Founder
Founder + Psychologist - Erin Preece
Hi I'm Erin - the founder of PATC. I created PATC around the values of collaborative practice with families and multidisciplinary teamwork in allied health. I love assessments! I have experience with assessments, diagnosis and support for developmental conditions across the lifespan.
My Psych experience includes assessments of autism, developmental delays and intellectual disability, attention/ hyperactivity concerns as well as learning needs such as specific learning disorders (reading, writing + maths). I use information collected through a collaborative assessment process to create recommendations for best outcomes. I support schools to modify learning and create environments to suit the needs of all learners.
Erin is registered with:
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Psychologists Board of Australia
Erin is a Board Approved Supervisor for Psychologists
Assessment
Senior Speech Pathologist - Meagan Smith
Hi, my name is Meagan and I’m a Speech Pathologist with PATC.
I am a dual qualified Educator and Speech Pathologist, with a Bachelor of Teaching and Education and Postgraduate Masters of Speech Pathology.
I have 15 years of Primary Teaching experience and I’m also a practising Speech Pathologist having worked in a range of locations and settings including schools, hospitals, and community health early intervention. I communicate openly with warmth, humour and empathy, working enthusiastically to achieve goals set by individuals and families.
I am passionate about working with paediatric and adolescent clients, using holistic, evidence based assessment and intervention techniques, in a range of contexts. Awareness + advocacy are key to my work, and implemented through meaningful accommodations made to increase engagement, participation, communication, connection and confidence in all settings. I work to improve literacy, speech and language success and ensure access for all to education.
At PATC I am part of the autism assessment team, who take a collaborate approach to diagnosis with a specific focus on practical recommendations.
Meagan is registered with:
Speech Pathology Australia (SPA)
Provisional Psychologist - Jenna Williams
Hi, I’m Jenna (she/her) and I am a Provisional Psychologist with PATC.
I am in my final year of training to become a registered Psychologist, under the supervision of our lead Psychologist, Erin. I completed my Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) and Master of Professional Psychology at La Trobe University.
I enjoy all areas of psychology, including therapy and assessment, with a range of clients. I focus on cognitive and learning assessments as well as supporting a multidisciplinary approach in completing autism and ADHD assessments. I value a collaborative process with other allied-health professionals to ensure a holistic understanding of each client.
In therapy, I strive to create a neuro-affirming and client-driven space where young clients and their families can feel supported and understood. I use a range of modalities, individualised for each client, including play-focussed, Cognitive Behavioural, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Jenna is registered with:
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Psychology Board of Australia
Provisional Psychologist - Oscar Mackechnie
Hi, I’m Oscar and I am a Provisional Psychologist at PATC! I am completing the final year of Psychology training at PATC, under supervision from Erin. I completed my Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science at Dealing University and completed my Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) and Master of Professional Psychology at the Institute for Social Neuroscience.
I enjoy working with a variety of people providing therapy through an individual and neuro-affirming lens, and utilising cognitive-behavioural and play-focussed modalities.
I also have a keen interest in providing assessments to understand cognitive, neurodevelopmental and educational challenges people are experiencing.
I seek to assist them in gaining the support and understanding to help them thrive!
Oscar is registered with: Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) Psychologists Board of Australia
Speech Pathologist - Jess Hinrichsen
Hey, I am Jess and I am a Speech Pathologist with PATC working in their Autism Assessment team.
I achieved a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Masters of Speech Pathology from Latrobe University. My passion for Speech Pathology stemmed from personal experiences within the disability sector and desire for extending accessibility for speech pathology services and autism assessments regionally.
I love the diversity that Speech Pathology can provide and I have an interest in many of the areas within this growing field. I value listening to and working in liaison with my participants and families/carers to achieve their goals as well as collaboratively with my colleagues to ensure a holistic lense is used for diagnostic purposes. I am passionate in creating a safe space, work with families to advocate for their needs and supports, being neuro-affirming, as well as providing education and developing awareness for those stepping into the Autism assessment space.
Jess is registered with:
Speech Pathology Australia (SPA)
Wellbeing
Senior Social Worker - Andie Patton
Hi, I’m Andie and I am a Mental Health focussed Social Worker and Child Psychotherapist at PATC. I have extensive experience working with child and adolescent mental health.
I have a Master of Social Work (Monash) and Master of Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (Monash). I have held senior clinical and leadership roles within a specialist child trauma service for the last 15 years, working with children + young people who have complex mental health and the developmental impact of trauma.
My therapeutic work is informed by an understanding of neurodevelopment, attachment theory, complex trauma and psychodynamic therapy, and is client centred and family inclusive. I am passionate and committed to providing a space where clients can feel safe, listened to, and supported. All clients can expect an empathic and warm approach to therapy.
At PATC I take a special interest in supporting parent of neurodivergent children, as well as parents with their own neurodiversity! I take a neurodiversity affirming view and bring this to parenting and attachment, to help achieve goals.
Andie is registered with:
Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
Senior Social Worker (Play Therapy) - Sam Sharrock
Hi, I’m Sam - Social Worker and Play Therapist with PATC! I have completed a Bachelor of Social Work and post graduate studies in Play Therapy through Deakin University.
I have a passion for child and adolescent mental health and believe every young person has unique strengths and amazing abilities. I have a special interest in helping young people achieve their full potential by creating a safe space to explore experiences, learn about themselves and gain new play skills to improve social relationships. I love supporting children to enhance their emotional regulation and social emotional learning through play.
