Minister for Mental Health, Tanya Davies at Start Talking Launch
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Kate joined Gidget Foundation Australia in October 2022 as the Partnerships and Operations Coordinator. She supports the Marketing and Operations team at the Foundation.
Kate’s passion for mental health drew her to Gidget Foundation Australia, and she values how vital the specialist support services provided are for all people experiencing PNDA.
She completed her degree in Sociology at Hunter College CUNY in New York City, where she found a love for both Sociology and Psychology.
In her free time, Kate practices yoga, spends time with her two cats, and loves to play and listen to music.
Katie Peterson is a registered Clinical Psychologist and Board Approved Supervisor with AHPRA based in Tamworth NSW. Katie provides supervision, clinical support and professional development to the Gidget Foundation Australia Clinicians working with families in the perinatal period.
Katie has over 11 years of experience working in perinatal and infant mental health across private, not-for-profit and public health services in regional NSW. Most recently Katie was the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (PIMHS) clinician for the Tamworth Community Mental Health Team for 7 years as well as the Safe Start coordinator. Prior to this Katie provided general psychological services in Hunter New England area of NSW including outreach to rural communities.
Katie has extensive experience in perinatal and infant mental health drawing on attachment theory, infant development, cognitive behaviour therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and emotion focused therapy. Katie has a particular interest in attachment-related trauma, mother-infant interaction, adjustment to motherhood, depression and anxiety including perinatal OCD, and birth trauma.
As a clinician living and working in a regional area Katie is very aware of the challenges faced by clinicians working in rural communities, as well as the challenges families face due to limited services including the reliance on telehealth to access support. Katie is passionate about expanding access and providing quality perinatal mental health services across Australia.
Nicole joined Gidget Foundation Australia late in 2022 as Programs Manager after 15 years working in health and medical research as both a scientist and executive.
Nicole has a Bachelor of Medical Science with first-class Honours and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Medicine; both from the University of Sydney.
In her previous program management roles, she spearheaded and executed a number of health initiatives focussed on evidence-based/technology interventions that aimed to improve people’s health outcomes. As Head of Research for the Charlie Teo Foundation, she was responsible for finding new ways to solve challenges in brain cancer and her strong collaborative skills allowed her to bring together the right combination of clinician-scientists to address those challenges.
Nicole has experienced postpartum depression and is passionate and motivated to apply her expertise to support the Gidget Foundation in its program service delivery.
When she is not working or looking after her two small children, Nicole volunteers her time as Research Advisor to the childhood brain cancer charity, Little Legs Foundation as well as working on her start-up venture in the digital health space.
Karen is responsible for leading Gidget Foundation Australia’s clinical governance and compliance framework within a culture of continuous quality improvement. As an experienced health executive working across public, private and not-for-profit healthcare, Karen is committed to achieving excellence through health system safety, good governance practices and sound risk management.
Karen has worked extensively in perinatal mental health, supporting parents throughout her career as a clinical psychologist, AHPRA approved supervisor and health director. Karen also has expertise in corporate governance, strategic leadership, and financial management as a non-executive board member and former company secretary.
Current professional memberships include the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS), the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), the Australian College of Health Service Managers (AACHSM) and the Governance Institute of Australia (AGIA). Karen has a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology, a Graduate Certificate in Adult Education, a Bachelor of Arts (hons) degree, and is also completing a Masters qualification in Health Leadership and Management.
Eliza is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and Founder of Blackbird Counselling, a Women’s Mental Health Service managing six Mental Health Professionals providing counselling and support to assist women and families across the lifespan. Eliza has worked in mental health for the past 21 years and has been in private practice specialising in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health for the past 6 years.
Eliza created Blackbird House in 2020, a Perinatal Health and Wellness Centre on the Sunshine Coast implementing programs supporting women and families, including The Mother Mentor Program, Blackbird Playgroups and Mother’s Groups. The Wellness Centre was a way of reducing barriers to families by providing access to multiple services in one location including Pregnancy Massage, Baby Massage, a Paediatrician, Circle of Security Groups, Midwifery & Lactation Consultants, Paediatric Physiotherapy, and access to community clubs/groups.
Eliza has completed Circle of Security Facilitator Training and Newborn Behavioural Observation training through the Royal Women’s Hospital in Victoria. She has worked with the Queensland Ballet – Bumps to Babies Program through Mindstar and is a Registered Supervisor with the Australian Association of Social Workers having completed the Excellence in Supervisory Practice Certificate (PASE model) through Amovita International. She has also completed Perinatal Non-Directive Pregnancy Counselling Certification through the Australian Psychological Society.
