Autism Partnership

The Australian Program Supervisors return to the U.S. once a year for updated training at the clinic in California. They are also in regular contact by phone and email with the U.S. clinic to receive any needed assistance. During their time in the U.S., they receive extensive training in curriculum development, implementing and maintaining behavioural programs, guiding parents, and training and supervision of staff. To maintain the highest quality of service to children in Australia, a senior clinician from the U.S. clinic visits Australia two to three times per year to provide ongoing support to the Australian Program Supervisors and to consult to the parents and teams working with individual clients of Autism Partnership.

Karen McKinnon		Australia/ New Zealand Site Director
Karen McKinnon has been working within the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis since 1995. She has worked closely with Dr. McEachin of Autism Partnership over the last ten years. In 1997 she completed a six-month internship at the Autism Partnership clinic in California. Mrs McKinnon is currently undertaking a Masters in Educational Psychology. She has overseen the Melbourne clinic since 1998 and consults both locally and internationally.

Michelle Scott		Program Supervisor – Melbourne Office
Michelle Scott holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a graduate certificate in Special Education, which includes a unit of applied behaviour analysis. She has been helping children with autism since 1994 and in 1995 she started providing intensive behavioural treatment to children with autism in their homes and schools. She has worked closely with Dr John McEachin during his regular visits to Australia. In 1999, she completed a six-month internship at the Autism Partnership clinic in California. Ms. Scott currently serves as a Program Supervisor in the Melbourne clinic.

Emma-Rose Parsons		Psychologist & Program Supervisor – Melbourne Office
Emma-Rose Parsons completed a Bachelor of Behavioural Science, followed by a Graduate Diploma in Psychology. Ms Parsons is a registered Psychologist and serves as a Program Supervisor in Melbourne. She has been working with children with Autism and their families since 1999, using the principles of Applied Behavioural Analysis. Ms Parsons completed an 18 month internship in California under the guidance of Dr John McEachin and continues to work with Dr McEachin on his Australian visits.

Georgina Kirkopoulos		Program Supervisor - Melbourne Office
Georgina Kirkopoulos holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Psychology and Social Policy from Victoria University. She has over five years experience working with children with autism, focussing mainly within the Applied Behavioural Analysis field. Her training has included a year-long internship at the Autism Partnership clinic in California where she worked closely with Dr. John McEachin. Ms Kirkopoulos currently serves as a Program Supervisor in the Melbourne clinic.

Andrea Radcliffe		Program Supervisor – Melbourne Office
Andrea Radcliff is a holds a Bachelor of Arts, with a major in psychology. Ms. Radcliff has been involved in providing intensive behavioural treatment to children with autism since 1996 in Canada and Melbourne. Her training has included a year-long internship at the Autism Partnership clinic in California where she worked closely with Dr. John McEachin. She currently serves as a Program Supervisor in the Melbourne clinic.

Kirsten Aspin		Program Supervisor - Brisbane Office
Kirsten Aspin has been working with children with Autism using the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis for six years. Mrs Aspin holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree with a major in Psychology and is currently undertaking a Masters in Applied Behaviour Analysis. She has spent six years working in the United Kingdom at an ABA school. Mrs Aspin has also trained at the Autism Partnership clinic in California. Since 2005 she has been the Program Supervisor in Queensland.

Melanie Williams		Program Supervisor – Christchurch Office
Melanie Williams has been working as a behavioural therapist since 1997 and has worked as an integration aide in both kindergartens and schools. Ms Williams holds an Associate Diploma in Early Childhood Development and a Bachelors Degree in Linguistics. She has worked as a Program Supervisor for Autism Partnership since 2000.

Cate Desmond		Program Supervisor - Christchurch Office
Mrs. Desmond completed a year long internship at the Autism Partnership clinic in California in 2002. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours, in psychology, from Canterbury University. Mrs. Desmond has worked as a researcher in behavioural neuroscience and with teenagers with severe mental health issues. She has worked with children with autism since 2000.

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