Our Team

Viviana Jancso

Clinical Psychologist

BA Law, MA Applied Psych, Grad Dip Counselling, BA Psych

Personal Information

Viviana is a Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of experience in EAP, Private Practice and in a Government setting in a vocational rehabilitation capacity. She works with children, adolescents and adults with a range of mental health and behavioural issues. She is nearing the completion of a law degree and is often approached to deal with court related matters including reportable family therapy, court ordered anger management and reporting on criminal cases.

Viviana has experience working across several psychological problems including depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, trauma, couples counselling, anger management, eating disorders and autism. Viviana uses evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and is trained to use EMDR for trauma and Schema Therapy for personality disorders and family of origin issues. Other therapeutic approaches are used depending upon a clients presenting issues.

Viviana is motivated to help clients achieve their therapeutic goals and progress towards positive outcomes. She has a personable, friendly and empathic and her approach to her work is motivated by a genuine desire to assist clients to make positive life changes.

Valma Granich

Counsellor and Psychotherapist

BA, Dip Ed., CTEFLA, Dip TESL, Grad Dip (Couns.), Masters SocSc (Couns.), Adv Cert. Hyp.

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Valma has an extensive background in counselling, education and training. She has worked as a counsellor and psychotherapist in a number of government and non-government agencies and in private practice. She embraces a range of resilience-based therapeutic approaches to promote emotional and mental well-being. A significant area of interest is the current understanding of brain plasticity and its application in therapeutic work, as are complementary modalities. Areas of special interest include relationship issues, healing the legacy of childhood trauma, abuse and neglect, grief, loss and change, work-related concerns, cross-cultural issues, depression and anxiety, process and substance dependencies, managing chronic and terminal illness and adolescent issues.

In her work with individuals, couples, families and groups, Valma aims to create a safe and respectful space that facilitates creative unfolding of each person’s strengths and resources, enhances their self-esteem and sense of purpose in life, celebrates their uniqueness and supports the process of change.

Rebecca Muller

Counsellor

BA Counselling, Dip Health Science

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Rebecca believes strongly in the power of exploring one’s internal and external landscapes and the interplay between the two. 

With a background in yoga, she currently works in mental health to support the rehabilitation of clients experiencing psychosocial challenges. Using restorative poses, breathing techniques and mindfulness, Rebecca gently encourages her clients to work within their own capacity and window of tolerance.

The inspiration to pursue counselling as a vocation arose from Rebecca’s pursuit of her personal truth and the desire to engage dynamically with the experience of life. Through deep listening and ongoing reflection, she takes a person-centred, collaborative approach to counselling, journeying alongside her client in exploring their unique world.

Josh Ross

Counsellor & Practitioner of Nuero-Linguistic Programming (NLP)

NLP Certified, Trade Cert Engineering-Fabrication

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Josh became a counsellor and a qualified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) after retiring from a 19 year FIFO career working as a Boilermaker/Welder then supervising teams in the field for large contracting companies and shutdown coordination for mining companies. Josh has worked in all mining sectors as well as working on inter-state and international mining projects.

His life has been one solid adventure with plenty of lessons learned.  At the pointy end of his FIFO journey he burned himself out and took some time to rebuild himself arriving at a place where he felt he could now contribute and be a  positive influence as well as apply his life own experience to assist all FIFO workers and their families to work towards harmonising the two lives and create a fulfilling supportive FIFO work/life balance.

Josh’s areas of interest focus on FIFO Resilience, Woman Leaders in Mining, Male Leaders in Mining, FIFO Infield Step up Leader Development, FIFO Relationships both family & individuals and young adults (18 to 25) to support their development of life skills.  Josh has a passion group education and public speaking.

Josh is a friend, Dad, Stepdad and an at home FIFO husband with the strong belief that we all live in our own created realities and need to be accepting of everyone for who they are and their own belief systems.

Annika Holland

Sexologist

BA Education, Grad Dip Sexology

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Annika has been a sexuality educator in Perth for over 7 years.  She has worked in both the private and public sectors assisting individuals and couples with a sex positive approach.