At PATC I work with young people aged 3-12, who are seeking a play-based approach to therapies in a supportive environment. I focus on a child-led, neuro-affirming approach which shows the unique strengths and challenges of children, through the medium of childhood - PLAY!
Sam is registered with:
Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and
Play Therapy Practitioners Australia (PTPA).
Social Worker - Zoe Weickhardt
Hi I am Zoe - Social Worker and Play Therapist at PATC!
I have studied the Bachelor of Human Services and Master of Social Work at La Trobe University, and will be studying post graduate studies in Play Therapy at Deakin University in the beginning of 2025.
I have worked with kids and young people for the last three years in a multitude of lenses within both Anglicare and Headspace. I believe each individual is inherently unique + valuable and that young people should be empowered to be their most authentic self. I value using play to support children in how to understand their emotions, their unique ways of perceiving life and building their confidence in a range of social situations.
At PATC I work with children through the ages of 3-12 and who are seeking a play-based approach to therapies in a supportive environment. I focus on a child-led, neuro-affirming approach which shows their individual strengths and build skills through play!
Zoe is registered with Australian Association of Social Workers.
Provisional Psychologist - Amanda
Hi, I’m Amanda and I work as a provisional psychologist at PATC. I am also a family therapist and child and adolescent psychotherapist, and I am continuing my studies in psychology to become a registered psychologist.
I have a passion for child and adolescent mental health, and I enjoy working alongside parents to help understand what may be influencing their child’s behaviour. I work collaboratively with children and their parents to plan a way forward that helps recognise the child and families’ strengths and abilities, and to help manage the challenges that different developmental stages and life difficulties can impose.
I have worked for many years providing therapy and case management to children, adolescents, and parents, particularly those with neurodevelopmental challenges, school refusal, and anxiety and depression. My work is trauma and attachment informed, and my therapeutic approach is strengths based and child and family focussed.
Although I enjoy working therapeutically with children, adolescents, and their parents, I am also looking forward to developing my skills in providing assessments to help understand any underlying cognitive, neurodevelopmental, or educational challenges that can influence behaviour and academic achievement.
Amanda is registered with: Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) Psychologists Board of Australia
Allied Health Assistant - Lucy Townsend
Hi, I'm Lucy. I am an allied health assistance at PATC and am trained in providing Lego Therapies, learn to play therapeutic program and I support other groups at PATC.
I have completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology and am planning on continuing studies to become a Social Worker and work therapeautically with children or all ages .I love getting to know children and using my psychology training to help them grow and achieve their goals!
Communication
Senior Speech Pathologist - Alyssa Murray
Hi, my name is Alyssa and I am excited to be one of PATC’s Speech Therapists!
I graduated from LaTrobe University with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology). I have over 15 years experience working with children and teens as well as families towards communication, social-emotional and feeding goals.
I love meeting clients and families. I love discovering their unique strengths + building upon these towards their goals. I draw upon my additional training (beyond traditional speech therapy) to form a picture of the whole child - including communication and feeding as well as social-emotional development + participation more broadly.
I take pride in ‘getting’ what each child is all about in order to figure out how we can best support them to reach their full potential. At PATC, I work collaboratively with clients, parents, family members + other team members to build understanding and skills around the child to ensure the child is supported across settings towards best possible outcomes.
Alyssa is registered with:
Speech Pathology Australia (SPA)
Speech Pathologist - Emily Sheppard
Hi, I’m Emily, Speech Pathologist with PATC!
I graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in linguistics and then continued my studied at
La Trobe University with a Bachelor of Applied Science/Master of Speech Pathology.
I have experience in diverse settings including schools, private practice and early intervention. I enjoy working with a broad range of people, using a holistic + strengths-based approach to goal setting within therapy.
At PATC I enjoying working with divergence. My therapeutic practice is informed by a neurodiversity affirming approach to help individuals to learn effective communication strategies, self-advocate and build confidence. My goal is to build a foundation of respect and rapport which becomes the basis to therapy. I also work with parents, caregivers, teachers, friends + more to provide recommendations and help create enabling environment all.
Emily is registered with:
Speech Pathology Australia (SPA)
Speech Pathologist - Molly Cox
Hi, my name is Molly and I am a Graduate Speech Pathologist t at PATC. I have recently completed my final year of study as a Speech Pathologist, and also work in disability support.
At PATC I work as part of the speech team to implement treatment plans in the home and community, to ensure you are able to meet your goals.
Speech Pathologist - Georgia Lewington
Hi, my name is Georgia and I am a Graduate Speech Pathologist at PATC. I have recently finished my final year of study as a Speech Pathologist and have experience working with childen in other settings and as an allied health assistant.
At PATC I work as part of the speech team and I am able to implement speech treatment plans in the home and community, to ensure you are able to meet your goals.
Supports
Coordinator - Brizayah Clifford
Brizayah is our clinic coordinator who works behind the scenes of PATC to make sure all enquiries are answered. She handles the administration to support practitioners to focus on working with clients.
Brizayah has an undergraduate Psychology degree, she coordinates intake, completes developmental histories and supports the PATC autism assessment clinic.
Admin - Matisse Perez
Matisse has completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology and is continuing her studies in Psychology completing a Masters of Clinical Psyychology. She supports PATC behind the scenes by booking appointments, returning calls and supporting you with every step of the client journey.