About Us
Latest news
Our Team
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Nicole
MANAGER
My role is to make sure that our services run smoothly and staff are supported to provide this important resource for women and non-binary whanau in Pōneke.
The Collective has been operating since 1986 off the strength and commitment of its volunteers and staff, and it’s a privilege to be part of this work.
While I don’t meet with clients directly, I’m always around the office and I make a pretty good cuppa. -
Libby
TRIAGE COORDINATOR
I have been working in the mental health and addictions sector for 2 years which has shown the importance of supporting women across Aotearoa. In my nomadic upbringing, I have been inspired by the strength and individuality of many women I’ve met. I am dedicated to working in a culturally and trauma-informed way to provide care and aroha for Wellington women.
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Adele
COUNSELLOR
Kia ora. I know that reaching out for help can feel overwhelming, and my priority is to create a safe, supportive space where you feel heard and valued. I believe that everyone has unique needs and perspectives, so I tailor my approach using a range of counselling modalities to best suit you. My goal is to work collaboratively—combining my expertise as a counsellor with your strengths and experiences—to help reduce the impact of challenges in your life. Open communication is important to me, and I welcome feedback to ensure our work together is meaningful, respectful, and effective.
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Marcela
STUDENT COUNSELLOR
I am a firm believer in the power each one of us hold, no matter how hard our circumstances or the feelings we are navigating. As a counsellor, I put my clients at the centre, valuing their unique aspirations, experiences, needs and abilities. I provide a safe, warm, professional and respectful place where we can openly explore together your feelings and thoughts, so we can create space to move forward.
I am originally from Chile and migrated to Aotearoa in 2006. I am a mum of three young humans and one furry companion. In my free time, I love doing weaving and textile work.
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Jo
FUNDING COORDINATOR
I have worked in the not-for-profit sector for the past eleven years, and I am delighted to be able to use my knowledge and experience to support Wellington Women’s Health Collective to help other women in their well-being journeys.
While my role is very ‘behind the scenes’ at the Collective, I am enjoying calling on my experience in the fundraising field to make things happen for the women of Wellington and to support my colleagues who are integral to helping those who come to us for support.
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Angela
STUDENT COUNSELLOR
Kia ora! My name is Angela, and I love my work as a trainee counsellor. My counselling style is rooted in compassion and trauma-informed care. I use evidence-based therapies to work collaboratively with you to explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. I aim to hold space for you to feel safe and respected so that you can show up authentically as your whole self. Together we can bring our curiosity toward life situations or aspects of yourself that you'd like to connect to and/or better understand.
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Hana
MANAGER (CURRENTLY ON PARENTAL LEAVE)
Our Committee
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Anita
CHAIR
I’m passionate about accessible mental health support and love being a part of WWHC. I have held various roles here, including volunteering as a Counsellor for two years as a member of the Change Committee and now as a committee member.
We’ve had a busy few years, and I am proud to be part of an amazing group of people who come together, bound by feminist beliefs and the desire and capacity to give time, energy, knowledge, and skills. With a shared intention to sustain and grow our services, I am excited to see some of our new initiatives develop in the coming years.
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Caroline
SECRETARY
I joined the Committee in late 2024 and am honoured to support this amazing team to deliver a vital service to women in Wellington. I am a public servant and have spent the majority of my career in policy and operational roles in areas of child well-being, family and sexual violence and women's health. I trained as a lawyer at Otago University, and am currently studying towards a Masters in Counselling. I love working with others on a shared mission to help individuals, whānau and communities thrive.
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Mandy
TREASURER
I’m a chartered accountant with a background in financial management and compliance. Now retired, I’m pleased I can use my skills to support WWHC’s services for women in our community. As WWHC’s treasurer, I help maintain the organisation’s financial health and sustainability. I support the Committee with clear, accurate financial reports that help it make decisions and raise funds.
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Jessie
COMMITTEE MEMBER
I'm passionate about helping community organisations achieve their goals. My background is in government relations, communications & engagement, and project management, and I have held roles across the Public Sector and at Parliament. I joined the Committee in May 2023.
Our Story
Our story started in 1986 with a safe and welcoming space focused on well-being, created by women for women, including those identifying in ways differing from traditional gender norms. This initial group formed a not-for-profit collective, enabling all staff, volunteers and members to have a say in how the organisation was run. Wellington Women’s Health Collective became an established part of the Wellington community. Over the years, we’ve called different spaces home, including a period where we were housed alongside various other community organisations supporting Wellington women. The strong relationships we built during this time continue to benefit the people we serve today.
While the Collective structure served us well for many years, we are now evolving to better align with our changing society. Our new structure, finalised in early 2021, includes a Committee that provides support and guidance, alongside our dedicated staff. This shift allows us to more effectively respond to the evolving needs of our community, workforce, and environment, ensuring that the Wellington Women’s Health Collective continues to live its values with the well-being of women at its core.
Volunteers have always been a vital and valued part of our story. As we know, not-for-profit organisations often rely on the passion of both paid staff and volunteers. As a feminist organisation, we recognise the pay gap and the historical reliance on women in voluntary roles. In response, we are working to reduce our reliance on volunteers by increasing the number of paid positions within the Wellington Women’s Health Collective. This shift also acknowledges the complex skill sets required and the seriousness of our work by offering improved pay rates. We’ve started this process with a recent grant that has allowed us to create a paid counselling position. In the long term, securing ongoing funding to sustain this initiative will provide staff stability, reduce waiting lists, and enable us to expand our services.
We hope you will join us in any way you can to help share who we are and what we do, to champion our causes, and to ensure that we continue to be here for many years to come, providing accessible, safe, and welcoming support through our mahi.
Learn more about us and our services by listening to this conversation with Wellington Access Radio.
