Children’s Clinic

Dr Natalie Silove

MBBCh, MMed, FCP(SA)Paeds, FRACP

Natalie is a consultant neurodevelopmental paediatrician at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. She has had 15 years clinical experience in the area of developmental paediatrics; her special interests include the medical, behavioral and educational interventions available for developmental disorders. She sits on a number of committees, including the Autism Association and the New South Wales Board of Studies and is involved, both independently and collaboratively, in research in the area of early intervention in autism. She lectures at the University of Sydney, Macquarie University and the New South Wales Institute of Psychiatry.

Marcia Williamsz

B.App.SC(Sp. Path), M.A. (Ling)

Marcia is a speech pathologist who has specialist assessment and intervention skills in the area of language, learning and developmental disorders, including Fragile X and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Skills include functional assessment and programming, training in strategies such as the Picture Exchange Communication System, the Hanen Programme and visually augmented communication supports. She works collaboratively with families and teachers to enable children to progress in their learning, social and communicative environments.

Dr Meredith Wilson

MB BS, FRACP, Clinical Geneticist (HGSA)

Clinical Genetics department of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, and has been head of the department since 1998. She is involved in seeing families with concerns about a wide range of genetic conditions, including Fragile X syndrome.

Christine Choy 

B. App. Sc (OT)

Christine is Deputy Head Occupational Therapist at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and currently provides services to children coming through the hand and congenital hand clinics.  She has worked approximately 9 years in the disability sector, providing home and school based services to children with a developmental delay and/or physical disability, as well as children with Autism.  For 4 years, she worked closely with eye care professionals providing consultative services to school aged children and adults with a vision impairment both in a clinic and home environment.  Throughout her experience, she has liaised extensively with families, community organisations and The Department of Education to coordinate supports for families and their children .

Dr Michelle Wong

Michelle Wong is a psychologist in the Department of Psychological Medicine at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. She provides psychological services to children with developmental disabilities, such as fragile X Syndrome, and their families. She is a consultant with the Developmental Psychiatry Clinic at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Her research focuses on the developmental of emotion-based social skills training program for children with autism and Asperger’s syndrome. Michelle completed a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology at the University of Sydney and currently undertaking a PhD investigating parents’ hope for the children with disabilities and chronic illness.

Adult Clinic Personnel

Dr Jane Law

MBBS, DipRACOG, MMSc

Dr Jane Law is a general practitioner with a special interest in the assessment and management of adults with intellectual disability. She runs a clinic, with Dr Seeta Durvusela and Dr Clive Sun, in association with The Centre for Developmental Disability Studies. at the Royal Rehabilitation Centre, Ryde. Dr Law qualified in London, and moved to Sydney in 1995. She has a Diploma of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a Masters Degree in Clinical Epidemiology.

Rachel Dickson

BPysch,PGDip (Social Health)

Rachel is a registered Psychologist who has worked in a range of roles supporting people with disabilities for almost eight years.  Most recently, Rachel has trained and worked as a Person Centred Planner, assisting people with varying intellectual disabilities and brain injuries to develop their Essential Lifestyle Plans.  In addition to working in the NSW Health Developmental Disability Clinic, Rachel also works in private practice, specialising in the treatment of mental health issues for individuals with disabilities and their families, using CBT and narrative techniques. As an associate member of PWD, Rachel is a keen advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. She is also passionate about protecting the rights of older people, particularly those in nursing care, and is keen to promote good mental health within this group.

Ylana Bloom

Ylana Bloom is a speech pathologist. Together with Dolly Bhargava, she established Innovative Communication Programming in 1996. This was in response to the need for a planned approach towards creating communications opportunities for people with complex communications needs. The clients that Innovative Communications Programming services include individuals with autism spectrum disorders, fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, intellectual disability and global delay. Also treated are individuals with challenging behaviours and unknown diagnosis. Clients are given assessment and intervention ideas as well as assistance in problem solving and management issues relating to communication.