Our Experts
Anna Castle-Burton
Director
Anna is a highly sought-after expert, with a strong reputation as a highly credible expert in catastrophic matters, particularly traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. She has vast clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist for the past 34 years.
She has been the sole Director of CB Consulting Pty Ltd for the past 8 years. Prior to starting CB Consulting, Anna was Director of Australian RehabWorks (ARW) for 16 years, a community-based practice specialising in assessment, treatment, case management, and medico-legal opinions of people suffering catastrophic injuries including traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury.
Anna has extensive experience in delivering clinical treatment to both adult and paediatric clients with acquired and traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and all paediatric injuries and disabilities in the CTP, iCare LTCS and NDIS schemes. She holds a current clinical caseload, in addition to supervising and mentoring staff in medico-legal assessment and report writing. Anna regularly conducts training workshops in all aspects of treatment and care for adults and children with neurological injuries and disabilities.
She holds coveted select appointments as a binding decision maker as a Medical Assessor with the Personal Injury Commission. She is also an Approved Care Needs Assessor and Dispute Assessor for iCare LTCS, for paediatric and adult participants with Traumatic Brain Injuries, Spinal Cord Injuries and Burns.
Anna is passionate about championing best-practice in the industry, providing highest level, gold-standard care and reporting for the individual involved.
Lauren Alach
Lauren has a strong reputation as a highly credible expert due to her extensive clinical experience for the past 34 years. She holds a Postgraduate qualification in Occupational Therapy (Master of Health Science Occupational Therapy – Neurology) and is a member of OT Australia.
She specialises in occupational therapy and case management services to adults and children with acquired brain injury, spinal injuries, cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities, and severe orthopaedic injuries. She is highly experienced as an expert witness providing expert opinions for the past 25 years. Lauren maintians a clinical load providing services to a range of clients.
Lauren has current appointments with iCare LTCS in Paediatric and Adult Disputes, and is an Eligibility and Care Needs Assessor in NSW, a Medical Assessor for the Personal Injury Commission (PIC), and is on the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) Authorised Medical Assessor panel.
Lauren is a registered Occupational Therapist with AHPRA. She also has a Working with Children Clearance.
Vanessa Zweck
Vanessa is a highly qualified expert in hand and upper limb treatment, assessment and expert opinion. She has extensive clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist for the past 34 years in the public and private sectors in Australia, Canada and USA.
She holds a Master’s of Science in Hand & Upper Limb Rehabilitation, a Bachelor of Applied Science (OT), and is a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) and Accredited Hand Therapist (as awarded by the Australian Hand Therapy Association). She has extensive experience gained from work in hospitals providing assessment and treatment in the areas of orthopaedics, neurology, spinal, burns, and paediatrics. Vanessa continues to work in a hand therapy private practice and is experienced in assessment, treatment and report writing for all types of injuries and conditions.
Vanessa is also a regular presenter at professional conferences throughout Australia and overseas.
She is a registered Occupational Therapist with AHPRA.
Kate Morris
Kate is a highly qualified expert specialising in paediatric treatment, assessment, case management, and expert opinion gained through 17 years of clinical practice. She worked in a private paediatric practice for many years and has held a key position at a major Sydney children’s hospital, alongside providing expert opinions for medico-legal matters.
She has clinical expertise in occupational therapy and case management services to paediatric and adult clients with various neurological conditions including brain injury, cerebral palsy and autist spectrum disorder, amputations, and orthopaedic injuries from the acute stage of hospital treatment to successful reintegration of clients into the community.
Kate has extensive experience assessing clients’ needs, prescribing care, equipment, therapy, and other ongoing services. She is an experienced provider in NDIS matters.
She is a registered Occupational Therapist with AHPRA and also has a Working with Children Clearance.
Kristen Pickles
Kristen has a strong clinical Physiotherapy background with 18 years of experience in Hand Therapy and Upper Limb Physiotherapy in major trauma hospitals and private practice in New Zealand, United Kingdom, and Australia.
She holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy) and has completed post-graduate training to become both a Registered Hand Therapist with Hand Therapy New Zealand (HTNZ) and an Accredited Hand Therapist with British Association of Hand Therapy (BAHT) in 2014.
Kristen has gained specialist skills through her clinical work, providing assessment and treatment in the areas of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, Hand Therapy, Burns and Plastics and Paediatrics. She maintains a clinical caseload with current Hand Therapy roles in private practice and a major trauma public hospital department.
She has additional skills and experience in functional and ergonomic assessment, task analysis and injury management gained through her previous role as an Occupational Rehabilitation Consultant. She is experienced in assessment, treatment and report writing for all types of injuries and conditions.
Kristen is a registered Physiotherapist with AHPRA. She also has a Working with Children Clearance.
Sarah Healy
Sarah has more than 7 years experience working as an Occupational Therapist. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Occupational Therapy, after graduating with an honours degree from National University of Ireland, Galway.
She currently works as a Team Leader, managing an interdisciplinary disability team within a community-based practice. She is an expert in implementing evidence-based community practices for participants accessing the NDIS. She maintains a complex paediatric and adult caseload, specialising in Autism, Developmental Disabilities, and Physical Disabilities.
Sarah is skilled in providing high quality assessment reports in areas such as functional capacity, housing, support needs and assistive technology. She is passionate about inclusion, access and participation for any person living with a disability in Australia.
Sarah is a registered Occupational Therapist with AHPRA. She also has a Working with Children Clearance.
Elizabeth Shannon
Elizabeth has earned the reputation of being a highly credible expert witness, having had more than 20 years of extensive clinical experience as a neurological physiotherapist, and having been qualified as a physiotherapist for more than 34 years. She holds a post-graduate qualification in Neurological Physiotherapy (M.Hlth.Sci). She has been awarded the status as a Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist by the Australian College of Physiotherapist in 2008. As part of her professional responsibilities, Elizabeth is also a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association and a member of the Assessment Credentialing Standing Committee and the Exam Working Committee for the College.
Elizabeth specialises in providing neurological physiotherapy intervention for adults and children with spinal cord injuries, traumatic and congenital brain injuries, peripheral nerve injuries and complex orthopaedic conditions. She maintains a clinical case load as well as completing independent assessments for insurers (including iCare, NISSQ and NDIA) and has provided expert evidence for the last 20 years.
Elizabeth has appointments with Lifetime Care (iCare) in Adults and Paediatric Disputes for Treatment and care needs. She is an Approved Care Assessor for iCare for both adults and children. She is a registered Physiotherapist with AHPRA and has a current NSW Working with Children Check.
Christine Taylor
Christine has an impressive track record of over three decades in the field of acquired brain injury rehabilitation. Her exceptional expertise in speech pathology has garnered recognition not only within her local industry but also on the international stage, as evidenced by her academic and board appointments and a substantial body of research publications in peer-reviewed journals and textbook.
Christine is a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist with an unwavering commitment to fair and evidence-based practice. She is actively involved in the resolution of disputes in her role as a Disputes assessor for Lifetime Care and the WA Catastrophic Injuries Support Scheme. Christine is an appointed member of the Ethics supervision and mentoring team at Speech Pathology Australia, offering valuable guidance and support to fellow members who may encounter ethical challenges, fostering a culture of ethical integrity within the profession since February 2021.
Christine is both a practitioner and an educator. Her teaching responsibilities encompass critical courses, including Acquired Motor Speech Disorders, Medical/Surgical Practice, and the Brain Injury Acquired Language Disorders courses in the Masters of Speech Language Pathology at Macquarie University. Christine has taken on the role of a higher degree research supervisor, providing guidance and mentorship to Masters students pursuing advanced research in the field of speech pathology.