We would like to thank our staff for the practical support they have given patients and referrers impacted by recent disruptions to our sector. Providing continuity of care and stability is critical in mental health care, and we’re very proud of the professionalism you have demonstrated during this challenging time. As always, we are dedicated to achieving the best outcomes for patients, through prioritised admissions and the onboarding of affected health specialists.
At the time of our last newsletter, Avive Brisbane was still undergoing accreditation, and we are thrilled to now report the successful completion of that process. Congratulations and a big thank you to general manager, Ben Pocock and the Brisbane team.
Significant recent staffing appointments and the expansion of our hospital nursing and allied health teams reflects the growth and maturity of our company. Please join us in welcoming to Avive our national people and culture partner, Britt Sims who oversees our 200-strong workforce, and national technology and relationships manager, Luke Kean whose portfolio spans critical infrastructure across our two sites. Their arrival is a big step in aligning our human resources and IT needs and will inspire some new processes to accommodate Avive’s expansion and future business strategy, to ensure we remain at the forefront of innovation, while strengthening our staff wellbeing focus and external partnerships.
Speaking of infrastructure, we are also pleased to report that Avive Mornington Peninsula was nominated for a 2025 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects award for Victoria. We already knew this site was beautifully landscaped, to promote healing and positive interactions, but this is fantastic recognition for Studio 151 Landscape Architecture.
Warmest, Greg, Mark and Matt Co-Founders, Avive Health
the ball rolling. Then Saturday morning pilates and afternoon arts and crafts are popular. Every second weekend, patients can also enjoy a guided walk within the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens.
Allied Health team leader Vanessa Wrightson says she is also looking to dim the lights for Saturday night cinema and possibly introduce guest speakers on topics of interest each Sunday to grow the array of weekend offerings.
Growing and adapting
Avive has undergone a period of rapid growth in the past three years. And there’s a great deal to manage – and even review – as an organisation matures and expands.
We are delighted to welcome two new national staff members – national people and culture partner, Britt Sims and national technology and relationships manager, Luke Kean. Their addition to the Avive team is helping us to consolidate policies, procedures and platforms to keep delivering mental health care of the highest standard.
Both Britt and Luke bring a wealth of experience in supporting organisational growth and will be key to Avive’s future partnerships and innovation.
Britt’s first role was in a medical insurance company and her last with a health start-up. “This recent experience of building as you go has proven a useful skillset at Avive,” she says. “I like that we are doing what no-one’s done before; that Avive is not bogged down by history and resistant to change.
“There is so much growth potential and I’m looking at how we can achieve our mission in new, modern ways, with the right technology and the right systems, to keep innovating and improving patient outcomes.
“The welcoming Avive culture and openness to try and fail and learn and grow was a huge selling point for me, and this is the kind of working environment I want to support. There is a real sense of community in our hospitals, a sense that no idea is too big or too small. That’s very important in terms of process improvement.”
Appraising Avive’s broad technology portfolio and recommending improvements has been Luke’s initial focus. This applies to our physical infrastructure, network, clinical systems, security posture, and Avive’s websites and customer databases.
“As the company evolves, we’re focused on enhancing both the patient and staff experience through smarter, more streamlined processes,” says Luke. “With my diverse portfolio, I’m prioritising eliminating data silos and creating cohesive integrations across our operational and decision-support systems. Looking ahead, I want to ensure that our technology not only scales effectively but genuinely supports the incredible work our team does every day. Listening to feedback and understanding the challenges faced by our staff is at the heart of this transformation.”
Luke is considering the applications of AI, has plans to help revamp the website, and launch a new intranet. He is also dedicated to deepening relationships with tech vendors and partners – all with best practice in mind.
“There’s a lot happening but adhering to best practices will lead to better health outcomes,” Luke says. “My role involves a great deal of problemsolving, and I’ve prioritised visiting our clinics to engage directly with nurses on the floor and the management team to fully understand their needs. My goal is to consistently introduce meaningful innovations as we move forward.”
In addition to her human resources responsibilities, Britt has introduced a new company-wide town hall meeting each quarter and new management meetings “to ensure everyone gets the right message at the right time”. Like Luke, she appreciates the importance of Avive’s core function.
