Health Voices Victoria

I have always wanted to make a difference through my work. I started my career in immunology research, working in a lab, and very early on I can remember it feeling like such a long distance between the work | was doing and meaningful change for people. That and a significant health issue in my early 20s made me reassess where I was at. I chose to study public health and the thread of meaningful work and transformative change has been a feature of the further steps I have taken in my career since then.

In 1997, early in my career in public health, I joined the team at BreastScreen Victoria where I worked for 7 years. This was when I first learnt on the ground about consumer and community engagement. It was embedded into all elements of our work; our governance and the expertise of consumers was valued equally with that of clinicians and leaders in our services. It was also a time when the breast cancer advocacy movement was gaining momentum, and I had the privilege of working alongside Lyn Swinburne as the Breast Cancer Network Australia took form. I was inspired and emboldened by the incredible women that I was working with at the time, and we started pushing the boundaries of consumer and community engagement practice all those years ago. I’ve been hooked ever since.

Family is so important to me and it’s just as well as I have a large one. My partner Nick and I have a blended family with five daughters and a new addition this year, our granddaughter Daisy. Add in a few partners, extended family and friends and you’ll find me in my happy place, cooking up a storm and feeding all the people! Nourishing others nourishes me!

That teaching lights me up. I recently had the opportunity to participate as a guest speaker in two Uni lectures and I loved it and would like to do more.

The things you see as weaknesses now will turn out to be your greatest strengths. Just be you, heart and soul, keep turning up for you and others and you’ll be okay.

Speed reading (if I could have a cheeky two skill combo, l’d go for speed reading and photographic memory).

Ron Gutman: The hidden power of smiling. TED talk.

I watched this talk at a very challenging time in my life when I was willing to try anything and everything that could possibly improve my wellbeing. It is an elegantly simple concept and a life hack that has served me well

100% lived experience, but it took me a long time and quite some unlearning to acknowledge that. I’m inspired most when I get to hold space for people with deep diversity to innovate.

Any true co-design process has both made me very uncomfortable and changed my approach to partnering on a molecular level. Most recently, I’ve been incorporating rest and collective care practices in my work, because it’s something communities are rarely gifted.

My garden. I do have a few levels of balcony gardens and have been doing my very best to cultivate expensive crops. Bartering wine, macadamias, wasabi, and vanilla is my retirement plan (also my doomsday prepping plan).

Something I’ve noticed in myself lately, especially as I join this brilliant team, is my ability to be “ready-enough”. I know that I can be adaptable, but I think it’s been great to feel welcome as we figure my role out.

Stay strange.
Don’t rush.

The ability to rest. My new angle to motivate me is that rest is an act of rebellion.

Read: Network Weaver newsletter
Watch: Playlist on Healing, Justice and Design
Listen: Longtime Academy activist and storyteller Ella Saltmarshe will take you on a journey to discover how to become a better ancestor.

I started off my career as an Occupational Therapist working in mental health services. There was a lot about the work which I loved- working so closely with people, learning about their motivations supporting people to work on the things that mattered to them. But it was hard to ignore how broken the mental health system was. I felt like I was part of a system that was failing people, so I turned my attention to trying to improve it. For me this looked like championing and enabling lived experience leadership.

In my late 20s, while living in London, I studied social innovation and co-founded a social enterprise focused on creating belonging and inclusion in the workplace. We collaborated with young people often excluded from meaningful work due to factors like their age, their race, their religion or class. This period was transformative for me, as I deeply reflected on and grappled with the forces of power and privilege. Recognising how these dynamics play out in my interactions, as well as in consumer and community engagement practices and the health system at large, has fundamentally shaped my approach to work.

Knitting is a skill l’ve learnt in the last year. I love having a project to work on and creating something tangible.

Making time to get out of the city and into nature is so vital. During summer my partner and I will take a picnic and find swimming spots along the creek. There are also so many beautiful walking trails out of Melbourne we love to explore.

For a bit of fun, I love going to boot scooting classes. This is a space that celebrates queer joy, it’s inclusive and a bit silly.

Reducing the number of tabs I have opened on my web browser has a direct correlation with reducing my stress levels!

One of your biggest strengths is questioning the way things are done and not settling for the status quo. While school might not always encourage that in you, don’t let it dull your curiosity. Creating positive change in the world means having the courage to challenge the way things have always been done.

I wish I could speak other languages.

