We are a team dedicated to education and support for mental health and wellbeing


OUR TEAM

MakeShift is built from a community of teachers, artists, & advisers. We bring lived experience to our work, organisation and approach.

Lizzie Rose

Co-Founder / Program Coordinator / Creative Director

Caitlin Marshall

Co-Founder / Social Worker / Mental Health First Aid Instructor

Caroline McLaren

Head of Strategy & Operations/ Mental Health First Aid Instructor

Kiara Mucci

Communications & Media Lead (on Mat Leave)

Pete Golsby-Walsh

Brand & Website

Madeleine Holden

Admin Officer / Acting Social + Coms Lead

Tully de Vries

First Nations MHFA Instructor Scholarship

Deon Bird

Mental Health First Aid Instructor (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander)

OUR STRATEGIC ADVISORY GROUP

Dr. Mark Baxter

Clinical Psychologist, The Psychology Spot

Dr Mark Melek

General Practitioner, The Village Practice

MAKESHIFT BOARD

Dr Mark Melek

General Practitioner, The Village Practice

Olivia O'Leary

Chairperson

Megan west

Secretary

Megan Corbett

Treasurer

Vacant Position

General Member

Mel Cheng

Board Member

CREATIVE FACILITATORS

Marcelo Baez

Illustration & Drawing

Emma Saunders

Dance & Movement

Helena Fox

Writing

Elana Stone

Music & singing

Narelle Happ

Plants & Gardens

Kiara Mucci

Painting

Michelle Elliot

Textiles

Joshua Heath

Photography, Illustration

Mel Young

Textiles, Visual Art

Sally Ann Conwell

Visual arts, painting and illustration

Kirli Saunders

Poetry, writing, artmaking

Angie Cass

Collage Craft

Nooky

Rapper / Musician

Julie Paterson

Creative Adventure Facilitator

We believe creativity is a vital prescription for health, and in the agency of individuals to manage their own wellbeing. Our work recognises a trauma-informed approach to working alongside, with and in support of people and communities.

WE BELIEVE

A creative habit can transform lives

Creativity as part of self-care is proven to be an empowering way to look after your mental health. Our work focuses on making these accessible to everyone.

Everyone is creative

We start life dancing, playing, drawing, singing. MakeShift is here to unlock the innate curiosity and creative in us all.

Being curious takes practice

Learning to understand what happens to us when our mental health is challenged helps us work out what to do next

Community and cultural connection

The impact of playfulness and creative habits is felt even more so when we find others to share this with. Around the world, cultures have found ways to infuse creativity into responding to ill health, and we have much to learn from this.

The wisdom of First Peoples

We acknowledge and have so much to learn from the traditions of First Nations Australians in looking after each other in community. We are committed to learning and action.

Muddy hands, clear head

Our inner critic stops us from creative practices. Getting our hands dirty, it turns out, is great for our minds and wellbeing.