Neuropsychology and Neuroscience

Ormond Neuroscience is supported by a small, dedicated clinical and administrative team with experience in neuropsychological assessment, rehabilitation, and applied neuroscience.

Our work is grounded in contemporary neuroscience and delivered within a clinical framework that values careful assessment, clear communication, and coordinated care. We work with patients and families dealing with a wide range of brain-related conditions, from acquired brain injury and stroke to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders.

The practice is based at Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital in Auckland Park, Johannesburg. This setting allows close collaboration with multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams and supports work with both inpatients and outpatients.

The clinical team works in a coordinated manner to ensure assessments are thorough, methodologically sound, and clinically meaningful. Alongside this, our administrative staff play a vital role in ensuring that appointments, communication, and reporting run smoothly and efficiently.

Digby Ormond-Brown, senior neuropsychologist, heads the practice and provides clinical oversight across services.

Julie Botha

Psychometrist

Julie Botha is the principal psychometrist at Ormond Neuroscience and joined the practice in February 2022. She is responsible for the administration of neuropsychological test batteries and works closely with the clinical team to ensure assessments are conducted accurately, consistently, and with appropriate sensitivity to each patient. Julie holds a BPsych-equivalent qualification in Psychometry from the University of Johannesburg and a BA Honours degree in Augmentative and Alternative Communication from the University of Pretoria. Her academic background supports work with individuals across a wide range of cognitive, communicative, and neurodevelopmental profiles. She is known for her calm, professional manner and her ability to put patients at ease during lengthy and often demanding assessment procedures. This is particularly important when working with individuals who may be anxious, fatigued, or cognitively vulnerable. Alongside her clinical work, Julie is involved in advocacy and support initiatives for individuals with special needs. She serves as Vice Principal of the Queen Butterfly Foundation, a stimulation centre on the West Rand that supports children and young adults with profound intellectual and physical disabilities.

Tsaorelo Sefoto

Psychometrist

Tsoarelo Sefoto is a psychometrist at Ormond Neuroscience and joined the team in August 2023. She is involved in the administration of neuropsychological assessments and supports the clinical team in obtaining accurate, ethically sound test data across a range of patient populations. She holds a BPsych-equivalent qualification in Psychometry from the University of Johannesburg and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Pretoria. Tsoarelo’s multilingual ability is a significant asset in clinical assessment. She is fluent in Sepedi, Setswana, isiZulu, and English, which allows test instructions and procedures to be explained clearly in a patient’s home language where appropriate. This is particularly important in the South African context, where linguistic barriers can otherwise compromise the validity and fairness of psychometric testing. She is known for her patient, methodical approach and her ability to guide individuals through unfamiliar and often demanding assessment procedures in a way that promotes confidence and cooperation. This contributes to reliable assessment outcomes, especially when working with patients who may feel anxious or cognitively fatigued. Tsoarelo works closely with the rest of the Ormond Neuroscience team and contributes to the practice’s emphasis on careful, respectful, and culturally sensitive assessment.

Yonela Vakalisa

Administrator

Yonela Vakalisa is the Office Manager at Ormond Neuroscience and is often the first point of contact for patients and referrers. She plays a central role in the day-to-day running of the practice, ensuring that administrative processes are handled efficiently and that patients are guided calmly and clearly through their visits. She works closely with the clinical team, supporting scheduling, communication, and coordination across the practice. Her organised, composed approach contributes significantly to the smooth functioning of the service and to patients feeling welcomed and supported from the moment they arrive. Yonela joined Ormond Neuroscience in July 2022. She holds a degree in Film and Media Production from the University of Cape Town, completed in 2020. In addition to her administrative role, she assists with managing the practice’s social media presence and communication, helping to improve visibility and engagement in a measured, professional way. Patients and colleagues alike value her reliability, professionalism, and willingness to assist. She brings consistency and warmth to a role that is essential to both clinical care and patient experience.

Jamie-Lee Breedt

Administrator

Jamie-Lee Breedt is the Practice Manager at Ormond Neuroscience and has held this role for over 15 years. She is responsible for the operational management of the practice and plays a central role in coordinating clinical, administrative, and external stakeholder processes. Her work involves close collaboration with medical professionals, legal teams, insurers, and patients, ensuring that communication, scheduling, and practice operations function efficiently and reliably. Her experience and steady oversight are key to maintaining continuity and consistency across a complex clinical service. Jamie-Lee holds a Professional Project Management Diploma as well as a National Diploma in Business and Finance Management. These qualifications underpin her ability to manage workflows, finances, and organisational demands in a structured and methodical way. She is widely valued by colleagues and patients for her professionalism, calm approach, and capacity to manage competing demands without compromising patient care or service quality. Her role is essential to the smooth functioning of Ormond Neuroscience and to the experience of those who interact with the practice.