The Renwick Centre has built an international reputation for the quality of its academic and support staff.
Academic staff include:
Deafness and Hearing Impairment
Professor Greg Leigh, Chair, Renwick Centre/Conjoint Professor of Education, University of Newcastle
Dr Jill Duncan, Head of Graduate Studies
Dr Breda Carty, Lecturer
Dr Robyn Cantle Moore, Lecturer
Dr Rod Beattie, Adjunct Lecturer
Rebecca Bull, Research Fellow and Audiologist
Kim Ter-Horst, Research Fellow and Audiologist
Professor Philip Newall, Research Fellow and Audiologist
Associate Professor Norm Erber, Research Fellow
Vision Impairment
Dr Mike Steer, Senior Lecturer
Frances Gentle, Lecturer
Sue Silveira, JAFF Research Fellow
Centre staff include:
Centre Secretary
Library and Information Services
Julie Thorndyke, Manager, Library and Information Services - Monday to Friday
Marijana Miletic, Senior Librarian - Monday, Tuesday
Jason Morgan, Library Technician - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Continuing Professional Education
John Richards, Co-ordinator of Perth Programs
Sharon Lachmund, Administrative Officer
Distance Education
Claire Farrington, Co-ordinator, Graduate Student Affairs
Multimedia Production
Dr Teresa Williamson, Curriculum Media Designer
Cathy Yu, Web Developer
Professor Greg Leigh
BEd (Griffith), MSc (Washington), PhD (Monash), FACE
Chair, Renwick Centre/Conjoint Professor of Education, University of Newcastle
E-mail: greg.leigh@ridbc.org.au
Phone: (02) 9872 0372
View University of Newcastle Staff Profile
Biography
Professor Greg Leigh began his career in education of the deaf at the Queensland School for the Deaf in Brisbane in 1979. He holds degrees in Education and Special Education from Griffith University in Brisbane, a Master of Science degree from Washington University in the USA, and PhD in Special Education from Monash University.
Greg was co-ordinator of the Teacher Education program for Teachers of Deaf and Hearing Impaired students at Deakin University, Victoria, from 1987-1993. In 1993, he took up the position of Senior Lecturer and foundation Head of Renwick College. In July 1999, Greg was appointed Assistant Chief Executive (Educational services) at RIDBC. In October 1999, he was appointed Conjoint Associate Professor of Special Education at the University of Newcastle. He is active in research and has published numerous articles and chapters on aspects of education of deaf children.
Research interests
- Teachers’ use of simultaneous communication
- Children’s reception and use of simultaneous communication
- Literacy development in deaf children and adults
- Adult literacy and basic education provision for people who are deaf or hearing impaired
- The use of sign/spoken language interpreters in mainstream educational placements
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Dr Jill Duncan
B
Sci, M Ed (University of Cincinnati), M Ed Man., PhD (University of
Western
Australia)
Head of Graduate Studies
E-mail: jill.duncan@ridbc.org.au
Phone: (02) 9872 0331
View University of Newcastle Staff Profile
Dr Duncan studied Speech Pathology, Audiology and Deaf Education with the esteemed Professors Richard and Laura Kretschmer at the University of Cincinnati. She has been a practicing auditory-verbal therapist since 1988 when she worked at the Helen Beebe Speech and Hearing Centre where she was privileged to work alongside Helen Beebe in Pennsylvania, USA.
She has held an academic position at Deafness Studies Unit, University of Melbourne where she worked with the highly regarded Professor Field Rickards. Dr Duncan has been the senior administrator in two well known programs for children and students with hearing impairment - the Cora Barclay Centre in South Australia and Soundbridge in Connecticut, USA.
Research Interests
- Measuring student outcomes
- Complex skills development
- Adolescents with hearing impairment
For information on Auditory-Verbal Practice and the programs Jill teaches, please visit the Auditory-Verbal Practice website.
