
Rooted in strengths. Tending toward light.
Welcome to Lomatia Social Work
Lomatia Social Work is a telehealth social work practice based in Tasmania, offering psychosocial support, therapeutic conversations, and case management to people across Australia.My practice is built on one core belief: that you are the expert in your own life. My role as social worker is to walk alongside you โ not to fix, prescribe, or judge โ but to listen deeply, advocate fiercely, and help you build on the strengths you already carry.You are welcome here, exactly as you are.WHO I SUPPORT๐ฟ Chronic illness, disability & complex medical journeys
๐ฟ Mental health & trauma
๐ฟ Grief & bereavement
๐ฟ LGBTQIA+ individuals & families
๐ฟ Indigenous & culturally diverse communities
๐ฟ Older adults & aged care
๐ฟ AuDHD & neurodivergent adults
๐ฟ Parents navigating complex health challenges
๐ฟ Self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participantsWHY TELEHEALTH
Support from wherever you are. Sessions are delivered via telehealth โ secure video or phone โ meaning you can access support from the comfort of your own home, without the barriers of travel, waiting rooms, or geography.
Whether you're in regional Tasmania, interstate, or simply prefer the ease of connecting from your own space, Lomatia is here to help.Use the calendar below to book your free 15 minute phone or video consult.
About

Hi, I'm Mel โ a social worker, advocate, and the person behind Lomatia Social Work.
I founded Lomatia because I believe there is a gap between the support people deserve and the support they can actually access. Too many people fall through the cracks of a system that wasn't designed with them in mind โ people who are too complex for a standard six-session plan, too exhausted by illness to navigate bureaucracy alone, too often made to feel like their needs are inconvenient. Lomatia exists for those people.MY APPROACH
I work from a strengths-based, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive framework โ which in plain language means this: I don't see you as a problem to be solved. I see you as a whole person with your own wisdom, resilience, and capacity for growth, who might simply need someone in their corner right now.
I won't tell you how to feel or what to do. I'll listen โ really listen โ ask questions that help you find your own clarity, advocate alongside you when systems feel impossible, and celebrate the small wins that often go unnoticed.
Recovery, in my view, isn't a destination. It's a direction. And it looks different for every single person.MY BACKGROUND
I hold a Master of Social Work from the University of Tasmania (2025; Distinction), and a Bachelor of Psychological Science from Central Queensland University (2021; Distinction). I am an AASW and ANZMHA member.
My field placement experience spans over 1,000 hours across three distinct settings โ community mental health, residential aged care, and child and family welfare โ giving me a broad and grounded foundation across the lifespan and across complex systems.
Before and alongside my formal training, I have lived experience of navigating chronic illness, disability, and the particular exhaustion of managing medical complexity alongside everyday life. I know what it feels like to need support and struggle to find something that fits. That experience doesn't make me your therapist โ it makes me someone who genuinely understands, and who won't ask you to explain yourself from scratch.
I also bring a background in art and photography to my practice โ a creative lens that shapes the way I see people and tell their stories. Beauty and potential exist in every situation, even the hardest ones. Sometimes it just takes a different kind of looking.WHY LOMATIA?
Lomatia tasmanica is one of Tasmania's most remarkable native plants โ ancient, resilient, and found nowhere else on Earth. It has survived for over 43,000 years not by being unchanging, but by quietly regenerating, tending toward light, and enduring.
That feels like the right metaphor for this work. For the people who keep going despite everything. For the slow, quiet, real kind of recovery that doesn't make headlines but changes lives.
Rooted in strengths. Tending toward light.MEMBERSHIPS & TRAININGAustralian Association of Social Workers (AASW) โ Member
Member of the Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association
HoNOS (Health of the Nation Outcome Scales) trained
Trauma-Informed Practice trained
Cultural Competency trained โ including Indigenous communities
Dementia Care training at Dementia Australia
Evidence-Based Practice for Borderline Personality Disorder
Ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD)A NOTE ON LIVED EXPERIENCE
At Lomatia, lived experience is not a footnote โ it is part of my foundation. I understand from the inside what it means to navigate illness, difference, and systems that don't always make space for complexity. This understanding informs every aspect of how I work, and it means you will never have to perform wellness or minimise your experience to be heard here.
Fees
CONCESSION RATESI believe that financial barriers should never be the reason someone can't access support. At Lomatia Social Work, I am committed to keeping my services as accessible as possible โ which is why I offer concession fees.
Concession rates are available to Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, and DVA card holders. Simply select the concession rate when booking and you'll be asked to provide your card type and number on the intake form. I keep this process as simple and straightforward as possible โ if you have a valid concession card, the concession rate is yours. If you are receiving a Centrelink payment, are a student, or experiencing financial difficulties but do not have a valid card, please get in touch to discuss options.
| Session Fees | Full Fee | Concession |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Consultation (60 Minutes) | $140 | $80 |
| Initial Consultation (90 Minutes) | $195 | $110 |
| Individual Session (50 Minutes) | $130 | $70 |
| Brief Check-in (30 Minutes)* | $70 | $40 |
| Case Management/Service Coordination (Per Hour) | $135 | $80 |
*Existing clients only
| Session Packages | Full Price | Savings | Concession |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-Session Package | $545 | Saving $105 | $320 |
| 10-Session Package | $1020 | Saving $280 | $580 |
MEDICARE & PRIVATE HEALTH
Please note that Lomatia Social Work is not a Medicare provider. Sessions cannot be claimed through a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP), Medicare rebate, or private health insurance.NDISAgency-managed NDIS registration coming soon
I currently welcome NDIS participants who are self-managed or plan-managed. Sessions can be billed directly to your NDIS plan under the relevant support category.
Rates for NDIS participants are the same as standard sessions.PAYMENTS
Payments are made via the secure telehealth platform Halaxy at the time of your session. Invoices and receipts are issued for every session โ suitable for NDIS, private health, and personal records. If you prefer a different method of payment, please get in touch to talk about options.CANCELLATION POLICY
I understand that life โ especially life with chronic illness, neurodivergence, or complex caring responsibilities โ is unpredictable. I approach cancellations with flexibility and compassion.
I ask that you give as much notice as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours notice without a valid reason may incur a cancellation fee of up to 50% of the session fee. I will always consider individual circumstances.ANY QUESTIONS?
If you're unsure about fees, payment options, or whether Lomatia Social Work is the right fit for you, please reach out โ there's no obligation and no pressure. I offer free 15 minute discovery calls via phone or video to see if Lomatia is the right fit for you.
Get in Touch