“What we are delivering and how we are delivering it is potentially changing someone’s life,” Britt says. “The care that our nurses and allied health professionals provide is absolutely critical to how the business operates. If we don’t have a wonderful team, like we do, then we can’t create and deliver these exceptional programs and provide that exceptional care. That pulls on my heartstrings.
“I may not be on the frontline, but I have a role in creating a workplace that enables people to bring their best selves to work and to feel empowered and valued. It’s my job to help develop that amazing team and ensure they have the right resourcing, and that’s already proving rewarding.”
Weekends with Doreen
Weekends
are busy for Doreen Nicolaou at Avive
Clinic Mornington Peninsula.
Between playing chess, supervising gel art, collecting knitted squares and coordinating craft, our muchloved diversional therapist has her hands full.
“Sometimes I can’t get out the door at the end of the day. We might have 15-20 patients taking part in the program and they spill out onto the patio and into the loungeroom,” Doreen says. “There is nothing we don’t do.
“Often a new patient will say they don’t feel well enough to do much, but they sit down and have a cuppa and start talking to others at the table. It’s a beautiful process that unfolds in this safe space.”
In the past, patients enjoying Doreen’s activities have built birdhouses, worked on jigsaws, modelled with clay and undertaken mindful colouring-in. Her community connections – Doreen has more than 50 years’ nursing experience – have also seen the group donate knitted blankets to a local vet hospital, homemade cards to a nearby nursing home, and gift bags to the children’s and emergency departments of Frankston Hospital.
“Most of what we do in the group gets donated and it’s a way for patients to give back. They put such love and care into the gifts they make.
“Some people will come and stay for hours. They don’t need to think, and I see them become more mindful and happier as they connect and interact with others. They always leave more content.”
There are rewards for Doreen, too.
“I’m really loving my position,” she says. “There is so much to give back to patients and to the community. But the health outcomes are the most important thing – and I provide clinical notes on each patient
after their participation to help guide their treatment. I guess that’s the nurse in me; it’s what I have been trained to do.”
A passionate ocean swimmer, Doreen believes “working and helping” is the answer to her own healthy life. “And eating lots of spinach and broccoli.”
Below: Avive Clinic Mornington Peninsula diversional therapist Doreen Nicolaou delivers Easter gift bags prepared by Avive patients to Frankston Hospital’s Helen Wilson for distribution to emergency department and children’s ward patients
Hear from our patients
Avive Brisbane is welcoming and safe. It’s more like a mental health retreat than a hospital. When you go into the loungeroom it feels as nice as mine at home. That says something – from the owners to the general manager to the staff. It doesn’t have a hospital feel, which I personally found really helpful in my recovery. Individual experiences may vary. Treatment outcomes depend on each person’s unique circumstances.
by
The right care – anywhere
At Avive, we understand there can be barriers to taking care of your mental health. Busy work schedules and family commitments, geographical distance and long waiting times in regional and rural areas can all be impediments to receiving the right mental health care at the right time.
Which is why we are taking person-centred care to the next level.
Avive’s virtual Cloud Clinic complements our inpatient and outpatient hospital model with a robust telehealth service that patients, their family or healthcare providers can access from anywhere.
Patients or their referrer need only contact us to secure an appointment, whether for a new diagnosis or ongoing care. Once the referral is reviewed and necessary documentation is received, it’s simply a matter of matching the individual with a psychiatrist. And after your first appointment, your psychiatrist works with you to develop a coordinated treatment plan.
This virtual clinic provides streamlined, timely and confidential general psychiatric care and ADHD assessment and management. We also provide bulkbilled care for rural Department of Veterans' Affairs patients, as well as once yearly 291 assessments for other rural patients,” says clinical lead, consultant psychiatrist Dr Ben Wakefield.
“The distinguishing feature of our Cloud Clinic is that it is backed by the Avive Health group. If a patient’s mental health care deteriorates, they can receive further treatment with us, whether through an admission to an Avive clinic, adjunct therapies or group support. This maintains the quality and continuity of their mental health care.”
