Project 18 the wellbeing nook, 228 St Vincent Street Port, Adelaide (2026)

02/06/2026

Here come the Thank You’s!

Firstly, a big thank you to the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) for creating this opportunity for counsellors to be recognised, not just for the work we do in session, but for what many of us do outside of the time we spend with our clients.

I would also like to thank the three magnificent women who came together to nominate me for this award in the first place. Three women I have worked alongside in various contexts, Diana, Belinda and Samantha, your extraordinarily kind words mean so much.

Thank you to Sara Edwards, Board Director of the ACA who presented my award. Your enthusiasm for connecting over our shared youth work experience was truly lovely.

I have an extra special thank you to make to Pam Simmons too. The original SA Guardian for C&YP and the person who taught me everything there is to know to be a compassionate and considered advocate. I am forever grateful for your calm, grounded, teachings.

A heartfelt thank you goes to my partner, Terry, for your unconditional support and unwavering encouragement in all that I do. Without you it really wouldn’t be possible.

My fellow changemaker, my co-everything, Belinda, I cannot thank enough for sharing this passion for advocacy with me in a way that no one else really can.

And then there are My people, “My Friend”, My crew, those who are always there for me. You keep all other aspects of my life going, pick me up when I need it, take me out, clear my mind, and caffeinate me as required. Big thanks. Big love to you all!

I could go on, as most of you know I can, but I won’t… stay tuned though, I am sure there is more to come!

31/05/2026

This one has all the feels!

It's hard to know where to start.

On Thursday Night the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) honoured me with their National Excellence Award in Advocacy and Social Justice.

The event was all about acknowledging and celebrating excellence in counselling across Australia.

To say that I am thankful, grateful, humbled, honoured and chuffed feels understated. Out of all the award categories on the night this one is closest to my heart! To receive such an accolade for something I care about so deeply is beyond wonderful!

I have been passionate about social justice for as long as I can remember and I am an advocate to my core. So, it was inevitable and completely natural for these to become embedded in my counselling practice.

But I don’t do what I do for the accolades. I do it because I believe all children and young people should be supported, heard, given opportunities, and live safe, healthy, fulfilling lives.

I believe there should be supports, services and systems that respond to the needs of children and young people, in a way that is truly accessible, individualised and flexible.

And when this is not the case... I advocate!

I advocate for a response. I advocate for rights to be upheld. I advocate for care and respect. I advocate for vulnerable voices to be heard.

This award is a wonderful reminder that advocacy matters. It also provides recognition that upholding the principles of social justice is something we can all do, as counsellors or practitioners, educators or supporters.

I have many thank you’s I want to share too and so much more I would like to say about how important advocacy is, but perhaps that needs to be another post or perhaps even a blog or two.

For now, though I'm going to sit with all the feels and celebrate a little 🥂

18/05/2026

It is rarely just a game!

It might be a puzzle, a game of chess, Bananagrams, Monopoly, or cards spread across the table.

People sometimes ask, “Do you just play games every session?”

It’s a fair question. From the outside, it can look that way. But what exists alongside the game, hidden between the moves, the problem solving, the laughing, the silences, the strategy, the frustration, the teamwork, there is real work happening.

For some children, young people, (and even adults) talking directly can feel overwhelming, too vulnerable, or simply unnatural. Sitting face-to-face with the full focus on conversation can create pressure. But when there is a shared activity in the room, something shifts. The game becomes a bridge.

In youth work and counselling spaces, this is well understood. Sometimes the most meaningful conversations happen while going for a walk, kicking a ball, sharing a meal, drawing, or playing a game. The activity appears to hold the focus, which can create a greater sense of safety and ease.
It is not about distraction or avoiding the work. It is the work.

Games can help build connection, trust, emotional regulation, communication, problem solving, frustration tolerance, confidence, and reflection. They can create moments where young people show us parts of themselves, they may never express through direct questios or conversation alone.

And like all therapeutic tools, it is never one size fits all.
For some, a puzzle is too absorbing for conversation. For others, Monopoly may create stress rather than connection. The activity must always fit the individual, person-centred, responsive, and intentional.

