Meet The Team

Over twenty years she has collaborated with leading field Psychologists and mental health professionals. Her studies and experience in working with and deep personal understanding of the complexities of Anxiety, Trauma, ADHD and working with neuroscience has been extensive. 

A Deakin Education School Graduate and Deakin/Rusden Performing Arts graduate she is qualified and has worked in both Primary and Secondary schools she has also been guest lecturer and presented workshops for both Melbourne and Deakin undergraduate students.

Under Scholarship she completed Masters Units at Melbourne University in Working with Challenging Behaviours and two thesis works studies working with Children in education using theatre as therapy.

Martine was  awarded for her  thesis work ‘Boys Learning through Experience’ program at a Monash University Drama Program in Melbourne.

Martine also completed Masters units at Monash University in Leadership

Practices. 

This experience and training in tailoring programs using therapy through play to enhance social skills and mental health wellbeing with children and adolescents is continued in her work at Navigate. Each family receives a specific program / treatment plan based on their individual needs.

However, it is the therapeutic and authentic relationships created in the Neuro affirming– trauma safe space that she believes is the key to healing outcomes.

She has 18 years of celebrated experience working as both Arts and Welfare Coordinator in schools in regional Victoria, Melbourne public and private settings.

Her University level studies include Trauma informed work and she believes strongly in the importance of working authentically with the ‘whole family’.

As a Professional Clinical Counsellor she continues working with parents and caregivers. At Navigate she feels that unless the family or care givers are supported and understood children’s healing and support is greatly challenged. 

She loves seeing the real impact of positive change Navigate makes for families in the Southern Midlands.

Kristy has worked in Community Pharmacy and Health care and then branched out to a leadership position as an independent consultant for a global company where client care was her focus and taking care of her team members with high levels of education and development of business skills across several fields spanning 18 years. In 2021 Kristy completed her Diploma of Counselling with the Australian Institute of Professional Counselling and extended those qualifications to achieve a professional certificate in Understanding childhood Trauma from the University of South Australia. She continually engages in Professional Development to support her Clients in the best therapeutic practices from a humanistic approach.  

Formerly: Chair university of Melbourne theatre Board. Chair La Mama committee of Management. Board member 3 RRR. Chair Baw Baw Shire Council Arts Advisory committee. President Drouin Race Club. Chair Association of Picnic Racing Clubs. Edwin's role as Ministerial Advisor (Canberra) and celebrated contributions to the Koori Court System in Victoria. He has worked and been an advisor to many  educational programs for displaced youth. His eclectic and extensive experience is instrumental to The Navigate Model. 

Mayor Southern Midlands Council and chair numerous committees of council.Magistrate. Barrister and Solicitor (currently)

Carolyn is a Retired Draftsperson and Team Manager. 48 years full time career. She has a Diploma training at Colleges in England and Western Australia. A proud Member of Art Society of Tasmania for 40 years. Honoured with life membership for many years in various committee positions, including President and Newsletter editor. Carolyn Wrote a published history of the Society.

After volunteering to be part of a Navigate Fun Sunday doing art with children, Carolyn was asked if she would consider mentoring children on a one -to- one basis.

Because of her team manager training and experience, together with her art skills, mentoring is proving to be successful and rewarding not only to her but to the children she works with.

Being on the board of Navigate Family Services Carolyn uses her managerial experience and drafting detail discipline to negotiate grant funding applications. Carolyn have been successful in this area.

Carolyn is a volunteer on a number of committees in Kempton, holding executive positions on three of them. She organized a community mural painted in Kempton, and along with two friends organize an annual art exhibition in Kempton , supported by Tasmanian Artists.

On Australia Day 2024, Carolyn was awarded Joint Citizen of the Year for the Southern Midlands Community.

Nicole.......

Lucy is Navigates youngest board member. She has completed a Batchelor degree in Medical Research. 

Lucy provides Dance workshops for our local children and encourages the use of body work for trauma healing through mindfulness and Somatic Dance work. Lucy understands first hand the importance of inclusion in rural communities.  She has an amazing way of connecting and working with our community families and children.

Jo Whelan 

My name is Joanne(Jo) Whelan. I have lived in the Southern Midlands Community for over 30 years. I have 3 adult children and 2 grandchildren, who all live in the Southern Midlands Area.

I have a Bachelor of Education degree and have taught in primary schools within the Southern Midlands for 20 plus years. I have held a number of roles in those schools including being a Support Teacher. 

I have also been involved in the GPPA for about 20 years. I  have a keen interest in our Community and the provision of Optimal support for all areas of the community