APS College of Forensic 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 Panayiota Zingirlis
Yiota completed her undergraduate training in the UK before coming to Australia to obtain her post-graduate qualification in Forensic Psychology.
She has 18 years’ experience providing a range of assessments, treatment, individual and group therapy in a diverse array of settings. Her varied experiences include employment with Mental Health services in acute and community settings, Pain Clinics, drug and alcohol diversion treatment programs, high secure inpatient and community Forensic Mental Health Services, as well as private practice settings.
She currently works part-time for Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network and part-time in private practice.
Yiota has been on the Committee for the NSW branch of the CFP since 2018.

Committee Member

Ms Maggie Cruickshank
Maggie graduated from her Forensic Masters in 2005 and has remained working with Corrective Services NSW since 2006. Roles have included sex offender treatment, mental health, serious offender assessment, supervision, management and countering violent extremism. Maggie has been on the Committee since 2022.

Committee Member

Dr Bianca Spaccavento
Bianca is a forensic psychologist and lecturer in the School of Psychology at Charles Sturt University, teaching into both undergraduate and post-graduate programs for both face-face and online students. Her current research interests and activities span a number of areas within forensic psychology. She also runs a private forensic psychology practice and provides supervision to psychologists on the registrar pathway to endorsement in forensic psychology. She is a professional member of the Psychology Council of NSW and member of the Australian and New Zealand Association for Psychiatry, Psychology and Law (ANZAPPL). She was the former Principal Psychologist and Statewide Manager (Director) of Services with Corrective Services NSW, having worked in operational correctional psychology roles prior to this. Based in regional NSW, she is envisages a future in which the benefits of forensic psychology are available across all communities.

Committee Member

Dr Ruth Marshall
A Forensic Psychologist registered in the UK and Australia, Ruth has worked in maximum security prisons, juvenile detention centres, and other forensic settings since 1980. Moving from Corrective Services NSW to Youth Justice as their Head of Psychological Services in 2011, Ruth has responsibility for the psychological well-being of young people in contact with the criminal justice system (both in custody and under community supervision) via the clinical supervision and ongoing professional development of all Youth Justice Psychologists across NSW. Ruth also develops and facilitates training workshops for non-clinical staff, and provides specialist evidence-based advice and consultancy to management and a wide range of stakeholders. Ruth also teaches on the UNSW Forensic Psychology Masters/PhD Program. Ruth’s PhD research looked into the prediction and prevention of post-traumatic stress and other psychological injury amongst first responders.

Committee Member

Dr Melissa Hughes
Forensic psychologist and clinical neuropsychologist currently working in private practice. My background includes research and clinical experience working in interstate and international government and non-government forensic mental health settings. My work is predominantly focused on comprehensive cognitive and risk evaluations.

Committee Member

Ms Leah Vircoe