Meet the Research Team
Sophie Goldingay
Associate Professor
Sophie Goldingay is an Associate Professor and social work lecturer at Deakin University and the lead author of Imagine Create Belong (ICB) program, the training manual and multiple publications reporting on the outcomes and effectiveness of the Imagine Create Belong Program. Sophie is an experienced trainer of ICB facilitators and has facilitated ICB groups with young people in schools. With a background in mental health social work, Sophie's expertise is in identity, well-being, and inclusion, especially for neurodiverse adolescents. She is the recipient of multiple teaching awards, including the Deakin University: Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Employability, and the Deakin University: Vice-Chancellor's award for Excellent Contributions to Equity and Access.
+61 3 522 78461
Dr. Chloe Wadley
Dr Chloe Wadley is a paediatric Occupational Therapist who has completed her PhD in the Learn to Play Program within Specialist Schools for children with developmental delay and disability, supervised by Dr Karen Stagnitti. Chloe works as a paediatric occupational therapist within the community, home, clinic, school, kindergarten and childcare settings. Chloe specialises in occupational therapy intervention for children aged 2-12 years. Chloe runs play and social skills group programs for children with autism and developmental delay within her clinical practice. Chloe is also a Lecturer in Occupational Therapy at Deakin University and involved in the supervision of Masters of Play Therapy students. Chloe has extensive training and clinical practice in the use of play assessment tools and Learn to Play therapy.
Joleen Ryan
Ms Joleen Ryan is a Gunditjmara woman with qualifications in social work and project management. She is currently a Lecturer in Social Work with the National Indigenous Knowledges Research Education Innovation (NIKERI) Institute. Joleen has over four years’ experience with the university sector within Deakin University including working in the Faculty of Health as a Lecturer in Social Work with the School of Health and Social Development, and as the Lecturer in Indigenous Health for Optometry and Medical Imaging with the School of Medicine, Deakin University.
Joleen also has extensive experience in government and community service organisations. She has worked in the fields of Indigenous affairs, health, child protection, family violence, and justice which involved building relationships with and consulting Aboriginal communities across Victoria to develop and update policies and programs across government agencies, community service organisations and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations.
Jesse Ivelja
Jesse is a Lecturer in Social Work at the National Indigenous Knowledges Research Education Innovation Institute at Deakin University with a keen interest in accessibility. Jesse has worked with neurodiverse young people throughout their social work career as well as work in Family and Domestic Violence Services. Jesse joined the ICB team at the start of the pandemic and looks forward to working with the team well into the future to create and implement more programs for Neurodivergent Young People and their Caregivers.
Dr. Danielle Hitch (MA, MSc, MHlthEcon, PhD)
Danielle is an occupational therapist, health economist and healthcare researcher. She has 24 years clinical experience with people experiencing a range of disabilities, however most of her career has been focused on supporting people experiencing mental health conditions. She began her career in vocational rehabilitation, before moving to the United Kingdom (UK) to work in the National Health Service. During her time in the UK, Danielle worked across inpatient, rehabilitation, community and forensic mental health services and with a range of community organisations. Upon returning to Australia, she founded a private practice focused on mental health occupational therapy before moving into academia in 2009. Danielle’s particular research interested include social justice, transforming practice, co-production and inclusive research
Contributors to the ICB program and ICB parent program throughout its development
Kiandra Ellis (student)
Bronwen Cockle ( student)
Natasha Hamilton (student)
Ms. Belinda Dean
Emeritus Prof. Karen Stagnitti
Associate Prof. Loretta Sheppard
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Associate Prof. Genevieve Pepin
Prof. Jane McGillivray
Ms. Donna Davidson
Ms. Eleanor Francis
Ms. Narelle Robertson
The Imagine Create Belong research team would like to extend our gratitude and thanks to the numerous collaborators (past, present and future) that have been an integral part of the team. All have brought with them a plethora of skills and knowledge that have helped further our vision and have greatly assisted the team throughout the research process.
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We would like to extend this thanks to Hedibe Muca, Homa Fazli, Mariam Halfwai and Zehur Chekole, the SLE200 student project team who were able to bring our vision of a website to life.