WHO WE ARE
SOPHIE HENSON
FOUNDER/CEO & CHIEF HOPE OFFICER
TBH, I wear a lot of hats... Florist, Photographer, gardener, Muma, Doggie owner, Daughter, Sister and a friend... but by far the most rewarding role (other than muma) is helping young people and their families navigate their way through the shit show that is the current mental health system. It's a tough gig and at times exhausting but I'm here and I'm doing it and I'm not going anywhere xxx
AMANDA KELLER
OAM AMBASSADOR
Amanda Keller is a highly respected Australian media personality known for her work in television, radio, podcasting, journalism, comedy, and acting. Co-hosting the award-winning Jonesy & Amanda radio show and The Living Room, she is celebrated for her authenticity and humor. A passionate advocate for youth wellbeing, Amanda promotes open discussions on mental health and serves as a compassionate ambassador for the Please Stay Foundation, spreading hope across Australia.
DIANE WILLIAMS HARAPIN OAM ADVISORY CHAIRPERSON
Di is an experienced CEO with a solid background in the not-for-profit sector, specialising in medicine, child advocacy, and community services. She excels in governance, compliance, policy, advocacy, stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, and leadership. After transitioning to family caregiving, Di developed a renewed perspective on making a lasting impact and is passionate about supporting children and families. As a dedicated PSF volunteer, she proudly contributes to protecting children and strengthening families.
OUR BOARD
SOPHIE HENSON
CEO, Founder, Secretary, Board Director, Board Member - LinkedIn
Chief Hope Officer
Marketing & Strategy
Corporate/Media
Partnerships
Strategy & Fundraising
Strategy & Marketing (Digital)
OUR ADVISORY COMMITEE
DARREN HARRISON
Mentoring | Youth Support | Trauma Informed Practice | Community Connection
Darren “Daz” Harrison has spent much of his life turning personal challenges into purpose. After a difficult childhood and young adulthood involving addiction, gangs and years of struggle, Darren left Adelaide in 1996 and found a new direction through life in the forest, raising a family and sharing his experiences with others.
For many years, Darren has supported young people who have grown up without positive male role models, taking them camping, sharing meals and creating safe spaces around the campfire. He discovered that cooking, conversation and connection could help people feel calmer, heard and supported.
Darren has worked across disability, men’s support and youth work and now mentors parents and young people experiencing challenges including drug use, mental health difficulties and suicidal thoughts. He is passionate about creating quiet, safe spaces where people can reconnect, feel supported and begin to find their way forward.
His qualifications include a Diploma in Organic Agriculture, Certificate III in Community Services, suicide prevention training, Drumbeat facilitation, Families and Schools Together facilitation, and training in working with trauma and children affected by trauma. Darren has also held roles with Backtrack Youthworks and has managed the Backtrack residential facility "Warrah", including five years as a team leader and supervisory roles across Backtrack Works and Homes North.
Dr. KRISTA TOMAS, PhD
ACADEMIC, EDUCATOR and TRAINER - LinkedIn
I commenced a career as a general registered nurse and subsequently went on to become a Social Scientist. My interest in neuroscience was triggered through nursing and rehabilitation with brain injured patients and later through a social science career making connections between some of these behaviours and those of children and adults presenting with mental health diagnoses and various forms of addiction. This included diagnoses of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity in the days prior to the identification of spectrum disorders.
I have experienced my greatest learning and joy through my children, and my grandchildren diagnosed with ASD and ADHD. In addition, through continued work with children and young people with a range of mental health, neurodiverse and behavioural conditions. These life and career circumstances have led to continued research and work in higher education as a lecturer in social sciences, exploring the connections between brain and behaviour. In particular, I have focused on the emergence of enlightened information regarding neurodiversity and the continuing neuroscience that connects adverse childhood experiences, early attachment relationships and environmental crises with structural and functional brain changes. In today’s neuroscientific and education communities these connections are positively transforming the way we manage behaviour and learning. In children who need our absolute commitment and perseverance to providing them with optimal life outcomes.
