AISNSW School Counsellors Conference 2025

The Kaleidoscope of Human Experience

2025 Feature Presenters

Dr Mark Donovan

Clinical Psychologist/Trainer, Reflective Supervision Team

Dr Mark Donovan is lead-trainer and co-partner of the Reflective Supervision Team. Mark has worked with children, young people and families in a range of settings since 1994 and has concurrently taught in Universities in Australia and the UK for 20 of these years. 

Mark has presented at national and international conferences and workshops on a range of topics including clinical supervision, mindful parenting, cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and narrative therapy. Mark enjoys bringing workshop materials to life through interactive discussions, practical examples, live demonstrations and skills practice.

Dr Madeline Wishart

Clinical Psychologist

Dr Madeline Wishart is a Clinical Psychologist with a special interest in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), and young people who experience difficulty in regulating their emotions and tolerating distress. She has a PhD, along with a Masters in both Professional and Clinical Psychology. 

Madeline has a combined history of both research and practical experience across a variety of settings. She has worked in the education, community, private and psychiatric sectors as a youth, school, trauma counsellor, and psychologist. In an academic and research capacity, Madeline has been employed as a sessional lecturer and project officer at Victoria University; and a research officer at Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS) in Melbourne.

Sarah-Jane Silvester

Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese

Sarah-Jane Silvester is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, currently working with the Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD). With over a decade of experience supporting marginalised children and adolescents, she previously worked in NSW Health, delivering programs to improve wellbeing outcomes for young people.  She is now a school counsellor with experience supporting students across K-12 high-support units.

She integrates child-centred play therapy, Gestalt therapy, interpersonal neurobiology, and eco-systemic play therapy into her practice. Passionate about promoting the autonomy and self-determination of neurodivergent students, her recent publication explores the integration of neurodiversity-affirming practice in school counselling to enhance student wellbeing within MTSS schools.

Dr Stan Steindl

Clinical Psychologist

Dr Stan Steindl is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice at Psychology Consultants Pty Ltd, and an Adjunct Professor at School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. He is also co-director of the UQ Compassionate Mind Research Group, and convenor of the annual UQ Compassion Symposium.

Stan has over 25 years experience as a therapist, supervisor, trainer and researcher, and works with clients from motivational interviewing and compassion focused therapy perspectives. His PhD examined combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid alcohol dependency, and he continues to work clinically in the areas of trauma and addiction, as well as having a general clinical practice.

Dr Sophia Drysdale

Clinical Psychologist, The Kidman Centre

Sophia is a clinical psychologist, supervisor and researcher at The Kidman Centre, University of Technology Sydney. She has a background in child and family community mental health and is driven by an insatiable curiosity to find innovative ways of working with children and adolescents where traditional approaches prove ineffective. Sophia holds a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Sydney.