Emeritus Professor Tonge has a distinguished record of teaching and research in child psychiatry. He established and directed the internationally recognised Monash University Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology. He has research and teaching interests in the area of developmental psychiatry with a particular focus in the areas of Autism Spectrum Disorders and behavioural and emotional disturbance in children and adolescents with intellectual disability and treatment outcome studies in childhood anxiety and depressive disorders.

Relevant publications over the past 10 years include: 29 books/book chapters; 147 papers; 5 videos; 6 manuals, and many invited addresses. Professor Tonge received the Australian Society for Study of Intellectual Disability, Monash University School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine award for career research excellence (2001) and has been awarded competitive grants (1990 - current) totalling $11,597,015.

Professor Tonge is the co-author of the Developmental Behaviour Checklist, an instrument which assesses behavioural and emotional problems in children and adolescents with intellectual disability. This instrument is widely used in clinical and research settings in both Australia and internationally.

Some of Professor Tonge's many and varied career highlights include the 'draw a dream' technique, now used by child psychiatrists and psychologists around the world.

Developmental psychiatry