SANE

As CEO of SANE Australia, Rachel is responsible for the national delivery of digital resources and support services to Australians living with complex mental health needs. In this role, Rachel has led the co-design, development and implementation of Australia’s first digital psychosocial recovery and support platform, incorporating a range of tailored supports that are currently utlised by almost 200,000 Australians each year. Prior to joining SANE, Rachel held senior executive roles in mental health reform, policy development and program implementation. This included establishment of the National Mental Health Commission, authoring the Contributing Life Framework, developing Australia’s first national consumer paid participation policy and producing the first National Report Card on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. Rachel also directed implementation of the $14m multi-site Black Dog Institute LifeSpan suicide prevention research trial and supported implementation of the Australian National Suicide Prevention Trial across the country.

Rachel designed and implemented an Australian-first trial of a peer-led residential suicide prevention and recovery pilot called ‘SPARC’, opened Sydney’s first peer-led residential Prevention and Recovery Centre and designed and delivered eFriend, an Australian-first virtual peer warm line built to support mental health impacts in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rachel is driven by her passion for lived experience-led design of innovative services to meet the ever-growing need for support for both individuals and families facing mental health issues and suicide.