Melbourne Storm psychologist sanctioned after ‘weak’ evidence in former player Curtis Scott’s domestic violence court case

The former partner of disgraced NRL player Curtis Scott has successfully imposed sanctions on the Melbourne Storm psychologist who declined to testify against him in court. 

Tay-Leiha Clark was assaulted by convicted domestic violence offender Scott in 2018 when he was a player for the Melbourne Storm.

The partner of the former NRL player then went to psychologist Jacqueline Louder looking for help, only for the Melbourne Storm employee to give ‘weak’ testimony in court.   

Louder has worked as a sport and exercise psychologist at the Melbourne Storm since 2017 and AFL club Collingwood since 2018.

According to her LinkedIn profile, she is still employed by both football clubs. 

In the complaint, Clark claimed that Louder was aware of the alleged physical and verbal abuse she suffered at the hands of Scott during his time at the Melbourne Storm.

But she declined to recant that knowledge in court, leading to a 12-month investigation by the Australian health watchdog.

Scott was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and intimidation of Clark in 2022. 

The court heard evidence from the Melbourne Storm psychologist during Scott’s trial

Scott was found guilty of three separate charges and his appeal was not successful

Magistrate Daniel Covington ruled that the former NRL star assaulted Clark during an incident at her parents’ home in Sylvania, resulting in injuries to her head, forearm, and wrist. 

Additionally, it was found that during a holiday at Lake Conjola on the NSW south coast, Scott knocked Clark to the ground. 

He was also found guilty of making threats to kill both Clark and himself during a verbal altercation, after which he intentionally drove his car into a tree. 

However, Scott was acquitted of other charges, including an allegation of choking Clark during an argument on the night of the 2018 NRL grand final. 

He failed to have the decision overturned by appeal and was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order and fined $1400. 

Scott was sacked by the Canberra Raiders prior to his assault trial and was not considered for re-registration by the NRL after the verdict. 

He is currently trying to build a career in boxing and recently knocked out former AFL star Barry Hall.

Curtis Scott was a promising NRL player on the verge of State of Origin selection

Scott is now trying to establish a career in boxing and recently knocked out AFL bad boy Barry Hall at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre

Louder gave evidence in court during Scott’s trial, but Clark claimed in her complaint to AHPRA that the Storm psychologist knew more than she testified. 

District Court judge Alister Abadee described Louder’s evidence as ‘inherently weak’ during Scott’s appeal in 2023. 

Now, Clark has taken to social media alleging that Louder has been sanctioned by the AHPRA.

‘The Melbourne Storm Psychologist who i reported my abuse to back in 2018 was sanctioned by APHRA this week after almost a 12 month investigation,’ she posted to social media platform X.

‘Let this be a reminder that silence and complicity have no place in the fight against domestic violence.’

Tay-Leiha Clark posted this message to social media after the conditions were imposed on the Melbourne Storm psychologist

The Melbourne Storm, who will play Sunday’s NRL Grand Final against the Penrith Panthers, have been contacted for comment.

A spokesman for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency confirmed that conditions had been placed on Loader’s registration.

The Psychology Board of Australia has ordered Loader to work under supervision of another psychologist in the fields of consent, confidentiality, multiple relationships, conflicts of interest, maintenance of boundaries and recognising and managing concerns of domestic and family violence.

She must complete mandatory reporting obligations and continue until the conditions are removed by the board.

Scott found an NRL lifeline with the Canberra Raiders but was sacked over a separate incident before his domestic violence trial

Scott was convicted of the domestic violence charges in 2022 and was not considered for re-registration by the NRL

Loader is also restricted to only practise at her current places of employment, the Melbourne Storm, Collingwood Football Club and her private practise and cannot operate in a senior or supervisor role until the conditions are removed.

‘On 1 October 2024, the Psychology Board of Australia imposed conditions on the registration of Jacqueline Louder,’ the spokesman said.

‘The details of those conditions are on the AHPRA register of practitioners.

‘We can’t comment on individual cases, except to the extent that information is in the public domain.’

Louder provided a statement to police in 2022 which was used in court during Scott’s trial where the Storm wrote that she never saw any physical violence between the then-couple. 

She also wrote that neither party had indicated any physical harm had occured between them.

‘My understanding was this was a very emotional relationship which drove most of their arguments,’ she wrote.

‘I was referring to emotional safety when I spoke about safety.’ 

During Scott’s appeal Judge Abadee said that ‘whether intentional or not,’ Louder was in a position of ‘actual or potentially conflicting duties,’ balancing her role as the Storm’s psychologist to the appellant and as a confidant to the complainant.