APS College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists

New South Wales Committee Information

Below are details of the current committee and vacancies. The APS is always on the look out for members who are interested in joining a Member Group committee, to help support and promote members, the profession, and the APS. For more information about joining a Member Groups committee, click here.

Have questions? Please feel free to contact committee members via PsyCommunity direct message here or reach out to APS Member Groups via [email protected].

Chair

Ms Catherine Asciak
Catherine is an endorsed Educational and Developmental Psychologist, a Fellow of the College of Educational and Developmental Psychology and a board-approved supervisor. Catherine is the chair of the NSW branch of the College and is also a national committee member of the College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists.
Before establishing a private practice, Catherine worked in independent schools along with state government disability and child health development services. Catherine enjoys working with neurodiverse children and adults and is passionate about sharing skills, experience, and resources with other psychologists. This includes providing support and supervision to early career psychologists.

Chair-Elect

Position vacant

Secretary

Mrs Elisabeth Akioka
I am a Clinical and an Educational & Developmental Psychologist (B Psych (Hons); M.Psych (Ed & Dev); M. Psych (Clin)).  I work in Tamworth NSW, and run a private practice that focuses on children, families and psychological assessments.

My employment history includes:

- Manager, Domestic and Family Violence Team, Transforming Aboriginal Outcomes, DCJ
- Service Manager, New Street Hunter New England LHD
- Clinical Coordinator, Violence Abuse and Neglect Services, Northern Hunter New England LHD
- Paediatric Psychologist

Supervision:

- Full supervisor status.

Interests:

- Areas of therapeutic interest – psychometric and developmental assessment, severe emotional and behavioural dysregulation, problematic and harmful sexual behaviours.
- Areas of research interest – parenting, motivation, psychosexual development, k-pop fandoms

APS

New England Northwest Branch - Treasurer
College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists - NSW Secretary

Treasurer

Dr Dianne Watt
Dianne (B.Soc.Sci., Post.Grad.Dip. (School Counselling), M.Ed. (Ed. Psych.), PhD/M.Psych., FCEDP, MAPS) is a psychologist with over 20 years’ experience as a School Counsellor and Senior Psychologist: Education within the NSW Department of Education.Dianne’s sole practice has been within the rural setting and she is passionate about working within this setting. Dianne, with her former colleague Dr Kate Jacobs, has presented many workshops to psychologists across Australia in the art of cognitive assessment and specific learning disorder assessment. She provides supervision for provisional psychologists, masters students and for endorsement.

Committee Member

Miss Ellen Witzlsperger
Ellen (BPsych, MPsych Ed&Dev, MAPS, FCEDP) is an endorsed Educational and Developmental Psychologist, a Fellow of the College of Educational and Developmental Psychology and a board-approved supervisor who has been working in the field of early intervention for over 16 years. Initially starting her career in the assessment and diagnosis, she then moved into early intervention due to her strong belief that early intervention is vital in giving children delays, the best opportunity to reach their potential and participate meaningfully in society.

Ellen is the CEO of Stronger Together Foundation (formerly Fit Kidz Foundation Ltd.), a for-purpose organisation which provides a range of early childhood and family supports and services to their local community in Northwest Sydney. Recently, Ellen was awarded The Hills Shire 2024 citizen of the year due to her positive impact for people with a disability in her local community.