Games
Steven is the Founding Director of the Institute of Games, an organisation that keeps gaming safe and fun for children. He is the author of Video Games: How to deal with Excessive Gaming and the Video Games Report. He is also a winner of the READYS for excellence and innovation in the delivery of youth services in Victoria.
Stephanie Merkouris | Gambling 101
Deakin University School of Psychology Research Fellow
Dr Stephanie Merkouris is a Research Fellow, in the School of Psychology at Deakin University, with over 8 years of research experience. One of her main research interests relates to the examination of factors associated with the development of behavioural addictions (e.g., gambling and gaming), and how advances in technology can be utilised for assessment, intervention and dissemination purposes.
Jeremy Neumann | Resilience | Mental Health 101
Youth, Adult and Family Counsellor BBus; GDipPsych; MSW, AMHSW
Jeremy currently works at Bayside City Council Youth Services as Acting Coordinator and Youth Counsellor. Jeremy is an experienced youth, adult and family counsellor with a breadth of clinical experience across both the public and the private sectors. Jeremy has a clinical interest working with people through anxiety, life transitions, identity and depression. He has a strong grounding in mindfulness based approaches, completing further training in Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and incorporates the ideals of everyday mindfulness into his practice. Jeremy’s therapeutic style empowers the client as the expert of their own life, drawing on positive psychology and holistic approaches to intervention.
Matthew Boyd | Resilience | Mental Health 101
AFL Development Academy Coach
Matthew is a former professional athlete in the Australian Football League (AFL) where he spent 16 years as a player for the Western Bulldogs Football Club from 2002-2017, captaining the club from 2011-2013. He is currently working at the Collingwood Football Club as a Development Academy coach where he works closely with 1-4 year players. Outside of football, Matthew attended Deakin University where he completed a Bachelor of Commerce (2008) and a Master of Business Administration – MBA (2013). In 2014, he undertook a 1 year internship at PwC where he worked in the Business Advisory arm of the firm on various internal and external projects. He is currently completing his Level 3 High Performance Coach accreditation.
Frank Zoumboulis | Resilience | Mental Health 101
Psychotherapist
Frank Zoumboulis has worked in private practise as a psychotherapist In Melbourne for over 20 years. His work is informed by experience and psychological theory from a psychodynamic approach: i.e. In order to feel good about ourselves and our lives we need to develop good relationships with others. Frank is an advocate for young people having a say about what may be bothering them. He works with adults and young people who are experiencing anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, relationship issues and low self-esteem. See Frank on page 28 of Mental Health 101.
Hugh Martin | Addiction | Pornography | Sex 101
ManEnough
Hugh Martin is a family therapist and advocate for men who want to live a life free of pornography. Never before pornography been more available, affordable and anonymous and its accessibility is having a detrimental impact on how men and boys relate to women and girls. As a result, Hugh is one of a small number of therapists helping men to repair relationships and redefine their sexuality after of the long-term influence of pornography. See Hugh on page 33 of Sex 101.
Clare Gardner | Drugs 101
Melbourne City Mission
Clare graduated from RMIT University in 2012 completing a double degree in social work and psychology. She completed a social work placement at Eastern Access Community Health (EACH) within the Eastern Drug and Alcohol Service (EDAS) presenting psycho-education workshops to young people in high school about alcohol and other drugs. Clare has also worked with Berry Street Victoria in Shepparton. There she assisted young people in out of home care and families impacted by drug abuse. She’s assisted with the Transport Accident Commission’s ‘Vanessa’ program engaging young people in conversations about the dangers of drink/drug driving. Clare currently works with Melbourne City Mission in their Springboard program.
Marie Yap | Drugs 101 | Mental Health 101
BA, BSc(Hons), MPsych(Clinical), PhD
Marie Yap is an Associate Professor and Psychologist at Monash University. Her work focuses on translating research evidence into resources that parents can access, to help promote their children’s resilience and protect them from mental health and substance misuse problems. She is mum to an energetic 6-year-old and a 10-year-old turning 16.
Kirsten Cleland | Drugs 101 | Mental Health 101
Headspace
Kirsten is a mental health social worker who has worked in the public mental health sector for 23 years. For the past 8 years she has been the Manager of headspace Elsternwick. Headspace was established to provide a model of early intervention to young people and their family and friends and see young people with social and family issues, mental health concerns as well as difficulties with school or work and drug and alcohol misuse/abuse. See Kirsten on page 15 of Drugs 101.
Paula Ross | Drugs 101
Psychologist
Willams Rd Family Therapy Centre
Paula is a practising psychologist and holds a master’s degree in counselling psychology. She has worked in the drug and alcohol field for over 20 years. Paula has particular interest and experience in working with individuals, couples and families with issues of substance use and addiction and completed her Masters’ thesis on therapists’ perspectives on engaging family members in alcohol and drug counselling. She maintains a private practice, is a senior consultant with LeeJenn, and is on the advisory committee of Family Drug Help at the Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC). See Paula on page 22 of Drugs 101.
Travis Barugh | Drugs 101
Recovering Drug Addict
Travis is a recovering drug addict. For the past three years he has been clean and sober after more than a decade in active addiction, resulting in job losses, relationship break downs and health risks, Travis finally sought help for his addiction, checking himself into rehab at the end of 2012. It is there that he became heavily involved in a program that promotes abstinent lifestyles. Today Travis lives a happy drug-free life and reaps the rewards of hard work — he is a project manager for an up-and-coming boutique builder — and enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, friends and family. He offers his time and his experience with addiction freely, in an effort to help other suffering addicts and their loved ones. Travis appears on page 20 of Drugs 101.
