Gidget Clinicians
Gidget Foundation Australia is fortunate to contract a multidisciplinary team of Clinicians, including clinical psychologists, registered psychologists and accredited mental health social workers, specialised in perinatal mental health, supporting our services. We are grateful for their passion and dedication to not only our cause but the emotional wellbeing of our clients.
Andrea has a special interest in Perinatal Support helping women and their families develop coping strategies for managing the physical and emotional challenges of conception, pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.
Andrea has a special interest in Perinatal Support helping women and their families develop coping strategies for managing the physical and emotional challenges of conception, pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.
Steph is a Registered Psychologist with experience supporting clients across the lifespan, in both community mental health and private practice settings.
Steph is a Registered Psychologist with experience supporting clients across the lifespan, in both community mental health and private practice settings.
Angela is a registered psychologist and family therapist with extensive experience in not-for-profit and private settings in relationship services, mental health and suicide prevention.
Angela is a registered psychologist and family therapist with extensive experience in not-for-profit and private settings in relationship services, mental health and suicide prevention.
Lori is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with a Masters in Psychodynamic Counselling and over 20 years working in counselling and clinical roles.
Lori is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with a Masters in Psychodynamic Counselling and over 20 years working in counselling and clinical roles.
Vanessa is a Registered Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and a Member of the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS).
Vanessa is a Registered Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and a Member of the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS).
Holly Smith is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with a Master of Counselling Social Work and over 21 years of clinical experience.
Holly Smith is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with a Master of Counselling Social Work and over 21 years of clinical experience.
Kerryn is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who brings together evidence-based therapies and holistic practices to support women through the emotional and mental challenges of conception, pregnancy, loss and early motherhood.
Kerryn is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who brings together evidence-based therapies and holistic practices to support women through the emotional and mental challenges of conception, pregnancy, loss and early motherhood.
Anna is a Clinical Psychologist and member of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH). She has a passion for working in the perinatal field, helping families and nurturing and developing parent-baby relationships and attachment.
Anna is a Clinical Psychologist and member of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH). She has a passion for working in the perinatal field, helping families and nurturing and developing parent-baby relationships and attachment.
Rebecca Sneddon is a psychologist with over 15 years experience working with children, adolescents, and families across private practice, school, and community settings. She has a special interest in the perinatal period, shaped by both her professional work and her own lived experience of the emotional complexities and transitions of early motherhood.
Rebecca Sneddon is a psychologist with over 15 years experience working with children, adolescents, and families across private practice, school, and community settings. She has a special interest in the perinatal period, shaped by both her professional work and her own lived experience of the emotional complexities and transitions of early motherhood.
Shannan is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who has supported the wellbeing needs of individuals across the lifespan for over 25 years. Working in community mental health, hospitals, universities, schools and private practice, she has a broad range of experience in private and community settings.
Shannan is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who has supported the wellbeing needs of individuals across the lifespan for over 25 years. Working in community mental health, hospitals, universities, schools and private practice, she has a broad range of experience in private and community settings.
Deb Spanner is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, with 23 years experience in working across government and non-government mental health services, as well as private practice as a mental health clinician.
Deb Spanner is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, with 23 years experience in working across government and non-government mental health services, as well as private practice as a mental health clinician.
Rebecca Stewart is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with over a decade of experience supporting women through the many transitions of life, with a particular focus on the perinatal period. She
Rebecca Stewart is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with over a decade of experience supporting women through the many transitions of life, with a particular focus on the perinatal period. She
Paula is an accredited mental health social worker with 20 years experience. Paula has worked in women’s health all of her working career and is passionate about her role as a women’s health and family advocate, working respectively with empathy and care.
Paula is an accredited mental health social worker with 20 years experience. Paula has worked in women’s health all of her working career and is passionate about her role as a women’s health and family advocate, working respectively with empathy and care.
Fran (Francieli) is a psychologist with 15 years of experience working with children, adults, and families.
Fran (Francieli) is a psychologist with 15 years of experience working with children, adults, and families.
Fran is a clinical psychologist with more than 17 years of experience working with children, adults, couples, and families. She brings a warm and empathetic approach to her work, complemented by a touch of humour and spontaneity. As a trauma-informed therapist, she provides gender- and neuro-affirming care, creating a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment in which clients from diverse backgrounds can feel respected, understood, and supported in celebrating their identities and strengths.
Fran is a clinical psychologist with more than 17 years of experience working with children, adults, couples, and families. She brings a warm and empathetic approach to her work, complemented by a touch of humour and spontaneity. As a trauma-informed therapist, she provides gender- and neuro-affirming care, creating a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment in which clients from diverse backgrounds can feel respected, understood, and supported in celebrating their identities and strengths.
Hollie Swanton (she/her) is an Endorsed Mental Health Occupational Therapist, Yoga Teacher, perinatal mental health practitioner, disability advocate, and mother of three (one in her heart and two in her arms). With nearly two decades of experience, she supports individuals and families through significant life transitions across mental health, rehabilitation, and women’s health. She works as a clinician and clinical supervisor at Gidget Foundation Australia and is a member of the Parenting with Disability Working Group, contributing to both direct client care and workforce capability in inclusive perinatal practice. Hollie is an embodied, relational, trauma-sensitive and identity-focused therapist. Her work is grounded in occupational therapy and informed by attachment theory, nervous system science and matrescence. Drawing on her background in yoga and somatic practice, she integrates trauma-informed care, sensory and body-based approaches, pelvic health knowledge, and evidence-based therapies including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). As a Circle of Security facilitator, she incorporates attachment-informed, dyadic and family systems perspectives to strengthen parent–infant relationships and support secure connection. She brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work, fostering compassionate and neuroaffirming spaces for parents navigating disability, pregnancy loss, and the complexities of early parenting. Hollie is passionate about advocating for accessible, individualised and strengths-based support so parents feel empowered, connected and confident within the broader social systems in which they live and parent.
Hollie Swanton (she/her) is an Endorsed Mental Health Occupational Therapist, Yoga Teacher, perinatal mental health practitioner, disability advocate, and mother of three (one in her heart and two in her arms). With nearly two decades of experience, she supports individuals and families through significant life transitions across mental health, rehabilitation, and women’s health. She works as a clinician and clinical supervisor at Gidget Foundation Australia and is a member of the Parenting with Disability Working Group, contributing to both direct client care and workforce capability in inclusive perinatal practice. Hollie is an embodied, relational, trauma-sensitive and identity-focused therapist. Her work is grounded in occupational therapy and informed by attachment theory, nervous system science and matrescence. Drawing on her background in yoga and somatic practice, she integrates trauma-informed care, sensory and body-based approaches, pelvic health knowledge, and evidence-based therapies including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). As a Circle of Security facilitator, she incorporates attachment-informed, dyadic and family systems perspectives to strengthen parent–infant relationships and support secure connection. She brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work, fostering compassionate and neuroaffirming spaces for parents navigating disability, pregnancy loss, and the complexities of early parenting. Hollie is passionate about advocating for accessible, individualised and strengths-based support so parents feel empowered, connected and confident within the broader social systems in which they live and parent.
Gidget Consultants
Gidget Foundation Australia is fortunate to work with a number of perinatal mental health Consultants. We are grateful for their dedication to the emotional wellbeing of our clients.
Get support
If you are not feeling yourself and nothing is helping for two weeks or more, we encourage you to reach out to a trusted friend/family member or health professional to get the support you need.