Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following content may contain images, voices, or names of people who have passed away.
It began with just one man, a laptop, and a deep belief that things could be done differently. In a small office in Rockhampton, Wakai Waian Healing was born – a vision rooted in cultural integrity, clinical excellence, and community strength. Ten years later, that vision has grown into a thriving organisation with over 40 staff working across regional and remote Queensland, changing lives through culturally safe, trauma-informed mental health care.
At the centre of this journey is Ed Mosby, a proud Masig man, born on Waiben (Thursday Island), with direct family ties to Masig and the Masigilgal people. His path to psychology was anything but linear – a journey forged in the military, grounded in marriage and family, and driven by a profound sense of purpose.
Ed’s formal journey into psychology began with his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from CQUniversity in December 2007. He gained provisional registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) in March 2008 and secured full generalist registration in April 2011. These early years laid the professional foundation for the dream he would later bring to life.
In July 2014, Ed registered Wakai Waian Healing as a sole trader with ASIC. It was more than a business move; it was the first formal step towards creating a culturally grounded, community-driven mental health service. In 2015, Uncle Gill Thomsen, a respected Elder and mentor, joined as the first counsellor, bringing cultural authority and guidance to the growing vision.
Ed’s leadership soon drew national recognition. In August 2015, he was appointed to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Advisory Panel on reducing violence against women and children. By February 2016, he had been appointed to the Queensland Premier’s Domestic and Family Violence Taskforce Implementation Council and named Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group. His national voice on trauma, healing, and First Nations mental health continued to strengthen.
Locally, Wakai Waian Healing expanded. In September 2015, the organisation moved into its first formal lease property, Tobruk House. By December that year, Ed was conducting FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) clinics to Palm Island, delivering critical mental health support to remote communities.
Some defining moments shaped Ed’s calling. During a late-night training exercise in Shoalwater Bay, a seasoned platoon sergeant shared stories of comrades who survived combat only to lose their lives to suicide. That conversation planted a seed — a sense of responsibility for the unseen wounds carried by so many.
Another moment came years later, in a Rockhampton pub, where Ed offered a plate of chips and a glass of water to a vulnerable woman. Years later, their paths crossed again in a mental health service, and her smile of recognition reminded him that healing often begins with the smallest acts of dignity.
Julyess Jarvis, the organisation’s longest-serving staff member, reflects: “Even way back then, Ed was talking about building a strong First Nations workforce. He believed in it before many others were even having those conversations.”
Julyess’s own journey mirrors the growth of the organisation. From a mental health trainee to an integral part of the management team, he was born and raised in Central Queensland – a testament to Ed’s unwavering commitment to Indigenous workforce development.
He laughs recalling their first work trip to Cooktown. “I thought I’d beat Ed to it by waking up at 4am – but he was already there, dressed, coffee in hand, halfway through emails. His drive and energy are on another level.”
By August 2017, Ed’s reputation culminated in his appointment as an Independent Director for the Australian National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS). In May 2018, Wakai Waian Healing transitioned into a registered company, strengthening its capacity for broader impact.
The growth continued: FIFO clinics into Western Queensland (Charleville) began in 2018, and by 2019, Wakai Waian Healing had established its first office on Thursday Island and opened a Cairns office. A flagship workforce development program launched, graduating its first cohort by December 2020.
Accreditation milestones followed: ISO9001 Quality Management Systems Certification in July 2021, Ed’s registration as a Board Approved Supervisor in September 2021, National Standards for Mental Health Services Certification in November 2021, and NDIS registration achieved in May 2022.
Wakai Waian Healing continued expanding, establishing a Nambour office in May 2023 and preparing to move into larger Fitzroy Street premises in Rockhampton in July 2024.
Beyond the operational milestones, the organisation’s heart is its people – and at the centre, Ed and his wife, Julie. Julie, Wakai Waian’s Finance Officer, has been a steady partner through every sacrifice and triumph. They met in the late 1990s when Ed was an apprentice electrician. Their bond, rooted in friendship, grew into marriage and a shared mission.
“He’s very patient, incredibly thoughtful,” Julie reflects. “At home, just like at work, he’s about building a team. Whether it’s with our boys, Ben and Luke, or his staff, he’s always mentoring, always guiding.”
The sacrifices have been real: long hours, missed family trips, milestones celebrated without him. “We’ve missed a lot of normal family stuff,” Julie says. “But Ed truly believes in what he’s doing. He’s given everything he has to it.”
Ed’s early leadership was grounded in authenticity. He wasn’t interested in bureaucracy – he was interested in people. Former supervisor Troy Holland saw it firsthand. “He had purpose, and he wasn’t afraid to speak honestly about the system’s failings. He was in a vulnerable position where I could influence his pathway to becoming a psychologist. But he didn’t let that stop him speaking the truth. That immediately told me he was a person of great integrity. He held himself to high standards, and he expected the same from others – but never more than he held for himself.”
Troy believes that one of the things that sets Ed apart is the way he leads with consistency. “He’s the same person in every space – with his team, with his family, with community. That kind of clarity makes him a steady leader. A leader you can trust.”
He also credits Ed’s wife, Julie, who is the Finance Officer, for being a central part of the organisation’s success. “They’re a team. You can’t tell the story of Wakai Waian without recognising her strength and the sacrifices their family has made. And the boys have become part of the journey too. I’ve seen Ed and Julie supporting the boys at all their school and sporting events. But then I’ve seen the boys taking the journeys home and to other communities with Ed and Julie. As a family, they do it for each other, and for their extended family, and for communities that need them.”
Now, as Wakai Waian Healing enters its second decade, the naigai wind of Masig calls Ed home. There is a growing understanding that balance must be reclaimed – that Ed, too, needs time for his own healing journey.
“If I said tomorrow, ‘Let’s move to Masig,’ he’d start packing his bag,” Julie says with a smile. “That’s where his spirit feels most at home.”
The future of Wakai Waian Healing is strong. With a solid Senior Management Team in place, the focus will be on sustainability, deepened cultural governance, and strengthening the heart of the organisation for the generations to come.
Wakai Waian — meaning “straightening yarn” — speaks to the process of untangling stories, healing wounds, and walking forward together. It reflects not only the journey of the people Wakai Waian supports but Ed’s own story: from soldier to healer, from founder to quiet elder-in-the-making.
Maybe, after a decade of carrying the dreams of others, it is time for Ed to heed the call of Country, to throw a line into saltwater, to sit beneath the stars with family, and to nurture the spirit that has nurtured so many others. Afterall, it all began with one man’s story — and the unwavering love and belief of those who walked beside him. Now, it belongs to many.
