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Melissa Licari

Senior Research Fellow

Investigating the impact of developmental coordination difficulties across home, school, and community settings: Findings from the Australian Impact for DCD survey

To evaluate the participation difficulties experienced by children with developmental coordination disorder in home, school, and community environments.  

New research reveals impact of little-known disorder

A new report released by The Kids Research Institute Australia in collaboration with Victoria University has revealed the significant social and emotional toll of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD).

Investigating associations between birth order and autism diagnostic phenotypes

Birth order effects have been linked to variability in intelligence, educational attainment and sexual orientation. First- and later-born children have been linked to an increased likelihood of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, with a smaller body of evidence implicating decreases in cognitive functioning with increased birth order. The present study investigated the potential association between birth order and ASD diagnostic phenotypes in a large and representative population sample.

Effect of an exercise intervention (Move2Engage: Youth) on activity levels, quality of sleep and mental health outcomes in children and youth with movement difficulties

Melissa Andrew Gail Jenny Videos Licari Whitehouse Watch and listen to Andrew Alvares Downs PhD PhD PhD BApplSci (physio) MSc PhD Senior Research

ORIGINS of Neurodevelopmental Risk and Resilience

This project aims to better understand the early genetic and environmental factors that the developing brain during a child’s first five years of life.

THINK BIG - Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Amy Andrew Helen Jenny Martyn Melissa Videos Finlay-Jones Whitehouse Watch and listen to Andrew Leonard Downs Symons Licari BPsych(Hons), MPsych(

Autism and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Content in Highly Viewed TikTok Videos

Social media allows users to connect with others’ experiences and points of view, with TikTok being the fastest-growing platform worldwide. Highly viewed videos related to neurodiversity on TikTok have an increasing role in understanding and acceptance of neurodivergent individuals.

Movement difficulties in children with neurodevelopmental disorders: considering a transdiagnostic approach to classification

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders often experience difficulties in acquiring and executing movement skills. Although the motor profiles of neurodivergent children frequently overlap, rigid conceptual distinctions between diagnostic labels have been imposed by traditional categorical approaches to taxonomy. An alternative transdiagnostic approach is proposed to better represent the similarities between presentations.

Child Disability

Improving the lives of children with a disability and their families sits at the core of our team.