The Change MakersSatellite Squad

Satellite is passionate about giving children and young people a leading voice within the organisation; they are the change makers of the future! As such, young people who have completed a Satellite program are invited to join our Satellite Squad, a youth group that gives young people aged 16 and above a voice in Satellite and beyond. We offer many learning and development opportunities, creative projects, and spaces - real and online - to reconnect with friends, forge new connections and friendships, and collaborate with everyone in our Satellite fold and beyond.

Support & AwarenessOur Ambassadors

Justin Heazlewood

Justin Heazlewood is an award-winning author & musician. As The Bedroom Philosopher he had a songwriting series on Triple J and his CD Songs From The 86 Tram was nominated for an ARIA. His first book Funemployed: Life as an Artist in Australia saw Justin interview over 100 creative people to see what made them work. His latest book Get Up Mum is about Justin’s life as a child carer for his mentally ill mum.

Brad McEwan

Brad is a Satellite Foundation and beyondblue ambassador and is passionate about continuing the vital communication surrounding mental health. Brad is a sports journalist and tv and radio presenter and loves meeting people, hearing their stories and telling their stories. As he often says, “everyone has a story to tell, you just have to find out what it is”. His three greatest loves are family, the Carlton FC, and cooking.

Making it happenOur Staff

Rose Cuff

CEO and Co-Founder

Rose Cuff (she/her) is an Occupational Therapist who has worked in child, adolescent and adult mental health services since 1987. Since 1995 she has focussed entirely on harnessing the full potential of children and families where a parent/carer has mental health challenges. Rose has achieved this through direct clinical practice, developing and implementing peer support programs, co-producing a wide range of resources, publishing widely and conducting training and research. As co-founder of Satellite Foundation, Rose’s passion for this space is undiminished. She has three amazing adult children, an adored grandchild and dreams of walking the mountains of Ethiopia.

Sylvie Meltzer

Creative Director and Facilitation

Sylvie Meltzer (she/her) has been part of the Satellite team since early 2019. Her background is mostly as a teaching artist in education and community work in Melbourne, India and China. Sylvie feels strongly about creating dialogues and connections in collaborative, creative and supportive ways. Sylvie is honoured to be part of this community of people who are dedicated to and passionate about changing the outcomes for young people. Every day she is learning and is grateful for the opportunity to do so. Sylvie's other passions are hanging out with her larger-than-life-five-year-old, planning adventures, and anything that is hot pink.

Madeleine Griffith

Creative Director and Facilitation

Madeleine Griffith (she/her) is a multi-disciplinary artist and teacher with a background in sculpture, animation, miniature making and illustration. She is passionate about applying creative approaches to build connections and space for people to explore their creativity. She is thrilled to join the Satellite team and be a part of such a wonderful and compassionate organisation. She is grateful for the opportunity to learn from and support children and young people through creativity. Madeleine has three delightful children, two chickens and a budgie, all of which bring her much happiness.

Gill Greenstein

FINANCE & HR MANAGER

Gill has a background in working with small and medium size businesses in the public and private sectors, designing and administering financial solutions. Gill is passionate about supporting the development of a sustainable organisation that is pivotal in empowering young people to transform their lives. In her spare time, Gill volunteers as a cook at the Darebin Community Kitchen.

Ben Teng

Director, Operations

Ben Teng (he/him) joins Satellite Foundation with a wealth of knowledge and experience - both locally and internationally - in working with families and children that are facing challenges. He has helped organisations to develop and grow and is excited to be a part of Satellite’s work and to help Satellite make an even bigger impact in the community. Ben loves spending time with his family and trying to keep up with his three children as they learn, play, and grow.

Kelly Way

Director, Programs & Engagement

Kelly Way (she/her) joined the Satellite Foundation team in 2020, excited by the possibilities! With over 15 years’ experience working across both corporate and non-profit sectors, Kelly is an effective manager who can be relied upon as a business support person, particularly during periods of growth and change. Kelly transitioned into the mental health space following postgraduate counselling studies and is passionate about maintaining empathic connections with young people experiencing hardship, loss and mental health challenges within their families. Kelly also loves dance and improvisation, exploring all that creative movement practices have to offer.

