I am a clinical neuropsychologist who completed my undergraduate degree at Deakin University in Geelong, gaining an honours degree in psychology. I then studied my masters degree at the University of Queensland, completing it in 1997. My masters degree gave me qualifications in both clinical psychology and clinical neuropsychology. My first job in the field involved working in general clinical psychology at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane, seeing patients in their homes, treating difficulties such as depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, agoraphobia, and chronic pain.

Louise Vernieux Clinical Neuropsychologist

After 18 months I moved to Hobart and worked at Rehabilitation Tasmania in a dual role as a clinical neuropsychologist and clinical psychologist. Nine months later when the hospital closed I gained a position in a child assessment service run by St John’s Private Hospital where my work for 2 ½ years involved assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, and other childhood disorders as well as behavioural therapy.

I have subsequently worked solely as a clinical neuropsychologist. I moved to Melbourne in 2000 where I worked in rehabilitation at Sunshine Hospital and Melbourne Extended Care and Rehabilitation as a clinical neuropsychologist. After a year I moved to working full time at Sunshine Hospital in rehabilitation, assessing elderly patients with dementia and assessing patients for their decision making capacity. Over my six years at Sunshine Hospital I worked in a number of services across the Western Health campuses of Sunshine Hospital, Western Hospital Footscray and Williamstown Hospital, including inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, geriatrics (GEM), acute medical wards, the Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS) and the Cognitive Dementia and Memory Service (CDAMS).

In 2006 I founded my private practice in clinical neuropsychology. My practice is focused primarily on medico-legal assessment and capacity assessment. With my qualification in clinical psychology (I am not endorsed as a clinical psychologist with AHPRA) and previous work in clinical psychology, developmental disorders and rehabilitation my assessments include a wholistic assessment of my client’s cognitive and psychological functioning. I conduct assessments for:

• TAC claims (I am a nominated Independent Medical Examiner for TAC and conduct Joint Medical Examinations)

• Personal injury claims

• Cognitive fitness to work

• Disability Support Pension applications

• Capacity to manage finances

• Lifestyle and accommodation decisions

• Medical decisions

• Testamentary capacity

• Cognitive assessments to inform parenting capacity assessments.

• Fitness to plead, stand trial or act as a witness in legal cases

• Diagnostic assessments such as dementia, intellectual disability, etc

I am experienced in providing well received reports for the Office of Public Prosecutions, Funds in Court (Senior Master’s Office) of the Supreme Court, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, TAC, Department of Health and Human Services, and numerous legal firms.  I am also experienced in attending Court as an expert witness.