Experience

Purple Soup

• Australia
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director

  • 2003 - Present

  Planning and running a successful adventure camp or activity day is what the Purple Soup team do best! We run specialised adventure therapy camps. Our camps are lots of fun and can get a little crazy at times. We use themes, games, problem solving activities and loads of silliness to ensure a great time is had. We infuse our camps with many therapeutic sessions to ensure the participants gain as many positive and medically relevant outcomes as possible. We have a 15 year held reputation of being safe, fun and exciting.I founded Purple Soup in 2001 to help address the psychosocial and emotional aspects encountered by children – and their families – living with disability and life-threatening illnesses. The organisation delivers adventure therapy day programs and residential camps to children and families. These programs utilise leisure and recreation pursuits to rebuild self-esteem and develop resilience and courage in a safe, fun and supportive environment. Programs have been delivered to thousands of children across Australia, as well as in 45 countries worldwide. Responsibilities include:• Strategic oversight – including development and implementation of strategic plans within an outcomes focused environment, developing business in new markets to ensure additional and continuous revenue streams • Day-to-day management of the organisation, including leading and engaging staff, developing and implementing budgets and program design and delivery• Assessing and managing risks associated with adventure therapy activities; evaluating risks against therapeutic benefits and development of safety and protection policies• Stakeholder management, including client liaison and development and delivery of specific needs programs • Hands-on direction of services and camp programs, including staff, volunteer and client management • Maintaining organisational knowledge on a range of medical conditions, including complex conditions and co-morbidities Show less

• Adventure Therapist

  • Jan 2001 - Present

  Purple Soup's Adventure Therapy provides challenging, activity based programs for children and their families affected by serious, chronic or life threatening illness.These adventures are designed to rebuild confidence, self esteem, trust and courage in a safe, fun and supportive environment.Each year in Australia, more than 75,000 young people and their families are affected by chronic illness. While health professionals are often able to help with the medical aspects of these illnesses, they rarely touch on the psychosocial and emotional aspects of these conditions. And it is these aspects that can have a lasting impact on patients and their families, as many young people with chronic illnesses feel socially isolated, uncertain about their future and fearful of not being able to achieve their life goals. Purple Soup was formed in 2002 to help address these - and many other - issues associated with having a chronic illness. In the past 10 years we have created thousands of moments in which young people and their families have had the opportunity to reap the emotional and psychosocial rewards gained by stepping outside their comfort zone and challenging themselves - within a safe, fun environment. Purple Soup’s adventure therapy clients include organisations such as ozED, Epilepsy Action Australia, Haemophilia Foundation Australia and Crohn's and Colitis Australia. We design and deliver a variety of exciting day programs as well as overnight and weekend camps right across Australia and New Zealand. We are always seeking new organisations that will enable us to support many more young people and their families in the future. Show less

• Public Speaker, Conference Keynote Presenter, MC

  • 2012 - Present

  I am engaged regularly to present to corporate, health,care and education audiences both within Australia and Internationally. 2023 Workshop presenter, Outdoors Victoria ConferenceInclusion and accessibility in the outdoors2019 Keynote, Melbourne Polytechnic "Be the Change You want to See In The World Through Volunteering"2018 Presenter, Diversionary and Recreation Therapy Australia Conference "Recreation and Adventure Therapy as Way of Creating Meaning and Congruence"2017 Keynote, Austswim Conference, Brisbane "Making a Difference"2016 Invited Speaker, Lightning Talks Victoria University Alumni Reunion Day " Lifelong Learnings with Young Yodas"2016 Opening Keynote - Golden Key International Honour Society, Asia Pacific Conference, Swinburne University - "Be The Change"2016 Presenter - My Career Pathway to Victoria University Students studying Inclusive Recreation.2015 Presenter - Australia and New Zealand Haemophilia Conference, Gold Coast - "Benefits of Adventure Therapy for People Living With A Bleeding Disorder"2015, 2016, 2018 Guest Lecturer - Advanced Adolescent Counselling Certificate, Monash University - "Adventure Therapy As An Effective Intervention Technique With Adolescents"2012, 2015, 2016, 2019 Host & MC - Trivia Night fundraiser for the Kivuli Orphanage2014 Keynote Speaker - Golden Key Graduand Inductee Ceremony, Victoria University - "Finding Your Purpose"2014 Keynote Speaker - NACCHO Camp Directors Conference USA - "International Haemophilia Camping Programs" & "Infusing Therapeutic Themes into your camp"2014 ABC Radio Interview - Mindfood Radio "Purple Soup's Journey To Support Those Living With A Chronic or Life Threatening Illness""2013 Guest Lecturer - Graduating Seminar, Bachelor of Recreation Management, Victoria University2012 Presenter - Cystic Fibrosis Australia Conference "The benefits of Adventure Therapy for Young People Living with Cystic Fibrosis and their sibling's" Show less



