SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING
Mookai Rosie offers a wrap-around model of care that incorporates social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) support.
Social and Emotional Wellbeing Services
Our SEWB team offer:
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Program,
- Playgroup,
- Parenting Programs,
- Legal Advocacy,
- Services Australia Support (including Medicare, Centrelink, and Housing) and,
- Social and Emotional Wellbeing.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families from rural and remote communities requiring support with their social or mental health can access our SEWB Social Workers and SEWB Support Workers through a Mental Health Treatment Plan. These plans can be created with our doctors through the Mookai Family Health program.
We have developed individualised and group therapy programs to support our clients’ wellbeing and mental health. In addition to this support, our wellbeing team can assist people with Centrelink, Medicare, parenting program attendance, legal advocacy, identification and housing department support.
SEWB Team Leader / Senior Social Worker
Linda McNeil
Linda is a proud Gomeroi Woman from Northern NSW. Working with her local community for over 30 years, Linda has a Bachelor of Social Science Social Welfare and a Masters in Social Work to supplement her community services work.
Linda has an in-depth knowledge and experience in working Government and Non-Government agencies providing services within the fields of child safety and placements, aged care, early childhood and literacy programs, education, mental health, recovery and trauma informed care counselling, social security, disabilities and program development.
Linda loves living and working in the Cairns area.
SEWB Social Workers
Emily Hapea
Emily has been a social worker for over 12 years and has worked at Kummara Indigenous Family Support Service in Brisbane, at the Well Being Centre in Aurukun, at Centacare FNQ, but mostly at Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan. Emily is an accredited Mental Health Social Worker so can be referred to under Medicare. Emily is a skilled trauma counsellor. She is also well practiced in working with women and families to address substance misuse issues, domestic violence, parenting, and mental health issues.
Emily is very committed to working with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander mothers to ensure that their babies remain in their care rather than being removed by Child Safety. The Mums & Bubs Together program defines the work that has been done in this field for many years at Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan.
Vee Ateli
Vee is a dedicated social and emotional wellbeing practitioner, striving to empower, support safety and healing and advocate for vulnerable individuals and families from all walks of life.
Vee looks forward to continue serving her community within a cultural framework at Mookai Rosie that values holistic care, ethical and culturally safe and sensitive practice to First Nations Women, children and families.
SEWB Support Workers
Rhonda Brim
Rhonda is a proud Djabugay woman from the Kuranda area. She is a leader in the community, known for her extensive volunteer work in rugby league fundraising and coordination. Fittingly, Rhonda’s background is in community services.
Joining the Mookai team created an opportunity for professional development, and she is now studying mental health. She is passionate about supporting survivors of domestic abuse, providing trauma-informed care towards effective intervention and treatment approaches. Committed to work, learning, volunteering, and raising 8 children, Rhonda also acts as a powerful role model for our clients.
Tracey Izumi
Tracey first joined the Mookai team as Activities and Playgroup Coordinator, and is now an integral part of the SEWB team. She brings over 20 years’ experience working in the childcare industry, and is also raising 3 children of her own. She is passionate about supporting women and children to navigate and overcome challenging family environments. As a SEWB Support Worker, she now supports the entire family providing comprehensive assessment and care.
Tracey was raised in the Cairns region and celebrates a rich cultural background, identifying as Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Japanese and Papuan. This supports her deep understanding of diversity and inclusion, and its intrinsic value in the workplace and communities.
