Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. — Helen Keller
A MESSAGE FROM SARAH DOWIE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE
I am thrilled to lead a passionate and empathetic team who are motivated to build resilience in our community by delivering quality services designed to help tamariki, rangatahi, tangata whaiora and whanau. For the past 46 years, our organisation has walked alongside countless individuals and whānau in their mental health journey; ensuring they achieve milestones in their health and life goals and assisting with advocacy for whānau and/or their loved one. Able Minds is an inclusive organisation that works across a breadth of mental health areas through one-on-one or group peer support, in the home, at our centres, or virtually, which means our clients have equitable access to help, whenever and however they need it. I am very proud of all that Able Minds has achieved for our people and the community.
SARAH DOWIE CHIEF EXECUTIVE Sarah Dowie is a fierce advocate for the provision of mental health services in the community. As an ex-politician with a seat on the Health Select Committee, and a campaigner for local health initiatives, Sarah has brought these skills and life experience into her leadership role to expand services, increase Able Minds’ reach and oversee the delivery of quality services at grass roots level. With an LLB, BSc and GradCert (AppMgmt) Sarah combines her legal and scientific expertise with her management skills to bring people together to improve the wellbeing of those in need. |
RACHEL HARBROW OPERATIONS MANAGER Being part of Able Minds team since 2014, Rachel is a strong believer in being the fence at the top of the cliff not the ambulance at the bottom. With a background in process improvement and operational efficiency, Rachel ensures compliance with industry standards while driving improvements in performance, service delivery and fostering a supportive team environment. Passionate about making a difference, Rachel leverages a strategic mindset to align operations with organisational goals to achieve positive social outcomes. |
JOHN ROMANO PRACTICE MANAGER - WHĀNAU SUPPORT With an impressive forty years’ experience as a fully qualified and registered social worker, Johnny brings a wealth of expertise to his role as practice manager. Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, Johnny has worked across various social work disciplines, including twenty-three years advocating for, and supporting individuals in general psychiatry and forensic settings. As an integral part of the Able Minds team since 2019, Johnny is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience and committed to delivering professional support and guidance to empower the team and families he works with. |
PANIA TULIA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER As a highly skilled qualified registered social worker with 20-plus years’ working alongside whanau and community organisations throughout the Otago/Southland region, Pania is a passionate advocate for social justice and change in the health and disability sectors. Pania’s areas of expertise include child advocacy, disability, mental health, addiction and in supporting individuals and whanau towards mana motuhake (self-determination, independence). As Workforce Development Manager, Pania ensures staff have the tools, education, and skills needed to ensure best practice frameworks in service delivery that will enhance the work they do alongside our tamariki, rangatahi, whanau and tangata whaiora. |
ALYSIA OWEN TIMEOUT CONTACT MANAGER Alysia is a qualified SWRB and ANZASW social worker with over nine years’ experience in managing and facilitating supervised contact services. As the manager for Timeout Contact, Alysia takes pride in working alongside children and their whanau members, by providing a neutral-based service which establishes and maintains family bonds and creates positive memories through the facilitation of safe and meaningful contact. |
NATASHA BARRETT PRACTICE MANAGER - TANGATA WHAIORA SUPPORT With a bachelor's degree in Social and Community Work, and over ten years’ broad experience as a registered social worker, Natasha is a fierce advocate for social change, social cohesion, social justice and representing those in need. Natasha’s management strengths lie in her ability to guide and support staff in best practice to achieve positive outcomes for akonga and tangata whaiora. |
BUSINESS SUPPORT
JANE VANDERPYL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR With a life-long commitment to improving mental health services for those who need support, Jane assists the management team with business processes, grants administration and writing, payroll, board support, and statistics reporting. Jane’s extensive experience includes roles in the NGO space, private sector, and DHB mental health services where she has worked in research, evaluation, service improvement and innovation. Here she gained her passion for designing systems to be more efficient, transferring these skills to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of Able Minds. |
Whānau Support
SUE MCKELLAR WHĀNAU SUPPORT FIELDWORKER, DUNEDIN. As the longest serving staff member of Able Minds, Sue has dedicated the past eighteen years to serving Dunedin’s community. Working with both tangata whaiora (those seeking health) and their whanau, Sue ably combines her passion and enthusiasm with her extensive knowledge and experience in the mental health services sector. Sue most enjoys working collaboratively with whanau to achieve their goals and is proud to work with a team who share her values of care and empathy. Sue’s qualifications include a BA in Abnormal Psychology, and Mental Health and Social Services Certificates. |
REBBECCA PATON, WHĀNAU SUPPORT FIELDWORKER, DUNEDIN. Rebbecca is a kind, resilient and dedicated person. Starting her support journey by helping those with physical and intellectual disabilities live their best lives, for the past three years Rebbecca has been a passionate advocate in supporting families to better understand their loved one's mental health challenges. As a child of parents with mental illness and addiction, Rebbecca has acquired skills through her lived experience, as well as through professional development qualifications that help build wellbeing in the families she works with. Rebecca leads by example to support people in navigating life’s struggles in a sustainable way. |
