General Information

Dr. Sharon Varela (Lead Trainer)

Sharon is a Senior Psychologist and a Senior Clinical Lead – Mental Health with the Centre for Rural and Remote Health. She is located in Longreach but works across the Central West and North West regions of Queensland. Sharon completed her PhD research in the areas of resilience, sport and youth. During her PhD studies, Sharon was successful in attaining a grant that enabled her to live in Seattle, USA, for 3-months through a collaboration with the University of Washington.

Sharon is a lifespan psychologist who has held senior clinical roles and leadership roles across government, not-for-profit, university and private sectors in the following areas of psychology: health, forensic mental health, mental health, disability, organisational, developmental, educational, research, survey design. Sharon has extensive experience in the areas of training and supervision of provisional and student psychologists, and of allied health workers through collaborative practice models.

Michelle Aniftos

In her early career, Michelle held management and professional leadership roles within Education Queensland; and for the past 15 years has been providing mental health services and numerous psychology placements as the Clinical Director of her private mental health practice in Toowoomba.

In addition to providing peer supervision and mentoring for IQCB* candidates, Michelle is an AHPRA approved supervisor in 4+2, 5+1, Higher Education and Clinical Registrar programs.  Michelle also provides a range of education and training programs including:

• Cognitive Assessment: Clinical Utility of the WISC-V
• HRV & EEG Biofeedback for Mental Health Professionals
• Mental Health Skills Training for GPs, GP Registrars. 

 Michelle was an original facilitator for the Mental Health Professional Network and continued to lead two local groups for a three-year term of office. She has been a member of the Australian Psychology Society since 2004 and an active contributor at local branch, state chapter and national interest group level, being an inaugural member and Convener, of the APS Neurofeedback Interest Group. Most recently, Michelle has been recruited (part-time) by the Southern Queensland Rural Health (a university department of rural health) to strengthen the rural mental health workforce. 

IQCB*: International QEEG Certification Board

Christine Foley

Christine Foley is employed as the Allied Health Clinical Lead, Psychology and is based at the Centre for Rural and Remote Health (CRRH) in Mount Isa. Christine is a Psychology Board of Australia approved Supervisor and takes great care and consideration when supervising Provisional Psychologists to fulfil their supervised practice plans. Christine is a passionate advocate for service delivery in rural and remote regions and is always looking for ways to improve access to mental health services, for members of rural and remote areas.General Information

L to R: Eileen Kuruckchi, Dr. Sharon Varela, Tracey Weatherilt, Natalie Conway, and Ann Lord.

Western Australia Trainers

The CRRH-CHS are pleased to welcome Eileen Kuruckchi, Tracey Weatherilt, Natalie Conway and Ann Lord to our Training team. Eileen, Tracey, Natalie and Ann are Adjunct employees with the CRRH and bring a wealth of experience in school-based psychology.

Ann Lord

Ann is a senior school psychologist who has worked across metropolitan, rural and remote locations. Ann has more than 24 years experience as a school psychologist and in public service positions, providing training to school psychologists, teachers and school administrators.

Natalie Conway

Natalie is a Senior Psychologist with over 12-years experience working with clients across the life span and with diverse multicultural client populations, including Indigenous populations across the Mid-West, Kimberley, Pilbara and Goldfields regions of Western Australia and migrant and refugee populations in Tasmania. In addition to this she has experience working in metropolitan, rural and remote schools in Western Australia and Tasmania and across Government, Catholic and Independent education sectors (kindergarten to Year 12). Prior to working in education, Natalie worked within the Not-for profit, Federal and State Government sectors.

Eileen Kuruckchi

Eileen is a senior school psychologist with more than 28-years experience across metropolitan, rural and remote locations. Eileen has extensive experience writing and delivering training within the Department of Education (for students, staff, and psychologists) and is an accredited trainer for Triple P programs. Eileen is also very experienced as a supervisor and mentor of other psychologists.

Tracey Weatherilt

Tracey is a senior school psychologist with more than 24-years experience across metropolitan, rural and remote locations. Tracey has extensive experience writing and delivering training within the Department of Education (for students, staff, and psychologists); is an accredited trainer for Youth Mental Health First Aid and Triple P programs; and has taught TAFE courses as a visiting lecturer. Tracey is also very experienced as a supervisor and mentor of other psychologists.

Dr. Sarah Lutkin

Sarah is a Clinical Psychologist with a Doctorate in Clinical Geropsychology and a Masters in Suicidology. She has experience working with young people experiencing varying severity of mental health problems and has worked extensively in rural and remote locations.

Sarah is a Clinical Psychologist currently teaching at an undergraduate and postgraduate level, and supervising in her role as Psychology Clinic Manager with the College of Healthcare Sciences (CHS), James Cook University. She has completed a Doctorate in Clinical Geropsychology, with a research focus on anxiety in older adults, and a Masters in Suicidology. She has lived and worked for over 20 years in rural and remote locations and is passionate about improving the mental wellbeing of those living in these areas. She is currently the National convener for the Rural and Remote Interest Group for the Australian Psychological Society, and is a council member of the National Rural Health Alliance.

Sarah has worked across the lifespan, with varying severity of mental health problems in all sectors of service provision in both clinical and leadership roles. She has been supervising provisional psychologists across different pathways for over 7 years and is approved to provide supervision for clinical endorsement.