Not every young person needs this approach. But for some, having something to do while talking creates enough safety for the talking to happen.

11/05/2026

BIG NEWS ‼

Belinda Lorek and Jodie Evans are joining forces again❗
But this time, it’s something much bigger.

After many months of planning, building and working behind the scenes, they are proud to share what’s next.

Introducing 18 Sparrows – A Foundation for Change

A newly established registered charity dedicated to supporting children and young people facing complex challenges including mental health struggles, school disengagement, safety concerns and barriers to connection and support.

18 Sparrows has been created for the young people who are too often falling through the cracks.
Those who feel unheard, unsupported, misunderstood, or simply don’t know where to turn.

Built from the foundations of Project 18, this next chapter is about creating deeper impact, strengthening community connection and doing things differently, with compassion, collaboration and hope at the centre.

This is not an ordinary service.
It is the beginning of an undertaking grounded in connection, compassion and meaningful change. Something built to create lasting impact for children, young people and the communities around them.
And they’re only just getting started.

We’d love for you to follow along and be part of the 18 Sparrows - a foundation for change journey from day one on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and the website is coming soon too: @ 18sparrows.org.au

AND PLEASE DO NOT WORRY - Project 18 is not going anywhere, we are here to stay‼
This has been a long time coming, a passion project that has been brewing in our hearts for many years.

So please share, like, follow, you know, all the things that helps when starting something new❗

30/04/2026

The Power of Silence.

Silence has always had a place in talk therapy.
At times, it can be even more powerful than words.
But, it isn’t always comfortable.

As a counsellor, those quiet moments can sometimes feel like something ‘isn’t working’. But often, silence is the work. It can deepen connection, create space for thoughts and feelings to surface, or simply offer a moment of stillness, something many of us are missing.

At a time when everything feels fast and noisy, that stillness can hold more value than we realise.

Silence is also central to a client-centred approach, moving at someone’s pace, without pressure or urgency. It respects autonomy and supports the therapeutic process in a way that is gentle, but deeply impactful.

With children, silence can sometimes be misunderstood.
Parents may worry that ‘quiet’ means their child isn’t engaging, connecting, or being ‘helped’. And while that can be true at times, silence can also be exactly what a child needs, a calm, safe space where they feel supported, have choice, and are free to simply be.

Learning to sit comfortably in silence takes practice. It asks us to remain present, engaged and observant, even without words to guide us. Over time, and through trust, we begin to recognise when silence is not only okay, but truly beneficial.

Because sometimes, the most important things are not said out loud.

📷 Normanville Beach

22/04/2026

“Holding Space”

It’s a phrase we hear often.
Across different settings.
Used in different ways.

It’s a concept that’s been around for years, grounded in therapeutic practice, but now more widely understood and needed in everyday life.

And perhaps now, more than ever, it really matters.

So, what does “holding space” actually mean?
Like many broad terms, it can be defined in different ways. Often it’s described as ‘showing up’, ‘listening without judgement’ or ‘just being there’ for someone.

But to me, as a counsellor, holding space goes deeper than that.
It’s about being fully present, without distraction.
It’s about genuinely hearing what someone is sharing, and also noticing what might not be said.
It’s an action grounded in compassion, free from judgement or criticism.
It’s choosing curiosity over assumption, and empathy over response.
It’s creating the conditions where someone feels safe enough to process, to feel, and, over time, to heal.

Holding space asks us to listen deeply, to make room for emotion, and to resist the urge to immediately ‘fix’ things, even when that instinct comes from a good place. And that’s not always easy.

Now more than ever, this kind of presence is needed.

When working with young people, finding the balance can be complex, listening and considering, validating and inquiring, reflecting and gently guiding.

But what matters most is how we show up: being real, responsive, open and genuinely interested.
Because at its heart, holding space isn’t just about ‘holding’ at all. It’s about creating space, where young people feel safe, heard, understood, accepted and valued.

📷 Illuminate Adelaide 2023

12/04/2026

Life is in incredible.

At times it's incredibly challenging, we experience loss, sadness and heartache.

Sometimes it feels incredibly confusing, with times filled with frustration, doubt or disbelief.