Left Write Hook – This is an incredible documentary that follows a group of adult survivors of child sexual abuse and trauma. The group embarks on a lived experience-led program that incorporates boxing and writing to support connection and healing. I recently heard a panel discussion with people involved in the film and it is now available on Netflix!

I’ve always been driven by a belief that people—especially those with lived and living experience—should shape the systems that shape their lives. Over the years, I’ve seen how health systems can unintentionally make things harder for people, and how co-design, compassion, and good engagement can completely shift that. Working in health transformation allows me to support change that is practical, human, and genuinely values-driven.

My work across WVPHNs, partnerships, co-design projects, lived experience networks, and community engagement has shown me that people rarely get asked how the system feels to them, and when they’re asked safely and respectfully, the insights are extraordinary. I’m deeply influenced by every conversation where someone shares something vulnerable, brave, or personally significant, that can be transformational to our health eco-system. It reinforces for me that our job is to create conditions where voice, diversity, and lived or living wisdom is welcomed and sought after, not simply extracted.

Life is pretty full right now, between my dual role, my consulting work, and a PhD, my days are packed to the brim. But in the moments between all of that, I come alive through movement, creativity, and anything that feels like a mini-adventure.

I love painting (when I actually get the chance!), catching live bands and concerts, because music is the one creative art that can heal you instantly, and saying yes to spontaneous plans with friends. Bike riding, long walks, the gym, sunshine, weekend adventures… if it gets me moving or laughing, I’m in.

At heart, I’m an adventurer and a big “yes” person, I won’t say no to fun, sun, or anything that feels like it might lead to a good story later. I’m a creative soul navigating a very busy season, so whenever space opens up, you’ll find me soaking up every joyful moment I can.

I’ve learned that while I can take on a lot, I don’t need to wear “over-functioning” as a badge of honour. I’m calmer, happier, and more creative when I’m collaborating, sharing ideas, and building things with others. Purpose fuels me, but people sustain me, and that’s been an important realisation.

Dear younger me: the world won’t always measure the kind of intelligence you carry, the emotional insight, the kindness, the ability to make people feel understood. But that doesn’t mean it’s not extraordinary. Keep your childlike warmth, your openness, your imagination. One day you’ll realise that these were never flaws; they were the foundation for everything that makes you good at what you do.

If I could learn a new skill overnight, I’d love to wake up with a stunning singing voice, the kind that gives people goosebumps. Music is such an emotional outlet, and the ability to express myself through singing would feel incredible. And if not singing, I’d choose to become fluent in multiple languages overnight. There’s something magical about connecting with people in their own language, and it would make travel and global collaboration feel like pure joy.

Podcast recommendation: The Diary of a CEO, there are some incredible episodes on purpose, emotional intelligence, relationships, and personal growth.

Book recommendation: The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker, brilliant for anyone designing meetings, workshops, or community-engagement spaces.

I didn’t set out to work in health transformation. I started my career as a lab-based research scientist, but life had other plans. It was a series of distressing health experiences about ten years ago, when I was a stay-at-home mum of twins, that pushed me to become a consumer advisor. As someone living with chronic conditions, I need to regularly navigate the health system to get the care I need, so I can stay well and be there for my kids. Over time, that drive to get the care I needed evolved into a passion for improving the system for others as well. Now I’m inspired by all the people I meet who are part of the health consumer movement: staff and consumers who can imagine a fairer or better functioning health system and are working together to make that a reality.

In my role, and in this work, I’m always learning. My lived experiences of chronic illness, mental health and disability combined with my experiences of being a carer for family members with disabilities has meant l’ve had to question a lot of assumptions I had about people and how the world works. I try to bring that open minded view when I work with health consumers and community members. As humans, it’s easy to judge and make assumptions so I try to notice when I’m doing that and challenge myself to be open and listen deeply to hear what is actually being said.

Dancing! A few years ago, I took a leap and joined my first tango class as a personal growth challenge—| wasn’t a dancer (or so | thought), and tango felt way outside my comfort zone. But I ended up falling in love with it, and l’ve been hooked ever since. Since then, l’ve explored other styles of dancing, like 5Rhythms, contact improvisation, and belly dancing and each one has brought something unique. I love the way dancing helps me be present in my body, find connection, and be creative. It’s become my joy, my release, and honestly… my medicine and therapy.

