Deborah Costa

Deborah Costa is a consultant psychologist, educator and researcher with a professional area of interest in the impact of developmental adversity and maltreatment on children’s mental health and education outcomes.

Deborah holds bachelor and postgraduate degrees in psychology and education, specialist postgraduate qualifications in traumatic stress studies and complex trauma and a Masters of Public Health. Deborah was the 2018 Anika Foundation Scholar travelling to the US and UK to investigate universal and targeted level approaches to remediating youth depression.

Deborah is passionate about community and population approaches that support the mental health of infants, children and young people. Deborah has experience supporting trauma informed and sensitive cultures and practices that support children and young people’s wellbeing in education settings and supporting students with complex mental health challenges.

Deborah has publications in community and systems level promotion, prevention and early intervention opportunities for optimising children and young people’s mental health and education outcomes. Deborah has regularly presented professional learnings and conference papers at local, state, national and international conferences.