SAMSN’s Clinical Advisory Committee

SAMSN’s Practice Advisory Committee (PAC) provides expertise and direction to SAMSN on matters related to clinical programs undertaken and proposed. The Committee provides an interface between external advice and the internal operations of SAMSN’s services to support SAMSN’s purpose: To build a support network that gives voice and agency to male survivors and their supporters.

The Committee is a collaboration between professionals, community represenatives and men with lived expertise in the development of excellence in service delivery. We are honoured to enjoy the wisdom, time and generosity of our PAC members.

Gail is a registered Psychologist with over 30 years of experience working at the Family Court, Relationships Australia, Domestic Violence Crisis Service, ACT Women’s Health Service and the Australian National University.

During this time, she has worked with many men and women who have suffered trauma as a result of interpersonal violence including childhood sexual abuse. She has also over the years, provided both clinical supervision and training in trauma related work.

Having worked extensively in the area of offering support and change opportunities to men struggling with the use of violence in their most important relationships, she has a particular interest in services for men, which she sees as often too scarce.

Gail is a long-time member of the Australian Psychological Society.

Lindsay was a participant in the first eight-week group that SAMSN ran in the Newcastle in 2014. Since that time Lindsay has been a regular at SAMSN’s monthly meetings and has co-edited our e-newsletter for eight-week group alumni. Lindsay has also been involved in SAMSN publicity efforts and attended Supporters Workshops and SAMSN presentations for health professionals.

Lindsay while now a retired person, has a background in Education holding executive positions within schools in the NSW Department of Education.

Lindsay has a keen interest in developing opportunities for SAMSN to reach out to men across the nation spreading the message of hope and recovery.

Dr Gary Foster is a social worker, who from 2018 to 2023 was the Practice Manager for the Queensland Government National Redress Scheme Direct Personal Response and Counselling and Psychological Care programs. He was previously a Police Officer in the Metropolitan Police, London, where he co-coordinated a Domestic Violence unit, investigated and prosecuted sexual assault. Gary’s PhD examines governmental responses to male on male rape.

Gary was the founder/manager of the Queensland Living Well service providing counselling and group support to men who have been subjected to childhood sexual abuse or adult sexual assault, as well as to partners, families and communities between from 2007-2018. He has presented at national and international conferences and workshops on improving therapeutic and service responses in working with men. Gary appeared as an expert witness at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. He is interested in developing responses to enhance the wellbeing of people who have experienced trauma and abuse.

Professor Patrick O’ Leary is the Director of the Violence Research Prevention Program at Griffith University’s Criminology Institute. He has extensive experience in various executive roles in Universities and the community sector.

Professor O’ Leary is an internationally recognised researcher, with significant expertise in domestic violence/gender-based violence and child protection. Prior to entering academic work Professor O’ Leary worked as a social worker in sexual assault, counselling and domestic violence services. For over twenty years he has conducted research on the effects of child sexual abuse on men.

Professor O’ Leary has published extensively in high quality journals, and his work has influenced international domestic violence and child protection policy and practice. He has worked extensively in social development contexts in many countries. Professor O’ Leary was an Expert Academic Advisor to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and a Senior Research Fellow with UNICEF’s Office for Research. Since 2013 Professor O’ Leary has worked with SAMSN in an advisory capacity.