At Wakai Waian Healing, we know that creating culturally safe, transformative spaces for mob through the NDIS isn’t just important — it’s urgent. That’s why we’re celebrating a major milestone: in just one month, nearly 20 new Occupational Therapy referrals and 10 Psychology referrals have come through, thanks to the deadly leadership and passion of Tasha Lamey, our NDIS Lead, along with OT Emanjilli Hunt and NDIS team member Mel Maher. This is more than numbers. It’s access. It’s healing. It’s power in the hands of our most vulnerable community members. And it’s made possible by women who bring lived experience, cultural strength, and fierce determination into everything they do.
Meet the Woman at the Helm – Tasha Lamey
A proud Bidjara woman living on Dharumbal Country, Tasha leads our NDIS team with deep care and clarity. With 16 years in Queensland Health and lived experience as a First Nations mother, Tasha brings both systems knowledge and soul to her role.
Her work is about far more than managing referrals — it’s about ensuring our people get seen and heard in a system that so often silences them. Through her leadership, Wakai Waian Healing is carving out space for mob to receive the psychological and therapeutic supports they deserve — grounded in culture, led with integrity, and wrapped in relational practice.
OT with Heart – Emanjilli Hunt
Emanjilli is not just doing Functional Capacity Assessments — she is redefining what culturally safe OT can look like. A Wiradjuri woman with deep spiritual connection to Country and a lived experience of mental health challenges, she brings grounded wisdom and a calm presence to every client interaction.
Her work spans early intervention to aged care, and she carries with her the powerful belief that healing must happen in community, on Country, and in connection. With years of experience working across the NT and now in Central Queensland, Emanjilli is building bridges — between systems, between hearts, between healing and hope.
The Voice of Lived Experience – Mel Maher
Born on Dharumbal Country, Mel didn’t set out to work in disability — she was called to it through her own family’s journey. As a mother of six, two of whom have disabilities, and as someone who has navigated the NDIS system from every angle, Mel knows how daunting it can be.Her commitment to simplifying the process, advocating fiercely, and bringing compassion to every conversation has made her a lifeline for many families. Mel’s story is one of turning grief and struggle into purpose — ensuring that others don’t walk the same path alone.
Why This Matters
This surge in referrals represents something powerful — mob trusting us with their care. For communities that have historically been excluded, misdiagnosed, and dismissed, it’s a sign that change is here. Wakai Waian Healing is not just another NDIS provider. We’re something different. We’re a movement, led by people who walk alongside our clients with cultural humility, personal insight, and fierce commitment to justice. Tasha, Emanjilli, and Mel — your work is lighting the way. We are so proud of you. This is what culturally safe care looks like. This is what walking with mob looks like..