Eliza has a diverse range of experiencing working in multi-disciplinary teams for the Department of Human Services within the Job Capacity Assessment Units, Commonwealth Rehabilitation Services Australia, Community Health Centres, Hospitals and The University of the Sunshine Coast. She has worked as an External Supervisor with the University of the Sunshine Coast supervising Bachelor of Social Work students and regularly supervises students in her practice from Psychology, Social Work and Peer Support programs.
Eliza has previously held positions with the Australasian Birth Trauma Clinical Advisory Committee and was the Co-ordinator of the Sunshine Coast Women’s Mental Health Professionals Network in 2021/22.
Eliza worked with Gidget Foundation Australia in 2018 as one of the first Accredited Mental Health Social Workers in the Start Talking Program and has recently joined as the Clinical Training Leader for Gidget Foundation Australia’s Workforce Development Program in 2022. Eliza is delighted to come on board as the Workforce Development Program Manager in October 2022.
Jannet joined Gidget Foundation Australia in July 2022 as Executive Assistant to the CEO and comes from a corporate background in the marketing, hospitality, and airline industries with a broad range of administrative experience.
Gidget House has provided great support to Jannet’s personal PNDA journey and she is excited and honoured to be a part of this team to promote greater awareness of the importance of perinatal mental health across the community.
Outside of work, Jannet enjoys spending time with family and friends, good food, and travelling. She loves new experiences and bringing people together to have fun.
Sandy joined the Gidget Foundation Australia team as Clinical Practice Executive in August 2022. She has worked in various administration and customer service roles throughout the years.
Working at Gidget Foundation Australia is a perfect fit for Sandy as she experienced PNDA after having her first child and is very empathetic to anyone who is struggling during that vulnerable period of parenting.
Sandy loves spending her free time with family, bushwalking, reading thrillers, and watching true crime shows.
Stephanie joined Gidget Foundation Australia in the role of Clinical Practice Executive in 2021. Although her background has been primarily in the advertising and music industries, her experience has always been client focussed and this is what she loves most about her role at the Foundation.
Maya Angelou said that people will forget what you said and they’ll forget what you did, but they will never forget how you make them feel. Stephanie believes that this is what the wonderful team at Gidget Foundation Australia strives to do every day, and she enjoys being a part of making sure that everyone we have contact with feels hopeful and feels supported.
Stephanie is passionate about mental health for both women and the wider community, especially in our more remote areas. Outside of work, she loves hanging out with her awesome children and grandchildren as well as reading, painting, and traveling to London and Italy whenever possible!
Emily joined Gidget Foundation Australia in June 2022 in the role of Clinical Intake Coordinator and is responsible for reviewing potential client documents, effective triage, and coordinating timely intake for new clients.
Emily has over 19 years of experience as a Registered Nurse and Midwife working in the birth suite, on the postnatal ward, and at Gidget House North Sydney at the Mater Hospital. Emily also has commercial experience working at Pfizer Nutrition, managing the Careline for S-26 infant formula. She has a passion for working with expectant parents, parents, and healthcare professionals, particularly in the area of perinatal depression and anxiety.
Beyond the doors of Gidget Foundation Australia, Emily enjoys walking across the Sydney Harbour Bridge at sunrise, spending time with family and friends, and exploring overseas destinations.
Dee joined the Gidget Foundation Australia team as Clinical Practice Executive in June 2022.
Dee has extensive experience in secretarial, EA and admin roles across financial, sporting, and medical fields, including various specialist practices and public and private hospitals.
Dee finds working at Gidget Foundation Australia very fulfilling and gratifying and she loves to be of service to those in need and reaching out for care. A proud team player, Dee thrives on variety and a feeling a sense of achievement at the end of each workday.
Dee can’t get by without her daily sunrise swim and recharge in the ocean.
Alicia was also the co-founder of the parenting app Kiindred, a digital ecosystem originally designed to assist the modern-day parent, providing expert guidance and inspiration for parents with children 0-4 years. With 3 beautiful kids, Alicia has great passion and energy for supporting the modern-day parent. She believes that parenting comes with so many pressures and unknowns and early support is vital for both the physical and emotional self.
Alicia’s goal is to use her creative and strategic marketing strengths for good purpose and enable a better outcome for all parents during their perinatal journey.
Gidget Foundation Australia is not able to provide crisis support.
Please refer to the below support options:
If you need urgent medical help please call 000
The PANDA National Helpline is available Mon-Fri 9am-7:30pm 1300 726 306
For 24 hour crisis support please call Lifeline 13 11 14