With patients now able to receive psychiatric care from the comfort of their own home, Ben believes demand from rural and regional Australia will be high.
“Patients in these areas don’t have easy access to in-person assessments and some are waiting up to 12 months for psychiatric appointments,” he says. “Avive’s Cloud Clinic is designed to be responsive – to access care, from home, sooner.”
Newly launched, the clinic is already proving extremely popular. More than 100 referrals had been received even before it officially opened, and some patients were able to have their first appointment within a month of applying.
“I expect Cloud Clinic by Avive to grow rapidly and, because we are not limited to physical consulting rooms, it will enable us – as a healthcare group – to reach and help more people,” Ben says.
For more information, go to cloudclinic.com.au
Design that heals: AILA award recognition
It’s a proud moment to see our Mornington Peninsula facility recognised as an entrant in the 2025 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Awards - nominated in both the Health & Education Landscapes and Regional Achievement categories (Victoria).
At Avive Health, we believe delivering quality mental health care starts with the environments we create. We’re fortunate to collaborate with experts who share that vision - like Studio 151 Landscape Architecture, whose thoughtful design has shaped spaces that promote calm, privacy, and connection to nature.
This project reflects the best of collaborative, values-aligned work - with Studio 151 Landscape Architecture and HSPC Health Architects helping to translate therapeutic principles into built form.
Our thanks and congratulations to the entire project team on this welldeserved recognition.
Just what the doctors ordered
Meeting with GPs is a fantastic two-way learning opportunity. They get to learn the support Avive provides, and we gain insights into the needs of practitioners and their patients.
Earlier this month, Avive co-founders Greg Procter and Mark Sweeney hosted a dedicated GP education dinner in Brisbane. Partnerships manager Catherine Fitzsimmons says it was a chance to introduce our new virtual Cloud Clinic, with its specific focus on treating people with ADHD.
“There was strong interest, with more than 20 GPs attending, which indicates an appetite for information about our services and approach to healthcare,” Catherine says. “Feedback from doctors suggests many will now look to change their practices in light of the information we shared.”
A special presentation by Avive Brisbane consultant psychiatrist, Dr Ben Wakefield on ADHD assessment and care available through Cloud Clinic by Avive (see page 5) was a big drawcard.
“GPs are seeing a lot of ADHD patients coming through and are desperate to get them into private care or to be seen by specialists in a timely manner,” Catherine says.
Ben spoke on the management of ADHD and the psycho-social component of the disorder, to help GPs better understand their patients.
“Many were interested in Avive options, particularly on the telehealth platform, as a means of fasttracking treatment,” Ben says.
One GP described the ADHD talk as “phenomenal” and says it had given them a new layer of understanding. “The presentations by knowledgeable presenters were excellent and relevant to GP practice,” the doctor wrote in their evaluation.
GPs later reported that they will now consider earlier inpatient treatment for mental health conditions, parental coaching for ADHD, and taking a more detailed history. Others expressed interest in Avive’s inpatient/outpatient program for patients with severe anxiety and were pleased to learn about new options for addressing treatment-resistant depression.
Avive looks forward to providing ongoing, relevant GP education as part of its education and event series. To enquire or arrange education, meetings, in-practice presentations or a site tour of our facilities, contact our dedicated partnerships managers:
• Queensland - Catherine Fitzsimmons catherinefitzsimmons@avivehealth.com.au or 0400 293 005
• Victoria – Elyse Barker elysebarker@avivehealth.com.au or 0415 909 051.
Hear from our patients
A caring, professional team
All the staff – doctors, nurses, social workers, kitchen, and cleaning teams –were kind, professional, and attentive. I felt safe and heard.
Mind–body care and recovery
There is a complete mind and body philosophy to care which really benefited me. Access to the gym helped me manage stress and feel more balanced.
Avive GP education dinner discussing Cloud Clinic, ADHD and depression.
Fashioning a new role
Day one of her new role as Avive Mornington Peninsula’s partnerships manager and Elyse Barker was out meeting doctors and nurses. And she wouldn’t want it any other way.
