About Stephanie
As an educational and developmental psychologist, expert witness, and board-approved supervisor, Stephanie brings over a decade of clinical expertise, working across the legal, health, and education sectors to transform our understanding of the human condition, neurodiversity, mental health, and development across the lifespan.
Her journey, practice and values are professional and personal. Born in Australia to Chinese-Vietnamese refugees, she draws on her lived experience to shape not just who she is, but how she leads, how she serves, and how she advocates for children and families.
Stephanie is a recognised Expert Witness in Family and Children’s Court matters, working at the crossroads of neurodivergence, child development, trauma and complex family systems. Whether she’s consulting in Family and Children’s Court proceedings, training professionals, or shaping policies, Stephanie is at the forefront of creating environments where individuals, families and communities don’t just survive—they thrive.
Stephanie is a recognised expert witness in Children’s and Family Court matters, working at the intersection of neurodivergence, child development and complex family systems. She is on a mission, at the forefront of creating environments where individuals, families and communities thrive.
Stephanie has a way of connecting and communicating with audiences with sensitivity, humour and nuance
Professional Practice
Coupled with her training in neurodevelopmental disorders, Stephanie is a single expert witness conducting assessments for at-risk children and families where there are concerns related to developmentally complex children for matters locally and internationally in the Children’s Court and the Federal Circuit and Family Court in Melbourne, Australia.
She is a Team Coordinator/Senior Psychologist in the Specialist Autism Team at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, and a consultant psychologist and family report writer at Papaleo Associates.
Qualifications
Infant Mental Health Advanced Training (IMHAT) – Mindful – The Centre for Training and Research in Developmental Health, University of Melbourne (2021)
Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental) – Monash University, Melbourne, Australia (2014)
Graduate Diploma in Psychology, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia (2010)
Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology), RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia (2009)
Affiliations
Educational and Developmental Psychologist, member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and The Psychology Board of Australia,
Fellow, APS College of Educational & Developmental Psychologists
AHPRA Board Approved Supervisor
Member of Pacifica Congress
Work with Stephanie
Speaking and writing
Drawing on personal and professional expertise, Stephanie is an engaging keynote speaker who addresses issues including neurodivergence, mental health, children and parenting, diversity and intersectionality.
- ‘Neurodivergence in Family Law – A discussion between a Judge and an Expert’
Written by The Honourable Justice Tom Altobelli AM and Stephanie Lau, Australian Family Lawyer, Vol 34(1), May 2025; - Guest on ‘Subject for Change’, APS College of Educational and Developmental
Psychologists podcast series: Episode 22, 30/03/2026, ‘Complexity in Practice’: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-22-complexity-in-practice/id1802766607?i=1000758095131 - Guest on ‘Unmasking Neurodiversity in Family Law’, Holmes List Beyond the Brief podcast series: Episode 3, 10/12/2025: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/cpd-with-holmes-list-barristers/id1776509412
Expert witness and developmental assessments
Stephanie conducts neurodevelopmental assessments for children and adults, including autism, attention and learning differences.
She provides advice in Children’s and Family Court matters where there are concerns around a child’s developmental needs and parenting capacity, with a focus on the positive outcomes for vulnerable children and parents.
Clinical supervision and training
As a board-approved supervisor, Stephanie provides continuous professional development, training and supervision to psychologists, medical, allied health, education and legal professionals.
Stephanie’s mission is clear: to ensure every child, every family, and every individual meets their developmental potential.
Stephanie has worked with
