I started my career working with young families as a youth homelessness worker. Then, when I had my three youngest children, I decided to take on the challenge of pursuing a dream to study psychology. I completed the whole journey through to my master’s while raising my kids, and that experience was shaped by both my resilience and my passion for supporting others. After graduating, I worked with New South Wales Health as an alcohol and other drugs counsellor and in the youth acute care team, before moving into private practice, where I discovered how much I loved the counselling space.
When COVID arrived, my work shifted to telehealth, and I began supporting parents in the perinatal phase – before and after birth. That time reignited a deep passion in me. I saw how much impact it had when mothers were supported, not just for themselves but for their children, their families, and their wider community. For the last few years, I’ve focused on this work, both online and through in-home visits, where being in their own space removes barriers and helps families feel at ease.
I also love working in nature. I’ve always believed that nature itself plays a role in healing – it calms our nervous systems, grounds us, and helps us reconnect to wholeness. My approach blends mindfulness, somatic (body-based) therapies, and cognitive techniques, because I see people as innately whole and capable of finding balance again.
I was drawn to Wakai Waian Healing because of the deep alignment between my values and the organisation’s. Collaboration, community, reconciliation and cultural safety are at the heart of my practice, and I feel those principles come alive here. My Dutch Indonesian heritage, participation in cultural retreats, and learning journey have strengthened my respect for Indigenous ways of healing and being. Joining Wakai Waian gives me the opportunity to bring my skills into a space where cultural sovereignty and community truly guide the work.
I live in northern New South Wales and travel to work with Wakai Waian Healing. Being part of this team feels like a natural home for me – a place where my passion for supporting parents, my belief in the healing power of nature, and my commitment to walking alongside families and communities all come together.