“My
role here
is essentially to promote our hospital, so the harder I work, the more patients I can
help,” Elyse
says. “The faster they get help, the sooner their lives can improve.”
It’s a message that Elyse is eagerly sharing with referrers. “I encourage doctors to ‘act now’ and not wait until their patient is in crisis. A prompt referral is not just important for the individual but also for their family and community. Problems can become greater than they need to be.”
Diverse professional and personal experience informs Elyse’s approach. Before joining Avive she marketed prescription respiratory and diabetes medication for a major pharmaceutical company. But a previous career as a personal trainer and her own experience with mental health are proving equally relevant.
“As a personal trainer, I took a very holistic approach, and mental health has always been a massive interest of mine because of the situational anxiety I have experienced,” Elyse says.
“When you experience something yourself, you are drawn to wanting to improve the lives of others; to
helping them avoid those difficult times. I am looking forward to connecting with different communities, including those in the drugs and alcohol, veterans' and post-natal depression spaces.”
But what her colleagues may not know about Elyse is that she also comes from a fashion background. She studied design at university, has exhibited with the National Gallery of Victoria and been the national sales manager for an international brand. Outside her busy Avive role, Elyse also supports her husband to operate a men’s fashion label, Whisky on Rocks.
“I guess you can say I am entrepreneurial; I have always been a people person and love to give solutions through the avenue of sales. And it was my husband’s experience of asthma and diabetes that led me into pharmaceutical sales roles, to marry up the sales and healthcare. I am now excited to be using that understanding of medications and patient centricity, as well as my ability to generate business leads, with Avive.
“I find everything about the Avive model appealing, especially the fact that patients are encouraged to exercise regularly and are treated like adults in a warm, healing environment. You are giving people dignity at a time when they feel so vulnerable and need education, respect and understanding from those around them, so they can integrate change into their lives.
“The scope of my clients is broad, and I am looking forward to using my skillset to improve the lives of others. You could say this role was designed for me.”
Elyse joins our Avive Brisbane partnerships manager Catherine Fitzsimmons, based in Queensland, to extend our geographical engagement.
Priceless peer support
Avive’s distinctive care model appreciates the importance of lived and living experience in mental health support.
Lived experience general manager John Knights is delivering weekly education sessions for Avive inpatients and day patients in our Mornington Peninsula hospital while continuing his own recovery journey. And we have recently welcomed volunteer consumer advocate Greg to our Brisbane hospital.
Greg brings unique skills and experience to the role. A former teacher and youth worker, he taught for a time in a juvenile remand centre and understands the value of giving everyone a say.
“I might have had 12-15 kids on remand in my class, and it was my job to facilitate learning and to empower them to change direction; to consider their options,” he says. “Sometimes that meant throwing my lesson plan out the window.”
But, after retirement, Greg’s personal trauma caught up with him – a “perfect storm” that resulted in two admissions to a mental health facility. Two further visits to Avive Clinic Brisbane consolidated the strategies he needed to move forward, to help himself and now others.
“It’s this personal experience that enables me to contribute in this way,” says Greg. “I was honoured and grateful to be asked.
“As an advocate, I stand beside patients. I provide the peer support they need and do what I can to help improve their overall experience. Every Thursday I am available from 10am until 6:30pm to chat, and mealtimes are a great opportunity. My role is to listen, take feedback to management and then report back to patients, where possible.”
And Greg has already facilitated some great outcomes, including a walking group, the addition of more fidget toys and tap-turning aids. A welcome table in the dining room helps to “create a friendly culture, so new patients can eat in company”, and a central noticeboard shares news of programs and activities.
“Patients can feel so disempowered, so fragile and defeated, even when they have had the courage to seek help,” Greg says. “Anything that is welcoming and helps them can be powerful, because you don’t want impediments anywhere along the wellness journey.
“Not all feedback is negative either. It’s about patients being heard, and this benefits the individual and other patients, too.”
Avive Clinic Brisbane general manager, Ben Pocock says Greg is a strong bridge between patients and the healthcare team. “He is sharing his wealth of skills and knowledge, supporting patients personally and through input into the delivery of our courses,” Ben says. “Greg’s contributions will help the management team to shape policies within the clinic, which is an investment in Avive Brisbane’s continued improvement.”