Annika started her sexology career at Lifeskills Australia with couples counselling, individual therapy, and running women’s empowerment workshops and has since been working with adolescents, running sexuality education seminars and workshops on topics including consent, pleasure, respectful relationships and sex positivity.

Annika is returning to Lifeskills Australia to provide services to both couples and individuals who are seeking to improve their sexual wellbeing.

Some examples of the reasons clients seek Annika’s services are:

• Identity and gender
• LGBTIQA+
• Relationship counselling
• Pornography addiction
• Libido issues
• Female and male sexuality
• Post partum sexuality
• Intimacy

Elly Hope

Adolescent Therapist & Counsellor

BA Arts Therapy, Master Arts, Post Grad Dip of Social Science (Counselling)

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Elly has over 20 years of experience in the fields of creative art therapies, art psychotherapy and counselling.  She has worked with children, adolescents and adults with a range of mental health, behavioural and substance dependency issues.  Elly has always had a passion for people, the helping professions and art.  Art therapy became the modality that combined these to provide her with the perfect balance for her interests.

Elly demonstrates a person-centred approach to her clients, who may be experiencing psychological problems including depression and anxiety disorders, personality disorders or trauma, abuse, neglect or grief and loss issues.

Elly continues to maintain a strong personal belief in art therapy as an effective non-verbal means to access what sometimes cannot be spoken.

Colin Craggs

Counsellor

B.App.SC, B.Th., Adv.

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Colin is a dynamic and focused coach and counsellor. Colin’s strong belief in life-long learning raises his expectations of clients to see their potential realised.  He has completed a U.S. based Doctorate in the field of leadership and coaching.  His additional qualifications further add to his considerable breadth of counselling and coaching experience.

Colin’s experience ranges from executive coaching, relationship counselling, grief processing, strategic planning, life-coaching and personal development.

Colin’s transfer to the field of Human Services after 10 years in the field of Computer Analysis and Programming has built depth of structure and analysis into his counselling activities, resulting in both approach and outcomes that produce effective and enduring transformation in clients.

Donelle Green

Counsellor

Master of Counselling & Psychology, Bachelor of Psychology & Counselling

Personal Information

Donelle is passionate about mental and emotional wellbeing and the quality of her clients’ relationships.

Donnelle’s goal is to provide a comfortable, non-judgemental and accepting space for her  clients to share and explore their worries and then to support them in better coping with, managing and resolving the challenges they face.

She genuinely enjoys her work supporting people faced with challenging times in their lives and relationships and helping them get to a place where they feel better able to manage.

Donnelle works with couples and individuals 18yrs and over with a wide range of life difficulties and presenting issues.

Nikki Kovacs

Counsellor & Animal Assisted Psychotherapist

BA Counselling, Dip Youth Work

Personal Information

Nikki is a Counsellor and Psychotherapist, she is passionate about supporting people experiencing difficulties across varying issues that are impacting on their joy of life and functioning.  Nikki works with all ages across the lifespan with children, adolescents and adults with an eclectic approach that is tailored to suit the age group and the presenting issues including; anxiety, depression, behaviour issues, trauma and relationship difficulties.

Nikki works with all ages across the lifespan with children, adolescents and adults with an eclectic approach that is tailored to suit the age group and the presenting issue.

Frank Jacobsen

Counsellor and Director of Regional Counselling Services

Diploma of Counselling, Mental Health WAPHA, Cert in Business Studies

Personal Information

Frank is a country boy at heart, born and bred in the WA Wheatbelt. He started facilitating programs in 2003 to help families. Frank’s areas of interest include peer support, pastoral care, FIFO counselling, critical incident response and the personal development of couples and individuals. He is a founding Director of the Family Centre in Kalgoorlie, W.A. Health Departments Mental Health Advocate for Kalgoorlie and volunteer with the Red Cross in Psychological First Aid. He has been providing peer support in the mining industry for many years, assisting mining companies by building relationships with their employees and helping develop their life skills and resilience. He facilitates toolbox talks, mental health presentations and on-site self-development workshops.

