About 

 

Dr Deborah Arguedas

BSc (Psych – Hons 1), DPsych (Clin Neuro)

Dr Arguedas is a Clinical Neuropsychologist, with Clinical Doctorate level training. Having extensive experience in both the public health system and private practice, she undertakes neuropsychological assessments for clinical and medicolegal purposes.

Dr Arguedas conducts assessments in offices at Penrith (NSW), Hobart (TAS) & Launceston (TAS).

She is also able to conduct assessments in other interstate locations by request (additional fees apply).

Types of Assessments Conducted:

State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) – NSW

Dr Arguedas conducts comprehensive neuropsychological assessments for the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA). Including Workers Compensation, iCare, and the Lifetime Care & Support Scheme.

Dr Arguedas has completed SIRA training in the Assessment of Permanent Impairment – central nervous system (CNS) and mental/behavioural disorders – (CTP – AMA4).

She is also a SIRA approved health practitioner authorised to provide medicolegal reports.

Motor Accident Insurance Board (MAIB) – TASMANIA

Dr Arguedas is an approved MAIB service provider. She provides neuropsychological assessments for claimants who have been involved in a motor vehicle accident (MVA) in Tasmania.

Income Protection (IP) and Total & Permanent Disability (TPD)

Dr Arguedas conducts comprehensive neuropsychological assessments for insurance providers of Income Protection (IP) and Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) within NSW, Tasmania, and interstate locations.

Acquired Brain Injury

Dr Arguedas conducts assessments that focus on the diagnosis of acquired brain injuries (ABIs). Following that, services can include rehabilitation recommendations, monitoring of recovery, and assessing return to work/driving.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Dr Arguedas has undertaken training and has clinical experience in assessing, diagnosing, and treating Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in adults, adolescents, and children (aged 10 years +).

Other Assessments

Dr Arguedas also conducts neuropsychological assessments for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and capacity assessments for formal guardianship & financial management.

Clinical Experience

Dr Arguedas has had extensive experience in both the public health system and private practice.

Nepean Hospital and Cumberland Hospital, Sydney

Dr Arguedas has previously held positions in the substance abuse setting at the Centre for Addiction Medicine (CAM) at the Nepean Hospital (and briefly at Cumberland Hospital). The roles at both hospitals were newly created positions which she set up and developed.

At Nepean Hospital, her role primarily involved conducting neuropsychological assessments for outpatients (including forensic clients engaged in the MERIT and Drug Court programs), and inpatients of CAM (following detoxification) across the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD), which covers the area from Penrith to Lithgow.

In addition to providing neuropsychological assessments evaluating the impact of substance use, metabolic disorders, and psychological disturbance on cognitive functioning, she assessed for the presence of ASD in adults, provided essential cognitive remediation for identified cognitive difficulties, and EMDR intervention for treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), addiction cravings, depression and, anxiety.

Dr Arguedas was also involved in clinical research within the Drug & Alcohol (D&A) setting.

Liverpool Hospital

For several years, Dr Arguedas worked at Liverpool Hospital in the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit (BIRU) gaining extensive experience in the neuropsychological assessments of traumatic brain injury (TBI). 

Within this role, she worked within a multidisciplinary team comprised of rehabilitation specialists, clinical psychologists, rehabilitation psychologists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, social workers, diversional therapists, physiotherapists, and case managers. 

Referrals for neuropsychological assessments were to provide cognitive profiles and tailored strategies to assist and guide therapy/treatment planning; to assess cognitive readiness for return to driving, work, and study; evaluation of decision making and financial capacity for Guardianship Tribunal Hearings; and assessment of cognitive improvement/decline across the course of rehabilitation. 

She also liaised with case managers external to the BIRU to meet Lifetime Care & Support (LTCS) requirements and rehabilitation planning following discharge. 

Before this, Dr Arguedas worked in the Neurology department, where she conducted neuropsychological assessments for a range of neurological disorders including hypoxia, neurotoxicity, epilepsy, Wilson’s disease, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia, amongst others, to provide tailored guidance on the rehabilitation needs of patients and to assist neurologists in the diagnostic process.

Private Rehabilitation Providers, WorkCover, Insurance and Financial Groups

Neuropsychological assessments conducted by Dr Arguedas for these agencies included assisting with rehabilitation planning, assessing the presence/absence of brain injury, assessing the presence and effect of various psychological disturbances on cognition, and assessing the cognitive capacity to resume working.

Australian Defence Forces (ADF)

Dr Arguedas has provided consultant neuropsychological assessments for ADF personnel. She has also provided EMDR therapy addressing PTSD, depression, and anxiety to personnel who have returned from active duty and transitioned from service.

Professional Affiliations & Accreditations

  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Honors – Class 1)

  • Doctor of Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology)

  • Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) – registered Psychologist (Endorsed area of practice: Clinical Neuropsychology)

  • College of Clinical Neuropsychologists (CCN) – Full Member (Fellow)

  • Matilda Nepean Private Hospital (Kingswood, Penrith NSW) – Accredited Practitioner

  • International Neuropsychological Society (INS) – Professional Member

  • The National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN) – Professional Member

  • Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi) – Full Member 

  • Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment (ASSBI) – Professional Member

  • Honorary Associate – Macquarie University

  • Australian Psychological Society (APS) – Full Professional Member

  • Motor Accident Insurance Board (MAIB) – approved service provider

  • Transport Accident Commission (TAC) – approved service provider

  • State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) – appointed health practitioner authorised to provide medicolegal reports

  • Australian Defence Force (ADF) – approved service provider

  • Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) – approved service provider

  • APS approved Autism & PDD psychology provider

  • Certified PEERS® Provider

  • Certified NEUROACT® Provider

  • EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA) – full member