Frequently Asked Questions
About Nostos Nest – the work, the why, and what makes it different
Why “Nostos Nest”?
Nostos is an ancient Greek word that means “homecoming” – not just returning to a place, but to your essence. It’s the quiet reclaiming of who you are, after forgetting for a while.
The Nest represents a soft landing. A safe, nurturing space for growth – not rigid, not perfect, but real.
Together, Nostos Nest reflects a journey: one that honours my Greek and Australian roots, and the truth that real transformation starts with rest, reconnection, and becoming who you were always meant to be, before the world told you who to be.
Today, the lines between work and life – and between human and business – are blurred. We can’t sustain our careers without being human. And workplaces can’t thrive on automation alone. They need people. Real people. With empathy, insight, and care.
Nostos Nest exists in that blurred space – to help individuals come home to themselves, and to help workplaces create space for real humans to thrive.
Do you work with small businesses or just large ones?
Both. But I have a real soft spot for small to medium organisations – the ones who care deeply about their people but may not have the budget for expensive EAPs or big-ticket wellbeing programs.
There’s so much that can be done with small shifts, thoughtful conversations, and genuine care. I want to help workplaces at any size build mentally healthy cultures in ways that are practical, real, and sustainable.
You don’t need a big budget – just the willingness to begin.
Do you work with any organisation, or only a specific type of client?
I’ve spent over three decades in corporate – including 14 years at Salesforce, a global tech company ranked Australia’s #1 Best Place to Work for six consecutive years. I understand how to navigate complexity, drive outcomes, and lead through change.
But I’m not here to polish up your wellbeing program for optics. I’m here for the businesses that want to go deeper – who are ready to have honest conversations and build cultures where humans are truly supported.
If a company needs me to be less human to work with them, we’re probably not the right fit – and that’s ok. I work best with organisations willing to blur the line between business and human in the name of doing better, together.
How do I know if my workplace is ready for this?
If you’re asking that question – you’re already ahead.
You don’t need to have everything figured out. You just need to care enough to start.
The Workplace Mental Health Maturity Assessment I’ve created meets you where you are – whether you’re just beginning the conversation or looking to strengthen what’s already in place. You’ll walk away with insight, clarity, and a roadmap you can actually use.
What is the Mental Health Maturity Assessment Tool?
The Workplace Mental Health Maturity Assessment is a human-centred tool designed by Nostos Nest to help organisations reflect honestly on how they support mental wellbeing – not just in policy, but in practice.
It’s not a compliance checklist. It’s an evidence-informed framework designed to:
- Identify strengths and gaps across key wellbeing domains
- Spark meaningful internal conversations
- Provide a clear roadmap for action
Whether you’re starting from scratch or already making progress, the tool helps you focus on what matters, with clarity and care – no judgement.
What Are Employers Legally Required to Do About Mental Health in Australia?
In Australia, every business or organisation – known under the law as a PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking) – has a legal duty to protect both the physical and mental health of their employees.
This responsibility falls under the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act, and it’s not optional – it’s a legal obligation.
What does this mean in practice?
Employers are legally required to:
- Identify mental health risks at work (called psychosocial hazards)
- Assess how likely they are to cause harm
- Take steps to eliminate or minimise them
- Regularly review and improve their controls
What are psychosocial hazards?
Psychosocial hazards are things in the workplace that can cause psychological harm. They include:
- Too much work or unrealistic deadlines
- Bullying, harassment, or conflict
- Low role clarity or poor communication
- Lack of support from managers or peers
- Exposure to trauma or emotionally distressing work
- Poorly managed change
- Unsafe or unfair systems and culture
These risks affect people’s wellbeing and performance – and they’re just as serious as physical safety risks under the law.
What if we haven’t done anything yet?
If you haven’t addressed this yet – don’t panic. You’re not alone.
The important thing is to start now.
Here’s what you can do:
- Use our Mental Health Maturity Assessment to identify where you’re at
- Start small – pick one area to focus on and build from there
- Engage your people and talk honestly about what’s working and what’s not
- Take action and document your efforts – that shows you’re taking your duty seriously
No one expects perfection – but regulators do expect evidence of effort and progress.
What happens if we don’t comply?
If a business fails to manage psychosocial risks:
- They may face fines, legal action, or enforcement from regulators
- They may receive more psychological injury claims (which can be costly)
- They may see higher turnover, burnout, disengagement, or reputational harm
Mental health at work is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s part of your core safety responsibilities – and increasingly a risk issue, a legal issue, and a people issue.
The good news?
The law doesn’t require you to have it all figured out – it just requires you to take it seriously and take steps to improve. Our Mental Health Maturity Assessment is one way to do that.
What makes your approach different?
I’m not here to offer generic resilience training or wellness buzzwords.
I’m here with lived experience, real tools, and a deep understanding of how people and systems actually work.
I bring honesty, clarity, and warmth – because I’ve lived the burnout, asked the hard questions, and found my way back.
This work isn’t about fixing people. It’s about creating space – in life and in work – for people to return to themselves.
What qualifies you to do this?
This work is grounded in both professional expertise and lived experience:
- 35+ years in corporate across industries and roles
- 14 years at Salesforce – a DOW-listed global tech company ranked Australia’s #1 Best Place to Work six years running
- Career experience in professional services sales, solution delivery, project management, operations, customer success, and business transformation
- 4 years as a mental health advocate, including co-founding a global employee mental health ERG, and leading the successful application for MHFA Workplace Recognition, positioning Salesforce Australia as a leader in workplace mental health.
- Recipient of a global “Women of Impact” recognition award for my work in mental health advocacy
- Licensed Mental Health First Aid Instructor
Alongside that, I bring lived experience that continues to shape my approach.
I grew up as the eldest of six in a single-parent home impacted by alcoholism, depression, and deep emotional struggles, including suicide attempts. Mental health wasn’t a distant topic – it was part of daily life. I’ve also navigated my own path through burnout, anxiety, bouts of depression, and quitting drinking, all while learning how to function – and eventually thrive – in high-pressure environments.
These experiences give me a deep well of empathy and realism. I understand how hard it is to keep showing up when everything feels heavy. I know the courage it takes to ask for help or to try a different way.
This work isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about people. And I’m here to walk alongside the people and organisations ready to do it differently – with clarity, care, and humanity.
What if I’m not sure I’m burnt out, but something feels off?
That’s more common than you think.
Burnout often creeps in quietly – as flatness, numbness, irritation, exhaustion, or disconnection. If you feel like you’ve lost a part of yourself in the process of “coping,” this space is for you.
Through the blog, the tools, and the real talk, I hope you’ll find something that helps things click back into place – and supports your next step forward.
Can individuals book coaching or one-on-one support?
I offer one-on-one Personal Guidance for individuals navigating burnout, major life transitions, or periods where life feels heavy, confusing, or stuck.
This work sits between coaching and mentoring and is designed for times when being asked to find all the answers through questions alone feels exhausting. It blends reflective questioning with lived experience and practical insight, offering steady support and clarity when thinking clearly feels hard. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck and want someone alongside you to help make sense of where you are and what might help next, this might be right for you.
Some people start with my free blog and resources, or a self-guided option like Real Life Reset.
Others reach a point where having someone who knows the terrain walking with them feels helpful.
If you’d like to chat to discuss if the is what you’re looking for, you can book a time here.