Mood Active’s Mission
To run exercise programs that empower people to better manage their mental health, and to get more General Practitioner’s & Psychologists prescribing exercise as treatment for depression/anxiety.
Our History
In 2012, then psychology researcher Isabelle Granville-Smith and tennis coach Cameron Wilson met at Sydney’s Black Dog Institute. Both had long been advocates for the role exercise plays in boosting mental health, and both were convinced that more could be done to facilitate it for people who were struggling with depression or anxiety. After wading through the published research on exercise and mood disorders, and with input from clinicians at Sydney’s Black Dog Institute, they started a group exercise program intended to:
- address the barriers to exercise for people battling depression/anxiety
- utilise research-proven optimal exercise “dosage.”
- administer an assessment process & track measurable results
- help each participant build exercise into their mental health well-being strategy
In July 2013, Cam ran the program’s very first cardio tennis class at Eastcourts Tennis in Kingsford, and Isabelle its first group fitness circuit in Centennial Park. Mood Active was born.
Committee founders Tania Curley, Andrew Purll and Cameron Wilson, brought experience and skills in coaching psychology, finance and IT, communications, as well as combined decades of lived experience using exercise to boost mental health. In June 2017 Tania Curley was appointed Mood Active’s General Manager.
Our Committee
Cameron Wilson
Committee Member & Founder
Cam served as Committee President of Mood Active since 2013 and brings his lived experience to supporting people as they adopt exercise for better mental health.
He has battled bipolar depression since his late teens and relies on exercise to boost his own mood and well-being.
Cam has been our Head Trainer since 2013, is a Tennis Australia certified Cardio Tennis coach as well as an internationally published freelance journalist.
He holds a BA in Communications and is currently completing a Cert IV in Training & Assessment.
Andy Hobbs
Treasurer
Andy is a finance professional who has worked in a variety of roles in the public sector. He currently works for NSW Treasury.
Tania Curley
General Manager
Tania has been with Mood Active since 2013 working as a volunteer Events and Marketing Manager and then Funding and Sponsorship Manager.
Tania is now the General Manager of Mood Active. Tania holds a Masters in Coaching Psychology, Masters in Strategy HRM, a BA in Tourism Management, and a Cert III in Fitness.
Tania is also a leadership facilitator and coach.
Sarah Davis
Secretary
Sarah is a professional risk manager with a love of sport and adventure. She also spent a few years as a personal trainer and has a degree in Physiology. Sarah knows the value exercise makes to her mental health and is passionate about bringing it to others. Her love of adventure has taken her on expeditions down the Nile and Murray Rivers. Sarah joined Mood Active as the organisation Secretary in May 2020.
Lana Schwartz
Committee Member - Mental Health
Lana is a registered psychologist with a background in Sport and Performance Psychology. With over 20 years of experience, Lana has worked as a psychologist for elite sporting groups providing facilitation, training and individual support to
organisations including Cricket NSW, Basketball Australia and the Australian Tenpin Bowling team.
She joined Mood Active in December and is involved in strategy setting and providing supervision for our coaches
Susannah Ward
Committee Member
Dr Susannah Ward is a Specialist Physician of Rehabilitation Medicine working & living in Newcastle NSW. She qualified as a rehabilitation physician in 2018 with the Basmajian Award for best fellowship clinical exam performance. She has over 10 years of experience training and working in public hospitals across
NSW. She now works in private practice and does rehabilitation locum private and public hospital work.
Our Operational Team
Our Operations team is made up of volunteers with a diverse range of skills.
Tania Curley
General Manager
Tania has been with Mood Active since 2013 working as a volunteer Events and Marketing Manager and then Funding and Sponsorship Manager.
She holds a Masters in Coaching Psychology, Masters in Strategy HRM, a BA in Tourism Management, and a Cert III in Fitness.
Tania is also a leadership facilitator and coach.
