Our Team
Meet our compassionate team members.
Co Founder / Director
Jason Fitzgerald
With a background in mental health and community services, Jason was instrumental in establishing Pakari’s recovery-focused and person-centred approach. Drawing on his experience and training in New Zealand, Jason brought a strong commitment to holistic care, cultural responsiveness, and the principles of Te Whare Tapa Whā. His influence shaped Pakari’s early development, ensuring it was built on integrity, compassion, and a genuine commitment to the people and communities Pakari supports.
Due to serious health challenges, Jason has stepped away from day to day operations. While no longer working in a direct capacity, his leadership and vision remain deeply embedded in the way Pakari operates. The systems, culture, and direction he helped create continue to guide the organisation’s growth and service excellence.
Jason remains a valued Director and co-founder, and his legacy lives on through the work of the Pakari team and the outcomes achieved with the people we support.
Co Founder / Executive Director
Brianna Fitzgerald
With over 25 years of experience in corporate finance and governance, I bring both strategic and operational leadership to Pakari. My career has been shaped by a deep commitment to community. One of the most formative experiences in my life was serving as a volunteer Ambulance Officer with St John in New Zealand for five years, providing frontline emergency care. It taught me how to remain calm under pressure and respond with empathy, respect, and care. Qualities that continue to guide how I lead and support others.
At Pakari, I lead our direction, growth, and systems to ensure everything we do is grounded in integrity, compassion, and a strong commitment to recovery-focused, person-centred care. I’m passionate about creating services that are not only safe and supportive, but genuinely empowering for the people we walk alongside and for the team who make this work possible.
Alongside our individual NDIS supports, I also lead our work in training and psychosocial governance, supporting organisations and workplaces to build mentally healthy environments in line with national reforms. With a strong understanding of both psychosocial governance and the NDIS, I work closely with our staff and participants to navigate systems with confidence and clarity.
Since Jason stepped back from day to day operations due to his health, I have continued to lead with the same heart and vision we built Pakari on. I am proud of the culture we have created, one that honours people, celebrates growth, and believes that even in challenging seasons, healing and hope are possible.
TEAM LEADER - SERVICE DELIVERY & COUNSELLOR
Jacinta Fox
I’ve always had a heart for social justice. After working in the justice system for nearly a decade, I transitioned into roles in community mental health, homelessness, and coordinating a volunteer program to support people with mental health issues. People are my passion, and supporting them to live a meaningful and engaged life is at the heart of all I do. I’ve been fortunate to travel and spend some extended time overseas; across Asia, Africa, Europe and America. I speak French (although I don’t get to use it as much these days) and love learning about different cultures.
I’m a registered Counsellor (ACA Lvl 2) and love learning and understanding more about how to support people to make changes to become more of who and what they want to be. I love walking, coffee, nature and spending time with my husband, friends and family, and our dogs.
RECOVERY COACH & SOCIAL WORKER
Rachael Andrewartha
I have been working with families and children for as long as I can remember, well before I even graduated from my social work degree over a decade ago. After serving the community through a local non-profit organisation for over 10 years, I have learned that what I thrive on the most is having a genuine connection and relationship with the people I support.
My two young children have taught me so much about life, motherhood and myself. I do not pretend to be perfect, but am happy to journey with people and help them connect with what is truly important to them, and how to let go of the voices that hold them back and help them discover and reach for what is important to them.
SUPPORT COORDINATOR / RECOVERY COACH
Robyn Ingram
With over 30 years of experience in the community sector, I bring a deep commitment to supporting individuals in achieving their goals. My career began in the disability sector, and for the past 15 years I have focused on mental health—areas where person-centred, respectful, and compassionate support is essential. For the last 8 years, I have worked as an NDIS Support Coordinator and Recovery Coach, gaining extensive knowledge of the NDIS system and how to navigate it effectively for my clients.
I am passionate about truly listening to the people I work with and ensuring their voices are heard in every step of their journey. I believe in building strong, trusting relationships and always working towards the best possible outcomes for those I support.
In my spare time, I love spending quality moments with my husband, our sons and their partners, and our seven beautiful grandchildren. My husband and I also enjoy camping and attending music festivals whenever we get the chance—it’s our way of unwinding and making new memories together.
ADMINISTRATION
Carolyn Rawlings
With over 20 years of experience working in the community, I have dedicated my career to supporting individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. Over the last two years, I have supported participants with complex psychosocial mental health needs. I am passionate about empowering individuals to develop their self care skills and tailoring supports that meet each person’s unique needs.
Transitioning from one on one support into an administration role has allowed me to use all my skills and work closely with individuals at the Pakari hub, ensuring efficient and effective service delivery.