That I am a fridge and pantry hoarder. A friend recently helped me organise my pantry and fridge and they were shocked to discover I had items that had expired several years ago. I was shocked that they were shocked. I mean, what’s wrong with keeping dried or pickled food beyond its use by date?!! It’s still good!

Don’t worry so much. You are adaptable, you can solve problems, it’s going to be ok. (I’d also give this advice to my uni-student self, my 30-year-old self, and my 40-year-old self and will probably be giving it my 70-year-old self too!)

Sewing! Most of my wardrobe is from op-shops, and l often find gems that would be perfect with just a tweak or two. I’ve managed a few DIY fixes that I’m pretty proud of, but l’ve never properly learned to sew-so l’m kind of winging it. A few years ago, I picked up a vintage sewing machine at an op-shop (it proudly says “Made in West Germany“—so I know it’s old!). Some functions no longer work and there’s no manual, so there’s a lot of guesswork involved. I’d love to be able to confidently tailor or totally transform pieces, so l don’t have a growing pile of partially altered clothes!

If you’re looking for a movie to watch, it’s worth checking out Mickey 17. I saw it recently and really enjoyed it, which was a surprise as l’ve had a string of underwhelming movie experiences this year. It’s a science fiction black comedy directed by Bong Joon Ho. I was feeling very clever when I made the connection between the creepers and the Ohmu insects from Hayao Miyazaki’s Ghibli movie, ‘Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind‘ (1984) because l’m generally ignorant when it comes to TV and movie trivia.

The path here wasn’t direct or linear but reflecting on the experiences I have had along the way, it feels like different threads are coming together. I’ve got a background in the youth wellbeing space, supporting organisations to better engage young people in decisions that affect them. When I think about what has inspired me throughout my career, it’s making a meaningful difference and improving things for those who come after us. I’ve also been drawn to working with and learning from passionate people like the HCC team, who authentically partner with communities to shape better outcomes for future generations.

My experience of growing up in a smaller regional community influenced how my approach and practice is centered on trust and true partnerships. I think that’s why I value collaboration, place-based practice, and community led initiatives, because they just make sense to me. The knowledge, power, and trust that communities share needs be valued and respected if we’re going to improve systems and tackle the biggest challenges facing us today.

Nothing is more rejuvenating for me than a saltwater dip and feeling small amongst tall trees. I have several friends who have also recently moved to Melbourne, so there’s lots of exploring and discovery in my life. Lately, I’ve been on a mission to source Melbourne’s best crumpet and then when I can, heading home to hear my nephews’ latest words and adventures. Being an aunty is the best.

I’ve gotten better at trying new things and being bad at it to begin with. I learnt to ride a bike as a kid, but cycling as a form of transport is only something I have taken up since moving to Melbourne (if you know anything about the hills of the NSW South Coast you’ll know why). It’s been a process building my confidence, but the learning for me has really been reinforcing the normalising of discomfort; that I won’t know everything or be the best at it, but if I persist with the discomfort, it eventually becomes comfortable.

I’d probably tell her to ask for help when she needs it, and it doesn’t need to be perfect the first go. So much revolves around the future when you’re a teenager – thinking, planning, or dreaming of what you want to be when you grow up and all the new experiences that are ahead. Because of that, I’d also want to share a quote that reminds me of that time. It speaks to being present in the moment and practicing gratitude: “don’t overlook the beauty of the small things, because one day, you’ll look back and realise they were the big things”.

I’ve been obsessing over learning how to mosaic. There’s something in the transformation metaphor of broken tiles being placed together imperfectly to create something beautiful that’s really appealing to me.

I have two nerdy obsessions: news and bridges. Don’t ask. I’ve been enjoying the podcast “We used to be journos” by Jan Fran and Antoinette Lattouff. And for the bridges, there’s an absolute trailblazer of a woman named Kathleen Butler who had a remarkable impact on the project to build the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I stumbled across this story randomly and was shocked she wasn’t more well known. There’s a two-part podcast about her if you search Mother of the Harbour Bridge.

Outside of work, I like to spend time with my family. I also love quiet time, meditation, and
prayer. I enjoy exercising and exploring new places to eat-out 🙂

Never be afraid to initiate conversations. Meet new people and listen (it is a great skill to have, and you learn so much).

It would be amazing if I could learn a new language overnight – it just opens you to a whole new world and culture. I am multilingual and can speak English, Urdu, Punjabi, Turkish, and intermediary level Arabic. I would love to improve my Arabic skills and learn Mandarin.

