CEO - Kane Nuttall

Kane, the founder of The Power In You Project, offers a unique lived experience having been addicted to drugs for the better part of 12 years.

On getting clean he noticed there was a critical gap in the system for individuals seeking treatment and sought to bridge that gap himself.

Importantly, Kane understands first-hand what it is like to be in the grips of an addiction and believes that if someone can build up the courage to ask for help, that they need that support immediately and should not be placed on a waitlist.

Operations Manager - Bashia Speed

Bashia is our key worker for women’s service. With specialist training in Alcohol or Other Drugs (AOD), Bashia utilises her skills within groups and one on one support.

In addition, Bashia’s lived experience brings a non-judgmental, empathetic approach when working with our participants.

Natalie Visintin

Natalie comes to us after working in retail and accounts for many years across different industries. Natalie’s attention to detail and organisation skills are the perfect fit as she starts her role as our accounts manager.

Mel Carter

Mel is the PIYP Justice Coordinator. She has a Bachelor of Behavioural Science and comes to us from Corrections with 4 years experience working with high risk offenders in the community. Prior to this, Mel spent 6 years with Disability Services in the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, managing and promoting the needs of people with multiple and complex needs.

Mel assists in the development and facilitation of programs designed to support participants in a shift out of the Justice System to a pro-social lifestyle that is supported by community inclusion and healthy life habits.

Mel also provides 1-1 consultations focussed on behaviour management of participants with multiple and complex needs.

General Manager - Jarrod Lee

Jarrod is a psychology graduate with a wealth of knowledge and insight into substance abuse and mental health.

Jarrod is charged with keeping our program up-to-date with the most relevant information, and building and developing new programs.

Jayden Rippon

Jayden has studied mental health and AOD after his own challenges with both. He has a clear understanding of the importance of support networks and building an insight into one’s self on the road to recovery. He is passionate about helping others in similar circumstances.

Kieran Kennedy

Keiran came to PIYP after his study in Mental Health.

He is a strong role model and with his lived experience brings great empathy to others. He believes that with hard work and a good mindset anything is possible and leads by example when working with our participants.

Matt Ludbrook

Matt came to us as a participant in 2018 after challenges with substance misuse.

Over the past 4 years Matt has worked hard on his recovery studying youth work and volunteering with The Power in You Project he is now using his lived experience to help support other participants who are going through similar challenges.

Damien Zaparenkov

Damien is currently studying a Diploma in Mental Health. He brings a wealth of life experience. Damien has a fun and approachable persona, being able to reach anybody on any level. He will bring out the best in people with a perfect combination humour and sensitivity.

Emily Richardson

Emily has found her passion in helping others after struggling with her own challenges with mental health and addiction. She has recently completed her Cert 4 in mental health and is currently studying AOD so she can help support others in a positive and practical way.

Savannah Klein

Savannah is an experienced and passionate support worker who has spent the last few years working in both 1:1 community support and group programme roles.

She has completed her Bachelors degree majoring in Psychology and Criminology and is currently working towards finishing her Master of Social Work.

Savannah is passionate about helping others. With skills and knowledge gained through both work and lived experience, she aims to create a positive impact on her clients and help support them on their journey towards well-being.

Dane Hopcroft

Dane is currently finishing up his Cert 4 in Alcohol and Other Drugs which reinforces his years of lived experience and volunteer work involved in supporting people struggling with AOD.

With a background in sales Dane understands the importance of service and building trust with his participants, and he thrives on getting to know new people and learning new things.

Lisa Cannell

Lisa spent a large part of the last 2.5 years accompanying her client to PIYP and was always impressed with the organisation.

She began working here at the start of the year whilst also finishing a Diploma in Community Services - Case Management.

Living in the country, she has raised her own two kids on the farm and they all ride horses as well as breeding a few Texas Longhorn cattle.

Lisa loves the outdoors so it’s a great fit that PIYP incorporates nature and the outdoors in so many group activities.

She loves being able to encourage and bring hope to those who are struggling with everyday life, and believes that with support and care we can achieve great things.

Kate Ellis

Kate is currently studying an Advanced Graduate Diploma of Psychology, with the hopes of becoming a psychologist in future.

From lived experience with anxiety and depression, Kate found meaning in the mental health sector through wanting to help others as she was helped.

Starting at the PIYP on an internship, Kate joined the community as a support worker.

Shanelle Templeton

Shanelle offers a unique selection of therapeutic skills that have evolved over 25+ years of her professional career, combining specialised counselling in both clinical and community settings, psycho-sensory therapies, bio-energetics and various other transpersonal healing modalities. Commencing work in Disability Services while attending University, completing a Bachelor of Arts in Health Sociology. Further qualifications include a Diploma of Drug & Alcohol Studies, Level 3 Healing Touch Practitioner, Quantum Bioenergetics and Psycho-Sensory Therapeutics.

Shanelle’s career has included work in Youth and Child Care Services providing trauma informed care and family reunification. For the past 20 years she has worked as a Drug & Alcohol Clinician in the Public Health Sector, this was inclusive of forensic AOD referrals, providing counselling to high risk offenders in collaboration with Correctional Services.

Georgia Lee

Georgia has completed a Bachelor of International Studies and a Certificate 3 in Community Services.

At PIYP Georgia uses her knowledge in policy and community development to manage policy, grants and other back-of-house administration.

Terry Livesey

Terry has been training the Power In You group for four years, and has now officially joined the team as our Personal Trainer!

Terry has helped many of our clients make significant improvements to their fitness levels.

In 2022, Terry commenced a Diploma in Mental Health.

Riley Rossiter

Pairing his lived experience with addiction, mental health and incarceration, Riley is now giving back to the community with a new-found purpose.

He understands how important a good role model, community connection and social inclusion is in recovery, and is passionate about working with people transitioning from prison back into the community and lowering the percentage of recidivism.

Kerby Van Der Lee

Kerby is a provisional psychologist offering individual psychological counselling at The Power In You Project.

Kerby has experience working in acute psychiatric, community capacity building, and maximum security forensic/correctional settings, and in the delivery of short- and long-term individual treatment and group programs.

Over the last five years, this has included working with LGBTIQA+ young people, people with disability, parents of children with disability, and providing suicide psychoeducation and early intervention.

Using an integrative approach informed by cognitive-behaviour, narrative, motivational interviewing, solution-focused, and psychodynamic therapies, treatment goals for individual psychological counselling are collaboratively established and may relate to drug and alcohol addiction, offending, identity, emotion regulation, interpersonal relationships, communication skills, self-harm, trauma, attachment, transitional stressors, grief and loss, and clinical diagnoses including mood and anxiety disorders.

Josh Smith

Josh has been with The Power in You Project since March.

Upon completing Bachelors degrees in Criminology and Forensic Science, Josh wanted to use what he had learned to help people experiencing the criminal justice system and factors which could lead to offending.

Josh believes that if you want to better yourself and are willing to act, you can change your life for the better.

Ryan Tout

Ryan came across to PIYP as a Peer Mentor after working collaboratively with some of the staff in his previous role.

Ryan has worked in the mental health industry for seven years and understands what participants are going through after his own mental health challenges.

“I like that PIYP is open to all sorts of ideas in how to support clients to become better and live their best life.”

Ryan believes life experience is the biggest teacher and if we are listening we are learning no matter who is talking.