Dr Rod Beattie
BA, BEd (Saskatchewan), MEd (Manchester), PhD (Alberta)
Adjunct Lecturer
E-mail: rod.beattie@ridbc.org.au
Phone: (02) 9872 0816
View University of Newcastle Staff Profile
Biography
Dr Rod Beattie is Adjunct Lecturer (Hearing Impairment) at Renwick Centre and the University of Newcastle. His undergraduate academic qualifications include a BA in Psychology and a BEd in Special Education from the University of Saskatchewan. His graduate degrees include an MEd in Audiology/Education of the Deaf from the University of Manchester, and a PhD in Special Education from the University of Alberta.
Rod’s two Postdoctoral Fellowships from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the University of Alberta focused on pragmatic language competencies of both children and adults with hearing loss.
Research interests
- Pragmatic language competencies in students who are deaf and hearing impaired
- Communication competencies of preschool aged children who are hearing impaired
- Social, communicative and achievement affects of early childhood cochlear implantation
- Adults with acquired hearing losses
- Ethics, education and hearing loss or deafness
Dr Breda Carty
BA
(Qld), Dip Ed (Monash), M A (Gallaudet), PhD (Griffith).
Lecturer
E-mail: breda.carty@ridbc.org.au
Phone / TTY: (02) 9872 0241
View University of Newcastle Staff Profile
Biography
Before taking up this position in 2002, Breda was a Research Fellow at Griffith University for 12 years, and a teacher of the deaf in Victoria and the United States. She has had many years’ experience developing Deaf Studies workshops for the Deaf community, and as a consultant with a variety of educational and community-based groups. She has co-authored a widely-used Deaf Studies Program for schools and a variety of other educational materials.
Breda has had extensive involvement in Deaf community organizations, and is currently Secretary of Deaf History International and a member of the World Federation of the Deaf’s Expert Group on Deaf culture.
Research Interests
- Deaf history, culture and community
- Learning styles of Deaf people
- Auslan/English bilingualism in children and adults
- Deaf Studies curriculum development
Dr Mike Steer
BA (Sir George Williams), Dip Ed (Exeter), MSc (Southern Illinois),
MEd (Boston College), MA(Hons) (Melbourne), PhD (Syracuse), AM
Senior Lecturer
E-mail: mike.steer@ridbc.org.au
Phone: (02) 9872 0814
View University of Newcastle Staff Profile
Biography
Mike Steer is Senior Lecturer in Vision Impairment at the Renwick Centre and Adjunct Professor at Deakin University. Prior to 1996, he was Director of the NSW Office on Disability and before that, Principal Advisor on Disability Policy for Community Services Victoria, and Director of the Integration Unit for the Victorian Ministry of Education.
Mike holds a PhD (Special Education Administration) from Syracuse University, with masters degrees in Public Policy (Melbourne), Vision Impairment (Boston College) and Education (Southern Illinois).
Mike is involved in a range of professional associations including South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment (Life Member), Council for Exceptional Children (USA) and Phi Delta Kappa (USA). He is currently Editor of the Australian Deaf Blind Council Bulletin, the Journal of the South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment, the International Journal of Orientation and Mobility and a Consulting Editor to the Australian Journal of Special Education.
Research Interests
- Disability, advocacy and human service policy reform
- Integration and inclusion of students with sensory disabilities in the generic education system
- Educational issues in deafblindness
- Public attitude towards people with sensory disabilities
Frances Gentle
BA, Dip Ed (Macquarie); B Ed (Special Education) (UNE); MSpecEd (Sensory
Disability) (Newcastle, NSW)
Lecturer
E-mail: frances.gentle@ridbc.org.au
Phone: (02) 9872 0808
View University of Newcastle Staff Profile
Biography
Fran Gentle is part time Lecturer in Vision Impairment at The Renwick Centre. She has worked in the education and disability fields for approximately 20 years. In 1994/95 she taught at the American School in Japan (ASIJ) and at the Tokyo International Learning Centre for international students with special needs. She also established an English language teaching program for Japanese adults with severe vision impairment at the Vocational Development Centre for the Blind in Tokyo. Prior to 1994, she taught in regular and special educational settings in Sydney, within both the Government and Catholic educational sectors.
