Emeritus Professor Cheryl Dissanayake AM FINSAR FASSA
Affiliation: Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
Discipline: Psychology
Year elected: 2022
What initially drew you to your field of study?
A film, seen on daytime TV during a semester or term break while I was a student, that profiled a young autistic child, motivated my interest in autism; this field engaged me in 40 years of research, and I was never bored!
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of establishing Australia’s first Research Centre focused on Autism (The Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre) in 2008 at La Trobe University. In so doing, we have been able to build and advance scholarship in this important area of inquiry. In addition to attracting scholars into the field, we have developed and promoted supports for autistic people and with autistic people across the lifespan. Our late benefactor, Mrs Olga Tennison, was certainly proud of what she enabled, and left us a bequest to fund autism research in perpetuity.
Where is your “happy place”?
A small weekend apartment with a view to the sea is my happy place. I love walking on the beach regardless of the season or ambient temperature, and reading on the couch with a sea view.
What is your dream travel destination?
My dreamtime travel destination is a place that I have visited four times already and want to return to – Yosemite National Park in California. It is truly magnificent.
What hobbies or interests keep you busy outside of work?
As I am now retired (and loving it!) I am learning to read music and play the piano, which is something I have wanted to do since childhood. I have also acquired an e-bike that I enjoy taking out on bike trails, especially rail trails.