Founded in 2018

The Wellness Initiative is a true passion project!
​At its core, The Wellness Initiative is about fostering peer connection. It’s built on the belief that nothing beats the power of sharing, understanding, and inspiring one another to thrive.
 With backgrounds in psychology, mental health support work, peer supervision, and coordination, we believed that there was a type of service missing in the Western Australian landscape - Lived Experience Work.

Leadership

​At The Wellness Initiative, our leadership and services are deeply rooted in Lived Experience. Being a Lived Experience provider means we understand mental health challenges on a personal level, not just theoretically. This unique perspective fosters empathy, authenticity, and trust, creating a safe and relatable space for those we support. With lived experience guiding us from the top down, we ensure that every aspect of our work is driven by real understanding and a genuine commitment to empowering others on their journey.

Marie Murray

Co-Founder & Director

(She/her)

Hi, I'm Marie, and I am co-founder and director of The Wellness Initiative. I 'fell' into Lived Experience work at a time when I didn't know who I was, in a country far away from my familiar comforts, with little idea of what I wanted or needed. I sought meaning and a place to land - and I found exactly that! I was offered a job I didn't even apply for and became a Lived Experience Facilitator for a Mental Health Peer Program (WRAP), and it became a complete game changer for me, my own mental health recovery, my sense of belonging; my confidence and my career path too. 
I learnt first hand what lived experience sharing can do to a person's ongoing mental health journey - for me it was life changing, and I wondered what challenges I may had gotten through faster or smoother had I accessed Peer Support earlier. I was driven to give more people the opportunity to benefit from Lived Experience sharing, and for people to experience the joy of being part of the Peer Support Workforce. 
Building The Wellness Initiative over the last 6.5 years has been a privilege and a steep learning curve, and my aim is for staff and participants coming through our service to feel a similar sense of belonging and increased confidence to how I felt experiencing Peer Support for the first time 14 years ago.

Background Support

​Our leadership team believes in the strength of collaboration, and we couldn't do what we do without every member of our team. Each individual is a vital part of our organisation, bringing their own lived experiences and unique perspectives to make The Wellness Initiative truly impactful. The following people provide support in the background to make this all possible!

Jayde

Book Keeping & Admin Extraordinaire! 
​(She/Her)
​I've been working at The Wellness Initiative since December last year 2021. TWI is unlike anywhere I've worked before and I'm so excited to be working with an organisation who is so passionate about wellness and recovery. ​

Through my own wellness journey, I understand that everyone's path is unique and I'm naturally interested and empathetic to others and listen with open mind and heart. 

​Work aside, I really enjoy trying new things and exploring new places to visit. I'm trying to up my fitness recently and enjoy all outdoor activities, especially anything to do with the water. I'm naturally a social person and I'm my happiest when feeling connected to others.

Our Team of Frontline Lived Experience Professionals

Our direct support team is at the heart of what we do, building meaningful connections with every client they work with. With their own lived experiences as a foundation, they offer empathetic, hands-on guidance to help clients navigate their mental health journey.

Mental Health Peer Support Specialists 
​Perth and surrounds | WA

Community.   Growth.   Heart.   Kindness.   Personal Choice.   Sincerity.   The Lived Experience.

We hope you find your people here.

Email
​info@wellnessinitiative.com.au
​Phone
​0478 511 825
thewellnessinitiativeAU
@thewellnessinitiativeau
We are a proud West Australian Association of Mental Health member