Fran is also part time Vision Services Coordinator at St. Edmund’s School, Wahroonga, Sydney. Her professional associations include South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment (SPEVI), International Council of Educators of Vision Impaired (ICEVI), Australian Association of Special Education (AASE), Australian Braille Authority (Convener, New South Wales Subcommittee), and the Australian Literacy Educators' Association (ALEA).
Research Interests
- Contemporary issues associated with educational standards and pedagogy
- Braille literacy and numeracy development
- Curriculum and expanded core curriculum access and provision for students with vision impairment
- Development of educational services for children with disabilities in the South Pacific and East Asia regions
Dr Robyn Cantle Moore
B. Mus. Ed. (Sydney), Cert. Teach (Secondary), D.S.C.M. (Performance) (Conservatorium/Sydney), M. Spec. Ed. (Sensory Disability) (Newcastle), M. Ed. Stud. (Newcastle), PhD (Newcastle)
Lecturer
E-mail: robyn.moore@ridbc.org.au
Phone: (02) 9872-0204 or (02) 9872-0339
Fax:
(02) 9873-1614
Biography
Robyn Cantle Moore has 20 years experience as an educator in the field of hearing impairment/ multi-sensory disability with appointments including: Conjoint Lecturer, Teacher Training and Professional Development Program, Senior Teacher of the Deaf / Consultant, RIDBC Early Learning Program and Specialist consultant, RIDBC Assessment and Resource Team.
Present roles and responsibilities include lecturing on specific topics related to early childhood intervention for sensory disability (HI and VI) and family support, as well as limited face-to-face teaching (research programs) as Senior Teacher of the Deaf, RIDBC Early Learning Program.
Research Interests
- Audition, speech and language development of infants (CI / HA) in Deaf family environments
- Developing parent-report/education tools for infant-HI monitoring and assessment
Sue Silveira
MHScEd Sydney,
DipAppSc (Orth)
JAFF Research Fellow
E-mail: sue.silveira@ridbc.org.au
Phone: (02) 9872-00248
Fax:
(02) 9873-1614
Biography
Sue has over 20 years experience as a paediatric orthoptist and in an academic role. She has taught widely in the areas of paediatric eye disease and vision surveillance and vision screening. She is currently the chief investigator on the project which is developing and implementing the Australian Childhood Vision Impairment Register.
Research Interests:
- Prevention of vision impairment and blindness in Australian children
- Reduction of eye injury in Australian children
Jill Watson 
Centre Secretary
E-mail: jill.watson@ridbc.org.au
Phone / TTY: (02) 9872 0303
Fax:
(02) 9873 1614
Biography
Jill is the Renwick Centre Secretary and provides administrative support for all staff.
Jill is responsible for monitoring and maintaining all student records, provides information to students about programs offered at the Renwick Centre, as well as using the University of Newcastle student record system. Jill liaises with the University with enrolments, grades and graduation.
Jill worked at another University prior to commencing employment at the Renwick Centre in 2001.
Julie Thorndyke
BA - Lib Sc (KCAE), BA - Eng Lit (Macquarie), AALIA
Manager, Library and Information Services
E-mail: julie.thorndyke@ridbc.org.au
Phone: (02) 9872 0396
Biography
As Manager, Library and Information Services at the Renwick Centre, Julie is responsible for the information needs of Renwick Centre students enrolled in on-campus and distance learning modes, the professional information and research needs of Renwick Centre faculty, and those of professional staff of RIDBC. She is also available to help parents of children enrolled in RIDBC programs to access appropriate information from the specialist resources within the Renwick Centre Library.
With a career in librarianship spanning more than twenty years, Julie’s experience comes from a variety of roles in school, university and TAFE libraries. She enjoys the challenge of adapting library services to take advantage of new developments in online service delivery.
