Facilitators

Mel has over 25 years’ experience working in multiple mental health and addiction settings in Aotearoa New Zealand and the United Kingdom.  He has held a number of diverse roles - in residential, community, custodial, detox and crisis services - within statutory, voluntary, culturally specific and the commercial sector.

In addition to clinical practice, he has experience in governance, leadership, tertiary education, project management and supervision.  His passion is to develop and deliver client-centred and recovery-focused services, built on a foundation of social justice values. 

He has facilitated a range of workshops for MHERC over several years.  Mel currently works in private practice and contracts to a number of local, national and multinational organisations, working with a broad and diverse client base.

Employed by the Mental Health Education and Resource Centre since 1998, Paula also has over 20 years’ experience working as a community support worker in the field of intellectual disability. She has lived experience of an anxiety disorder and has had 12 years’ experience in a voluntary coordination role for an anxiety-related peer support organisation. Paula has been involved in facilitating Anxiety Disorder workshops for MHERC, community organisations and tertiary institutes for a number of years. With a love for learning, Paula enjoys attending relevant conferences and workshops on anxiety disorders when the opportunities arise.

Rebekah (Bex) Fraser is a registered Occupational Therapist and Education Kaimahi with over 15 years of experience in paediatric clinical work, personal injury service design and delivery, and sexual harm prevention education. Bex currently works for Stop in Christchurch as a clinician and educator. Bex is passionate about delivering innovative, culturally informed solutions in the health and social services sectors. Outside of work, Bex loves being with her whānau, wrangling her 3 kids and spoilt cats with her husband, Dean.

Ruth is an experienced Physiotherapist, Leader, Innovator, Supervisor and Educator. She has worked as a Physiotherapist in a range of different clinical areas (such as Older Persons Health, disability, musculoskeletal), with more than half her experience based in Mental Health. In her role as the Clinical Leader Physiotherapy, Specialist Mental Health Services, CDHB (2014-2020) she provided leadership in promoting awareness of neurobiological perspectives, including the integral role of physical health, trauma informed care, wellbeing, and lifestyle practices for mental health.

Sam is qualified as a Clinical Psychologist, completing her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in the UK. Additionally, she holds a Professional Diploma in Positive Behavioural Support and is currently in the first cohort to complete the PGDiploma in Neuropsychology in New Zealand. She has over 20 years of experience working with populations with cognitive impairments and associated behavioural and mental health difficulties. Sam has worked across a range of settings, such as inpatient, community and family homes, and worked directly with individuals, their carers and their families. This has given her a wealth of experience working alongside and listening to the needs of individuals and the people around them. She has also held leadership roles to develop services and team cultures to better meet client needs. Sam has lived and worked in New Zealand for the past five years and works for the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust.

The early part of Samantha’s career was spent in the South of England working in mental health acute inpatients, ICU and community teams after graduating from the University of Portsmouth in 1994 with BSc (Hons) Psychology and then in 1997 with MSc Professional and Policy Studies and Dip HE (RN) Mental Health. Moving to Christchurch in 2003, Samantha initially worked in acute inpatients then joined CADS setting up the AOD Central Co-ordination Service. As well as working as a private contractor in Primary Care and Canterbury Prisons, she continues to work on various AOD projects.

Sandy is a counsellor who has worked extensively with children, young people and their parents. She currently works in primary schools and in private practice. Sandy offers workshops, seminars and training to professionals and parents.

Sharon has a background in health (nursing and midwifery), with over 20 years' experience in education and training on a variety of subjects, topics and issues. Her particular passion lies in supporting personal and professional development of others. She believes that effective communication is at the heart of both personal and professional success; looking at and addressing internal and external dialogue is essential for creating positive outcomes.

Sophie Ereckson, is a Speech-Language Therapist at Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust, where she has worked for the past three years supporting individuals with traumatic brain injury.  She has a strong interest in cognitive-communication rehabilitation following TBI and stroke and has led several social and cognitive-communication groups as part of her clinical work.  She has also been involved in research exploring the use of virtual reality in rehabilitation and is passionate about increasing awareness of the role of speech-language therapy in brain injury recovery.

Susie has worked in the field of grief, loss and trauma for fourteen years, providing suicide postvention support and also creating and delivering training packages around post suicide support and psychological first aid.

Susie has been co-facilitating the WAVES bereaved by suicide psycho educational programme for eight years and also delivers grief workshops. Susie is keenly interested in supporting people in their endeavours to make meaningful connections.