After completing my bachelors degree at Flinders University, South Australia, I worked for a number of years as a computer operator at the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Research in Adelaide. During the same period I also worked with ORANA Inc. as a care worker for mentally handicapped adults.

In 1986, I undertook a Diploma in Applied Psychology, and then subsequently undertook a Ph. D. investigating children's acquisition of mathematics, at the University of Queensland.  

In 1995, I took up a position in the school of Psychology at Griffith University teaching Research Methods, and Cognition. In 1999 I returned to the University of Queensland as a research methodologist for the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences resident in the School of Education. During that period I was involved in two of the largest research projects in education undertaken in Australia - The Queensland Schools Longitudinal Reform Study, and the New Basics Trial.

I was briefly seconded to the Queensland Department of Education in 2001 to assist in the development of research policies, and from 1999 to 2004 I was a member of the Framework Advisory Group for The Queensland Department of Educations implementation of the New Basics trial. 

At Bond University since 2005 I have been engaged in research on lifespan developmental psychology with a focus on age related decline in recent years. I am a member of the Australian Aviation Psychology Association. I review articles for a number of Journals including BMJ:open and Aviation Psychology and Human Factors.