Promote awareness and education in deaf mental health

ABOUT US

We are a small group of concerned volunteers who started to raise funds to support deaf mental health. We started in 2019 by raising funds in memory of Ben Souter, a much loved highly skilled and experienced interpreter, trainer and mentor, who sadly died the year before. He was passionate about creating a mental health hub for deaf people because he felt strongly that deaf people, especially Auslan users, had incomplete access to mental health information and service.

Karli Health Centre has partnered with Strathmore Wood to administer the grants

We are grateful to Deaf Australia who we have recently partnered with to support our charitable status. This means that your donations are now tax deductible.

OUR COMMITTEE INCLUDES

Karli Dettman,

Karli is the Director of Karli Health Centre Pty Ltd. She works as a clinical counsellor and yoga therapist, facilitating both individual and group sessions, and provides supervision for staff and student placements.

Karli holds a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counselling from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. (1998), and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Developmental Drama (1996). She also completed a Foundation Certificate in Family Therapy in London (2000). Karli is a Level 4 member of the Australian Counselling Association and a Senior Yoga Teacher/Therapist with Yoga Australia.

Since 1998, Karli has worked extensively with Deaf children and adults with diverse needs, both internationally and in Australia. She is deeply committed to quiet advocacy in Deaf mental health through collaboration, partnerships, and community engagement.

Through her work, Karli has observed patterns of unique Deaf experiences within a hearing-centred world. This aligns with research such as Anderson (2016), which identifies six Deaf-related traumas. These insights continue to inform her practice and approach to supporting wellbeing within the Deaf community.

Pam Dethridge

Pam has brought a wealth of finance experience to KHC since commencing with us in late 2022 and now also supports the DMHF. She has a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) Degree and Post Graduate Diploma in Accountancy. She obtained her Chartered Accountancy qualification through one of the Big Four accounting firms and is a Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ). She had worked extensively for public accounting firms – small, medium and large – in a variety of roles in Melbourne and Sydney.

She is a life member of Deaf Victoria and is keenly involved in Deaf groups and is currently volunteering for DMHF’s finances with Deaf Australia and supporting Karli in the areas of partnership with other organisations.

FORMER DMHF MEMBER 2021-2023

Natale Ng

Natalie is a Therapy assistant with the Karli Health Centre. She is passionate about working with young children and adolescents as she believes that starting with a good foundation of mental and emotional health at a young age will lead to a good and stable lifestyle.

Natalie completed her Bachelor of Heath Science majoring in Psychology and Psychophysiology at Swimburne University of Technology in 2023.

Natalie has volunteered her time as a Deaf mentor at her local primary school and camp, working with Deaf and hard of hearing students from grades 4 to 6.

Belinda Fernando

Belinda is enthusiastic in providing accessible mental health services for all Deaf and hard of hearing adults and children. Belinda has obtained her Certificate IV in Mental Health at Melbourne Polytechnic in 2024 and is a trainee therapy assistant at Karli Health Centre. She is also involved in KHC’s social media (SM). She enjoys being creative in designing posters and adding translation to videos.

Belinda is interested in the field of psychology and has an interest in supporting Deaf peers’ mental health and would like to support new group programs. She is also interested in developing greater awareness of the mental health issues that the Deaf and HoH people face and is a volunteer for Deaf Mental Health team.

In her spare time, Belinda enjoys playing different sports, catching up with her family and friends, and travelling overseas.