PIRI Staff

PIRI Clinical & Research Staff

Professor Jeannette Milgrom AM

Professor Jeannette Milgrom AM

Appointed Executive Director of the Parent-Infant Research Institute in 2001
Founder and Executive Director of PIRI, Professor Jeannette Milgrom AM is a global leader in perinatal mental health, translating decades of research into nationally implemented, evidence-based interventions for families Australia-wide.
Dr Alan Gemmill

Dr Alan Gemmill

Deputy Director, Research and Senior Research Fellow
Deputy Director of Research at PIRI, Dr Alan Gemmill integrates reproductive biology, psychology, and statistics to design and evaluate perinatal mental health interventions, clinical trials, and public health research initiatives.
Dr Charlene Holt

Dr Charlene Holt

Senior Research Fellow
Senior Research Fellow at PIRI, Dr Charlene Holt leads mother–infant intervention research, specialising in e-treatments, screening systems, and rigorous trials to improve perinatal mental health and help-seeking.
Dr Yafit Hirshler

Dr Yafit Hirshler

Research Fellow
Research Fellow at PIRI, Dr Yafit Hirshler specialises in neurobiological mechanisms, biomarkers, and epigenomics, managing NHMRC trials and the STePPS CRE to evaluate perinatal depression treatments and child neurodevelopment outcomes.
Ms Jennifer Ericksen

Ms Jennifer Ericksen

Senior Clinical Psychologist. Former Board Member, PIRI
Senior clinical psychologist and former PIRI Board member, Jennifer Ericksen leads program development and training, translating perinatal mental health research into effective interventions for mothers, fathers, and frontline health professionals.
Stella Neale

Stella Neale

Clinical Psychologist
Stella, Clinical Psychologist with 10+ years’ experience, joined PIRI in 2024. She supports research & coordinates the Bupa Parent & Baby Wellbeing Program.
Dr Chloe Salvaris

Dr Chloe Salvaris

Research Clinical Psychologist
Dr Chloe Salvaris, Clinical Psychologist, focuses on digital interventions & CBT programs for parents & children. She also provides assessment & therapy for families.
Aisha Brydon

Aisha Brydon

Clinical Psychologist
Aisha Brydon, Clinical Psychologist and supervisor, joined PIRI in 2023. She supports perinatal wellbeing research, including DadBooster & Beating the Blues.
Dr Michele Burn

Dr Michele Burn

Research Psychologist
Clinical Psychologist at PIRI, specialising in perinatal and infant mental health, research trials, eHealth programs, and parent wellbeing support.
Dr Tamsin Kane

Dr Tamsin Kane

Clinical Psychologist
Clinical Psychologist at PIRI, Deakin Doctorate graduate, facilitating Getting Ahead of Postnatal Depression groups to support new parents.
Dr Shariful Islam

Dr Shariful Islam

Senior Research Fellow
Dr Shariful Islam, public health physician & digital health expert, is a highly cited mHealth researcher. His work spans AI, chronic disease prevention & WHO initiatives.
Dr Julia Fredrickson

Dr Julia Fredrickson

Senior Research Fellow
Dr Julia Fredrickson, Senior Research Fellow at PIRI, is a psychologist with expertise in clinical trials, PTSD research & evidence translation. She completed her DPsych in 2014.
Brydie Garner

Brydie Garner

Research Officer
Brydie Garner, Research Officer, specialises in parenting & child mental health. She is completing her PhD in Psychology at Monash after graduating with Honours in 2022.
Dr Amy Harris

Dr Amy Harris

Research Officer
Dr Amy Harris, Research Officer at PIRI, holds a PhD in Paediatric Cardiovascular Science (2024). She joined in 2025 to advance research with clinical impact.
Bianca Pani

Bianca Pani

Research Assistant and Administrative Clerk
Bianca, a provisional psychologist, is completing a Master’s in Organisational Psychology at UQ. She holds psychology degrees from Swinburne & Monash.
Anneka Richmond

Anneka Richmond

Psychologist/Research Assistant
Anneka, Research Assistant & Psychologist at PIRI, holds a Master of Applied Psychology (2023). She supports perinatal women clinically & through research.
Ms Barbara Frazer

Ms Barbara Frazer

Minute Secretary & Manager, PIRI. Appointed to Board and Secretary in 2019
Minute Secretary, Manager and Board Secretary since 2019, Barbara Frazer brings extensive Austin Health administration and project management experience, supporting PIRI governance, incorporation, and ongoing organisational development and strategic delivery.
Megan Coppock

Megan Coppock

Administration Officer
Megan, with a Medical Secretarial certificate, has admin experience at Austin Hospital since 2019. She joined PIRI in 2025 and is completing a Diploma in Counselling.
Emma Ying

Emma Ying

Chartered Accountant
Emma Ying, Chartered Accountant, holds a Commerce degree (2007) and has 15+ years’ experience in audit, accounting & finance. She joined PIRI in 2022.
Elizabeth Loughlin

Elizabeth Loughlin

Dance Therapist
Ms Loughlin is a professional dance therapist who has worked with mothers and infants in dance in the community, studio and clinical setting for many years.
Melissa Buultjens

Melissa Buultjens

Honorary Research Fellow
Melissa Buultjens is a midwife who shares her time between working clinically, and as a lecturer in the School of Public Health at La Trobe University.

