Founders / Directors
Kirstie & Marie
She/her & She/her
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Hi! We're Marie and Kirstie and together we founded The Wellness Initiative just before 2019, and to say it has been created out of pure passion is an understatement!
We met 8 years ago and quickly discovered we worked very well together. Very different personalities but values aligned! We both have a background in psychology, mental health support work, peer supervision and coordination; and together we have travelled all over WA and twice to the UK to train and facilitate the Peer Mental Health Course "Wellness Recovery Action Plan"(WRAP). When the opportunity suddenly arose to be brave and start an organisation together, it just felt right - scary but right! We have both found our feet, our courage, ourselves(!) by connecting with others, learning from their experiences and wellness strategies. Nothing beats sharing, understanding and inspiration from others who get it too. The Wellness Initiative offers just that... peer connection. |
Peer Program Coordinator & Staff Peer Mentor
Milly
She/her
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Hi, I'm Milly, the Program Manager at The Wellness Initiative. I'm here to help you connect with our exceptional services and staff. I also oversee our student program and am passionate about creating workforce opportunities for lived experience professionals. The peer movement is close to my heart, and I'm dedicated to seeing us all thrive together. I bring my own lived experience of post-traumatic growth to this role. I'm passionate about the wellness tools that have supported my own mental health journey over many years. Creative expression, through poetry, art, music, and writing, is deeply important to me, as is spending time in nature with my dog, Bean. With over a decade of experience in the community services sector, I've worked across a range of areas, including mental health, disability services, housing and homelessness, safety and assessment, family services, peer support, and recreation for wellness. I specialize in traumatology and trauma recovery, and I find the Peer Program at The Wellness Initiative supports empowerment, trauma-informed practice, authentic connections, and unconditional positive regard as people lean into vulnerability and explore recovery together. I hope your experience with us is empowering and supportive, and I look forward to welcoming you into the Peer Program at TWI.
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