Our Team

Dr Kailas Roberts

Dr Roberts is a medical specialist and expert in cognitive assessment, including evaluation and management of dementia. He is also the author of Mind Your Brain: The Essential Australian Guide to Dementia (UQP, 2020) and creator of BrainScan, a phone app that allows users to know and address their risk factors for poor brain health and dementia.

Dr Roberts has over fifteen years’ experience in assessing and treating dementia and has trained in medicine and psychiatry in both UK and Australia. He is fully and unconditionally accredited with AHPRA and is a member of the Royal Australian College of Psychiatry. He also holds a Certificate of Old Age Psychiatry.

He believes in holistic treatment and recognises how dementia may affect both the person with the condition and also those around them, including loved ones and carers. He has a compassionate and optimistic approach to care.

Dr Donna Spooner

Clinical Neuropsychologist

Donna is a Clinical Neuropsychologist with a strong interest in the assessment of dementia and other neurological conditions, as well as the design of interventions to assist. As part of her detailed assessment of individuals' cognitive or "thinking" skills, she adopts a strengths-based approach to developing strategies to assist, capitalising on areas where the person remains to be functioning well.

She completed her PhD in Clinical Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychology at the University of Queensland in 2007 and has more than 20 years' experience in the field of Clinical Neuropsychology. She concurrently holds a senior Neuropsychology position at the Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital (RBWH), where she has been employed since 2004. As part of her role there, she has provided neuropsychological services to the RBWH Memory Clinic and Neurology Department over many years. She has also worked across a range of private and other public settings, including both the Neurosciences Department and the Cognitive, Dementia and Memory Service at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne.

Donna is a registered psychologist with AHPRA and holds endorsements in Clinical Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychology. She is also a member of the APS Psychology and Ageing Interest Group and the Young Onset Dementia Special Interest Group. She holds the position of Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Queensland and has been involved for many years in the training of postgraduate Neuropsychology students.

As a result of her experience, Donna has an in-depth knowledge of the cognitive presentation of a wide range of dementias and neurological conditions. She is highly committed to the delivery of evidence-based practice and is known for her calm and approachable manner.

Dr Leander Mitchell

Clinical Neuropsychologist & Clinical Psychologist

Leander is a Clinical Neuropsychologist & Clinical Psychologist who has been working with adults and older adults for more than 15 years across private practice, hospital, and aged care contexts. Her neuropsychological assessment experience spans dementia diagnosis, intellectual impairment, attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, as well as cognitive functioning after experiencing stroke, traumatic brain injury, tumour, and other such neurological conditions. Therapy wise, she works with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, grief & loss, interpersonal or adjustment issues, PTSD, ADHD, and she also has experience working with people living with dementia and their families to assist them as they embark on that journey.

Working within a strengths-based framework, Leander focuses on enabling and encouraging functioning at as high a level as possible in the individual's context, therefore building on the individual's sense of self-efficacy and well-being. She achieves this by identifying areas of both challenge and strength. Her work in the reablement space, at a national level, assists in underpinning this area of her work.

Leander is a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), and a committee member of the APS Psychology and Ageing Interest Group. She also holds Fellow membership of both the College of Clinical Psychologists and the College of Clinical Neuropsychologists. Her work outside of private practice encompasses training the next generation of psychologists.

Professor Michael O'Sullivan

Neurologist

Professor Michael O'Sullivan is a consultant neurologist with over 20 years of experience in brain injury and brain health. He has worked with elite athletes, including as a member of World Rugby's International Panel of Independent Concussion Consultants. His expertise spans brain injuries in sport, stroke, anoxia (cardiac arrest), metabolic disturbances, and incidental brain lesions detected by MRI. As a behavioural neurologist, Prof O'Sullivan also investigates the links between brain injury, cognitive decline, and neurological conditions like dementia.

Prof O'Sullivan is a Senior Staff Specialist at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, where he established one of Australia’s first public concussion clinics. He completed his training in the UK and has held prestigious fellowships in the UK, Germany, and Canada. He is a Group Leader at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at UQ and has published over 80 research papers.

At Your Brain in Mind, Prof O’Sullivan provides holistic care in all aspects of concussion and brain injury, and specialist advice on optimising brain health. We also offer concussion pathway support for sports clubs and other organisations.

Dr Joshua Flavell

Psychiatrist

Dr. Joshua Flavell is a consultant psychiatrist with specialised training in psychogeriatrics and neuropsychiatry, dedicated to the assessment and management of dementia.

Dr. Flavell has completed an advanced certificate in neuropsychiatry and a fellowship in cognitive disorders, concentrating on neurodegenerative dementias. He is currently pursuing a PhD to develop innovative diagnostic tools for frontotemporal dementia and is actively involved in various clinical trials on dementia, contributing to the advancement of treatment and understanding of this condition.