For Greg, the Avive position provides a sense of purpose. For patients, his familiar presence, continued good health and the beautiful art he shares through patient gift cards are a source of inspiration.
“I have sat on their side of the fence, which can be a terribly lonely place,” Greg says. “If they can see that I am doing well, that I have learnt to be comfortably functional, it gives them hope. And hope is essential.”
Out and about
Lunches, webinars, special events, sponsorships…
Avive staff and representatives have been out and about in the community sharing our positive mental health care message.
Tennis Club shot
Avive Mornington Peninsula is now the main sponsor of Mount Eliza Tennis Club’s senior tournament. Thanks John Knights.
International Nurses Day
Avive Mornington Peninsula staff (at front) Aena Ghai (and at back, left to right) Elizabeth Harry, Raman Kumar, Emily Brereton and Amber Kucera celebrate International Nurses Day in sweet style in May.
Psychology conference
Avive’s national allied health manager, Megan Deutsher and Brisbane allied health team leader, Vanessa Wrightson were just two of our team flying the Avive flag at the Australian Psychological Society’s Festival of Psychology on the Gold Coast in May.
RANZCP
In May, Avive Brisbane consulting psychiatrists Dr Bart Wlodek, Dr Vikas Moudgil and Dr Vicky Satchwell were among those representing Avive at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) annual congress on the Gold Coast. We were also proud to see Dr Maya Tanham present as part of the scientific program, contributing to the broader dialogue around psychiatric care and clinical practice.
Thank a first responder
On Thank a First Responder Day, Avive honoured the courage and care demonstrated by our first responders, but also the cost of their professional roles.
Avive Clinic Brisbane’s rooftop barbecue was an occasion to pause, reflect and thank those whose service shapes our community every day.
Wounded Heroes
Avive supported the Resilience and Empowerment Luncheon, bringing attention to domestic violence prevention through the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation for Domestic Violence and crisis support for veterans through Wounded Heroes. Olympic gold medallist, mental health advocate and Beyond Blue ambassador Libby Trickett – the keynote speaker – met Avive Brisbane partnerships manager Catherine Fitzsimmons.
Clinical nurse Ellen Rothwell, Avive Brisbane
“It’s the culture that attracted me to Avive – the holistic model of care that integrates mental health into life. Patients are treated like people, which sets them up for success when they leave hospital.
What I am enjoying most is the team that I have come into. It is such an amazing group of nurses and allied health professionals. Everyone gets on with their job and supports one another.
I am used to a busy environment, but for a boutique hospital Avive is very busy. However, it doesn’t feel that intense or physically demanding because of the teamwork and the approachability of senior management.
Outside of work and my parenting duties, I enjoy reading a good psychological thriller and spending time with my cavoodle George.”
Registered nurse and nurse educator
Keah Hughes, Avive Brisbane
“I’ve been happy to swap the long, cold and dark winters of Canada for life in Australia and work with Avive.
It takes a special kind of person to work in mental health and these are my people. I am especially loving the fact that it is a new, young team with fresh ideas – a place where many different ideas are welcomed, heard and respected.
In my nurse educator role, I am looking at how I can support staff and improve policies and procedures to ensure the overall safety and wellbeing of patients and staff. It’s an opportunity for me to continue my own education. The mental health space is everchanging and there should always be a level of professional development and education throughout your career.
I visited Australia twice before moving here and I love it. Away from work, I like listening to music, going to concerts, playing guitar, as well as kicking my feet up at home and watching a good movie.”
Meet the team
Dianne McFarland, intake and admissions (RN), Avive Mornington Peninsula
“Mental health care is my passion, and I love it. I find the patients inspiring and feel like I am making a real difference. I love building a good rapport and relationship with our patients and having the opportunity to see them improve throughout their journey.
I am often the first point of contact for people approaching Avive and because I feel strongly that Avive can help patients through its holistic approach, it’s easy to recommend Avive and want to help patients come here.