Purple Soup Team Building

• Director

  • Jul 2012 - Present

  Purple Soup Team Building offers engaging and exciting events for your end of year party, conference or offsite meeting. When your team selects one of our many exciting events, you can be a Supreme Chef, Win the Incredible Race, Craft A Raft or enjoy a fantastic Murder Mystery or Rock Trivia evening. All profits from our events support our adventure therapy camps for children with a life threatening or chronic illness. We guarantee you will have a blast! I established a corporate team-building division of the business, the aim of which is to generate profits that can be channelled back into adventure therapy programs, as well as to cover running costs and support staff wages. To partner these two products, Purple Soup Teambuilding offers programs to corporate clients, and then donates a percentage of their fee to our adventure therapy activities. Responsibilities include: • Strategic oversight – including development and implementation of strategic plans • Day-to-day management of the organisation, including leading and engaging staff, developing and implementing budgets and program design and delivery • Stakeholder management, including client liaison and development and delivery of specific needs programs • Hands on facilitation of team-building programs, including managing staff onsite • Developing business in new markets to ensure additional and continuous revenue streams Show less



Purple Paparazzi

• Director

  • Jan 2013 - Present

  Let Purple Paparazzi transform your next event from just another function to a fabulous occasion! Your charity ball, school formal, fancy dress or work function will stand out from the pack, as your guests are greeted on the red carpet by a gaggle of photographers, reporters and even autograph hunters - all jostling for the best position and clamouring to get the scoop! We’ll photograph and interview your guests, giving them the ultimate red carpet treatment! Let Purple Paparazzi transform your next event from just another function to a fabulous occasion! Your charity ball, school formal, fancy dress or work function will stand out from the pack, as your guests are greeted on the red carpet by a gaggle of photographers, reporters and even autograph hunters - all jostling for the best position and clamouring to get the scoop! We’ll photograph and interview your guests, giving them the ultimate red carpet treatment!



Freelance Photographer

• United Kingdom
• Photography
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Fine Art Photographer

  • 2012 - Present

  People are diverse, through the lens I try to showcase the individuality of the people I meet. I love sharing remote wilderness landscapes. I have producing fine art black and white photogrpahs wince I was a teenager. People are diverse, through the lens I try to showcase the individuality of the people I meet. I love sharing remote wilderness landscapes. I have producing fine art black and white photogrpahs wince I was a teenager.



The Portsea Camp

• Recreational Facilities
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Executive Officer

  • Dec 2022 - Feb 2023

  I thoroughly enjoyed returning to The Portsea Camp covering as CEO during January. This is the first camp I ever volunteered at so it simply felt like coming home. I am delighted to see it evolving in the ways it continues to create rich life long memories for the children of rural and regional Victoria. I thoroughly enjoyed returning to The Portsea Camp covering as CEO during January. This is the first camp I ever volunteered at so it simply felt like coming home. I am delighted to see it evolving in the ways it continues to create rich life long memories for the children of rural and regional Victoria.



Freedom Solutions Australia

• Australia
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Recreational Development Coordinator

  • Sep 2020 - Feb 2023

  As part of the My Active Life program team I was delighted to be able to assist over 1400 individuals living with a disability to engage in meaningful sport, recreation and Leisure in regional Victoria during my time at Solve. We also seeded the award winning Inclusive Community Sports Days which continue to thrive today. A highlight was building a young man his very own Bmx track in his backyard. Solve Disability Solutions is a Victorian based not for profit organisation that solves equipment problems for people with disabilities. We improve the quality of life of both clients and carers, increase their independence and provide them with opportunities to achieve their goals. We have a central office in Melbourne and branches in Ballarat, Barwon, Bendigo, Central Gippsland, East Gippsland, South Gippsland, Peninsula, Shepparton, South West Victoria and Sunraysia. Our Mission: To solve equipment related problems faced by people with disabilities, of all ages, through the design, construction or modification of equipment where the need cannot be met commercially. We achieve our mission through the: - Provision of specialised technical advice to clients and their carers, and referral to other organisations able to assist when we cannot. - Design and construction of equipment otherwise commercially unavailable, - Modification of commercially available equipment to suit clients special needs. For more information please visit our website or contact our head office on 1300 663 243 Show less



