BMed, FRANZCP, MFMH, Cert. Forensic Psych
Dr MacDonald is a Generalist and Forensic Psychiatrist. She is a Staff Specialist Consultant Psychiatrist at the Forensic Hospital, Malabar, NSW. In this role she is responsible for the clinical management of psychiatric inpatients and she provides forensic training to registrars in psychiatry and junior medical staff. Her private medicolegal practice is based in Sydney, NSW.
Dr MacDonald undertakes psychiatric assessments and provides reports to various bodies, including tribunals and courts. She has extensive experience providing expert reports in personal injury matters. Dr MacDonald provides reports for public liability matters, historical and institutional abuse cases, fitness for work and medical negligence matters. She is a WorkCover Independent Medical Examiner (IME) and an Assessor of Permanent Impairment. In addition, she undertakes forensic assessments and prepares reports for criminal matters including fitness to stand trial, court diversion and pre-sentencing. She is experienced in undertaking assessments and providing reports to the Mental Health Review Tribunal, Guardianship Tribunal, District and Local Courts. She also provides oral expert evidence before these legal bodies when required.
Dr MacDonald attained her medical degree at the University of Newcastle, Australia. She completed her junior medical employment with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. She undertook general practice training and obtained fellowship with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
Dr MacDonald completed advanced psychiatric training in the sub-specialty area of forensic psychiatry with the Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network. Dr MacDonald has worked in clinical roles in high and low-secure forensic facilities as well as custodial and community forensic settings. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) and holds a Certificate of Advanced Training in Forensic Psychiatry from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. She undertook further post-graduate training in the fields of medicolegal and forensic psychiatry, completing a Masters of Forensic Mental Health at the University of New South Wales.