Our Avive clinic in Mount Eliza is beautiful and from the moment you walk in, it feels welcoming and calm, with a healing atmosphere. The staff are all so friendly, kind and supportive of each other which makes Avive such a lovely environment to work in.
I am half-way through my studies to become a registered psychiatric nurse. When I am not at Avive I enjoy beach walks, music and watching movies with my partner. I also have two cats and two rabbits who have the run of our house.”
Ross Anderson Consultant Psychologist
Avive Mornington Peninsula
Tell us about you.
I am a psychologist deeply committed to trauma-informed care for people presenting with a broad range of conditions. I have a particular interest and expertise in the effects of acute trauma and post-traumatic stress, chronic stress and complex pain syndromes, and drug and alcohol dependency.
GradDipEdCouns, BSc(Psych), ExecDipBusCoach, DipClinHyp, DipTAS MAPS Q A Q A
specialists Q A Q A
My career spans the frontline trauma response, executive education and long-term rehabilitation. I have partnered with banks, emergency services and public organisations as a critical incident responder at scenes of major trauma, including the Queen Street, Hoddle Street and Port Arthur tragedies. This has seen me work closely to support defence force and emergency service personnel like ambulance and police officers. I am also a volunteer with the Australian Psychological Society’s Disaster Response Network.
What is your patient philosophy?
I don’t follow the model of ‘I know everything, and you don’t’. That doesn’t work, in practice, with people who have their own resources and experiences to draw on. I often bow to the wisdom of the patient and try to co-create a positive outcome with them.
Hear from our patients
Comfort, environment and nourishment
Staff were kind, considerate and attentive to my needs. Even the kitchen team took time to accommodate preferences where possible.
What inspired you to work at Avive?
Working in the public trauma space, I was on call 24-7 for years. I was often jumping out of bed at 3am to support people who had experienced something horrific. I couldn’t keep going and went into academia in the Melbourne Business School and Centre for Creative Leadership (in Brussels, Shanghai and Singapore), to run leadership and change management programs.
I thought it would be a lovely idea to return to the Mornington Peninsula – I grew up in Mount Eliza – and to lead a quieter life. At Avive, I love working with the team and being part of the community here. I work part of the time in the consulting rooms as a psychologist and part of the time facilitating anxiety and mood, and dual diagnosis groups, which is a nice balance.
What do you bring to Avive?
Four decades of experience in a variety of roles. I have expertise on the clinical side with trauma, the really front-end stuff, running university leadership programs and facilitating groups. I have designed, led and coached people from the Australian Defence Force, Red Cross, Ambulance Victoria, the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police.
I have also provided expert evidence in traumarelated matters within Australian courts and have contributed to legislative reform by advocating for victim impact statements.
Mind–body care and recovery
The integration of scientific and psychosocial education gave me hope. The sessions helped me look at things differently and feel more positive.
Doctor profile
Dr Jon Stefansson Consultant Psychiatrist
Avive Mornington Peninsula
MD,
PhD, FRANZCP
“Good outcomes in mental health come when patients feel understood, informed and involved. My approach focuses on making evidence-based treatment understandable and applicable to everyday life. I believe in clear communication, shared decision-making, and building strong therapeutic relationships that support real, lasting change.”
Tell us about you.
Q A Q A Q A Q A Q A
I was born in Iceland and because it’s a relatively small country and my parents wanted to study abroad, I have had quite an international childhood, living in multiple English-speaking countries. After high school, I moved to southern Sweden. I studied medicine in Copenhagen, Denmark, completed a PhD within the field of suicidology in Stockholm, and while working as a clinical psychiatrist I also spent several years teaching at the Karolinska Institutet. I’ve been practising psychiatry since 2013 and moved to Australia with my family over four years ago. We now call the Mornington Peninsula our home, and I currently also work in the public health care sector as a psychiatrist while supporting junior doctors through training.
What is your patient philosophy?
I see it as my role to help patients make sense of often complex treatment information. There’s a big gap between academic research and everyday practice – I aim to bridge that by translating evidence into practical, personalised care. I believe trust, open communication and shared understanding between doctor and patient are essential for good mental health outcomes.
What inspired you to work with Avive?
