Senior Management |
Andrew Dean Fildes – Founder and Director
Andrew has dedicated his life to helping Australian children reach their fullest potential through the work and programs of the Foundation and SHINE that he established in 1996.
As a child of the 1970s with severe Language Learning difficulties including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Language disorder, and Dyslexia, his devoted and dedicated family maintained intervention and intensive therapy. This resulted in Andrew completing his schooling and tertiary qualifications, followed by a dynamic and rewarding career.
His purpose since then has been to provide this support at little or no cost to Australian families and as a result has positively impacted the lives and families of 22,000 children.
Andrew’s leadership and dedication is a consistent inspiration to the team and the wider community.
Dr Carl Parsons – Program Director
Dr Carl is an eminent clinician and academic, and has been the brains trust behind SHINE and the Foundation for the last 20 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Speech Pathology & Audiology), a Master of Science in Education and PhD in Communication Disorders and Psychology.
His career has spanned many posts as a professor, clinician and consultant to universities, schools and specialist centres in Australia and the United States. Carl is widely published internationally and has contributed his expertise to innumerable curriculums, projects and policy development projects.
Through National Program Director for SHINE and the Andrew Dean Fildes Foundation he has been able to build clinically effective programs informed by decades of senior experience, and the highest level of international research and technology. SHINE’s programs are robust, rigorous and evidence based, and over the last 20 years have immeasurably improved the lives of children and their families.
Dr Jessica Matov - Program Coordinator - Senior Clinical Supervisor
Dr Jessica Matov is an experienced Speech Language Pathologist and Clinical Educator, with an interest in research and evidence-based support of children with speech and language concerns.
She holds a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Master of Speech Pathology and PhD in language assessment and intervention services.
Jessica has worked in research positions and as a paediatric speech pathologist in school settings across private and government sectors before joining the Andrew Dean Fildes (SHINE) Foundation.
She has published several research papers and is a strong advocate for family access to quality allied health services.
She is very passionate about supporting children in education so that they can SHINE and achieve their full potential.
Dr Amanda Musicka-Williams - Dramatherapist
Dr Amanda Musicka-Williams is a Dramatherapist, professional supervisor, educator and researcher who has practiced dramatherapy in Australia for over twenty years. Amanda completed her original Masters Training at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London and went on to undertake her PhD in dramatherapy research at The University of Melbourne.
She has worked in a variety of contexts including mainstream and special education, community mental health, the justice system, homeless and domestic violence support services, as well as private practice. She has a special interest in collaborative approaches to therapeutic practice with neurodiverse youth. Amanda has been engaged with the Andrew Fildes SHINE programs for over a decade.
Through the Rehearsal for Real Life program which Amanda constructed and facilitates for SHINE young, people’s learning/social emotional development and overall well-being is supported through dramatherapy practices that invite peer creative collaborations and social problem solving through role-play which reflects real-life themes, skills and challenges. Amanda continues to be passionate about dramatherapy and the wider creative arts therapies role in diversifying mental health supports and educational practices for young people and continues to publish and support research in these areas. She is proud to be a contributor to SHINE.