Monash Sustainable Development Institute

• Australia
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Pitch Judge - Leave No One Behind Social Entrepreneurship Competition

  • Jan 2017 - Jun 2022

  Monash University's Sustainable Development Institute has developed the Leave No One Behind is a program for students and recent graduates - reaching out to people like you - for innovative ideas that will address disadvantage and inequality in our local communities. Part learning program, part competition; Leave No One Behind was created to teach you the ins and outs of social business and entrepreneurship. We want you to be as prepared as possible to succeed in the real world. Regardless of whether you’re a marketing whiz or standout team leader, we believe that everyone has what it takes to make it as an entrepreneur. However, it takes experience to figure out how to use those skills for the greater good. So, we’ve sat down with leading social entrepreneurs and crafted an exciting, three-month program designed to teach you everything you’ll need to change the world. Following the Social Innovation Summit, you’ll form a team, and put together a business proposal. We’ll run a series of workshops, and you’ll finesse that proposal into a short business plan. We’ll hear your pitch, and award up to $10,000 to the best concept so you can bring your idea to life. Show less



Austin Health

• Australia
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Recreation Therapist, Community Leisure and Linking Specialist and Inpatient Outings Coordinator

  • Jun 2018 - Aug 2020

  As a Recreation Therapist, I currently work as part of a team to plan, design, coordinate and implement recreation and leisure-based activity programs. These programs support, challenge and enhance the psychological, spiritual, social, emotional and physical well being of individuals who have suffered an Acquired Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury or have had an amputation, and are offered as both inpatient and outpatient programs. Responsibilities include: • Planning and implementing leisure activity programs for individuals while they are in hospital, as well as assisting them in the transition of skills into the community, to aid their social development and promote their sense of wellbeing, congruence and connection • Identifying individual needs and preferences through motivational interviewing, task analysis and leisure counselling and assisting patients to set achievable goals based on these discovered preferences • Encouraging and supporting people to take part in activities suited to their particular needs and interests and adapting programs to suit individual clients' needs, interests, skills and abilities • Assisting patients to develop confidence in re-entering community through a graduated outings programs that assists and supports patients to practice the skills they are developing in rehabilitation, in the community • Training patients in the initial and proficient use of assistive technology (AT) including sailing simulators, hand cycles, recumbent cycles, water and snow skiing seats, fishing, archery, badminton, wheelchair basketball, tennis, table tennis, and paragolfing equipment • Organising and promoting weekly leisure and recreational events as well as quarterly expos • Attending and advising other allied health and medical professionals in team meetings focused on patient goal setting, psychosocial, goal review, behavior management and family meetings Show less



Corporate Outdoor Training

• Senior Facilitator

  • 2005 - Mar 2020

  I have facilitated many exciting programs for this organisation over the last 15 years. It has given me insight into the culture and challenges of many industries including heavy mineral, retail, commercial, financial and legal sectors. I specifically enjoy contributing to the outcomes in the realm of Construction Graduate Leadership development expeditions. I have facilitated many exciting programs for this organisation over the last 15 years. It has given me insight into the culture and challenges of many industries including heavy mineral, retail, commercial, financial and legal sectors. I specifically enjoy contributing to the outcomes in the realm of Construction Graduate Leadership development expeditions.



Alfred Health

• Australia
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Recreation Therapist

  • Jun 2017 - Jun 2018

  As the only Recreation Therapist at Alfred Health, I worked with up to 42 Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) patients to plan, design, coordinate and implement recreation and leisure-based activity programs that would support, challenge and enhance the psychological, spiritual, social, emotional and physical wellbeing of individuals who were long-term six-18 month inpatients of the secure facility. Responsibilities included: • Designing innovative, leisure based 1:1 and group programs that enhanced the work of other Allied Health professions including Speech therapists, Occupational therapists and Physio therapists to provide context for the complimentary therapies and opportunities to reduce rehabilitation fatigue • Working closely with Clinical Psychologists and Psychiatrists to design and implement behavior management plans that would enable patients to have less negative experiences of aggression and other challenging behaviours while being an inpatient, and incorporating these behaviours to be sustainable upon transitioning into community • Designing and implementing exciting and engaging events and programs that would allow the inpatients to interact with their families in a meaningful and memorable way Show less