MARY BLANKEVOORT
EDUCATOR & TRAINER - LinkedIn
Mary is an entrepreneur, trainer, and mental health who co-founded Metro Training in 2009, focusing on first, health and safety, and compliance consulting for various sectors. With a UNSW degree in Industrial Relations and Political Science, she has over 20 years of experience in training and development. A mother of two neurodivergent young adults, Mary’s late ADHD diagnosis inspired her to create inclusive spaces for learning. As a Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor with the Please Stay Foundation, she equips others to support young people in crisis.
SARAH DALTON
EDUCATOR & TRAINER - LinkedIn
Sarah is a speaker, trainer, mentor and creator of The RAPPORT Advantage™, a signature methodology based on the belief that strong relationships drive better communication. With 30 years of experience in sales and customer engagement, she's delivered over 1,000 workshops to more than 25,000 people across many industries including real estate, construction, government, and customer service. Her clients include Samsung, Bosch, Ray White and many more.
Sarah is an accredited DISC Advanced Profiler, Mental Health First Aid Accredited Instructor and proud R U OK? Ambassador. She combines behavioural insight, practical experience and genuine warmth to help leaders and teams navigate difficult conversations, build psychological safety and strengthen communication.
SOPHIE'S
STORY
Four years ago, I saved my daughter's life. It took unimaginable strength, countless tears, and a complete change of our lives, but she stayed.
Our family spent years navigating the youth mental health system through suicide attempts, hospital admissions, school changes, and the constant fear of losing her. We were fortunate — many families are not.
Throughout that journey, I often wished for someone who truly understood. A parent with lived experience. A compassionate ear. A moment of hope. I believe that kind of support can change lives.
Today, too many families face barriers to accessing timely mental health care, while holistic supports and meaningful experiences that can aid recovery remain out of reach. Sometimes it's a break from everyday pressures, a special experience, or simply feeling seen and valued that makes all the difference.
I couldn't stand by and watch the youth mental health crisis grow without taking action. That's why I'm committed to helping young people and their families find hope, connection, and the support they deserve.
Together, we can make a difference.
OUR SUCCESS STORIES
HOLLY, 18 yrs
Holly has been with the PSF family for six months. When their mum came to us she was at her wits end and didn’t know where to turn. The hospital wouldn’t admit her again as she was “untreatable” and they could no longer help her.
Holly was diagnosed with treatment resistant depression and anxiety, PTSD and chronic suicide ideation. She had three hospital admissions in 2022 and severe school refusal.
With our support and guidance we’ve helped her turn a corner – a very sharp corner, and very quickly!
We secured a place for Holly to attend Rufftrack in the Hawkesbury area, and it’s changed her life. She’s found her tribe and gets to spend all day with her working dog family. She won the “Stepping Up” award at her graduation in 2022 and she’ll be returning there this year. It’s not government funded so she needs our help.
ARLEA, 23 YEARS
We’ve been supporting Arlea and her family of five for 4 years. She was in a very dangerous place when she came to us, with three suicide attempts in two weeks and her self harm, intrusive thoughts and OCD taking over her life.
She went to see a kinesiologist, had hair, DNA and urine analysis done which alerted us to a number of significant deficiencies. Once these had been treated, the difference was amazing.
We then organised private mentoring sessions with a published poet to encourage her poetry writing. She has blossomed into a happy, social and confident young lady. With her new-found strength and courage she wants to help others who are struggling as she did. Oh, and one of Arlea’s incredible poems has been published in a collab book - just saying!
She now wants to walk the Camino Trail in Spain!
CLAIRE, 21 YEARS
We’ve been supporting Claire for the last 12 months, she’s received scar reduction treatment to her self harm injuries, mentoring and continued support from us with her studies at National Art School in Sydney. Claire wanted to do something nice for her Mum for her birthday so we sent them for a fun day at the hair salon to lift their spirits, “we can’t stop looking at ourselves in the mirror” was our feedback! Prior to engaging with us, she was refusing school, self harming and had attempted suicide. With our support and encouragement we’ve helped her gain confidence again, enough confidence to be on a trip in India with her grandpa… for a young person who could barely leave the house this is a miracle.