Outside of work I enjoy cooking, yoga, music and having a good laugh.
SENIOR SUPPORT WORKER
Daniel Robertson
With 9 years community service work, working with children to adults with multiple needs, my heart is to walk alongside others in their mental health and/or disability journey. I have worked with children with complex Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder and understand the need to work holistically with families, teachers and health professionals. I have spent time with the children in the classroom supporting their education, providing calming consistency. In adult mental health, I have worked with varying complex customers to assist in their everyday living and community participation. I love using board games as a way to teach valuable life skills like communication and teamwork.
I enjoy photography, nature, walking, and tabletop games. I also have a love of acting and puppetry, and I use these skills running programs for primary-aged kids during the school holidays. My greatest joy is to see my participants achieve their goals.
SUPPORT WORKER
Matt Bold
I have had many adventures in this life, from running a restaurant to being a sky-diving instructor in the Pacific. More recently, I have felt the call to ‘give back and worked in homelessness and ‘drop-in’ programs, and most recently, psychosocial support work — which I thoroughly enjoy.
I have a heart for the community and bringing people together. I want everyone to know that there is a reason to get up in the morning. I want to have a real relationship with the people I support.
On my days off you can find me in my garden or riding my motorcycle. I am not an idle person, and am always up for an adventure or two.
SUPPORT WORKER
Carole Norman
As a registered nurse, I have spent my career specifically in midwifery. I have also been involved in various pastoral care ministries.
Both of these roles have given me the essential skills to move into psychosocial support with compassion, gentleness, kindness and patience being key qualities I bring to my participants.
I am a wife, mother of three, and grandmother of three. I love gardening, walking, cycling in the country and cooking.
SUPPORT WORKER
Melissa Hoffman
I have always had a heart for helping others and initially, this heart led me to becoming a Registered Nurse, working diligently and passionately for almost 2 decades in the local public hospitals.
I recently felt a calling to be more involved in the community. I have been thoroughly enjoying using my nursing heart and skills now by being a psychosocial support worker & nurse with Pakari.
I am also a mother of three energetic children who keep me on my toes and help me fully engage with life and love. I also have a passion for supporting other parents through the everchanging journey of parenthood.
SUPPORT WORKER & ART GROUP LEADER
Kerryn Colin-Thome
I was born and raised in Benalla, North Eastern Victoria in a strongly artistic and musical environment.
I lived in the UK for two years in 1990-91, then moved to Adelaide and Melbourne for my husband’s career. During this time I pursued a career in corporate administration, and then public and investor relations with mining companies — however, this was not my passion.
When I had my children, I studied art under two artists “Marco and Debra Luccio” who encouraged me to take my studies further. I studied fine art, firstly at NMIT and then went on to Melbourne University. I have won numerous awards for my work.
I love encouraging others to find their joy in life and have found art to be a great facilitator for this.
SUPPORT WORKER
(CURRENTLY ON MATERNITY LEAVE)
Kathryn Hanger
I have a passion for supporting and walking with those in all seasons of life. Mental health is a particular area very close to my heart through lived experience, having seen and journeyed with many family members, friends and young people battling over short and long term. I’ve studied across youth work, counselling, and education support. I have been working in these sectors as a support worker for the past 7 years. I've worked at a variety of different schools and in-home support, working with different family units, children and teenagers of all backgrounds and needs, and have volunteered on primary and secondary holiday camps, beach missions and youth groups.
On my days off, I love spending time with people, and getting to know their stories over a hot drink or smoothie. I love spending time with my family and hanging out with my niece and nephews. I love going on adventures, making bowls and candles from coconut shells, admiring beautiful scenery and things. I love a good laugh, corny jokes, a good old-fashioned action movie and spending time in the garden.
SUPPORT WORKER
Kerry Glen
From avery young age I navigated life with one parent who experienced mental health challenges. Much of my childhood was spent in Melbourne, apart from two years in Tanzania, East Africa. Those two years were particularly formative, as was a lengthy trip back through India. I received a broad and enriching education during this time. There were 9 changes during my schooling years, all of which assisted in the development of social awareness and empathy.
I am married with four adult children and seven beautiful grandchildren. One of my children is supported by the NDIS and another experienced many years of chronic health challenges. In addition to an early working life as a legal secretary, I have studied and worked in the fields of hospital chaplaincy, counselling, and school chaplaincy. For over 30 years I have provided pastoral care support across a wide range of issues and with people from many different cultures. In my spare time, I spend time with family and friends or enjoying gardening, photography and craft.
SUPPORT WORKER
Joshua Clerke
Information coming soon.
SUPPORT WORKER
Joshua Moore
Information coming soon.