Amanda Truong
Head of Finance
Amanda is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has held various accounting and commercial roles across health and wellbeing organisations. After practicing yoga for 10 years and realising the benefits of the physical and mental practice on her wellbeing, she qualified to be a yoga teacher to share the teachings with others. She hopes to be able to combine her passions with her skills to support purpose driven healthcare organisations make a bigger impact on their communities.
Clara Tang
HR
Clara is a self-motivated, pragmatic and detail-driven trilingual HR Business Partner. As a certified Return To Work Coordinator, Clara holds a Cert IV WHS and has experience in facilitating IR/ER issues and interpreting industry awards.
Clara enjoys hiking and yoga, and truly believes exercise can enable people to improve their mental health.
Grant Pillon
Finance Officer
Grant joined Mood Active in May of 2018. He has seen first-hand the benefits of exercise for mental health. Grant likes to live by the motto "healthy body = healthy mind". Grant was moved by the vision of Mood Active and so began volunteering in a finance capacity.
Grant also holds a Bachelor of Business and Commerce, Major in Accounting, Western Sydney University and is a Provisional Member of CAANZ (Chartered Accountants New Zealand).
Dorcey Rutter
Social Media Consultant
Dorcey has a background in project management, marketing, and operations. She has been studying and researching the mind-body connection for ten years, and the last 3, neuroscience and the structural changes that occur in the brain through positive thinking. She is due to complete her yoga training this year and enjoys weight training. Dorcey knows the impact that exercise can have on the mind, and through Mood Active she wants to help others feel the same.
Alannah Green
Communications Specialist
Alannah is a senior external and internal communications specialist with more than 10 years of experience, having created and delivered compelling communications — and the strategies behind them — for the world’s leading brands.
She holds a Bachelor of Communication from Bond University and currently works in the communications team at Optus.
In her spare time, Alannah enjoys practising yoga and pilates, exploring the outdoors with her rescue dog, immersing herself in the arts and celebrating food from all corners of the world.
Stephanie Lee
Marketing Consultant
Stephanie is a Marketing Communications Specialist with over 10 years of experience working in government, not-for-profit, aged care, healthcare, consumer goods, and employment services. She is also currently a Consumer representative for Western Sydney Local Health District with the aim of transforming healthcare in the region. Stephanie is all about social change and she loves being involved with for-purpose organisations. Exercise is a part of Stephanie’s routine to improve her wellbeing and she has had lived experience in using exercise to enhance her mood.
Rajiv Bangalore
IT Manager
Rajiv has a Master of Computer Applications and comes from an IT background specializing in delivering digital/online initiatives & IT transitions/transformation programs. He brings his experience in Program Management, Governance and views technology as an enabler that supports and contributes to Mood Active’s strategic goals.
Having experienced physical and mental benefits of exercise, Rajiv relates to Mood Active’s vision and wants to spread the message around to guide other people.
Stephanie Yu
Stephanie has a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics and also holds a Bachelor of Food, Nutrition and Health. She strongly believes that a healthy lifestyle is essential for everyone and understand its importance to mental health.
At Mood Active she hopes to help people achieve an active lifestyle through initiating changes in daily activities like diet and exercise. During her free time, she enjoys casual hikes/coastal walks as well as being an amateur foodie to hunt for good food spots in Sydney.
Anita Cheah
Graphic Designer
Anita has a background in engineering and project management.
Srilaxmi Choudhury
Salesforce Specialist - Reporting
Srilaxmi has more than 4yrs of experience in the IT industry and holds a Master degree in IT.
She is passionate about learning and technology. Srilaxmi believes that working as a team will bring better outcomes than working in an individual capacity.
Srinidhi Srinivasaraghavan
SalesForce Configuration Specialist
Srinidhi is a Software Developer and has a Master in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California. Experienced in Salesforce, Srinidhi has achieved several superbadges and a certification.
Srinidhi is passionate about Yoga and believes that good mental health is achievable through fitness practices and physical activity.
If you or your business would like to sponsor Mood Active, please get in touch.
Accreditation
We’re not a registered NDIS provider ourselves, however we work with NDIS Providers.
Unfortunately we are not Medicare funded.