I would highly recommend a book that I have recently started reading – Muhammad (SAW): 11 Leadership Qualities that Changed the World. The book provides profound insights on Leadership. This guide offers a powerful blend of timeless prophetic wisdom, and modern leadership principles. It is an essential read for anyone seeking to lead with integrity, compassion, and purpose in today’s complex world.

My Mum. She is a nurse and growing up, I remember being in a myriad of healthcare settings with her, some of which felt warm and comfortable, and others felt quite abrasive. Watching my Mum exercise her natural skills for connection and care – and seeing just how valuable they were to people who were navigating a challenging system in a trying time – really inspired me to use my similar skills in the same way.

My education background has coalesced in a magical way to influence my work with consumers and community members. I am a counsellor by trade, with a background in psychology and gender studies, which contributes to the person-centered, intersectional lens that I bring to work with the Centre. But I am also a theatre major with a long history in performing arts. My experiences in the arts industry cemented my deep value for human connection, in all its wonderful forms. If I can forge a safe, genuine, and reciprocal connection with someone through my work at the desk each day, then I’ve had a good day!

Being crafty arty farty – playing guitar, sewing, knitting, designing, singing, theatre- making, colouring, collaging, writing and everything in between. If it’s crafty, it’s probably going to nourish me.

Oh, and the beach. The Scorpio sign / WA child in me is deeply connected to the healing power of the ocean.

I’m learning to be a bit more patient, accepting, and loving when it comes to the way my brain and body work. It’s also so awesome to notice that learning these things for myself is increasing my capacity to hold these things for others – double win!

Listen to your gut and don’t be afraid of what it has to say. It’s got you.

My whole life l’ve wanted to wake up and realise I’m an amazing hip-hop dancer. But alas, I still dance like Mr. Bean.

If you haven’t seen it yet, watch Everything Everywhere All at Once. It’s one of the greatest movies I’ve ever seen, and it always makes my heart flip in all those juicy ways.

I’ve worked in health for many years, initially in the prevention and early detection space, but more recently on a variety of transformation projects. We all know our health system is far from perfect, but it’s heartening to know that changes are always being made. The system improvements the consumers we work with can influence will directly impact the lives and experiences of many people to come.

I’ve been struck by people’s honesty and compassion. Many consumers and community members have had bad experiences with our health system, but they approach this work with positivity and creative determination. They have helped me to more deeply appreciate the value of consumer and community engagement and to see it as a necessary part of system transformation.

I love spending time with animals, whether it be our dog, watching birds, raising lambs or volunteering at an elephant rescue park in Thailand.

And at the risk of sounding daggy, I also love yarn – knitting, crochet, spinning. There’s always something on my needles!

Worry less about what other people think and spend more time exploring what you really want.

To speak another language. I wasn’t given the opportunity to even try at high school and my one effort since was a kick to my confidence.

Hard to stop at one but… read A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. It’s a beautifully written, incredible tale of life on the streets in India. This book will stay with me forever.

My inspiration to work in health transformation is grounded in my lived experience as a carer. Supporting a child with Type 1 Diabetes and another who is autistic has given me meaningful insight into both the strengths and the challenges faced by health consumers and their families as they navigate complex systems.

My personal experiences have also shaped my professional approach, reinforcing the importance of listening to lived expertise and recognising the unique needs of each individual. They’ve guided my commitment to advocating for inclusive care models and working toward systems that are flexible, compassionate, and genuinely responsive to the people they serve.

Outside of work, I’m nourished by spending time with my family and our pet dogs, Lenny and Frankie. Our dogs bring so much laughter into our lives, especially Frankie, our cheeky sausage dog with loads of attitude! I also love travelling with my family, exploring new places together.

I’ve realised how much I value quiet moments. Whether it’s a walk with the dogs, a cup of coffee in the sun, or reading at night, these small moments of calm really help me recharge.

You don’t have to have it all figured out right now. Life isn’t a straight line, and it’s okay to take time to find your path.

If I could learn one new skill overnight, it would be Auslan.

I highly recommend the Yellow Ladybugs book ‘Supporting Autistic Girls and Gender Diverse Youth‘, written and illustrated by autistic women and gender diverse individuals. It offers a powerful inside perspective, sharing personal stories, reflections, and advice.