Personal life

In my personal life, aside from loving op-shopping, I also love a good coffee, going for walks with my family or friends, playing word games (I love a good pun!), looking after my two cats, and re-arranging my lounge room (I’m being completely honest here!!).

I also have personal lived experiences with mental health challenges, disability, social isolation and loneliness. A passion of mine is to help advocate for and normalise these experiences – they can happen to any of us, and even likely experienced right now amongst many of us. Yet despite their prevalence, there’s often a felt stigma or feelings of shame tied to them (I know I’ve felt this way, and often still do). I’m slowly becoming more open and honest about these experiences, and strive towards this each day.

Working career

I’ve recently had the honour of commencing as a Director for Social Health Australia - a wonderful not-for-profit dedicated to leveraging the power of kindness and common humanity as a means to support each other through difficult times.

Before this role, I’ve always enjoyed working in areas involving the community. So far, this has predominantly involved working in policy and program development - with my main areas of work being in child protection, and supporting children and young people in out-of-home care. These areas also often intersect with other areas of diversity and vulnerability, such as disability and mental health. I’ve worked in a range of organisational settings, including not-for-profit, community, private and government.

To support this, I’ve undertaken a Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology, a Bachelor of Commerce, and recently completed a Certificate IV in New Business and Entrepreneurship. 

Volunteering

Volunteering is important to me - and something I feel privileged to get to do.

I currently love volunteering weekly at my local BSL op-shop, and helping out at the library at my son’s school. Before this, I’ve been involved in an aged-care visiting program, mentored a young person in transitional housing, assisted at a breakfast club for kids who needed lunch for school, and looked after young kids while their parent is with their social worker.

I also have a passion for the environment. For a few years I worked on a small not-for-profit helping small businesses to increase their sustainability practices. Otherwise in my personal life I try to be sustainable where I can.