Our Team

Employees

Claire Kingsley

Family Advocate

Claire is a dedicated Family Advocate and Social Worker with a Master of Social Work, alongside qualifications in teaching and management. She is committed to promoting wellbeing and supporting individuals and families navigating complex health and disability challenges.

 With a people-focused career, Claire brings a client-centred approach grounded in respect, empathy and collaboration, recognising each person’s lived experience. In previous roles, she supported carers by listening and offering practical guidance.

 Drawing on her teaching background, Claire empowers individuals and families through knowledge sharing and skill development to navigate immediate and long-term challenges. Claire finds this role deeply meaningful and advocates to ensure every voice is heard. She continues to deepen her understanding of leukodystrophy conditions and stays informed of advances in diagnosis, research, and emerging therapies.

 Claire works full time and can be contacted on 0418 790 059 or email:  advocate@leuko.org.au

Jane O’Neill

Family Advocate

Jane joined Leukodystrophy Australia in 2022 and is strongly committed to her role as Family Advocate and providing direct support to people affected by leukodystrophy conditions. 

She is a qualified Social Worker with extensive experience working in the disability, family support and health care sectors providing support to individuals and families, working with other support service professionals, social work mentoring and providing community education. 

Jane feels privileged to be invited into people’s lives to hear their powerful stories of strength and courage, and the challenges they experience in living with leukodystrophy. She provides individuals and families with a respectful and safe space to be heard and works alongside them and other professionals to ensure they receive the support they need.   

Jane works part-time and is generally available to speak with individuals, families, caregivers and professionals across Australia on Tues, Wed and Thurs 9am-5pm (NSW time). Jane can be contacted via 0418755994 or email: jane.oneill@leuko.org.au.

The Family Advocate may:

• Provide you with emotional support, information and practical guidance
• Provide advocacy at an individual or systemic level.
• Link you with appropriate service providers so you may achieve the best outcomes throughout your leukodystrophy journey.
• Ensure you and your family are treated with respect and dignity.

Committee of Management

The organisation is thankful to its past and present committee members and volunteers, many of whom are traditionally long-term members/supporters.  Without such dedicated personnel, the organisation could not function.  Enquiries and interest on ways to be involved are always welcome.

Dominik Froehlich

Vice President and Scientific Advisor

Dominik joined the committee in 2019. He is a neuroscience researcher working in the Translational Neuroscience Facility at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. Dominik’s research focuses on the early childhood leukodystrophies HBSL and Canavan disease. To increase the understanding of these leukodystrophies, he and his team are creating genetic disease models and develop gene therapy strategies for the treatment of leukodystrophies. With his scientific background Dominik serves as a scientific advisor to the committee.

Susan Stenning

Secretary

Medical and Research Advisor

Chloe Cunningham

MBBS, FRACP
Royal Children’s Hospital

Dr Cunningham is a Clinical Geneticist at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and lecturer in Clinical Genomics at the University of Melbourne. She trained in paediatrics and clinical Genetics at Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) and Victorian Clinical Genetics Services (VCGS), and completed a neurogenetics fellowship at MCRI/RCH. Her PhD work focused on investigating the genetic causes of rare neurological disease.

Jaitika Duggal

Australian Leukodystrophy Clinical and Research Program

Jaitika is the clinical and research coordinator for the Australian Leukodystrophy Clinical and Research Program at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. As part of this research, she manages the Australian Leukodystrophy Registry and coordinates research collaborations aimed at solving undiagnosed leukodystrophies using genomic technologies. Jaitika is currently completing a Master of Genetic Counselling and holds a Master of Genomics and Health. She has worked in genetics and genomics research and education, and is passionate about making genetic and other health information accessible for diverse communities. She loves speaking with families and collaborating with Leukodystrophy Australia.

Volunteers

Dimitra Minuzzo

Newsletter

Dimitra has been the Leukodystrophy Australia Newsletter volunteer for a number of years.  Leukodystrophy Australia is very thankful for her ongoing support!

