The Collective
A gathering of counsellors, coaches, and educators, we’re united by a passion for helping people draw strength, clarity, and hope. From classrooms to counselling rooms, we bring diverse skills — and a shared belief that wellbeing is the wellspring of lasting impact.
Ben has worked in education for over 15 years across a variety of teaching and leadership roles. He is a certified coach with a passion for instructional coaching, leadership development, and team performance.
Drawing on his experience in schools and his work supporting educators, Ben believes that healthy professional and personal wellbeing is essential for sustaining impact in teaching and leadership. His approach is centred on equipping people to find strength, clarity, and hope in their work and lives.
Outside of his professional role, Ben is an avid cycling enthusiast who follows the Tour de France, enjoys playing Jenga with his kids, and values the simple joy of time spent with family.
Vanessa brings over 25 years of experience across education and people-focused roles, including as a secondary teacher, counsellor, retreats director, leadership coach, and workshop facilitator.
Vanessa’s counselling approach is relational, trauma-informed, and experiential. Grounded in an understanding of attachment needs, emotions, and the personal narratives that shape identity, she offers a safe and supportive space where individuals can heal, grow, and reconnect.
Her deep understanding of school communities allows her to connect meaningfully with educators and staff seeking support within both their professional and personal lives. As a parent of one teenager in secondary school and another completing her HSC, Vanessa holds deep appreciation for the vital role educators and staff play in shaping young people—not only academically, but in their growth as integrated adults whose faith, character, and leadership are nurtured throughout their schooling years.
David brings over two decades of experience in people-focused roles, including 10 years as a qualified Youth Worker and 11 years in pastoral ministry, with seven of those in church leadership. His work has centred on supporting young people and adults through identity, mental health, and life transitions, as well as walking alongside individuals and communities through grief, change, and healing.
Drawing on this diverse background, David brings a unique understanding of the pressures faced by educators and those in helping professions. He works from a person-centred and faith-informed approach, offering empathy, presence, and deep respect for each person’s story. David supports clients navigating grief, anxiety, burnout, identity questions, and life transitions - helping them rediscover purpose, balance, and wellbeing.