His research aims to enhance the accuracy and early detection of neurodegenerative diseases through new diagnostic tools. Dr. Flavell's clinical trials work focuses on improving patient outcomes and advancing therapeutic approaches.

With a compassionate and holistic approach, Dr. Flavell provides specialised assessment and management for patients with dementia, ensuring comprehensive and precise care. His involvement in both clinical practice and research positions him at the forefront of dementia care.

Dr Adam Burgess

Psychiatrist

Dr Adam Burgess is a General Adult Psychiatrist with over 15 years of experience working in adult mental health. He graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Queensland, after completing a Bachelor of Science and Law (combined) at the University of Tasmania. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).

He has an interest in the areas of mood and anxiety disorders, as well as trauma and likes to think holistically about the patient. Treatments offered can include medications and talking therapy as well as building a therapeutic team around the patient, working with psychologists, occupational therapists and other medical and health professionals. Dr Burgess likes to emphasise the individual narrative of the patient as a means of finding a path forward to better mental health.

Dr Madeline Farmer

Clinical Psychologist

Dr Madeline Farmer is a Clinical Psychologist, with a special interest in treating older adults and addressing the psychological issues that can accompany cognitive decline in old age. She is passionate about providing care to families and carers of older adults. Madeline believes in the importance of treating mental health issues in these areas, as it can substantially improve quality of life and one's adjustment to the changes in old age. She has completed a Doctor of Clinical Psychology and Clinical Geropsychology at the University of Queensland, and has worked in clinical practice for the past 7 years. She is registered with AHPRA and is endorsed as a Clinical Psychologist.

Melanie Matthews

Physiotherapist

Melanie graduated her Bachelor of Physiotherapy with Honours in 2010 from James Cook University in Townsville. She has worked in the community, hospital and Aged Care sectors in Australia and the UK. She has undertaken and presented research locally and internationally and in 2021 was published for her work in Lymphology - limb swelling in the heat and humidity following cancer intervention.

Melanie is passionate about assisting her clients to participate in their community, and to empower their connections and supports. Melanie utilises music, games, sport, technology, memory prompts and story telling to engage clients in movement and physical activity. She has a special interest in Aquatic Physiotherapy. Melanie is able to provide pain management, functional assessment and gait analysis, falls prevention strategies, exercise and equipment recommendations. Melanie is available for appointments in the Your Brain in Mind Clinic or in your own home, workplace or community. Her dachshund Rammi is a keen Therapy Dog.

Melanie also has an interest in accessible travel and has assisted clients in such things as sourcing suitable accommodation, activities and carers.

Registered with AHPRA
Member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association and Gerontology National Group
Melanie is currently completing her Level 1 in Gerontology Physiotherapy through the Australian Physiotherapy Association.

Laura Stasinowsky

Occupational Therapist (OT) & Dementia Consultant

Laura is an occupational therapist and dementia consultant who is passionate about supporting people to live well with dementia. She has over 7 years of experience in the field of dementia, and she has also personally experienced the impact of dementia within her own family. Whether you are living with dementia yourself or are wanting to learn how to best care for a family member or friend who has dementia, Laura is interested in supporting you.

Laura understands that every person and family is unique. Therefore, her services are tailored to your unique needs, goals, and circumstances. She believes in providing education, support, and guidance in a holistic and empowering way.

Laura's services include (but are not limited to):

supporting you to understand what dementia is and what a diagnosis of dementia means for you and your family,
providing recommendations to increase or maintain safety, independence, and meaningful engagement in life,
providing equipment and home-modification advice,
helping you to manage stress (particularly stress related to a new diagnosis, shifting roles/responsibilities, changing health/abilities, etc.),
connecting you with other relevant community and home-based supports, and
assisting you to plan for the future.

Laura believes in collaboratively working with you and walking alongside you, regardless of what stage of the journey you are at.

Leah Dore

Occupational Therapist (OT) & Aged Care Navigator

Leah is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years’ experience working with clients in both hospital and community settings and has developed specialist skills in patient advocacy, aged care assessment and service navigation.

Working for over 10 years with the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), Leah is highly experienced in wholistic, clinical assessment of older adults with complex care needs and can expertly signpost a care pathway for clients with dementia.

With her personable and inclusive approach, Leah connects easily with clients and their support people, teasing out the key issues and mapping out a path forward.

In her role as Aged Care Navigator with Your Brain in Mind, Leah provides education and consultancy to empower clients, and their support network to make informed decisions about:

How to optimise resources to maintain a client’s sense of independence and to better support, or prevent, strained care arrangements.
Choosing when and how to access aged care services in the context of assessment, eligibility, and funding.
When and how to take proactive steps to ensure existing, and future, care arrangements are sustainable and protect a client’s quality of life.

She is a passionate advocate for better access to the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

Leah is an accredited Occupational Therapist with AHPRA and is a member of Occupational Therapy Australia.