I was impressed from the first visit. The clinic’s environment was welcoming and thoughtfully
designed, and speaking with a local GP – who highly recommended Avive – affirmed it as a place committed to quality care. Meeting Dr Matt McDornan and the wider team gave me confidence that Avive understands the importance of good clinical work and is building something truly collaborative.
What do you bring to Avive?
Avive marks my first step into private practice. I bring a strong public health background, an international perspective, and a deep interest in evidence-based care. My PhD and clinical experience allow me to interpret and apply the latest research to real-world treatment. I also value innovation and am a strong advocate for shared medical records to improve communication and patient outcomes.
What early impressions or feedback have you received about Avive so far?
The early feedback has been very positive. Referring GPs have expressed appreciation for the responsiveness and follow-up they’ve received. There’s genuine interest in what Avive is building – a new, modern service that feels clinically grounded and easy to work with. From a systems perspective, the shared electronic medical records and collaborative model are promising and well-aligned with high-quality care.
Our sessions explore a range of clinically relevant topics, including:
• Navigating inpatient and day program referral pathways
• ADHD assessment and treatment
• In-hospital and virtual treatment pathways
• Dual diagnosis and integrated care for substance use
• Trauma-informed approaches in hospital and community care
• The role of movement, exercise and mind-body interventions in recovery
• Complex presentations, risk, and continuity of care
Attend in person or online
Events are held at our Mornington Peninsula and Brisbane locations, and we also offer a schedule of virtual sessions to support remote attendance.
At Avive, we believe that better mental health care starts with shared knowledge. That’s why we regularly host educational events for GPs, psychologists, allied health professionals, and specialists – to support collaborative care, strengthen referral pathways, and deepen understanding of the treatment options available.
Experience Avive - purpose-built mental health care like no other
From tranquil landscaped gardens to light-filled group therapy spaces, Avive’s hospitals are designed to feel different – because healing should begin the moment you walk through the door.
Our purpose-built Mornington Peninsula and Brisbane facilities combine clinical excellence with the latest in health-promoting design - private single rooms with ensuites, circadian lighting to support rest and recovery, dedicated fitness studios, and peaceful retreat areas for reflection and restoration.
See it for yourself.
We invite you to explore our spaces from wherever you are. Take a virtual tour and experience mental health environments, reimagined.
Visit avivehealth.com.au/ locations/virtual-tours or scan the QR code.
Spotlight on operations
Sue-Ellen Blomfield reflects on three years of growth and operational leadership at Avive.
Since joining Avive as its first team member, chief operating officer Sue-Ellen Blomfield has played a foundational role in shaping the systems, culture and standards that support Avive’s model of care. With a background in healthcare leadership and a focus on safe, integrated systems and high-performing teams, she continues to drive operational excellence across the organisation.
A foundation built on purpose
Over the past three years, Avive has grown from concept to two purpose-built mental health hospitals.
Key milestones include the opening of our Mornington Peninsula and Brisbane hospitals, the development of trauma-informed program structures, and the recruitment of a skilled and values-aligned workforce.
Operational highlights also include the implementation of a state-based enterprise bargaining agreement – a commitment to transparent, equitable employment conditions that support long-term workforce stability and engagement.
Sue-Ellen’s approach reflects a strong alignment between professional values and personal ethos. Grounded, hands-on and people-focused, she’s known for being closely connected to the day-to-day work of the teams she leads. Outside of work, she enjoys early starts, growing flowers and nurturing her family’s olive grove – all reflections of a calm, considered presence that carries into her role.
Designing seamless, safe patient journeys
Avive’s operational framework has been built and structured around a trauma-informed, personcentred model of care. Key features include:
• Comprehensive intake and discharge planning to support continuity from the outset;
• Multidisciplinary team collaboration, ensuring patients experience coordinated, connected care;
• Patient involvement in goal-setting, treatment options, and planning for discharge and recovery; and
• Supportive, consistent communication across the patient journey.
These systems are designed not only for safety and clinical effectiveness, but also to create predictability, trust and calm for people accessing care.
