Our Consultancy Team
Our team of consultants bring their experience as psychologists, presenters, academics, educators, leaders and managers to the work they do. They are experts in their area, and importantly, are also grounded and warm humans. At ConnectEd, we believe it is vital to be able to communicate our expertise in a way that is approachable and motivating, so in that way, we can help you grow.
In addition to the people you see featured here, we also have a team of our OWN consultants whom we rely on for expert guidance and feedback. This includes specialists in HR, legal, education and management. While you might not get to meet them, they are part of the team that helps us shape the tailor-made solution we provide to your school or business
Dr Matt O'Connor
Clinical and school Psychologist
BpsySci(Hons), Doctor of Psychology (Clinical)
Dr Matt O'Connor
My background
I am a Clinical and School Psychologist, Board-approved Supervisor, Director of the Brisbane-based psychology clinic for families – ConnectEd Counselling and Consultancy – consultant and sought-after presenter and educator. I balance my individual clinical work with work on broader systems that support the mental health and wellbeing of all people (e.g. within schools and businesses), and a special interest in presenting, academics and consultancy. My presentations have spanned topics including mental health and wellbeing, parenting and supporting young people; and training businesses to develop their ability to support colleagues and friends. My academic work has been cited over 750 times and is being translated into 45 languages. In addition to my professional work, I was the youngest ever Director of ReachOut.com, a former Director of REAL schools, and currently sit on the Risk Committee for Batyr.
What I can provide as a consultant
I incorporate my three main skill sets – as a psychologist, academic and presenter – to provide a range of services within schools and corporate settings. My goal is to work with you to identify your areas of interest and offer a tailor-made package of one, or multiple, services to meet your needs. A general overview of what I can provide includes:
Presentations and training – staff (school and corporate) on wellbeing and mental health, parenting presentations, skills-based training (e.g. on-the-spot counselling)
Policy and process development – school pastoral care systems, processes and program, counselling services and processes supporting students at risk of self-harm or suicide,
Applied research – developing frameworks for your organisation to assess questions of interest
Professional supervision supporting school psychologists, counsellors and other allied health professionals
- Mentoring and coaching – supporting school pastoral care staff, managers and leaders in corporate organisations. Note – this is NOT a health or clinical service.
Emily Coote
Educational and Developmental Psychologist
BBehavSci, PostGradDip Psychology, MEdDev
Emily Coote
My background
I’m an Educational and Developmental Psychologist (and Board-approved Supervisor) with over a decade of experience, primarily within the education sector. My professional consultancy work has focused primarily on areas including supporting the mental health and wellbeing of students and staff, building skills in recognising and responding to mental health challenges, staff connectedness and wellness. I deliver this work through professional development sessions, training and presentations, to audiences including young people, parents, school staff and adults
What I can provide as a consultant
I enjoy understanding the interests and needs for my consultancy support and strive to meet this through a friendly, pragmatic, and welcoming style of collaboration. In particular, I have a real passion for presenting to a range of audiences and see this as such a valuable opportunity to support communities of all sizes.
Some presentations and areas of interest are:
- Presentations and training to staff (schools, universities, and corporate), parents/carers, and community groups. Topics may include mental health and wellbeing, improving mental health understanding and confidence in recognising and responding to mental health challenges, respectful relationships and parenting support
- Presentations and group programs to students and young people – understanding and coping with life transitions (e.g. thriving through adolescence), creating safe and helpful coping strategies, respectful relationships, and mental health and wellbeing
- Pastoral care support – can include building confidence in recognising and responding to mental health challenges for students, staff or families; responding to and supporting students at risk (self-harm, suicide, significant mental health concerns); and managing and establishing boundaries for professional practices
- Professional supervision – supervision for your role as a school psychologist, psychoeducational assessment including upskilling and report writing assistance, and I can supervise psychologists wishing to pursue their Educational & Developmental registrar program.
- Mentoring and coaching -supporting pastoral care leaders through mentoring. Note – this is NOT a health or clinical service.
Michelle Pullen
Educational and Developmental Psychologist
BSocSci (Psych), BPsych (Hons), BEd, MPsych (Ed & Dev) MAPS
Michelle Pullen
My background
I’m an Educational and Developmental Psychologist, supervisor, and registered teacher with over a decade of experience working to support the wellbeing and learning of students, staff, and families in schools. I provide supervision for both provisional and fully registered psychologists working in schools. I also support Teaching staff and staff on Wellbeing and Pastoral Care teams to tap into their strengths and resources in their roles to problem-solve for their students’ holistic needs while managing their energy to avoid compassion fatigue or burnout.
What I can provide as a consultant
I have experience and a passion around advocating for and supporting students (and their Teachers) who find the traditional classroom social and academic setting challenging due to life circumstances, mental health or behavioural concerns (Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, ODD, Autism Spectrum, intellectual disability or specific cognitive strengths and weaknesses). She does this through:
- Individualised Interventions
- Behaviour assessments,
- Learning assessments,
- Tailored individualised behaviour support plans,
- NCCD documentation,
- Verification applications and reviews,
- Planning and executing whole-school wellbeing initiatives, and
- Delivering and promoting education for staff around understanding the behaviours of students with disabilities, learning, or emotional needs; trauma impacts; and research-backed strategies for managing relationships with these students and promoting their learning.
- Work with school parents and carers groups on a range of topics including behaviour management strategies, supporting children with anxiety, school reluctance, and supporting the transition to Prep.
- Translating research into practical strategies for teachers and parents and finding (new) ways to use (new) tools in the educational context to support students with learning, behavioural, or emotional needs
- Supporting organisations with neuroinclusive practices for example reasonable accommodations in hiring practices and work conditions to attract and retain workers who are neurodiverse (ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia) or who have various cognitive or memory challenges (e.g. people with slower processing speed or working memory challenges, people returning from a brain injury or long covid, perimenopausal women, some genetic profiles)