Pregnancy, parenting and ADHD

Dr David Chapman escaped from the cold and wet of rural England where he trained and worked as a Physics teacher before emigrating to Adelaide. In a mid-life crisis he studied Medicine at Flinders Medical School, completing training in Darwin. Succumbing to the attractions of working in a complex medical environment, he intended to pursue Neurology training but a term in Psychiatry triggered a passion he still holds. David completed the whole of Fellowship training in the Territory, and was Consultant Psychiatrist on the Mental Health Access Team until commencing extended leave.

He was Director of Training from 2016 to 2022, in natural progression from his former life and from a period as Director of Clinical Training in the Royal Darwin Hospital. As is common in a small jurisdiction, he has worn several hats and was the President of ASMOF NT as well as taking up Chair of the Branch Committee in 2019. He spent two years as the Clinical Lead for Mental Health on the whole- of-Territory Core Computer System Replacement Project, and spent several years on the Board of Team Health, a leading NGO. More recently he has established a very small private practice whilst on extended leave. David provides clinical support to research into ADHD at the Bellgrove Laboratory of the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health Research,

Monash University and is a Collaborator in the ADHD in Females Special Interest Group of the HER Centre Australia. In his non-work life, David struggles to maintain order in a tropical garden, and conducts longitudinal research into sensory pairings of coagulated dairy proteins, often mould affected, and fermented fruit juice. Reconciling the uniqueness of the individual with underlying biological structures and processes, and the effects of their environment, allows him to indulge in overseas travel to maintain an up-to-date knowledge that “Descartes got it wrong”.

Nicki identifies as a woman living with ADHD (combined type), and Bipolar Affective Disorder.

She has experienced perinatal mental health challenges including perinatal OCD, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and anxiety.

She is the proud parent of two children who have both been diagnosed with ADHD and have experienced mental health challenges.

Nicki works at the Qld Centre for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health as the Statewide Lived Experience Coordinator, working with families to make meaningful change in the Queensland perinatal and infant service system.