Darryl Shirt

Counsellor and Trauma Counsellor

Grad Dip Counselling, Adv Dip C&FT, Grad Dip Applied Science, The Richards Trauma Process Practitioner.

Personal Information

After completing 34 years as a Primary Teacher and Librarian in a range of schools in NSW and here in WA Goldfields, Darryl commenced training as a counsellor. His transition to counselling was driven by a strong desire to make a difference especially for families experiencing a range of grief, trauma and relationship challenges. Darryl’s areas of interest span all age groups and include sexuality, relationships(individuals/couples/families), trauma, grief, anxiety and depression.

On a personal note, Darryl is a moderately keen gardener, cyclist and involved in numerous community associations in NSW and regional WA.

Sharon Mosby

Counsellor

Diploma Of Counselling (AIPC)

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Sharon is a responsible counsellor with experience in offering emotional, social and support.  She demonstrates caring empathetic concern for the well-being and growth of those presenting with troubles and concerns arising in context of daily interactions.  

Sharon’s counselling focus integrates a Person-Centred Therapy Approach with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Integrative Counselling Therapies, Solution Focus, Communication styles, Anger management, Anxiety and Depression, Grief therapy.

Hayden Cannon

Counsellor

Diploma of Counselling (ACA)

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Hayden has 5 years’ experience in counselling roles and provides a gentle, calm, reflective and non-judgmental space to encourage a therapeutic relationship to facilitate healing and growth.

Hayden adopts a person-centered and holistic approach that he tailors to meet the unique needs of each client working with a combination of Narrative Therapy, CBT, ACT, Play Therapy, Art Therapy and Mindfulness styles of therapy.

He has experience working with children and adults dealing with grief and loss, trauma, abuse, LGBTQIA+, self-esteem, autism, domestic violence, anger management, anxiety and depression.

Sally Pamberger

Counsellor

Grad Dip Counselling, Grad Cert Bereavement Counselling & Intervention

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Sally has been providing counselling services for 15 years since completing her counselling degree at the University of Notre Dame. Sally is also a certified facilitator of Inquiry Based Stress Reduction (IBSR), a mindfulness-based practice also known as The Work of Byron Katie since 2008.

Sally uses mindfulness-based and interpersonal psychotherapy and psycho-educational materials to work with individuals and couples experiencing anxiety and depression, communication, bereavement, grief and loss, stress management and work-related issues. Sally takes a collaborative approach to counselling to grow client’s self-awareness, their social supports and their ability to make healthy decisions.

Lyn Cannon

Counsellor/Psychotherapist & Professional Supervisor

Post Grad Dip Counselling, BA Psychology

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Lyn has over 30 years of experience in counselling roles and is available in Bunbury, Augusta and Margaret River.

Lyn has a quiet/reflective approach, gently assisting clients to gain insight and achieve their desired outcomes.

Lyn works within a person-centred approach to counselling with the relationship being the core of her work and uses a variety of Psychotherapy, Narrative Therapy, CBT, ACT and Mindfulness styles of therapy tailoring the counselling to each person’s individual needs and personality type.  She finds the most suitable modality to holistically assist clients obtain the best possible outcomes.  

Nikki Taylor

Career Coach

Career Development, Mindfulness to Coaching Mastery, CDAA Profesional Member/Career Development Practitioner

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Nikki is a Certified Career Counsellor. She also has over five years of experience working as a career counsellor across a broad range of areas that include redundancies, redeployment, career clarity, interview coaching, resume and cover letter critiquing, personal branding and job search strategies.

What Nikki brings to her coaching clients is a strong background of over 18 years in recruitment, she is a qualified certified Mindfulness Coach and a Women’s Change Coach.

Nikki will take you on a journey to assist you when you are at a crossroads with your career and life, empowering you to thrive through your career transition.

Nikki’s approach is focused on your needs, making you feel more empowered in your career choices, and by working with her you will get passion and drive back into your career and feeling aligned with the direction you are heading in.

Richard Taylor

Career Coach

Career Development, CDAA Profesional Member/Career Development Practitioner

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Richard has been working as a Certified Career Counsellor and has worked in Career Development for over 5 years. During this time, he has worked with clients from a diverse range of working environments. Richard’s areas of special interest include career transitions, key selection criteria writing, working with clients that have been made redundant, clients that need resume and cover letter support, in fact, anything to do with your career and the transition you need to make.  

Richard makes a positive impact on his clients’ personal and professional journeys, covering all aspects of their career, working with them on a one-on-one basis. By providing valuable insights, hands-on practical knowledge, and, importantly, clarity, Richard can get tangible results for his clients. 

Richard has also created Mentor 4 Men, a Facebook group and safe place for men that is free of judgment and discrimination. In this group, men find support both for themselves and others by sharing experiences and sage advice. 

Tania & Dean Comerford

Counsellor and The Richards Trauma Process Practitioners

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Tania is a counsellor and a Richards Trauma Process Practitioner along with her husband Dean. The Richards Trauma Process (TRTP) is a quick and effective therapy option that helps those who do it find freedom from anxiety, depression, fears, addictions, shame, guilt, distressing events and trauma. TRTP was developed by Judith Richards, it is an eclectic therapy, borrowing ideas from a range of other practices and forming them into something far more powerful than any of them are alone. It is an elegantly simple, yet dynamically rich, process, which resolves the lingering effects of distressing life events and experiences right through to extreme trauma/PTSD.

TRTP achieves results quickly, effectively, and safely – generally in three two-hour sessions, held a week apart. In just two weeks, clients find freedom from things that have troubled them for years.

TRTP makes use of the imagination to deal with trauma where it is stored – in the subconscious and in the body. TRTP deals with the underlying, unconscious core beliefs which keep a person stuck in self-sabotaging thoughts, emotions, and behavioural patterns. The memory of the trauma is placed firmly in the past and the emotional charge is removed. TRTP is a gentle process that resolves trauma related issues without re-traumatising the participant.

For further information, here is a link from the creator of TRTP, Judith Richards, explaining why the process works:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8KPbWIPWDQ

Paul Tedray

Counsellor

Grad Dip Couns, Grad Cert Gestalt Therapy

Personal Information

Paul was born in the UK and has travelled to and lived in many wonderful places in the world becoming a curious traveller of the world and of the mind. After many years of teaching and social work he followed his passion by evolving into a qualified therapist and counsellor. Paul’s approach is to bring life skills and hope to his clients, to walk with them and to navigate them through difficult times and to help others become whole and balanced with making the right choices in life.

Marc de Bruin

Counsellor, Supervisor and Educator

Master of Counselling USC, Grad Dip Mindfulness, Cert in Small Bus Mgt, Cert Enneagram & Aus ID Personalities, Cery Life/Bus Coaching and Master at Laws (Bachelor)

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Marc is a registered international counsellor, supervisor and educator “with a twist”. He looks at life through a different lens, with a transpersonal filter. Expect to discuss life from a bigger perspective, while still being very practical. He has a special interest in assisting clients with “simplifying life”, to increase personal & professional effectiveness, satisfaction and well-being. He is also experienced in dealing with symptoms of anxiety, depression and high stress levels.

He possess broad knowledge, experience & skills in Life and Business Coaching and Counselling. CBT, NLP, SFBT, Mindfulness and other modalities. This is led by a focused skill set in Mindfulness integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (MiCBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). He is also well-versed in Myers-Briggs and Keirsey Temperament profiling. Business Development skills have been developed through 10 years of practicing Commercial Law in the Netherlands.

Melinda Bailey

Counsellor, Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and Workplace Mediator

BA Social Science & Grad Dip Family Dispute Resolution

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With over 20 years counselling experience working with people from a broad demographic across a wide range of life issues, Melinda credits her success as a counsellor to a wealth of varied professional and personal life experiences.

Prior to expanding into private practice Melinda worked for both government and non-government community welfare organisations in various roles including Probation Officer, Correctional Counsellor and Family & Relationship Counsellor.

In addition to tertiary qualifications in counselling and interpersonal communication skills, Melinda is a registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner who loves helping separated families develop parenting and property agreements that ‘their children may never feel the need to recover from’. Melinda also provides EAP and Workplace Mediation services.

Kerri Bower

Counsellor

BA Counselling, Dip HR, Cert in Workforce T & A

Personal Information

Kerri is a Registered Counsellor who is compassionate about working collaboratively with clients. As a counsellor, she has worked in many sectors including her 4-year current involvement with Lifeline Australia Crisis Support Team and their Community Recovery Team. She has extensive experience supporting individuals, adults, minors and adolescents to address a myriad of concerns that are common for many. These include grief and loss, anxiety, identity concerns, depression and many other unexpected life changing events. Kerri’s solid understanding of life-span development enables her to support clients as they navigate their individual life challenges.

Using a strong person-centred and strength-based approach, she aims to offer a space where a voice can be heard and witnessed, strengths identified, coping skills learned, resilience recognised and hope re-discovered. Kerri views counselling as a place where people can be listened to, a place where emotions, thoughts and behaviours can be noticed and challenged. Kerri applies the following evidence-base therapies: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Somatic Focused Therapy and Expressive Therapies depending on the clients’ needs and interests. Keerri’s aim is to connect the mind, body, emotions and self together.

Louise Armstrong

Counsellor

Dip Couns, BSc Psychology, Master of Mgt (HR)

Personal Information

Louise is a registered Counsellor with a focus on anxiety, anger, stress, decision making and change, her purpose is simply helping people, through non-judgemental, person centred counselling and coaching.

In addition to one-on-one counselling for challenges such as stress, anxiety and depression, and anger management, and coaching through life changes like career change, divorce, and parenting, Louise’s roles have included employee assistance, bullying and harassment support and coaching employees and teams through a variety of issues. She has extensive skills and experience in ensuring that different viewpoints are considered and supporting people to consider information from diverse sources in their decision making. Louise builds cooperation and collaboration with her clients, tailoring her approach to suit everyone.

Siobhan Walsh

Counsellor

BA Counselling, Dip Nursing (EEN)

Personal Information

Siobhan is a Registered Counsellor and works one on one with adults of all ages and youth through respectful, compassionate collaboration. She offers support with workplace bullying, depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and loss, teen development, over 65’s challenges and mindful living.

Siobhan’s approach to therapy is strengths-based and person centred and integrates a range of evidence-based methods including Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Existential Therapy, Somatic Focused Therapy and Mindfulness.

When working with individuals, families and couples, Siobhan creates a respectful and safe space where her clients are seen and heard, where strengths are identified, and coping skills are enhanced to help clients through the process of change, growth and acceptance. The process of reflective listening helps clients to develop and increase their resilience.

With an emphasis on self-care, gratitude and the mind body connection, Siobhan helps her clients to gently and tolerably challenge themselves and to heal from sadness, stress, self-doubt and anxiety.

Mary Ann Reynolds

Counsellor

Master of Couns, Registered Nurse

Personal Information

Mary Ann has worked as a Registered Nurse for over 25 years and currently practices in Mental Health Nursing. Mary Ann is frequently commended by clients, patients, relatives and colleagues for her caring and supportive approach.

Mary Ann has been counselling for over seven years and gained a Master of Counselling in 2018 from QUT. She is also a member of The Australian Counselling Association. Obtaining the higher degree enhanced and fine-tuned her skills in a Social Constructionist Future-Focused approach to practicing as a counsellor.

Mary Ann’s areas of interest extend to individual, couples, relationships, pre-marriage LGBTIQ, DV, trauma, adolescents, workplace issues, depression, anxiety and eating disorders.

Mary Ann ensures a safe, empathic, holistic non-judgemental environment, where you are heard and validated. Mary Ann provides support to enable client empowerment by collaboratively, unpacking and externalising issues, searching for solutions and exceptions, through awareness and realistic goal setting to enable you to discover your preferred future.

Shane Warren

Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor and Hypnotherapist

AIMM / MABH / MAICD / MAIPC / MCA / MIAA / MFAA / QMACA

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Shane is a registered psychotherapist, certified clinical supervisor, certified practicing hypnotherapist and certified practicing coach, he follows a holistic psychotherapy approach as a mental fitness coach across the globe.

Shane’s particular area of interest is around emotional resilience which he has applied to clients across the globe through such roles as coach, counsellor and facilitator. His motto is “changing lives through simple solutions” because this is what he strives to achieve with each client.

Working from a deeply personal motive to empower others to be better for themselves, Shane is a highly respected and well sought-after consultant, coach and therapist within the Asia Pacific region.

Peter Burgoyne

Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor

Masters Counselling, Grad Dip Counselling, Dip Comm Services, ACA, Certified Clin Supervisor & Clin Trauma Professional

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Peter acknowledges that each person is the expert in their own life and is entitled to determine their life journey. Through that philosophy, Peter applies his extensive professional skills and 18 years’ clinical experience to walk alongside a person as they navigate their personal difficulty.

Peter is experienced working with individuals and couples navigating personal and relationship challenges. He is also skilled at trauma response; grief and loss counselling; and depression, anxiety and stress management. He employs a Narrative approach to therapy and applies his work within a Trauma-informed Care and Practice model of support.

A qualified and experienced clinical and professional supervisor, Peter offers supervision to practising clinicians as well as to trainee and intern counsellors. He also works as a professional standards consultant.

Susannah Saccardo

Counsellor

Adv Dip Transpersonal Counselling, Cert in Youthwork, Cert in Emotional Freedom Techniques and Cert in Small Business

Personal Information

Susannah has been working with youth and adults of all ages for over 12 years.  Susannah works one on one with clients dealing with depression, low self-esteem, substance abuse, addiction and becoming self-actualised and self-empowered. She uses techniques that by-pass the intellect, accessing the client’s highest wisdom. Susannah uses A.C.T, Dream analysis, E.F.T and meditative visualization.

Susannah takes a holistic approach to her work and her personal life, meditating daily with belief in the value of mindfulness, self-care, gratitude and empathy. 

Susannah is dedicated to her own personal development by continuously researching and implementing what she is learning. Susannah’s passion is being of service to others and is available for individual counselling sessions working with adults and children.

Ron Cruickshank

Counsellor

Dip Prof Counselling, Major Relationship Counselling & Conflict Resolution, Major Child Development & Effective Parenting, Major Abuse & Trauma Counselling

Personal Information

Ron has been involved in the health industry for many years having trained as a geriatric nurse. He has worked to support the elderly, people with intellectual and physical disability in management positions in facilities throughout Australia and provided in-home support for the Department of Health and Human Services.

Ron’s counselling and consultation style is to rapidly identify underlying and hidden causes of emotional unrest and distress. He uses experiential processes, visual works, drawing, guided journal writing and meditations that help create new unconscious processes and habits to reduce stress and provide deeper insight and motivation to assist his clients to achieve the change that they are looking for in their life.

Administration

Mary Worthington

General Manager

GAICD

Personal Information

Mary is a senior executive with extensive experience in corporate and commercial business leadership within the finance industry. Her recent move to the health industry has allowed her to transfer this skill set to Lifeskills Australia where her key responsibilities are identifying and shaping new commercial opportunities, building partnerships with industry leaders, tender preparation and negotiation, delivery of industry focused mental health education and ensuring best practice in service delivery for all our clients.

Sara Cicchino

Receptionist and Administration Assistant

Personal Information

Sara has recently re-joined the Lifeskills Team to continue to expand and integrate her interpersonal skills, prior to this she spent many years working as a Publicist. Sara thrives on creating strong connections, mentoring teenagers and building transferable skills amongst individuals and groups. Sara is keen to continue her education in mental health and the opportunity to increase the awareness of a positive life balance as she studies to become a Counsellor.

Between her work and study Sara enjoys home renovations and physical exercise with her partner and daughter Selena.