Louise Malcolm

Programs Delivery Manager

Louise Malcolm (she/her/they/them) was thrilled to join the Satellite team in late 2021. They are excited to bring their more than 15 years of administration experience across tertiary, arts, and disability organisations to the lovely place that is Satellite. With extensive experience in events and creative workshops Louise has a strong belief in the power of the arts and creativity to foster connection and have positive impacts on young people’s lives. Outside of work, Louise is enjoying studying furniture making. They also enjoy moving their body in fun ways at retro aerobics classes.

Mia Boonen

Youth and Consultation Coordinator

Mia Boonen (she/her) joined the Satellite Foundation Team in 2021. With a practice led by access and community, Mia is trained in theatre at the Victorian College of Arts and has taken her artsy habits into work across disability advocacy and youth work fields. She is passionate about finding room for joy and play in everything that she does, as well as building warm, welcoming spaces for young people. Outside of her time at Satellite, Mia makes theatre with the young folks at Dramawerkz Theatre Inc.

Hannah Zinnack

Lead Facilitator

Hannah (she/her) first joined the Satellite space as a participant of the first Satellite Connect program in 2020, then went on to join the peer leader space where she supported Satellite with her lived experience of being a young carer for her mum. Hannah has been facilitating youth programs for three years. She has a love for photography and a mixture of creative mediums, anything that involves expressing self through art! As a young person, she wants hers and other young peoples’ voices to be respected. Outside of work, Hannah is an avid bird watcher, and enjoys learning about new birds.

Ned Ryan

Youth Liaison

Ned Ryan (he/him) joined Satellite in 2021 as a volunteer and has since transitioned to placement student, peer facilitator and finally our Youth Liaison. Ned has completed a Bachelor of Youth Work but his passion for the youth sector was sparked by attending, and then volunteering on, a youth camp program himself. It was at these camps where he was able to see the powerful impact organisations like Satellite have on young people. Ned brings fun, health and creativity to his youth work practice through incorporating his passions of sport, photography and engaging with people to everything he does.

Georgia Radford

Community Engagement

Raised on Dja Dja Wurrung Country by her family and community Georgia Radford (she/her) is a proud Ngarrindjeri woman from SA. Alongside her role at Satellite, Georgia (a registered nurse by profession) also works in medical education and curriculum development at the University of Melbourne. Growing up in a family where there was a range mental illnesses and challenges including her own, Georgia feels safe and privileged to share these experiences with other young people, their communities, and the wonderful Satellite team. Her French Bulldog ‘Silvi’, walking or swimming at the beach and camping on Country all make Georgia very happy!

Kim Seeliger

Marketing and Communications Manager

Kim Seeliger (she/her) is a communications professional with 15 years’ experience. She has worked in a diverse range of creative industries in South Africa, England, and now Australia including arts and culture, fashion, design, and circus arts. In a previous life she was a dancer and choreographer and is passionate about the transformative nature of the arts. Kim is very grateful to surrounded by the wonderfully creative team at Satellite. When not at work, she spends her time adventuring with her two rambunctious kids and is always on the hunt for new places to explore.

Eman Ezekiel

Designer

Eman Ezekiel (he/him/they/them) is a Maldivian-born multidisciplinary artist with a primary interest in writing and photography. Eman grew up with a parent experiencing challenges to their mental health, as well as mental health challenges of their own. He is incredibly passionate about the healing nature of creativity, and advocacy through amplifying direct lived experience. Eman feels very fortunate to be a part of the wonderful Satellite family, and he hopes to be able to contribute some more kindness into the world. When they are not working, they love recreating his mother's recipes in the kitchen, reading, or going for photo walks in nature.

Clare MacDonald

Program & Administration Support

Clare MacDonald (she/her) is a vintage import from the UK. She brings varied admin experience from working at the BBC and as an admin at a SCUBA dive tour operator. She has worked in the not-for-profit sector since 2018. Working as the first point of contact is a wonderful opportunity to utilise her lived experience and support people by directing them to the best person to chat with about joining a program at Satellite. Clare aims to learn something new every day and volunteers monthly as a walking group leader for women and non-binary people of all sizes on beginner-friendly outdoorsy adventures in Melbourne’s inner west.