Fiona Blee | Drugs 101 | Mental Health 101
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor
Fiona is a researcher and trainer employed by Monash University and based at Turning Point. She manages a NHMRC-funded randomised control trial that is looking at the efficacy of a health education program that aims to enhance the help-seeking skills of secondary school students. Fiona completed a Masters degree in Public Health in 2010 at La Trobe University, where she undertook action research into how to engage youth in school-based mental health promotion. She has previously worked in sexual health promotion, mental health promotion and as a trainer with young people.
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg | Drugs 101 | Social Media 101
Psychologist
Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre
An eminent psychologist currently the managing director of the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre. Michael is committed to exploring and understanding the role of new and emerging technologies in the lives of young people. He believes that the risk of the online environment can be managed and that technologies can be used to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people. See Michael on page 32 of Drugs 101.
Isabelle Oderberg | Social Media 101
Social Media Expert
Australian Red Cross
Social media expert who has worked as a journalist at Reuters, Dow Jones and the Herald Sun. She has been the social media editor for News Corp nationally and currently is the Head of Social Media at the Australian Red Cross.
Sue Anderson | Social Media 101
Author, Speaker & Coach
Good2Gr8
In 2007 Sue Anderson developed the award winning approach to bullying: ‘Unbullyable’. Based in Ballarat, Sue has worked with hundreds of children to help them move from bullied to Unbullyable. She promotes a positive, preventative approach to bullying, and is especially passionate about empowering bullies to choose to stop bullying.
Greg Gebhart | Social Media 101
IT & Social Media Researcher
Greg has presented to staff, students and parents of Firbank, several times and is recognised globally for his research and knowledge of IT and Social Media. He is currently consulting to ‘The office of the children’s eSafety Commissioner.’ Greg has delivered presentations to over ½ million children, parents and students.
Inspector Shane Cashman | Drugs 101
Morwell Police
Shane has been with Victoria police for 25 years. During this time has performed duties at a variance of 24-hour inner city and suburban stations, performed at suburban Crime Investigation Units, local Drug Investigation Units, Drug Task Force, Echo Task Force investigating Outlaw Motor Cycle Gangs, Officer-in-Charge at Caulfield and Bayside Police stations and Kingston Crime Investigation Unit. Has recently undertaken a leading role in educating the public of Bayside, Glen Eira and Kingston on the effects and community harms resulting from methyl amphetamine use.
Genevieve Lean | Sex 101
Family Planning Victoria
Genevieve is a Senior Nurse Educator at Family Planning Victoria (FPV) where she has worked within the clinical and education sector since 2007. Genevieve has designed, delivered and evaluated a range of education and training courses in reproductive and sexual health. She delivers training to nurses, doctors, allied health professionals and the general community. In her role at Family Planning Victoria, Genevieve also works as a nurse at the Action Centre, a sexual health clinic for people under the age of 25, located in Melbourne’s CBD. Genevieve is passionate about the rights of young people and her work ensures their access to safe, confidential health care, options and information. Genevieve feels strongly that sexual health needs to be normalised, “put on the agenda” and discussed across a range of settings.
Nic Newling | Mental Health 101
Mental Health Advocate
Nic Newling is an advocate for mental health, suicide prevention and sharing personal stories. He has reached millions of people through live talks, documentaries and television such as Australian Story and NBC’s TODAY Show. Nic strives to promote sharing, listening, and working together to be a part of positive change.
Ben Morley | Drugs 101
Drugs Educator
” As a recovering addict it is my duty to share my experience, strength and hopes with the next generation so they can learn from my mistakes.”
My organisation Drug-Ed runs a one-hour workshop that encourages students to participate in a lively discussion on any question that they may have on drug addiction. I also give them the opportunity to discuss with me privately any concerns that they may have with a loved one suffering from or stuck in the cycle of addiction.
Russell Pratt | Sex 101
Forensic and Counselling Psychologist
Dr. Russ Pratt is recognised as one of Australia’s most experienced Forensic Psychologists working in the field of sexual abuse and child protection issues. Russ regularly writes and presents both nationally and internationally about youth exhibiting sexually abusive behaviours, the impacts of pornography on sexual practice, particularly for youth and with those adolescents who sexually harm others, and trauma, attachment and brain development issues.
Dani Weber | Mental Health 101
Head Of Project Rockit
Dani Weber is the newly appointed Head of Programs at PROJECT ROCKIT, Australia’s youth- driven movement against bullying, hate & prejudice. She has spent 18 months in San Francisco, where she worked as a social justice-focused walking tour guide, specialising in LGBTQIA+ rights. Since returning to Melbourne, she has been travelling around Australia running interactive workshops on anti-bullying, cyber-bullying and social leadership. She is passionate about creating spaces that are safe from judgement and discrimination.
Andrew Kinch | Gaming 101
GameAware Contributor
With 25 years of gaming experience, and nearly 15 years of well-being and teaching experience, Andrew’s skillset is primed to tackle this issue. Using intelligent gaming strategies, GameAware is designed to help gamers hit the sweet spot where gaming is a lot of fun, but isn’t the most important thing in their lives. Andrew still plays games, which is why his programs and strategies are an empathy based approach to getting back into balance.
Marie McLeod | Mental Health 101
PoPsy Founder
Qualified in social work, adult education and positive psychology Marie’s work blends a deep understanding of positive psychology with a long-term commitment to community development in vulnerable communities. Marie has worked in Child Protection, Juvenile Justice and Disability. She managed Neighbourhood Renewal in 21 disadvantaged communities in Victoria and is accredited in Dr Ruby Payne’s Bridges out of Poverty.
View the free PoPsy workbook: “Can You Parent In Ways That Cultivate Mentally Healthy Kids” by clicking here.