SAMSN’s Practice Advisory Committee (PAC) provides expertise and direction to SAMSN on matters related to clinical programs undertaken and proposed. The Committee provides an interface between external advice and the internal operations of SAMSN’s services to support SAMSN’s purpose: To build a support network that gives voice and agency to male survivors and their supporters.
The Committee is a collaboration between professionals, community representatives and men with lived expertise in the development of excellence in service delivery. We are honoured to enjoy the wisdom, time, and generosity of our PAC members.
Gail Frank
PRACTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR
Gail is a registered Psychologist with over 30 years of experience working at the Family Court, Relationships Australia, Domestic Violence Crisis Service, ACT Women’s Health Service and the Australian National University.
During this time, she has worked with many men and women who have suffered trauma as a result of interpersonal violence including childhood sexual abuse. She has also over the years, provided both clinical supervision and training in trauma related work.
Having worked extensively offering support and change opportunities to men struggling with the use of violence in their most important relationships, she has a particular interest in services for men, which she sees as often too scarce.
Gail is a long-time member of the Australian Psychological Society.
Mark Williams
PRACTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER
Mark has been involved with SAMSN since completing the 8 week group in Newcastle back in 2016. Since then, Mark has been involved with the Stronger Podcast, Survivors and Supporters workshops and is also a member of the Peer Support line team as both a peer and a supervisor.
Mark is supported in his journey by his wife Joe, who encourages him to give back to SAMSN as much as he gets out of it.
Mark has his own surveying business and is located in the Port Stephens region.
Professor Patrick O’ Leary
PRACTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER
Professor Patrick O’ Leary is the Director of the Violence Research Prevention Program at Griffith University’s Criminology Institute. He has extensive experience in various executive roles in universities and the community sector.
Professor O’ Leary is an internationally recognised researcher, with significant expertise in domestic violence/gender-based violence and child protection. Prior to entering academic work Professor O’ Leary worked as a social worker in sexual assault, counselling, and domestic violence services. For over twenty years he has conducted research on the effects of child sexual abuse on men.
Professor O’ Leary has published extensively in high quality journals, and his work has influenced international domestic violence and child protection policy and practice. He has worked extensively in social development contexts in many countries. Professor O’ Leary was an Expert Academic Advisor to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and a Senior Research Fellow with UNICEF’s Office for Research. Since 2013 Professor O’ Leary has worked with SAMSN in an advisory capacity.
Dr Gary Foster
PRACTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER
Dr Gary Foster is a social worker, who from 2018 to 2023 was the Practice Manager for the Queensland Government National Redress Scheme Direct Personal Response and Counselling and Psychological Care programs. He was previously a Police Officer in the Metropolitan Police, London, where he co-coordinated a Domestic Violence unit; and investigated and prosecuted sexual assault. Gary’s PhD examines governmental responses to male on male rape.
Gary was the founder/manager of the Queensland Living Well service providing counselling and group support to men who have been subjected to childhood sexual abuse or adult sexual assault, as well as to partners, families, and communities between from 2007-2018. He has presented at national and international conferences and workshops on improving therapeutic and service responses in working with men. Gary appeared as an expert witness at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. He is interested in developing responses to enhance the wellbeing of people who have experienced trauma and abuse.