The Team

Lived experience mental health and addiction mentor/advocate.

Jason lives in Trafalgar with his wife Kerry and together they have 7 children and run a Mental Health and addiction hub to support the local and surrounding community members to live their best lives, no matter where they have found themselves.

The hub started as a support group which was founded after Jason found a way to live a fulfilled life despite being diagnosed with Bipolar 1 disorder, ocd, depression, anxiety, ptsd and psychosis.

Throughout childhood Jason struggled with mind and behavioural challenges and was diagnosed at the age of 24. He used alcohol and cigarettes from the age of 14 through to 44 in an attempt to escape himself and "relieve the emotional pain" and find peace.

Jason’s passion is to give back and empower people to find their way through his own experiences.

Jason now lives by his motto, Believe, Do, Achieve:

• BELIEVE the life you want is possible.
• DO the work
• ACHIEVE the results you desire.

By showing people their is a way out of the mental illness and addiction cage gives hope for them to take the first step on their own journey to a better life.

Better Together.

Kerry is qualified in mental health, alcohol and other drugs, root cause therapy, embodied processing and trauma coaching and has an extensive understanding of what it is like to live with and support someone with mental health and addiction challenges.

Kerry is passionate about helping and supporting people to achieve their goals to live a happy, fulfilling and purposeful live.

Kerry has 5 of her own children, 2 stepdaughters and a grandson.

She is coaching the junior local netball team, runs the youth group at “The Wellness Hub” and works at our local hospital.

Meg is a support worker for Bettermentall and grew up in Yinnar South and went to Yinnar South primary school and then went onto Kurnai Secondary School to finish year 12.

Meg has lived experience of mental health and has held positions in areas of Retail, industrial hygiene and Early Childhood Education. Meg is a good listener and has an accepting nature. Meg believes that everyone deserves support and guidance to live their fullest life and is passionate about supporting people to reach their highest potential. 

Meg is the mother of a ten-year-old son and the step-mother to three grown up boys, all of which keep her very busy. Meg is very excited to be part of the Bettermentall team and  looks forward to getting to know people who are involved with Bettermentall support services. Meg’s interests are music, art, cooking and her two beloved cats, who run the home.

Meg is looking forward to meeting you all.

Noel is a support worker and active member of Bettermentall support services.

Two years ago, he wandered into the Bettermentall men’s group after completing his Bachelor of Psychological Science. Noel has always had a passion for health and wellbeing and after meeting Jason they had a chat and since has become a regular participant of the Bettermentall Men’s group, held every Thursday in Trafalgar. Noels has found the group to be a wonderful environment for men to be men, while seeking support from other men.

More recently Noel has taken a position on the Bettermentall Community Outreach steering committee. The Community Outreach service will endeavour to support and link people into local services, to reduce the impact of crisis and promote wellbeing, with the focus toward empowering people to make better informed life choices.

Noel is a father of three grown children and a Step-Dad to a ten year old son, which keeps him very busy. Noel will be returning to university in 2023 to complete his Honours degree in Psychology and is looking forward to meeting everyone involved with Bettermentall.

Steve is father of two and has been married to his wife Tash for 20 years. He works part-time as a Radiographer at our local hospital and runs the family farm around that. Steve has recently exited the dairy industry (after trying to at least break even with it for the last 20 years) and has been looking at what to do next.

Steve and his family’s whole world changed forever on the 11th of July 2022 when he came home to find his beautiful son Lucas had taken his own life. Suicide is still such a taboo subject that people struggle to talk about, something Steve is hoping to change. Steve wishes he could have talked more to his son and had more of a chance to help him but sadly that wasn’t to be. From the small pieces of the puzzle to work with, it could suggest that Lucas may have had undiagnosed schizophrenia.

“We met Jason and Kerry days after this event and the support and love they have shown our family has been life saving and life changing. In fact, as we walked away from the first time we met Jason, my wife and I both noticed how much Jason reminded us of Lucas and the man that Lucas might have become, but tragically never will. So, it was inevitable that I would end up working with Bettermentall to help wherever I can.

"Now, I’m not the most knowledgeable when it comes to mental health, and certainly not the most qualified but I have more lived experience than I could have ever wanted. I’m keen to learn more and I want to help as much as I can and to support as many people as we can at Bettermentall. I don’t have a good filter and often say things as I see them which can offend some, but I’m super keen to help, I’m a great talker once you get me started and a pretty good listener too.

"So I don’t think there is much else to say except I look forward to meeting as many people as I can that need help and just doing what I can so they can achieve their goals in life."