Counselling and Assessment of Ability or Giftedness

Psychologists

Name	Phone number	Location
Tony Burton	(07) 3830 5327, 0407 427 754	Brisbane
Gerry Dangerfield	(07) 3378 0888	Indooroopilly
Mary McGrath	(07) 3371 0299	Red Hill Brisbane
Coral Palmer	(07) 3480 5583	Kallangur
Claudia Retchford	0418 188 780	Brisbane
Sali Smith	(07) 3368 1300	Bardon Brisbane
Helen Stallman	(07) 3365 7304	St Lucia Brisbane
Philip Trudinger	(07) 3391 3733	Woolloongabba
Jane Ward	(07) 3395 3188	Carindale, Bulimba
John Worthington	0414 883 463	travels around Queensland
Ian Collett	(07) 4638 9526, 0403 122 977	Toowoomba

Educational consultants

• Judith Hewton, QAGTC advocate, information on educational aspects of giftedness, volunteer service, Phone: (07) 3844 3034
• Ken Imison   (Structure of the Intellect)   Phone: (07) 4630 8889 Toowoomba, travels.

Counsellors

• Michele Juratowitch,   Phone: (07) 3378 0888 Mobile: 0438 744 994
• Janelle Homan, Family Therapist, Phone: (07) 3839 7679

Identification of giftedness and educational placement decisions may require more than a single measure of ability. Assessment of individual strengths and weaknesses will inform what services, based on individual needs, are the most effective means of assisting gifted students to develop their potential. Parents/caregivers/families, teachers, mentors, peers and others with significant knowledge of and positive inclination towards the child can provide relevant information for compilation of a portfolio. These data can be gathered in different ways, such as observing performance and products, assembling samples of work, and conducting interviews both within and outside of school settings to add to assessment reports.

QAGTC provides detailed information free of charge to members as well as general information to casual inquirers. We recommend that counselling and assessment of gifted children requires the services of professionals with knowledge of giftedness and a special focus on assessment. Prospective clients can also ask service providers who offer educational advice about their attitude to ability grouping and acceleration, and avoid those who advise against these essential elements of gifted education.