Previous PIRI Staff

Dr Andre Rodrigues

Dr Andre Rodrigues

Research Fellow
Dr. Andre Rodrigues has a PhD with Monash University in Health Behaviour Change and Chronic Disease Prevention.
Brittany Watson

Brittany Watson

Research Psychologist
Dr Brittany Watson, Clinical Psychologist (Deakin), has research & clinical experience with children and families. She specialises in perinatal & infant mental health.
Dr Carmel Ferretti

Dr Carmel Ferretti

Clinical Psychologist
Dr Carmel Ferretti is part of the PIRI’s PremieStart team and completed a PhD in Psychology at the University of Melbourne in 2016.
Dr Carol Newnham

Dr Carol Newnham

Neuropsychologist & Researcher
Dr Newnham trained as a neuropsychologist and her main area of interest is optimising the development of premature babies.
Dr Chris Holt

Dr Chris Holt

Research Fellow
Dr Christopher Holt graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) at Australian Catholic University, Melbourne in 2003.
Ms Christine Loft

Ms Christine Loft

Christine completed her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Canterbury Christ Church University in the UK.
Dr Fallon Cook

Dr Fallon Cook

Research Fellow
Fallon completed her PhD in Psychophysiology at Swinburne University of Technology in 2011.
Dr Felicity Holmes

Dr Felicity Holmes

Clinical Psychologist
Felicity completed a Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) at Deakin University in 2014 and began working with PIRI in the same year.
Dr Holly Andrewes

Dr Holly Andrewes

Research Psychologist
Dr Holly Andrewes, Clinical Psychologist, specialises in perinatal & infant mental health. At PIRI she led research projects, trials & the BUPA Parent & Baby Program.
Dr Jessica Oliva

Dr Jessica Oliva

Dr Jessica Oliva completed her PhD with Monash University in 2015. Since joining PIRI, Jessica has worked on several projects including our e-mental health treatment programs.
Dr Jessica Ross

Dr Jessica Ross

Clinical Psychologist
Jessica completed her Doctor of Psychology degree at the University of Melbourne in 2008
Ms Jo du Buisson

Ms Jo du Buisson

Senior Clinical Psychologist
Jo du Buisson is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice, and former Senior Clinical Psychologist in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Austin Health.
Meg Walsh

Meg Walsh

Provisional Psychologist
Meg is currently studying a Masters of Clinical Psychology at RMIT University, and is due to graduate mid next year.
Dr Natalie Rose

Dr Natalie Rose

Senior Research Officer
Natalie completed a Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Teaching (Honours) at The University of Melbourne, and in 2003, she completed her PhD in Educational Psychology, also with Melbourne University.
Ms Rachel Watts

Ms Rachel Watts

Clinical Psychologist
Rachel graduated from Melbourne University with a Bachelor Science in 1990, and completed a Graduate Diploma in Applied at Science at RMIT in 1991.
Mrs Sarah Maher

Mrs Sarah Maher

Research Assistant
Sarah graduated with Bachelor of Behavioural Science at LaTrobe University in 2005 and Graduate Diploma in Clinical Research at the University of Melbourne in 2012.
Ms Sofia Galgut

Ms Sofia Galgut

Clinical Psychologist
Sofia Galgut graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) at Victoria University, Melbourne in 2003 and a Graduate Diploma in Psychology at Deakin University in 2004.
Sofia Rallis

Sofia Rallis

Clinical Psychologist
Sofia completed her Master of Clinical Psychology degree at RMIT University, Melbourne in 2007 a PhD in Psychology at Deakin University.

Recently Graduated Postgraduate Clinical Placements

Julia AsanovAnna GerngrossSusie Hancox
Julia CheahHein NguyenAbigail Sheed
Sian ColeShana AslamSkye Borwick
Gypsy O’Dea

Student Placements

The Infant Clinic regularly accepts students on placement completing postgraduate degrees including masters or doctorate qualifications in clinical and health psychology. Visiting international students and colleagues are also accommodated.

If you are interested in a placement with PIRI, please us via email: piri@austin.org.au