Enabling culture through operational clarity
Culture is a critical enabler of clinical care – and at Avive, operational systems are intentionally designed to support it. The team operates with a shared sense of purpose, reinforced by transparent processes, collaborative structures, and feedback loops that ensure the voices of staff are heard and reflected in decision-making.
Leadership visibility, responsiveness and an investment in team development are core to Avive’s operational strategy – helping staff to feel supported, capable and aligned in the delivery of high-quality care.
Governance, risk and system strength
Avive's governance and safety systems are built on three key principles: person-centred design, proactive risk management and operational simplicity. All frameworks are developed to be clinically robust, trauma-informed and practical for use in fast-paced clinical environments.
Ongoing risk review, incident analysis and staff engagement inform continuous system improvement. Policy and compliance structures are embedded in daily practice, not just documented –ensuring clarity, accountability, and alignment with both regulatory standards and Avive’s values.
Looking ahead
Looking to the future, Sue-Ellen is focused on strengthening the foundations that support Avive’s continued growth and impact. She’s excited about:
• Ongoing staff development across clinical, operational and leadership roles;
• Clear communication of patient outcomes, supported by evidence and lived experience;
• System refinement and scalability, ensuring sustainable growth while preserving care quality; and
• Benchmarking and external recognition, positioning Avive as a leader in innovative mental health care.
As she explains, “Our goal is to ensure every part of the operational framework enables safe, compassionate and effective care. We’re building not just for today, but for long-term sustainability and excellence. That means investing in people, staying responsive to the needs of patients and clinicians, and continuing to hold ourselves to the highest standard”.
Sue-Ellen’s leadership and operational expertise continue to play a vital role in supporting Avive’s mission – to deliver safe, consistent and recoveryoriented mental health care across every location and every patient experience. We thank her for her valued contributions and ongoing commitment to excellence.
The Avive therapeutic journey: Foundations. Emerge. Thrive.
At Avive Health, we’ve created something different – a trauma-informed recovery model that both honours where people are, and walks with them toward where they want to be.
The Avive therapeutic journey is more than a treatment plan – it’s a flexible, three-stage progression that supports stabilisation, processing, and integration, all within a deeply human and clinically rigorous framework.
Stage 1: Foundations – reconnect and stabilise
All journeys begin by finding solid ground. Our rolling 3-week inpatient program focuses on nervous system regulation, emotional reconnection, and restoring safety. Every patient completes ‘Embody’, a first-of-its-kind Australian inpatient program reconnecting body and mind through movement, breath, sleep, nutrition, and emotional tracking. Patients also join focused therapy streams – either anxiety and mood, or dual diagnosis – and also access electives like art therapy, nature walks, and recovery education.
Following discharge, most continue with weekly day programs (DBT skills, dual diagnosis recovery, veterans groups and more), extending the stabilisation process in a flexible outpatient format.
Stage 2: Emerge – process and transform
For patients ready to do deeper work, ‘Emerge’ offers a psychiatrist-designed, trauma-processing program unmatched in the private sector. Rather than symptom management, ‘Emerge’ helps patients confront, feel, and begin to reshape the emotional roots of their distress – all within a safe, structured 3-week rolling format.
Patients can start at any point in the cycle:
• Week 1: Unpack – explore patterns and emotional defences
• Week 2: Feel – release trauma through body and narrative work
• Week 3: Rebuild – reclaim meaning, identity, and values
It’s not therapy as usual – it’s the work that changes everything.
Stage 3: Thrive – integrate and move forward
‘Thrive’ is where insight becomes action. Delivered as an 8-week outpatient group, this phase supports patients to live what they’ve learned. Through real relational dynamics, identity work, and values-based goal setting, patients begin to show up in their lives with clarity, connection, and direction.
This is where growth gets lived.
A flexible, personalised pathway
Patients can enter the journey at any stage, depending on their clinical readiness and prior therapeutic work. Whether stabilising after crisis, confronting trauma, or integrating profound change, the Avive model is designed to meet patients at the right level of care, at the right time.
We’re proud to deliver modern healthcare that is connected, grounded, and transformative.
For referrals or enquiries, contact help@avivehealth.com.au or call 1800 284 830.
