Staff News for April 2018

Meet our new strategy and grants manager, Dianne Allison, and help us congratulate Sara Allen, a long-serving senior staff member, who has just graduated in her Masters in Educational Psychology and is about to take maternity leave this week.

Here she is (left) at our Centre Opening, with Pam Roy (middle) our Clinical Consultant and Business Manager, and Amanda Sampson (right), patron and L4Life co-founder.

Di Allison – Strategy and Grants Manager

I joined Learning for Life in February as our Strategy and Grants Manager. I have worked with more than 25 small to large For Purpose organisations over the past 3 years, providing them with strategic business, program and fundraising services. Prior to working in the For Purpose sector, I was a Registered Music Therapist, founder and director of developmental music therapy practice ‘Musical Beginnings’, a lecturer at the University of Melbourne and a past National and State President of the Australian Music Therapy Association. My great passion is for collective impact by For Purpose organisations with strong commitment to healthy governance, best practice and sustainable and profound impact from For Purpose organisations. I am a Non Executive Board member of Blind Sports Australia and The Compassionate Friends Victoria.

Sara Allen – Psychologist and L4Life Clinical Supervisor

Sara Allen.

I have worked at Learning for Life for the past 8 years, initially as an ABA therapist before transitioning to supervisor in 2012. I thoroughly love what we do, and have enjoyed working with numerous families, therapists, allied health professionals and educators over the years; not only implementing and supervising ABA programs but running workshops in therapist training, school integration and social skills, as well as implementing the Inclusions Works Program at Alexandra Primary School.

Prior to starting with Learning for Life, I had completed my Post Graduate Diploma in psychology and decided to return to study in 2014 to undertake my Masters of Clinical Psychology part time. Studying part time allowed me to continue to work at Learning for Life and support many amazing children, families, therapists and educators. I successfully completed my Masters at the end of 2017 and am now a registered psychologist. I am honoured to be extending my role within Learning for Life and continuing to be part of the Learning for Life community.

Sara is expecting her first child in May. We wish her all the best!