Melanie Renwick

Family Liaison

Melanie Renwick (she/her/they/them) came to Satellite in 2021 as a volunteer and then moved into a Youth worker role for our camps programs in 2022. Her background is in supporting young mothers and families facing mental health challenges, re-engaging with communities, and in education. She has always dreamed of working for an organisation that truly celebrates Lived Experience and hopes to empower and advocate for families so that they can make informed choices over their own lives. When they are not working, Melanie loves to enjoy time in the country, bush walking, and sharing new experiences with her four children.

Leanne Vuong

Training and Education Resources Officer

Leanne (she/her) believes everyone has the right to live fully by experiencing the best health and wellbeing possible, and this has shaped a career focused on health promotion, training and education. She has honed these skills across services including youth health, gambling help, suicide prevention, chronic conditions, and alcohol and other drugs. Joining the team in 2023, Leanne hopes to align her experiences of familial mental health challenges with Satellite’s vision and mission. Outside of work she enjoys hitting nature trails on two wheels or two feet, finding cheap and cheerful eateries, and harvesting what survives from the fruit and veggie boxes.

Pamela Mardones

Marketing and Communications Officer

Pamela Mardones (she/her) is a Chilean who one day decided she wanted to move overseas to expand her horizons. She is passionate about learning new things, although her major passion is marketing. Throughout her life, she has studied piano, photography, and now she is studying coding. She believes that her experience, combined with her positive attitude, can bring all the necessary ingredients to create a positive impact at Satellite Foundation. Outside of work, she enjoys running and spending time with her doggy and partner, discovering new places in Victoria.

Tanya Thorpe

People and Culture Business Partner

Tanya (she/her) grew up in London and came to Australia many moons ago on a temporary working visa. She loved Melbourne and was lucky enough to get a sponsor and Melbourne has been her home ever since. Tanya wanted to spend her time supporting others to do their best work! She worked for several years in the international development sector, supporting staff and volunteers as they prepared to live and work in communities worldwide. She recently has worked with vulnerable people who have experience seeking asylum, mental ill health and homelessness. Outside work, Tanya enjoys baking 🍰, sewing and growing and loves learning new creative techniques.

Sarah Smith

School Liaison Officer

Sarah (she/her) joined Satellite in 2023 after gaining six years' experience in mental health and wellbeing, education and gender. As an emerging social worker, she is passionate about connecting with young people and families to help create their own sense of belonging and community. Sarah moved to Melbourne from the sunshine state to chase the ever-changing food scene and embracing all four seasons. After growing up surrounded by mental health challenges in her family network and her own, she has embraced these life experiences to connect with others. In her free time Sarah loves to be connected to nature, surrounded by water, going to see live music and spending time with her fur baby Kuma.

Cathy Carnovale

Engagement and Consultation Manager

Cathy (she/her) joined the Satellite team in 2023. Cathy has worked with children, youth and families for over 25 years, predominately in the out-of-home care space. Cathy is an experienced advocate and is a leader in championing the voice of lived experience in systemic advocacy. She is excited to be working in an organisation that genuinely values lived experience and whose values resonate with her own. When not working, she loves being outdoors, trying to DIY and hanging out with her pooch Willow.

Anna Mallyon

Evaluation and Impact Lead

Anna Mallyon (she/her) is a ceramicist and social researcher/evaluator/data nerd with a long background in the social sciences, and post graduate studies in ceramic research (ANU) and visual art (VCA). She is equally as passionate about meaningful, rigorous research and evaluation as she is about the importance of creativity and making for a fulfilling life. She’s looking forward to helping the Satellite team set up and embed evaluation and data practices that are meaningful for them and the young people and families they support, ready for the organisation to grow and develop over the coming years. Originally an Adelaidean, Anna lives in Melbourne’s northern suburbs with her partner and a demanding black cat.

Vision & GuidanceOur Board

Rose Cuff

CEO and Co-Founder

Rose is an Occupational Therapist who has worked in child, adolescent and adult mental health services since 1987. Since 1995 she's focussed on realising the full potential of children in families with mental health challenges. Rose has three adult children and dreams of walking the mountains of Ethiopia.

Gill Greenstein

Company Secretary