The Change MakersSatellite Squad

Satellite Squad is a youth group that gives kids age 10—15 (approx) a voice to express their personal and shared experiences with and around mental health/mental illness. Lead by Satellite’s Youth Ambassador and Peer Leader Jodie Hinton our hope is that this group will inspire resilience and connection for those who are involved and offer a space to make friends, meet peers and contribute creatively and actively to the conversation surrounding mental health in a broader community.

Support & AwarenessOur Ambassadors

Our Youth Ambassadors

Addy Dunkley Smith

Addy has always been passionate about giving back to the community. In 2016 she began her involvement with Satellite because her values and goals aligned with that of the organization. Addy contributes regularly as a fabulous peer facilitator, as a program consultant and in sharing her lived experience.  In her past she has competed at several world championships on the Australian National Rowing Team. Currently, Addy is studying for her doctorate in clinical psychology at Deakin University.  She enjoys spending time with family and traveling to exotic places. Addy’s ideal Friday night is a home cooked meal and watching reality TV (a guilty pleasure).

 

Jodie Hinton

Jodie is a youth worker for children in out of home care and has been volunteering since she was 14 years old with families who have a parent with a mental illness. It was through this volunteering that Jodie found herself part of the Satellite family! Since joining Satellite as a Youth Ambassador Jodie has had a huge role in leading our camps, co-facilitating workshops and will now lead our Satellite Squids. With an unbeatable passion for helping people, Jodie’s dream for the future is to run recreational camps for at risk young people.

 

Our 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. Amazingly, it has led him to being involved with the good people at Satellite! His favourite Beatle is John Lennon and in the Ninja Turtles he’s Raphael.

Eliza Henry Jones

Eliza Henry-Jones is the author of Ache and In the Quiet, which was shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and the Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction and longlisted for the ABIA and Indie Book Awards. Her latest book, P is for Pearl, is her first novel for young adults.  She herself has also been impacted by parental substance abuse and mental illness. She lives on a small farm in the Yarra Valley.

Brad McEwan

Brad is a Satellite Foundation ambassador. Also a beyondblue ambassador, Brad is passionate about continuing the vital communication surrounding mental health. A sports journalist and tv and radio presenter for more than 25 years, Brad 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 Football Club, and cooking.

Making it happenOur Staff

Sylvie Meltzer

Program Director
Sylvie Meltzer has been part of the Satellite team since early 2019. Sylvie's background has been mostly as a teaching artist in education and community work here in Melbourne and also for many years in India and China. Creating dialogues and connections in collaborative, creative and supportive ways is something she feels incredibly strongly about. Sylvie feels so excited and honoured to be part of this community of people who are so dedicated to and passionate about changing the outcomes for young people who join our ‘Satellite family’ in such unique and caring ways. Every day she is learning, and every day she is grateful for the opportunity to do so. Sylvie's other passions are hanging out with her larger than life three year old, planning adventures and the anything that is hot pink.

Henry von Doussa

Family Liason Coordinator

Henry von Doussa is a social researcher for La Trobe University at both The Bouverie Centre and The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS).  Much of this work is in supporting families to build and maintain relationships that work well for everyone in the family.

Henry grew up in a family where there was mental illness and has a good understanding of what kids need and what some of the constraints and difficulties are for parents and caregivers. Henry is kind and approachable and knows that all families are doing their best and wish the best for their kids.


Vision & GuidanceOur Board

Rose Cuff

Co-Founder and Executive Director
Rose is an Occupational Therapist who has worked in child, adolescent and adult mental health services since 1987. Since 1995 she has focussed entirely on building futures of hope and possibility for children and families where mental health challenges exist. She has three amazing adult children and dreams of walking the mountains of Ethiopia.

Sarah Fowler

Director
Sarah has a passion for removing the stigma of mental illness from our community and an energy and drive for creating a sustainable future for our children. She has diverse and valuable experience as an executive in the not-for-profit and higher education sectors and now runs her own boutique consultancy focused on fostering respectful, inclusive and productive workplaces.

Binda Gokhale

Director
Binda is an experienced senior director in finance, strategic planning, and governance. She was the General Manager of Planning, Forecasting and Performance Management at Telstra Corporation, and held senior executive roles within Telstra’s Corporate Finance and Treasury operations.

