Me, until now
I began working in the mental health system in 2015 after a period in international development and having had my own experience of mental health distress and crises.
Shaped by studies in law, politics and psychology, I was passionate about bringing a blended social justice lens to my advocacy work at the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council and Independent Mental Health Advocacy. After working in a senior role at the Mental Health Complaints Commissioner, I worked with consumers across Victoria to co-produce a suite of self-advocacy resources, before I took a policy role at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. In 2020, I was fortunate to assist 34 consumers to give evidence to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System at Victoria Legal Aid through their own personal stories.
Since then I have provided individual consultancy to the Royal Commission, while also undertaking my own writing and providing training and support to my fellow consumer workers.
Underpinning all of this work is an understanding that consumer leadership and co-design are critical to service transformation, and that a functioning system will be one that respects human rights.
About me
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My tertiary studies include a Bachelor of Laws (2nd Class Honours, Griffith University, 2014), a Bachelor of International Relations (Griffith University, 2014), a Graduate Diploma in Psychology (University of Melbourne, 2018), and a Masters in Regulation and Governance (Australian National University, continuing).
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I have written nine peer reviewed articles and a range of other reports. If you can’t access them please reach out via the contact page.
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I have written for the Guardian, the Age, Independent Australia, the Roar, and have been quoted in a number of outlets on disability discrimination and human rights issues and enforcement issues.
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I have made several presentations and public talks at THEMHS, the Collaborative Conference in 2021, the National Mental Health Consumer Carer Forum, and other state-based conferences and sessions.
Previous projects
Advice to Government
In 2022-2023, I facilitated a project of more than 10 people that advised the Minister for Mental Health on how to formally acknowledge harm from the mental health system. I also worked with Lionheart Consulting Australia to advise the Victorian Government on how to implement human rights into the mental health system.
Your story, your say
In 2020 at Victoria Legal Aid, I managed a project to support 34 people with lived experience to give evidence - in their own words - to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. Read more about it here.
Legal Service Design
In 2021 I assisted Inner Melbourne Community Legal to establish what became their Community Lived Experience Advisory Group to oversee project and service design developments. In 2022 I facilitated a process to design an integrated practice model for lawyers working in mental health settings.
Royal commission
In 2019-2020 I worked alongside other consumer leaders to provide education to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. In late 2020, I was brought on as a Consumer Advisor to advice on consumer leadership, human rights and regulatory oversight.
Evaluations
Between 2021 and 2022 I was consumer lead and human rights adviser for Cube Group, which evaluated the Hospital in the Home pilot in Barwon Health and Orygen Youth Health, as well as the evaluation of the Consumer Carer Feedback Loops Pilot.
Supporting self-advocacy
In 2018-2019 while with Independent Mental Health Advocacy, I worked with consumers across Victoria to co-produce a suite of self-advocacy resources for people on compulsory treatment orders, including videos, fact-sheets and digital self-help tools. Learn how I worked with others.
