About | Back You

Our Story

Back You was created in response to a lack of accessible, practical and genuine community led mental health and wellbeing support in the Fleurieu. From the start, the organisation has focused on removing the barriers that stop people from getting help, especially cost, limited services and the stigma around mental health. This includes providing community backed funding, connecting people with trusted local services, and creating safe, non-judgemental spaces where people can feel heard and supported.

We believe support should not be limited to one type of service or only be available when people are already struggling. Our purpose is to help people find the right local support and assist with the cost of care, so money is not the barrier to getting the right help.

At our heart, we exist to support individuals and strengthen the wider community through transparency, early help and people supporting people, so no one has to face mental health challenges on their own.

TRANSPARENCY

Transparent and trustworthy

We are open about our resources, allocations and limitations. Trust is built through honesty, clarity and accountability.

Our Values

COMMUNITY

We are community-powered

We believe real change happens when people support people. Everything we do is grounded in collective care, local relationships and community involvement.

SUPPORT

Practical, real-world support

Wellbeing is not one-size-fits-all. We support both traditional mental health services and broader wellbeing needs when they genuinely help someone move forward.

EMPATHY

We lead with empathy and respect

Mental health is personal and often sensitive. We commit to creating spaces that are safe, confidential, non-judgemental and genuinely compassionate.

EMPOWERMENT

We promote self-empowerment

Our role is not to take over someone’s journey, but to walk beside them. We focus on helping people take proactive steps toward their own wellbeing.

INCLUSION

We value inclusion and diversity

We welcome people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences. Our support is for everyone in our community, with a strong commitment to reaching those who are often overlooked or hesitant to seek help.

Meet the Team

Nathaniel

Melissa

Jared

Bianca (Chair)

Michael

Outside of Back You, I’m studying to become a History and English teacher and somehow surviving my final year while also being a husband and father to two beautiful daughters. Most of my free time is spent either cooking meals that are way too over the top for a random Tuesday night or in the gym trying to remind myself that hard things are worth doing.

I’ve been told I’m a calm person to be around, even though internally I often feel like a nervously humble porcupine pretending I know what I’m doing. Strong back, soft front, trying his best probably sums me up pretty well. I love making people laugh, talking about weird bits of history, and quietly nerding out over things like Lego Star Wars, anime and Dungeons & Dragons.

My biggest superpower is listening. I don’t think we can ever fully understand what someone else is carrying, but we can sit with them in it and remind them they’re not alone. I joined Back You because serving others and supporting community just feels important to me. I hope people who connect with Back You feel cared for, supported, and genuinely seen.

I am very lucky to have some beautiful family and friends with who I love to spend time with. I am incredibly close with my two sisters, mum, and dad, with my niece and nephew being the absolute light of our lives! Outside of family and friends, I love the gym, and to curl up with a good book!

I have the ability to fall asleep at the drop of a hat, some might call it a superpower! Between that an my uncanny ability to always have room for dessert, it's no wonder I love the gym so much!

I joined Back You because at any point in our own lives, we may cross paths with someone who is unsure where to start in their mental health journey. I'm proud to be a part of something that has the ability to help someone through theirs.

I work in disability projects while also running a local photography and design business. A lot of my time revolves around family, photography, local events, and trying to juggle far too many creative ideas at once. I’m probably happiest exploring the beautiful Fleurieu region with a camera in hand.

My superpowers are staying calm when things get chaotic, turning messy ideas into practical plans, and somehow always finding a way to make things work. I’m also really good at carrying way too much camera gear in one trip, and spotting a good bakery from several suburbs away.

I joined Back You because I believe Mental health support shouldn’t feel distant, complicated or out of reach. So many people struggle with Mental Health alone when they simply don't need to. I think we can all do our part to normalise conversations about Mental Health.

Back You has the potential to help people feel supported, understood, and less alone when they need it most.

I am a mum of three living on the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula. My kids are 8, 9 and almost 21, which means I spend my days somewhere between school lunches, life advice and wondering how I got old enough to have an adult child.

Outside of Back You, I work in a local wellness centre and a winery, which feels like a pretty accurate reflection of my personality. When I'm not working, you'll usually find me outdoors soaking up nature, singing and dancing around the house with my kids or enjoying a cheeky glass of wine with friends.

My superpowers are bringing people together, functioning well in chaos and somehow turning big ideas into reality. I am also known to cry in board meetings when I reflect on how lucky I am to be working along side the best humans building something we are all passionate about.

Back You started as a vision because I genuinely believe communities are strongest when people look out for each other.

Outside of Back You, I’m drawn to creativity, connection, humour and hands-on learning: from cooking, veggie gardening and DIY woodwork to sci-fi movies, zombie-shooting games, improv, pottery and training my dog in nose work and obedience.

My superpowers are empathy, listening for what people are really saying, facilitating robust conversations, organising people, and helping shared ideas become clear, practical and ready to move forward. I bring pragmatism, efficiency and structure from my corporate background, but I believe good decisions need heart. When it’s close, I usually give the extra 1% to the heart. I can also bring an unnecessary but very French level of drama to a deadline.

I joined Back You after meeting Bianca through ASIST suicide prevention training, when I was involved in men’s community work and wanting to be better equipped for tough conversations. Her idea resonated because it felt human and practical. Having had my own mental health challenges, I believe Back You matters because it can remove one barrier, one hesitation or one cost when someone needs support.