JO GALLETLY WHĀNAU SUPPORT FIELDWORKER, ALEXANDRA With over thirty years’ experience working for Social Services, Jo has spent the last twelve years working for Able Minds as a fieldworker supporting families/whanau affected by a loved one's mental health challenges and / or addiction. Jo has a special interest and expertise in suicide prevention – postvention, with strengths in empowering families to navigate positive outcomes through support, advocacy and education. |
MARNE PHILLIPS WHĀNAU SUPPORT FIELDWORKER, OAMARU. Marne brings years of experience in community support, hospital level care and age care facilities to the Able Minds’ team. With trust and empathy being her core values, Marne has fostered positive relationships with clients through her passion for guiding and empowering people to achieve their life goals. Marne is driven by helping people overcome life’s challenges and live a better life experience, by educating, helping whanau make connections, and understanding what their loved ones are experiencing. “He waka eke noa” (A canoe which we are all in with no exception) |
KIRSTY FREEMAN WHĀNAU SUPPORT FIELDWORKER, QUEENSTOWN. Kirsty is committed to supporting and empowering her community. With a breadth of experience as a support worker and in various voluntary roles in both the UK and Aotearoa, Kirsty has been inspired by ongoing learning and professional training to further her education as a Registered Social Worker. She is currently integrating her studies with her work as a Whānau Support Worker, enhancing her professional practice through her academic pursuits. |
MARLOES LEVELINK WHĀNAU SUPPORT FIELDWORKER, GORE. With a Bachelor of Science and Diploma in Health and Wellbeing (Mental Health and Addiction), Marloes is a dedicated fieldworker, who offers community-based support for families and tamariki (children) navigating complex situations, impacted by mental health or addiction. Marloes delivers tailored interventions to address these challenges and promote resilient family dynamics. With a steadfast commitment to fostering trust, well-being and positive outcomes, Marloes demonstrates exceptional thoroughness and perceptiveness. Her work yields tangible, transformative results, empowering families towards healthier, more resilient futures. |
HOLLY BAYLIS WHĀNAU SUPPORT FIELDWORKER, OAMARU Bio to come 
NAME DESIGNATION To be appointed |
CLAIRE SCHERP WHĀNAU SUPPORT FIELDWORKER, ALEXANDRA While not every experience is entirely positive, there is always something positive to be found in every experience. I have learnt so much from the people and whanau that I have been working with and this leads me to continue learning and growing professionally so I can support whanau to achieve their desired outcomes. |
ZAVANA MORGAN WHĀNAU SUPPORT FIELDWORKER, INVERCARGILL Bio to come |
TANGATA WHAIORA SUPPORT
ARIJANA RUZNIC-BEYER RANGATAHI & WELLBEING SUPPORT – DUNEDIN AND OAMARU With a background in Creative Arts Therapy, Arijana explores how creativity, imagination and deep presence improve the quality of life. Arijana guides people to explore the parts which usually feel frightening, hidden or undesirable with care and curiosity. She considers safe space and gentle presence as optimal conditions for thriving. Her practice is trauma-informed. Arijana considers connections with others, Nature and the community a vital part of recovery from trauma and adverse experiences. A deep interest in indigenous healing practices and ways of being informs her work. |
KELLY MATHIESON RANGATAHI & WELLBEING SUPPORT – INVERCARGILL. With a Level 4 qualification in Mental Health and Addiction, and foundational skills in empathy, compassion, and cultural competence, Kelly began her career with Able Minds as a Timeout Supervisor, which has now expanded to rangatahi support worker. In this role, Kelly delivers a programme focused on building resilience, autonomous wellbeing and mental health in rangatahi. Kelly is dedicated to creating supportive environments that empower individuals to thrive, an approach characterized by empathy, evidence-based practices, and a holistic understanding of mental health challenges. |
ZAMA SINGH ACTIVITY CENTRE COORDINATOR, ALEXANDRA. Having a healthy mind is just as important as having a healthy body. This is the guiding principle for Zama in her work which, drawing from her extensive experience in the ICU, she has found this wisdom to be accurate. As Alexandra’s Activity Centre Coordinator, Zama is dedicated to helping clients cultivate both mental and physical well-being. She achieves this through mindfulness practices, peer support, and creating a nurturing sense of family and camaraderie. Her goal is to empower clients to become self-sufficient and confident in their own identities. |
MICAH WHITAKER ACTIVITY CENTRE COORDINATOR, DUNEDIN. With a Bachelor of Social Services specialising in Disability and Community Support and roles in the Arts and Mental Health sectors and Rainbow community, Micah has experience in holistic, strengths-based peer-support and first-hand experience of the compounding effects of intersectionality for those in minority groups. They are a passionate advocate for equity, autonomy and self-determination while they walk alongside tangata whaiora to live their best lives. |
RACHAEL ROBERTS TANGATA WHAIORA SUPPORT, INVERCARGILL. Passionate about building tools for wellbeing and resilience in our community, Rachel creates opportunities for people to connect by utilising lived experience as a strength to grow and learn from. Rachael walks alongside her peers as they find their own pathway to a more self-determined and fulfilling life. |
EMMA FAINT RANGATAHI & WELLBEING SUPPORT – QUEENSTOWN |
TIMEOUT CONTACT SUPERVISORS
FIONA RAE TIMEOUT CONTACT SUPERVISOR, DUNEDIN. Fiona is passionate about repairing parent-child relationships that have been fractured due to violence, addiction and separation. By facilitating supervised visits Fiona helps rebuild familial relationships in a safe and non-judgmental environment.
NAME DESIGNATION To be appointed |