A published poet, Julie is currently studying part-time at the University of Sydney in the Master of Creative Writing programme.
Marijana Miletic
BSc (UNSW), Grad Dip IM – Librarianship (UNSW)
Senior Librarian, P/T
E-mail: marijana.miletic@ridbc.org.au
Phone: (02) 9872 0352
Biography
Marijana is part time senior librarian at the Renwick Centre. In this role she is responsible for the information needs of Renwick Centre students enrolled in on-campus and distance learning modes; the professional information and research needs of Renwick Centre faculty, as well as those of the professional staff of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children; and also supporting parents of children enrolled in RIDBC programs in their information quests.
Marijana has worked in the information field for 10 years in medical, public, TAFE and school libraries. In March 2007 she took up her current position. Professional qualifications include a Bachelor of Science (In Science & Technology Studies) and a Graduate Diploma in Information Management – Librarianship both from the University of New South Wales, Sydney. She is normally available Tuesday and Wednesday.
John Richards
Dip T & B Ed (Edith Cowan), Grad Dip (Sydney), Grad Dip (Christchurch, NZ), M Ed (Hearing Impaired Children) Melbourne
Co-ordinator of Perth Programs for RIDBC Renwick Centre
E-mail: john.richards@ridbc.org.au
Phone: 0402 142 442 or 08 9286 7008
Biography
John is currently the Coordinator of Perth Programs for the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) Renwick Centre. This position was created through a unique partnership between the WA Foundation for Deaf Children and the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children.
John is located in Perth where he coordinates a number of programs offered by the RIDBC Renwick Centre including the Master of Special Education, Continuing Professional Education and local research projects.
Since 1998 he is has been the Chairperson of the National Association of Australian Teachers of the Deaf (NAATD). Previous professional positions have included; Executive Principal of the Western Australian Institute for Deaf Education, Principal of the Cottesloe School for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Children, Educational Audiologist and Visiting Teacher of the Deaf.
Research Interests
- Family Centred practice
- Inclusion of deaf and hard of hearing children
- The role of the Teacher of the Deaf
Sharon Lachmund 
Administrative Officer
E-mail: sharon.lachmund@ridbc.org.au
Phone: (02) 9872 0207
Biography
Sharon is currently employed as an administrative officer at the Renwick Centre in the Continuing Professional Education department. In this role she sends RIDBC employees on professional development courses and assists with the Continuing Professional Education calendar planning and delivery.
Claire Farrington 
BA (NSW), GradCertAdEd (New England), MLMEd (Newcastle)
Coordinator, Graduate Student Affairs
E-mail: claire.farrington@ridbc.org.au
Phone: (02) 9872 0811
Biography
Claire Farrington is Co-ordinator, Graduate Student Affairs at the Renwick Centre for Professional Education and Research. Claire has supported the professional development and academic programs of Renwick since 1995 and has co-ordinated distance education and the broader graduate studies program since 2001.
In her current role, Claire assists the Head of Graduate Studies in the delivery of postgraduate programs from initial annual planning to implementation. Claire also provides support to all academic staff in regard to the delivery of graduate programs to a growing distance student population.
Claire is currently enrolled in a Master of Higher Education (E-learning) program with Macquarie University.
Dr Teresa Williamson
BSc (Liverpool, UK), PhD (Plymouth, UK), Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (AOT, Cairns, Australia)
Curriculum Media Designer, (Mon-Fri, 8am - 2.30pm)
E-mail: teresa.williamson@ridbc.org.au
Phone: (02) 9872 0258
Biography
Teresa joined the Renwick Centre in October 2006, and has 11 years teaching experience in Higher Education. Previous roles involved the design and development of e-learning programs and resources for postgraduate study programs in geographical science and Medicine.
Teresa manages the design and development of multi-media learning resources for Renwick Centre programs, including graphic design, promotional media, e-newsletters, website design and updates, e-learning course delivery and digital video production and filming.
