Our Team
Dr Arun Pillai Psychiatrist
Dr Arun Pillai is a dedicated child and youth psychiatrist known for his warm, respectful, and person- centred approach to care. He works closely with children, adolescents, and young adults, offering comprehensive assessments and tailored treatment plans that are grounded in clinical excellence and genuine partnership.
Dr Pillai has worked extensively across public and private mental health services in Australia. He formerly held the role of medical director of campus-based Child and Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS) at Queensland Children’s Hospital and the Queensland Adolescent Extended Treatment Centre – Jacaranda Place, where he led multidisciplinary teams in delivering complex care for young people with severe mental health needs.
With a strong focus on early intervention and recovery-oriented practice, Dr Pillai creates safe, collaborative environments that support young people and families in navigating emotional and
developmental challenges. His clinical expertise includes a broad range of mental health conditions and developmental disorders, including anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), mood disorders, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other neurodevelopmental resentations.
Dr Arun Pillai Psychiatrist
Dr Arun Pillai is a dedicated child and youth psychiatrist known for his warm, respectful, and personcentred approach to care. He works closely with children, adolescents, and young adults, offering comprehensive assessments and tailored treatment plans that are grounded in clinical excellence and genuine partnership.
With a strong focus on early intervention and recovery-oriented practice, Dr Pillai creates safe, collaborative environments that support young people and families in navigating emotional and developmental challenges. His clinical expertise includes a broad range of mental health conditions and developmental disorders, including anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), mood disorders, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other neurodevelopmental presentations.
Dr Pillai has worked extensively across public and private mental health services in Australia. He formerly held the role of medical director of campus-based Child and Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS) at Queensland Children’s Hospital and the Queensland Adolescent Extended Treatment Centre – Jacaranda Place, where he led multidisciplinary teams in delivering complex care for young people with severe mental health needs.
Dr Kannan Kallapiran Psychiatrist
Dr. Kannan Kallapiran is a dedicated and compassionate psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals across the lifespan. He specialises in managing a wide range of mental health conditions including ADHD, anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
Dr. Kallapiran is the Director of Catherine’s House, a 10-bed Mother Baby Unit focused on Perinatal and Infant Mental Health, and holds advanced certifications in both Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Infant Mental Health.
His clinical approach integrates medical treatment with evidence-based sychological therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mentalization-Based
Therapy (MBT), and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). He values a holistic, strength-based, and recovery-oriented model, working collaboratively with clients to support both physical and emotional wellbeing.
Dr. Kallapiran is deeply committed to early intervention and prevention. He is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Queensland, researching the impact of Positive Childhood Experiences on long-term
mental health outcomes. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), a member of the Faculty of Child & Adolescent Psychiatrists, and affiliated with key professional groups including the Marce Society, World Association for Infant Mental Health, and the RANZCP Section of Perinatal and Infant Psychiatry.
Dr Kannan Kallapiran Psychiatrist
Dr. Kannan Kallapiran is a dedicated and compassionate psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals across the lifespan. He specialises in managing a wide range of mental health
conditions including ADHD, anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
Dr. Kallapiran is the Director of Catherine’s House, a 10-bed Mother Baby Unit focused on Perinatal and
Infant Mental Health, and holds advanced certifications in both Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Infant
Mental Health.
His clinical approach integrates medical treatment with evidence-based psychological therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mentalization-Based
Therapy (MBT), and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). He values a holistic, strength-based, and recovery-oriented model,
working collaboratively with clients to support both physical and emotional wellbeing.
Dr. Kallapiran is deeply committed to early intervention and prevention. He is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Queensland, researching the impact of Positive Childhood Experiences on long-term
mental health outcomes. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
(RANZCP), a member of the Faculty of Child & Adolescent Psychiatrists, and affiliated with key professional
groups including the Marce Society, World Association for Infant Mental Health, and the RANZCP Section
of Perinatal and Infant Psychiatry.
Dr Meenakshi Sundaram Shanmugam Psychiatrist
Dr. Meenakshi Sundaram Shanmugam (Dr. Sundar) is a warm and experienced Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience supporting children, young people and their families. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) and holds Advanced Certificate in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry following training at the renowned NIMHANS (Bangalore) and Mindful Centre for Training and Research in Developmental Health (Melbourne).
Dr. Sundar works with a wide range of mental health and developmental conditions, including anxiety, OCD, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, autism, ADHD, and neurodiverse presentations. He takes a thoughtful, big-picture approach—considering
each child’s physical health, emotional wellbeing, relationships, and cultural background—to guide
personalised care.
He is currently Director of Community Mental Health Services and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland. He is also a passionate and long term contributor to international training through the Pathways Foundation course in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Families value Dr. Sundar’s calm presence, clear communication, and collaborative, compassionate care.
Dr Meenakshi Sundaram Shanmugam Psychiatrist
Dr. Meenakshi Sundaram Shanmugam (Dr. Sundar) is a warm and experienced Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience supporting children, young people and their families. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
(RANZCP) and holds Advanced Certificate in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry following training at
the renowned NIMHANS (Bangalore) and Mindful Centre for Training and Research in
Developmental Health (Melbourne).
Dr. Sundar works with a wide range of mental health and developmental conditions, including anxiety, OCD, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, autism, ADHD, and neurodiverse presentations. He takes a thoughtful, big-picture approach—considering
each child’s physical health, emotional wellbeing, relationships, and cultural background—to guide
personalised care.
He is currently Director of Community Mental Health Services and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland. He is also a passionate and long term contributor to international training
through the Pathways Foundation course in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Families value
Dr. Sundar’s calm presence, clear communication, and collaborative, compassionate care.