Hi, I’m Tash and my pronouns are she/they.

I am passionate about strengths-based practice, and my approach as a supervisor strongly aligns with peer support values such as curiosity, connection and authenticity. When I’m not at work, you can find me on Bunurong land walking my dog, writing poetry in the sun, or spending time with my family. I also enjoy listening to music and find this a useful way to connect with the world around me. (Song recommendations welcome!)

If you are interested in learning more about me and my supervision offerings, I provide an initial informal 20-minute meeting via Microsoft Teams or telephone at no cost for interested supervisees. This gives us the opportunity to talk as peers, share a little more about our lived and living experience to find points of mutuality that may be helpful during supervision, and discuss practical information such as accessibility requirements.

I also offer a one-page poster about myself via email for people who are visual learners.

In my career, I have managed a wide range of specialist lived and living experience workforce units, provided national and Victorian state representation on several expert advisory groups and committees, developed strategic mental health workforce initiatives alongside Department agencies and community services, and worked passionately to ensure the inclusion of diverse lived and living expertise in program design, delivery and evaluation.

Key Roles

• National Peer Practice Lead, QLife (LGBTIQ+ Health Australia)
• Lived and Living Experience Workforce Development Program Manager, VMIAC
• Senior Peer Worker, Frankston Local Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (Wellways)
• Lived Experience Workforce Manager, Peninsula Health
• Peer Work Team Leader, Emergency Department Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drug Hub (Monash Health)
• Consumer Peer Work Team Leader, Expanding Post Discharge Support Initiative (Monash Health)
• Consumer Consultant, Mental Health Program (St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne)
• Peer Worker, Supported Independent Living (Mind Australia)

A copy of my resume, including details of current and previous membership on expert advisory groups, committees and working groups (eg: Mental Health Tribunal Advisory Group) can be provided to supervisees upon request.

I am multiply neurodivergent (I have several mental health diagnoses, autism and ADHD) and I identify as a person living with disability. I consider my personal lived and living expertise to be the most important “qualification” I hold within this work. However, I have also completed training and professional development in a number of areas.

Tertiary Qualifications

• Diploma of Counselling
• Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work
• Certificate IV in Leadership and Management
• Certificate IV in Youth Work
• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
• Certificate III in Animal Studies
• Certificate II Business Administration

Peer Support Training

• Intentional Peer Support (Core)
• Peer Work Program – Mind Australia
• Peer Foundations – Wellways
• Leading Peer Support Groups

Other Professional Development (non-exhaustive)

• Hearing Voices
• Neuroinclusion in the Workplace
• Reflective Practice for Managers
• Group Leadership
• ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)

I am happy to provide further details about my lived and living experience and completed professional development for potential supervisees.

I am passionate about strengths-based practice, and my approach as a supervisor strongly aligns with peer support values such as curiosity, connection and authenticity. I enjoy learning about people, their worldview, and their specialist interests.

My strengths include:

• Providing a safe space for supervisees to talk, feel heard and validated
• Being a sounding board and offering reflective perspectives
• Exploring the purposeful use of lived and living experience in practice
• Discussing mental health and wellbeing at work (including burnout)
• Providing information about workplace rights and navigating systems.

I particularly enjoy providing supervision to people who are new to lived and living experience work, or who are developing their leadership and management skills.

I understand that each person has individual needs and requirements from supervision and I am happy to be flexible in how sessions are held. I personally like an informal approach, however we can co-create structured or semi-structured supervision spaces to suit supervisee needs.

Pets, kids, comfort toys, snacks, and any other items that support supervision to be safe and accessible for you are both welcome and encouraged.