Gill Greenstein

Company Secretary

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.

Verena Merry

CO-FOUNDER and DIRECTOR
Verena is doctor of clinical psychology and more recently has graduated as a doctor of medicine and surgery. As a clinical psychologist Verena had 20 years of experience working with children and families affected by mental illness. More recently her propensity for early recognition and early intervention has seen her seek a career in obstetrics where she hopes to work closely with women affected by mental illness during the perinatal period.

Kerry Proctor

Chair
Kerry is a psychologist and family therapist with many years in community mental health, The Bouverie Centre, Juvenile Justice and most recently, the out-of- home care sector. Kerry is committed to empowering young people and their families who are often silenced in our system and know there is strength and hope in 'sharing our experiences in life’.

Niru Ramasamy

Director
Having trained in Social Work and Human Services, Niru has held various roles within the Community Sector, working with children and young people both in Melbourne and overseas. When she is not interacting directly with people, Niru enjoys spending time in nature, creating art and playing field hockey.

Owen Scott

Treasurer
Owen brings an analytical and evidence-based perspective from his background in investments and corporate finance and is currently working in Investment Strategy at Australian Super. Owen recognises that mental illness is a complex and multidimensional issue and is passionate about working towards change. Owen is a Melbourne local and supports North Melbourne FC.

Tara Stark

Director
Tara is a lawyer at Slater and Gordon and a long-term mental health advocate. Tara's mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia before Tara was born; the experience of having a mother with a mental illness drew Tara into this area of work and she has been involved with Satellite since 2010.

Dom de Stefani

Director
Dom has a background in marketing and hospitality, and currently works in the Marketing team at Slater and Gordon Lawyers and brings extensive commercial marketing experience to the Board. In his spare time Dom enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee, cycling and places great value in spending time with his friends and family.

David Wu

Director
David is a career banker and strategic thinker with experience in the Banking & Finance, IT & Telco sectors. He brings to the not for profit community extensive experience in roles including Chair, Treasurer, Non-Executive Director and General Board Member with his focus on Sustainability and Good Governance.
 

LeadershipOur Patron

Beth Wilson AM

On 1 May 1997 until December 2012 Beth Wilson was Victoria’s Health Services Commissioner.  She is a lawyer by training and has worked mainly in administrative law.  Beth has had a long-standing interest in medico/legal and ethical issues. Prior to becoming Health Services Commissioner, Beth was the President of the Mental Health Review Board, a Senior Legal Member of the Social Security Appeals Board and WorkCare Appeals Board and a past President of the Victorian Branch of ANZAPPL (Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law).  From 2007 until 2012 Beth was a member of the Disability Services Board.  A member of Breacan Advisory Group (now called Counterpart) from 2013 until 2018,  Beth has a longstanding  interest in women’s health issues, particularly reproductive health and cancer.

Beth is currently a Legal Member, Mental Health Tribunal, Victoria and Patron for the Continence Foundation of Australia, The Satellite Foundation and Acting Chairperson of WildatHeart.. Beth is Ambassador for Kindred Clubhouse , Chair of the Safer Families CRE Advisory Group (Melbourne University Centre of Research Excellence) and Independent Chair of the Travancore Royal Children’s Hospital Community Reference Group .  She is a partner in a health consultancy business Wilson and Webster and sole owner of Lawfully Funny.

Beth has received several important awards in recognition of her achievements.  These include:

  • 2002 – Monash University’s Distinguished Alumni Award for outstanding professional achievements and inspirational leadership
  • 2003 – Centenary Medal for services to health
  • 2004 – An Honorary Doctorate from RMIT for contributions to health education
  • 2008 – Induction onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women for services to women’s health in Victoria
  • 2013-Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community of Victoria through the provision of dispute resolution in the area of health services.

Beth is a public speaker providing seminars, lectures and classes for consumers, carers, health service providers, business and others.  She loves humour, story telling, art and music and her favourite topics are inspirational leadership, promoting positive culture change in organisations, the importance of team work.  Beth is a keen, active supporter of community based arts programmes.