Julie Merrett & Minzy Kang

Reach Marketing Group  https://reachmarketinggroup.com.au

Julie “Having personally seen what living with leukodystrophy looks like and the devastation it causes, it is an honour to help Leukodystrophy Australia to help those still living with this disease through social media.”

With thanks to Julie and Reach Marketing Group, Minzy now supports our Facebook content.  Leukodystrophy Australia greatly appreciates their support!

Our Founder

Sr Julie Thomas OAM (1940-2023)

The Australian Leukodystrophy Support Group was founded in August 1992 by Sr Julie Thomas OAM (a Leukodystrophy sufferer herself) with the aim of providing information and support to patients and families across Australia, affected by this debilitating group of genetic diseases. Julie’s vision and tireless efforts in shaping the organisation and supporting so many individuals and families impacted by leukodystrophies are the reason the organisation exists today as a National body. Sr Julie was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in January 2001 for her exceptional services to Australians affected by a rare and usually fatal neurological disorder, Leukodystrophy.

‘Hearing the news, they just can’t believe it; they are in a state of shock, sometimes denial. I know in my heart, the group will continue to grow and be an effective resource for all families linked with Leukodystrophy. Families will continue to be taken care of compassionately and respectfully – which is what they deserve” – Sr Julie Thomas OAM (2012)

Our Ambassadors

Gary, John McKeon, Matthew & Young Jack

Leukodystrophy Australia Ambassadors John Olsen, Gary Dawson OAM & Matthew Laverty are special people indeed.  They all recognise the important role the organisation serves and have performed amazing feats in support.

In 2004, John Olsen, a member of the Geelong Corio Bay Lions Club, set out on his first long walk – from Cape York Peninsula (Queensland) to South East Cape (Tasmania), a 167 day and roughly 3,900 kilometre journey north to south (he hitched a ride on the ferry across Bass Strait). 

In 2008, John undertook The Longest Walk for an Aussie Kid, to raise funds for two groups (one of which was the Australian Leukodystrophy Support Group).   The walk was a marathon 4,778 kilometre, record breaking west to east, solo walk (pushing a custom ‘wheelbarrow’) across Australia, followed by a further 1,783 kilometre ‘stroll’.  John’s walk took him from Steep Point in WA eastward across the 4,778 kilometres of arid desert and the Great Dividing Range to the eastern most point of the continent at Byron Bay NSW and then a further 1,783 kilometre walk southward and home from Byron Bay to Geelong.  John completed the walk in 200 days, raising over $60,000 for the organisation.

In 2016, in memory of his partner Vida Brazianis (who passed away after suffering from leukodystrophy) and in support of Leukodystrophy Australia, John completed his Long Walk for Leukodystrophy – a 5,000 km diagonal crossing of Australia – a massive effort – and in doing so, raised important funds for Leukodystrophy Australia.  

In June 2019, John was recognised for his efforts and awarded an Order of Australia – Congratulations and well deserved John Olsen OAM.

In April 2022 at the age of 70 years young, John set off on his fourth amazing Long Walk ’10 Million Steps for Leukodystrophy’, an estimated 5,000 kilometre journey from Cape Leveque in Western Australia then south east to Cape Howe on the border of New South Wales and Victoria.

Gary ‘Smokey’ Dawson (OAM) & Matthew Laverty run a golf series called The Charity Challenge, a unique Corporate Golf Series in support of low profile local Charities.  Having heard about the Australian Leukodystrophy Support Group and its work, Gary & Matthew ran their first golf event for the organisation in 2009 in Sydney.  Since that event, Gary & Matt have supported the organisation in many ways, not only via continued fundraising Golf Days, but also through the all-important networking of their Corporate Supporters.  Their support has been integral in allowing the organisation to continue to do what it does – as well as awareness raising of what leukodystrophies are and the work the organisation does.  The Sydney Golf day continues to run and expanded to Melbourne in 2014.  Corporates, friends and supporters plus The Charity Challenge’s own Ambassadors, Sponsors and golfers are to be thanked for their generous support.

Sister Julie celebrating at the 30th Anniversary (August 2022) of Leukodystrophy Australia

Sister Julie Thomas CSB OAM – 3 January 1940 – 6 February 2023