Our Therapists
The Learning for Life Autism Centre provides individualized educational and behavioural programs for young children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis. The development and management of the programs and the provision of ongoing support and training for therapists and families is undertaken by Program Supervisors, Naomi Labrum, Pam Roy, Emma Miller and Rachel Larke. There are currently 19 casual/part time ABA therapists employed by the centre.
Therapists are employed directly by Learning for Life which benefits both families and therapists. Families are provided with a well-trained team of therapists for their child and do not have to undertake therapist recruitment or employment responsibilities. In turn, therapists are provided with ongoing supervision, training and support, job security, and financial benefits (sick leave, annual leave, superannuation, regular pay reviews etc.). In addition, Learning for Life provides job flexibility and a potential career path for therapists who want to develop their professional skills and take on leadership roles and/or supervisory positions.
If you are interested in becoming a therapist with Learning for Life Autism Centre, please contact us directly, we would greatly value the opportunity of meeting with you.
Our Program Supervisors
Rachel Larke completed her Masters in Educational and Developmental Psychology in 2007 at Monash University, Victoria, and is a registered Psychologist with the Psychologist’s Registration Board of Victoria. Rachel commenced work as an ABA therapist in 2000 and has gained experience in both private and educational settings. In addition to program supervision and therapist training at Learning for Life, Rachel co-ordinates centre based research to evaluate the effectiveness of ABA programs for the development of children with ASD in areas of social, cognitive, language and behavioural functioning.
Naomi Labrum (B.A. Disability Studies) has been working as an ABA consultant with young children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder for the past 9 years, beginning her work in this field as a therapist in 1995. Naomi trained both here in Victoria under Pam Roy (Senior Program Director of Victorian ABA Providers) and in the U.S.A where she completed a 6 month internship under the supervision of Scott Wright (Director of the Lovaas Institute for Early Intervention – LIFE). Naomi consulted both locally and internationally before she began her work as a program supervisor with Learning For Life in 2004.
Emma Miller has worked in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis for the past 11 years. While completing a Psychology degree at The University of Melbourne she commenced work as an ABA therapist in 1997, she has since worked in schools, kindergartens and early intervention centres as well as in home based programs. She has conducted information sessions on ABA on many occasions, throughout Melbourne, country Victoria and interstate.
In 2003, she became a program director with Victorian ABA Providers. In this role she has provided ABA program supervision to families throughout Victoria and in Tasmania and South Australia. She has also supervised school based programs and provided training to schools across these states.
Emma Miller joined the Learning for Life team as a program supervisor in May 2007
Team Approach
Learning for Life has a strong commitment to the development and monitoring of quality ABA programs, facilitated by regular team meetings, ongoing supervision of programs by experienced consultants and the direct employment and training of ABA therapists.
Team meetings are conducted on a weekly to fortnightly basis to; review program data and evaluate the progress of the children; discuss and implement changes to programming and behavioural interventions; provide ongoing monitoring, support and training of therapists in the delivery of consistent and effective instruction; and provide ongoing opportunities for parental feedback and participation.
The supervision and monitoring of client programming and staff development is provided by consultants Pam Roy (Victorian ABA providers) and Scott Wright (Lovaas Institute, NJ, U.S.). Pam provides ongoing education and support to Program Supervisors at Learning for Life and attends client meetings every 4-6 weeks to review client progress and programming needs. Scott Wright conducts global assessments of the developmental needs of children in the program on a bi-annual basis and provides recommendations for future program directions. Scott provides additional support for program supervisors when required and assists in the direction of staff education and training.