I often post about my reflections but rarely do I post something thats deeply personal... this one is.

It's been a tough couple months.

Saying goodbye to a dear friend, illness, loved ones facing serious health scares and of course the state of the world right now. It gets heavy.

But when I pause, long enough to take a breath and properly look around me, what I mostly see is...

Incredible love.
Incredible support.
Incredible determination.
Incredible togetherness.

I notice, incredible smiles, the laughter between the tears.

I see incredible journeys, lives lived to their fullest.

I witness incredible recoveries, against all sorts of odds.

I recognise incredible accomplishments through lots of hard work.

I feel incredible connections that keep me grounded and so much more.

Life truly is incredible.

Lets remember to pause often enough to see it all.

🫶💙🦋✨️

02/04/2026

Today is World Autism Awareness Day.

Like many awareness days, there’s a theme this year, “Autism and Humanity: Every Life Has Value.” And while that matters, I want to share why this day matters to me, personally.

Over the past six years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside many autistic children and young people. Not just supporting them, not just advocating for assessments and services, but learning from them. And I have learned a lot.

So today, for me, is not just about awareness. It’s not even just about acceptance or inclusion. It’s about change.

In the past 5–10 years, our understanding of neurodiversity has grown significantly. But our systems haven’t kept up. Too many children and young people are still navigating environments that don’t meet their needs, particularly in education settings, and too many families face barriers to timely assessments and meaningful support.

We need learning environments that are flexible, responsive, and genuinely supportive. We need access to assessments and support to be equitable and accessible. And we need a broader, more accurate understanding of autism across our communities.

It’s time to challenge outdated assumptions, move beyond stereotypes, and listen to autistic voices and lived experience.

Because awareness is only the beginning, real impact comes when we turn that awareness into action.

For more info about the day: World Autism Awareness Day - EN | United Nations

21/03/2026

Happy Harmony Day!

"Everyone Belongs" isn't just a message of acceptance it's a reminder 🧡

It's a reminder that we are a truly multicultural society, from the food we eat, to the music we listen to, it's present every day 🧡

It's a reminder that so many of us here are still only first or second generation and we must recognise the 65,000 years of First Nations culture that came before us ❤️🖤💛

It's also a reminder that alongside of acceptance we need inclusiveness, mutual respect and equality 🧡

These are the things that create a fair and unified society. A society that is about more than just tolerance but one that does not accept racial discrimination.

I want to live in that society!
A society that truly embraces cultural diversity!
A society where everyone truly does belong!
A society that truly promotes harmony!

I want to live in a society where we all share our stories, our backgrounds, our differences and our similarities in a way that is a celebration 🧡

So today, from the coffee I drink, to the dumplings I eat, to the beat of the drums I am listening to and of course the land on which I stand I wish you all a Happy Harmony Day 🧡

#

11/03/2026

How can we make the world a little more gentle?

Especially in a time where there is so much conflict and fear? A time where conversations, opinions and experiences can feel like they are dividing us, rather than creating space to bring us together.

I have had many of these conversations in recent weeks. They’ve been brought to me by clients who have genuine questions and are quite understandably concerned about what is happening in the world.

My responses are always thoughtful and considered, individualised as they should be. I am mindful of the complexity of what people are seeing and hearing. But each response is grounded in compassion, underpinned by my genuine belief that if compassion sits at the heart of how we move through the world, we create more space for understanding, connection and care.

Compassion invites us to pause before reacting.
To stay curious about another person’s experience.
To recognise that most people are simply trying to navigate life the best they can with what they are carrying.

It doesn’t mean we always agree.
It doesn’t mean difficult things disappear.
But it does soften the way we meet each other.

And if compassion underpinned more of our everyday interactions, in our homes, at work, in schools and communities, perhaps the world might feel a little gentler.

Not perfect.
Not without struggle.
But gentler in ways that really do matter.

📷 Pics around The Port

Project 18 the wellbeing nook

02/06/2026

31/05/2026

18/05/2026

11/05/2026

30/04/2026

22/04/2026

12/04/2026

02/04/2026

21/03/2026

11/03/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category