I am a lecturer in educational psychology and postgraduate studies. My doctoral research focused on the lived experience of neurodiverse students with diagnoses of ADHD, Specific Learning Disorders and Sensory Processing Disorder, and teachers' experiences of working with students with these diagnoses. My research background is in critical educational and social psychology employing quantitative and qualitative methods, particularly critical hermeneutic phenomenology. My Masters degree focused on developmental, educational and social psychology with my thesis examining leadership endorsement and social justice. I have worked as a vocational facilitator for people with psychiatric diagnoses and head injury as well as being a founding volunteer of Lifeline Otago in telephone counselling and training roles. After completing my Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood) at Edith Cowan University, I worked in government schools in Western Australia for 10 years before moving to the tertiary sector. I have coordinated and taught units in developmental psychology, health psychology, contemporary family issues, research methods, counselling children, counselling for the professions and learning difficulties.