Samuel Murray CF BAppSci MASID
(pronouns: he/they)
Director and Principal Adviser
Samuel is one of Australia’s foremost experts in person-centred practice models, with a strong emphasis on services for people with a disability. They have provided a wide array of professional supports to people with a disability, their family and carers, service providers, and government departments for more than 20 years.
Samuel holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Disability), and is the Immediate Past President of ASID (Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability - Victoria Branch), and Australasian Board Member. Samuel was awarded the Victorian Disability Support Worker of the Year Award (2006) and went on to play a pivotal role on the statewide awards selection panel, notably seeing the launch of a DSW Team of the Year Award in 2008.
In addition, Samuel contributes to a number of ministerial panels and was also an inaugural member of the Office of the Senior Practitioner Research Reference Panel.
For a number of years, Samuel was the Chair of the annual DSW Conference. This widely acclaimed conference attracted over 800 delegates from across Australasia, and abroad. He is also currently involved in research projects with the Living with Disability Research Centre (LiDs) at La Trobe.
After being awarded a Churchill Fellowship, Samuel has taken up the challenge to improve the quality of support being provided to people with a disability. A number of current national and state workforce initiatives overseen by NDIA and the Department of Health and Human Services are just some of the projects Samuel currently commits his time and experience to.
Samuel is currently working with a Victorian provider, on a long term project, to devolve a number of large institutional residential aged care settings, into a small home model of support based on the Green House and Eden Alternative models from the United States.
Further to their work in the health and human service sectors, Samuel has more recently provided technical and practical advisory services to organisations committed to being more diverse and inclusive. Including achieving the Rainbow Tick Accreditation (LGBTIQ+ inclusive practice standards) for a large Melbourne based ethno-specific community service organisation.
Dr Samantha Tabak BA (Psych.) (Hons.) D.Psych. (Clinical). Assoc. MAPS
(pronouns: she/her)
Senior Adviser (Clinical Services)
Samantha leads Aspect Consultancy's clinical mental health practice with an emphasis on adolescent mental health, addiction, and suicide prevention.
Samantha is a clinical psychologist who has almost a decade of experience working with individuals and families across the lifespan.
Samantha provides expert assessment and treatment for a diverse range of psychological issues including depression, anxiety, personality development and disorders, psychosis, grief and loss, trauma, social skills, adjustment to life events, autism spectrum disorders, and difficulties with emotional regulation.
In her clinical practice, Samantha utilises several treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mentalisation Based Therapy (MBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), supportive psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness. Samantha also has experience in psychological assessments, in particular, personality assessments.
In addition, Samantha has specialised experience in youth psychiatric triage, risk assessment and psychiatric risk management.
Recent Publications
Tabak, S., Klettke, B., & Knight, T. (2013). Simulated jury decision-making in online focus groups. Qualitative Research Journal, 13 (1), pp.102 – 113.
Tabak, S. & Klettke, B. (2014). Mock jury attitudes towards credibility, age, and guilt in a fictional child sexual assault scenario. Australian Journal of Psychology, 66 (1), 47 – 55.
Marisa McCague MSSc (Policy and Human Services) BA (Psych.) Grad Dip (Education)
(pronouns: she/her)
Practice Adviser (Policy and Partnerships)
As one of Australia’s leading human service specialists, Marisa has a depth of knowledge and experience in both the government and not-for-profit sector. Marisa holds a BA (Psychology), a Grad Dip (Education and Training) and a Masters in Social Sciences (Policy and Human Services Management). With an education spanning three continents, including an International Baccalaureate in Germany, Marisa has a broad view of the world that is balanced with a keen eye for detail, and an ability to think openly and creatively to achieve more efficient, more effective, and more person-centred outcomes.
Marisa has more 20 years of senior leadership experience in the human service sector and has held key positions in State government and within some of Australia’s oldest and largest community service providers. With a special interest in disability and early childhood education, Marisa has been recognised as a thought leader in these fields, and somebody that consistently achieves outstanding results by leading people and organisations by way of innovative and contemporary approaches.
Marisa leads Aspect Consultancy's Policy and Partnerships portfolio, and is capable to delivering a wide variety of consultative supports to organisations and individuals. This includes group facilitation, policy review and development, quality assurance development and auditing, as well as program reviews, quality of service reviews, and NDIS readiness.
Sharon Hutchinson
(pronouns: she/her)
Practice Adviser (Disability)
Sharon has an extensive career in disability working with both the government and community service sectors. Sharon's ability to know precisely what a client wants and needs lends her particular brand of support to person-centred approaches and culture change projects.
With more than 20 years of experience to draw upon, Sharon is adept at quickly building a strong rapport with clients and leading them through change.
Kylee Brehaut
(pronouns: she/her)
Practice Adviser (Policy and Practice)
For the last 25 years, Kylee has been at the frontline of disability support in numerous leadership roles. Always a trailblazer in her field, Kylee has a strong commitment to advocacy and ensuring marginalised groups are empowered to speak up and have their voices heard. Backed by a solid reputation as a rights-based operator, Kylee has had experience transitioning Victorians from institutional care to living valued lives in the general community, and across many contemporary service models since then.
Kylee has built a professional profile, in more recent years, as a vocational educator in the human service and health sectors, with an adept skill set in pedagogical teaching, she is able to deliver to diverse groups on a wide range of specialist topics. Kylee has developed, reviewed and delivered qualifications such as the Certificate IV in Community Services, through to facilitating training within the sector to large providers, such as her recent involvement in developing Ambulance Victoria’s paramedic workforce to more skilfully respond to workplace violence.
Coupled with her frontline leadership and education background, Kylee holds a Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, and is regarded as an accomplished practitioner in this space, having led OH&S practice with large providers in both the disability service and the public health sectors.
Lucy Woods
(pronouns: she/they)
Administration Coordinator
Lucy has been with Aspect Consultancy since we were first established, and she continues to offer exceptional behind-the-scenes supports to the entire team.
Lucy may not always be seen or heard by those she provides support to, but things would just not happen if it were not for her keen eye for detail, meticulous record keeping and strong foresight.
Rosa Solá PhD Candidate BPsychSci (1st Class Hons)
(pronouns: she/her)
Research Assistant
After 12 years of working in childcare and teaching (children ages 0-17) in 3 continents, I am currently seeking answers to many questions regarding motivation, behaviour, health, and education through completing a PhD in Neuropsychology.
Through combining the biological explanations offered by neuroscience, the behavioural techniques explored in psychology, and my experience in education, I aim to develop my skills in order to provide tailored, professional assistance to children, parents, and families facing any kind of developmental, emotional, mental, scholastic or inter-relational challenge.
