Lisa Zipparo completed a BSc in Psychology (Hons1) from the University of NSW and was awarded the Australian Psychological Society award for academic excellence. In 2007 she completed a Masters of Clinical Neuropsychology from Macquarie University. Lisa has a special interest in the cognitive impacts of psychiatric disorders and is currently undertaking a PhD in the area of Complex PTSD in forensic populations.
Since 1989 Lisa has worked with a wide array of psychiatric and neurocognitive populations including in the areas of intellectual disabilities, neurodevelopmental disorders, trauma, psychosis, and acquired brain injury. Lisa’s first role as a psychologist was with the Spastic Centre of NSW where she provided psychological services to people with physical and intellectual disabilities. In addition to over two decades working as a psychologist, researcher and specialist interviewer, Lisa spent six years at the Independent Commission Against Corruption researching criminal and corrupt behaviour. Lisa was the evaluation manager for the Drug Summit programs for NSW Cabinet Office and has conducted many state-wide research projects, including evaluations of the experiences of people with disabilities within the justice system on behalf the Department of Community and Justice.
Lisa has experience working as a Clinical Neuropsychologist in both hospital and private practice settings. As a neuropsychology intern Lisa worked in the Traumatic Brain Injury Unit at Westmead Hospital where she gained thorough skills in the assessment and rehabilitation of people with the full range of brain injuries. She then worked in the First Episode Psychosis Unit at Westmead Hospital writing her Master’s thesis on the neuropsychological markers of first episode psychosis. More recently Lisa held a 12-month position as Clinical Neuropsychologist at the Northern Beaches Hospital. This position involved conducting neuropsychological assessments across all hospital populations including patients with medical, psychiatric, and neurocognitive disorders. In addition to conducting capacity assessments for Mental Health Review Tribunal hearings, Lisa was involved in the differential diagnosis of psychiatric and neurocognitive disorders, including the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Lisa holds a position as Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist at Dr Susan Pulman and Associates specialising in neuropsychological assessments with forensic populations. Lisa has twelve years of experience conducting fitness to stand trial assessments, sentencing reports, Section 14 and 32 reports, substantial impairment assessments, risk assessments of forensic populations including sex offenders, and has training in specific risk assessment instruments for cognitively impaired populations. Lisa has many years of experience working with complex populations including people with autism, intellectual disability, brain injury, and cognitive impairments resulting from neuropsychiatric and substance use disorders. Lisa has conducted assessments for NSW Crown Solicitors, Mental Health Advocacy Service for Conditional Release matters and Extended Supervision Orders, in addition to conducting cognitive assessments for ongoing forensic patient status.
Lisa is a Fellow of the College of Clinical Neuropsychologists, a Member of the Australian Psychological Society, and a Member of the Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
Tertiary Qualifications
PhD Neuropsychology (current)
Master of Clinical Neuropsychology, Macquarie University 2007
BSc (Psych, Hons 1), University of NSW 1989
Publications
Zipparo, L., Whitford, T.J., et al (2008) Investigating the neuropsychological and neuroanatomical changes that occur over the first 2-3 years of illness in patients with first-episode schizophrenia. Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, Volume 32, Issue 2, pages 531-538.
Zipparo, L. (1999) Encouraging Public Sector Employees to Report Workplace Corruption. Australian Journal of Public Administration, Volume 58, Issue 2, pages 83–93.
Zipparo, L. (1999) Factors which deter public officials from reporting corruption. Crime, Law and Social Change. Volume 30, Number 3, pages 273-287.
Zipparo, L. and Gibson, J. (1994) Study of the actual and potential utilization of autologous blood donation in four Central Sydney Area hospitals. Journal of Quality in Clinical Practice, Volume 14, Issue 2, pages 65-77.
Gibson, J. and Zipparo, L. (1993) Autologous Predeposit Blood Donation in Pregnancy – a Perspective. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Volume 33, Issue 3, pages 276–279.
Conference Papers
Lisa Zipparo. Why people don’t report corruption: Barriers to the success of the NSW Protected Disclosures Act. 12th Annual Conference for the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology, 8-11 July 1997, Griffith University, Queensland
