Prepared by Deborah’s sister and colleague.
17 October 1956 – 17 July 2023
Deborah was an outstanding clinical psychologist who dedicated her working life to 
improving outcomes for children with learning difficulties and their families. She was highly valued by colleagues for her skills in team-building, her generosity with advice and guidance, and her exceptional skills in assessment and diagnosis.
Deborah graduated with Honours in Psychology from Sydney University in 1979. As a rookie psychologist she joined the Child and Family Team at Orange Community Health Centre, and here she laid the groundwork for the child-centred practice that would characterise her work. She gained a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from University of Sydney several years later, and subsequently joined Redbank House at Westmead as part of an expert team providing therapeutic support to children and their families.
For Deborah, the highlight of her career was her tenure as Director of the Dalwood Assessment Centre (DAC) in Seaforth where she served for well over a decade. Under her leadership, the DAC became a highly respected residential assessment and remediation service, providing children with learning difficulties from regional and rural NSW with the opportunity to receive intensive support from a team of interdisciplinary specialists. One of her notable achievements was the development of the Dalwood Spelling Test, a valuable tool still widely used in research and education to identify school-aged children with learning difficulties. When DAC was sadly closed down in 2009, Deborah received an outpouring of respect and gratitude from families, teachers and health providers across the state.
In 2010, Deborah moved to Ballina, NSW, and into private practice with the Nort
h Coast Centre for Clinical Psychology. She quickly became known in the Northern Rivers Community for her expert and compassionate care, earning an exemplary reputation for her clinical skills. Her work was highly regarded by fellow psychologists, referring GPs, paediatricians, and local schools, and she made a lasting impact in the region.
Deborah touched the lives of countless young people and their families across New South Wales and Australia. She is deeply and sorely missed by her family, friends, colleagues, families, and the children who were always at the centre of her professional concerns. She passed away peacefully on Monday, July 17, 2023, with loving family by her side.