Specialist Referrals

We pride ourselves on offering referrals to the best professionals available. ALC and our clients have a long and positive relationship with the following professionals:

• Psychology
   
  Dr Lee Sturgeon (Clinical and Developmental Psychologist) - Warners Bay, NSW
   
  Dr Lee Sturgeon is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist specialising in the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder. Lee has completed a doctorate in Clinical Psychology including research in the field of developmental psychology and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Lee has a private practice with a focus on autism spectrum disorders and developmental disorders. Until recently he was also working with the Hunter New England Health Service. Lee conducts regular educational seminars for clients, families and professionals, specialising in the provision of practical behavioural interventions.
   
  Phone: (02) 4947 1777
   
   
• Speech Therapy
   
  Ruth Davies (Speech Therapist) - Communicating Kids, Hamilton, NSW
   
  Ruth graduated as a Speech Pathologist from Cumberland College of Health Science (now part of the University of Sydney) in 1988 and has since gained post-graduate qualifications in "Later Language Development" - the language of school and beyond. She has worked extensively with children and families in outreach preschool and school settings, as well as in Speech Pathology clinics in hospitals, child development centres, the University of Newcastle and in private practice. Ruth has enjoyed a long association with the University of Newcastle, teaching and supervising Speech Pathology students, and was instrumental in establishing and developing the University's school-based Speech Pathology service throughout the Newcastle and Lower Hunter areas.
   
  Ruth is now Principal Speech Pathologist at "Communicating Kids", a specialist paediatric speech/language pathology clinic in Hamilton, Newcastle, and after all this time she still thinks being a Speech Pathologist is the best job in the world.
   
  Phone: (02) 4969 5555
  Web: http://www.communicatingkids.com.au/
   
   
• Occupational Therapy
   
  Anna Behnke (Paediatric Occupational Therapist) - The Sensory Clinic, Maitland, NSW
   
  Anna is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist with 14 years experience working with children and Sensory Integration (SI) in different countries. Anna has completed Master Level modules in Sensory Therapy in the UK. She has specialised in working with children with ASD since 1999 and helps to show parents, teachers and other professionals how SI and Sensory Therapy can help children. Now situated in the Hunter Valley, Anna provides activity based training in a variety of sensory programmes. She also treats children with sensory integration dysfunction and sensory defensiveness. She is an active member of Sensory Integration UK & Ireland, whose aim is to promote SI and maintain standards of good therapeutic practice. She contributes to OT Australia and other special interest groups in Australia to promote sensory therapy.
   
  By designing effective sensory programs that require only simple and inexpensive equipment, Anna's motto to therapy is this: "Keep it simple and have fun"
   
  Phone: (02) 4933 9986
  Web: http://www.thesensoryclinic.com/