I was born in Canberra, the youngest of four siblings, and grew up moving around Australia with my dad’s Air Force career before we finally settled in a small town called Collinsville. Life took me to many places, raising a big blended family of six children with my husband, moving with his rail work, and eventually finding our home in Rockhampton in 2019.
It was here that I began to build my career in mental health. I started as a crisis support worker with Lifeline, then joined Carers Queensland as a Local Area Coordinator. During that time I met a few of the people who are now my colleagues at Wakai Waian Healing.
I have always been drawn to helping others. People naturally come to me for support, and I have learned that empathy and listening can truly change lives. That inspired me to study psychology, to combine that instinct for care with professional skill. After working as a behaviour support practitioner and practice lead in the disability sector, I began my Master of Clinical Psychology and joined Wakai Waian Healing as a provisional psychologist.
I am especially passionate about trauma-informed care and the way early support can prevent trauma from developing into deeper mental health challenges. Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Central Queensland feels deeply meaningful. I see every day how culturally safe and community-led approaches can rebuild trust in therapy and help people heal in ways that fit their world.
My goal is to keep growing as a clinician, to learn, listen, and contribute to the kind of service that truly meets people where they are. Wakai Waian Healing has given me that space, a place that values self care, honesty, and the balance between clinical excellence and cultural respect.