Meet the Team
What started as me sharing my story has now grown into a registered not-for-profit that works hard to raise mental health awareness and reduce stigma. I have now spoken at over 600 events, including school groups, workplaces and sporting clubs, and I am dedicated to spreading the message that nothing is so bad that you can’t talk about it.
I believe my story resonates with many people. People who, like my family at the time, might not think mental health is a priority or that they will ever be affected by it.
My vision is that SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY will become a national charity, with a focus on delivering programs in schools and sporting to increase awareness and remove the stigma surrounding mental health.”
I think it’s so important that we all have a basic knowledge of how to support our own mental health, as well as others’. This is why I’m so excited to be working at Stay ChatTY, specifically on our Schools Program – the more people we can equip with mental health knowledge, the better chance we have of intervening early and having mentally healthier communities.”
I am passionate about developing not only good footballers, but great young men who in turn become valued members of the Tasmanian community. My interest in developing young people has lead me to Stay ChatTY, and I’m so excited to be delivering about mental health and resilience to sporting clubs across the state.”
Life is full of mountains and valleys and so often we make choices when we are in a valley that impact our lives negatively. We can’t see the broader view, or whole picture when we’re in a valley, but engaging in conversations about mental health will enable us to push through the valleys and onto the mountains where the view is broad and filled with hope.
Mental health is for everyone, and the more we understand our bodies, our experiences and our brains, the healthier we will be. Being strong mentally requires a community and I love that SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY is providing the opportunity for communities to form and develop language and understanding around mental health and how we can be proactive rather than reactive.”
I am so excited to have the opportunity to work with a passionate, dedicated and dynamic team to spread these important messages and educate people in regional and rural areas about mental health.
I spent many years living interstate studying and working but returned to Tasmania about 6 years ago.
As a teacher and practitioner I believe that we need to focus on education being holistic and inclusive, creating a culture and community where people are more informed and aware when it comes to mental health and as a result are able to reach out to one another, start conversations and offer support.”
At the end of 2016 I lost my best friend, my Dad to suicide. Amongst the devastation I recognised wearing “armour” had become my ongoing coping mechanism in “protecting” myself from emotional exposure. In reality it was keeping me isolated from connection and support. It became my highest priority to find a different way of thinking … and living!
My mission as part of the Team is to share my experiences and learnings in challenge as well as lead through connection and kindness – these two simple yet significant tools are game changers!
I love being a part of making someone smile, helping others to see we are never alone or assisting with the slightest shift in a perspective that opens someone up to feeling like things can get better.”
My mission here at SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY is to engage, collaborate and empower young people to get involved in mental health. Young people are so important to the work we do here at Stay ChatTY and we want them to be confident in their ability to contribute to the world around them and take on a leading role in creating, developing and facilitating programs around mental health promotion.
In my downtime, self-care is massive for me. Yoga, walking, listening to music, kicking the footy, spending time with friends and family or reading a book are all things I like to do to give myself a break.
I’m super excited to be working as the Youth Advisor here at SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY!