Our Management Team

Helen (she/her) founded Guidestar in 2017. She is a community psychologist, Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society, Board Approved supervisor and Advanced PBS practitioner with over 25 years’ experience in senior executive roles in the not-for-profit and local government sectors. Her career has been informed by a human rights perspective, social justice, empowerment and the social/ecological model of health.  She has extensive experience in leadership roles including leading development and implementation of vision, mission and strategic direction, transformational change management processes, NDIS leadership, development of consortia, financial and risk management, clinical governance, strategic planning, workforce development, business development and service provision. She has experience working in a variety of sectors including disability, homelessness, alcohol and other drugs, local government, justice and mental health.

Helen was honoured to become a finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards 2020 and a finalist in the Victoria University Alumni Awards for Professional Achievement 2018. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, has served on many not-for-profit boards and has chaired a homelessness service, a local learning and employment network and a community legal centre. She is currently a non-Executive Director for ANZACATA.

Ben (he/him) joined Guidestar in 2017 from private practice. Ben is a Community Psychologist and Psychology Board approved supervisor. He is also an Advanced PBS Practitioner. Ben holds tertiary qualifications in human resources in addition to Masters level Applied Psychology. Ben has experience working in teams of various sizes and has a passion for provision of individualised service to the community. At Guidestar, Ben leads the NDIS teams and also undertakes individual client work and professional supervision as both a PBS Practitioner and psychologist. Ben has a special interest in working in complex areas that include contact with a range of sectors such as health, education, forensic and disability. 

Catherine (she/her) joined Guidestar in 2018. She is a registered psychologist and holds qualifications in psychology, art therapy, play therapy, information management and systems, writing and literature, and community development. Prior to becoming a psychologist, Catherine worked in senior management roles in libraries as branch manager, community outreach manager, and children’s and youth services manager. She has also worked in community and disability support settings and has experience managing both large and small workplace teams. Currently completing a Master of Clinical Psychology, she is passionate about creating safe and empowering environments for people to explore their goals and life experiences. In 2010, Catherine won the State Library Victoria’s Margery C. Ramsay Award and created a Community Development Framework and Toolkit for Public Libraries.

John (he/him) joined Guidestar in 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and is a CPA.  John has over 25 years’ experience in accounting, consulting and management across a number of industry sectors. John ensures that cost analysis, business modelling and financial data investigation is undertaken before any major financial or business decision is made. He is a passionate self-motivated leader with expertise in managing business change processes and empowering staff to embrace new ideas.

Tanya (she/her) joined Guidestar in 2017. Her previous experience includes 16 years working in the Department of Human Services. At Guidestar she is responsible for leading and managing the intake and administrative team and for the delivery of continuous improvement initiatives across the organisation to achieve participant’s desired outcomes and safe and effective services within Guidestar’s strategic framework. Tanya also manages both internal and external audits to ensure ongoing compliance with NDIS, Rainbow Tick and B-corporation requirements as well as website design and maintenance. She is pivotal in developing team building days and social activities that underpin our caring, positive organisational culture. Tanya is very passionate about her role and how her work supports social justice and human rights outcomes for clients.

Leonie (she/her) joined Guidestar in 2021 and has over 30 years’ experience working in the disability sector in direct service provision, workforce learning and development, and vocational training. She began her career as a social worker in the Mental Retardation Division of the Health Commission when St Nicholas hospital for children was being dismantled. This was one of the first closures of a major institution in the world. Leonie came to Guidestar from a large mental health organisation where she provided practice advice to staff supporting people with a dual disability (intellectual disability and / or autism in addition to mental ill-health). She was pivotal in integrating the NDIS quality and safeguarding requirements around restrictive practices and positive behaviour support in the organisation and supporting the NDIS Practice Standards auditing process. Leonie is an accredited trainer of the Mandt® System, an internationally renowned training program aimed at supporting people with a disability that demonstrate behaviours of concern in a manner that prevents the use of restrictive and dehumanising practices.

Luke (he/him) joined Guidestar in 2018. He is an Advanced PBS Practitioner with qualifications in disability and training and assessment and has worked in various roles in disability and community mental health services for over 20 years. This has included direct support roles and case management as well as working in Federal and State funded community service programs such as Partners in Recovery and the Intensive Individualised Support Program. Luke has an interest in supporting people who have complex support needs that require innovative, person-centred support approaches and has a fundamental belief that all people have the capacity to change and live a meaningful and safe life of their choosing.

Michelle (she/her) joined Guidestar in 2019 and has over 30 years’ experience working in the Disability and Mental Health Sector in various domains. She has a Degree in Applied Science, Intellectual Disability and experienced the progression of supports for people with disabilities, from deinstitutionalisation to community living to Person Centred supports. She more recently (last 15 years) worked in Case Management and group facilitation roles before the introduction of NDIS when she began working as a Specialist Support Coordinator. She is passionate about hearing and understanding the needs of people with disability and working towards an inclusive community. She is currently involved in the development of the Client Advisory Group at Guidestar.