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National Project Team

  

Jill Pearman
Principals Australia
National Program Manager

Jill is the National Program Manager with MindMatters, bringing with her over 27 years experience in education and health promotion in family, school and community settings. Jill joined MindMatters in 2003 as a Project Officer in NSW and helped to develop the initiative throughout the state before joining the National Team in 2007. Jill works closely with the MindMatters Project Officers across Australia and assists with the development and delivery of the MindMatters resource nationally.

Jill's previous roles include work in both health promotion and drug prevention, working with Australian National Council on Drugs and private consultancy work with schools and communities. In 1986, Jill founded the Life Education program in the United Kingdom and she has since worked in Australia, Britain and other countries establishing prevention policy and practice. Jill worked closely with the Reverend Ted Noffs in the establishment of Life Education Centres in Australia. While in Britain, Jill served as a non-executive member of South-West Thames Regional Health Authority, an appointment made by the Minister of Health. Jill has spoken at international and national conferences in the area of preventive health and has produced books and videos on drug prevention and health promotion.

Jill is passionate about establishing safe and supportive communities for children and young people.

Contact Jill Pearman

Student Well Being Unit
Department of Education
Locked Bag 53 Darlinghurst 
NSW 2010 

Tel:  +61 2 9244 5484
Fax: +61 2 9266 8098
Email: jill.pearman@pa.edu.au 

Tracy Zilm
Principals Australia
National Training Coordinator

Tracy began working on the MindMatters project in 2001. Tracy has over 20 years experience working in various roles in South Australian, national and overseas education. She has worked with schools, universities and further education organisations in Australia, England, Hong Kong and Germany.

Tracy’s work in the national team is to design, present and monitor professional development activities. The aim is to build the capacity of individuals, schools, organisations and communities to plan and implement a whole school community approach to mental health and wellbeing.

Tracy has a Bachelor of Education degree, a Graduate Certificate in Education (Professional Practice), a Certificate in First Line Management, a Counselling and Transactional Analysis Certificate, and a Coaching, Counselling and Mentoring Certificate. 

Robyn Hearl
Principals Australia
National Resource Development Officer

Robyn has a background in primary and secondary teaching and counselling with roles as HPE coordinator, SACE coordinator and Assistant Principal. Working primarily in disadvantaged schools with students with high needs, Robyn was directly involved with the initial MindMatters pilot schools project implementation. A highlight of Robyn’s work saw the development of alternative courses for disengaged young people and young mothers, and involved working closely with community agencies and health services to support completion of higher school certificates and alternative pathways.

Robyn has been part of the MindMatters central team since 2006, using the learnings of the MindMatters evaluations of 2005 in the construction of the MindMatters Level Two professional development and the redevelopment of the MindMatters resource books.

Robyn oversees the development of all MindMatters resources including the website.  

Cathy Venning
Principals Australia
National Project Officer

 Cathy taught performing arts in non-metropolitan schools and was a counsellor and member of the wellbeing team. Cathy works with schools to develop a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing. 

Vanessa Houltby
Principals Australia
National Youth and Community Development Officer

 Vanessa’s background includes working in youth, community and disability sectors through schools, accommodation support services, youth and juvenile justice centers. Vanessa has a strong history in supporting the development of community programs for young people who have disengaged from mainstream education, inspiring the development of various programs across Australia.
 
Vanessa joined MindMatters in 2003 as the SA Project Officer. Since 2004 she has worked with schools, nationally supporting students in using the MindMatters resources. This has resulted in the student created and led Youth Empowerment Process (YEP). In 2008 Vanessa stepped into the Youth Empowerment Officer role, strengthening approaches to empowering young people in leading mental health promotion.

Since 2004 Vanessa’s has also been supporting communities in the South Australian Anangu Pitantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in adapting and using the MindMattters resources. The work has become known as Wirura Kulira Palyani Wankaru Nyinantjaku  A better way of thinking and acting for keeping people safe.