FOCUSED MENTAL EDUCATION'S
TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS
At Focused Mental Education, our team is more than a group of professionals, we’re a passionate, purpose driven collective dedicated to making a real difference in people’s lives. We know that an organisation is only as strong as the people who deliver the services, which is why we have carefully curated our team with the right people to make the largest difference when people access such valued services.
With decades of combined experience across mental health, education, counselling, and community support, our team is made up of qualified Mental Health First Aid instructors, counsellors, educators, and experienced NDIS practitioners. Each member brings a unique skill set and a shared commitment to delivering services that are compassionate, professional, and person centred.
For our NDIS participants, we provide more than just access to services, we deliver meaningful support tailored to individual goals and needs. Our team works collaboratively to offer psychosocial recovery coaching, counselling, mental health education, and capacity building programs under the NDIS, ensuring participants feel empowered, respected, and supported at every stage of their journey.
We meet people where they’re at, whether that’s in person, online, or within their community, and we take the time to understand their story, their strengths, and their goals.
This is what drives us. This is who we are.
Meet the team behind Focused Mental Education, and see what makes us one of the most trusted providers in both mental health training and NDIS support across Australia.
Founder & Director - Focused Mental Education Pty Ltd
Damien is a passionate mental health professional, educator, and sociologist with over two decades of experience working across diverse sectors, including community services, private enterprise, corporate settings, and government organisations.
With a background in psychology and sociology from Charles Sturt University, Damien offers a rare and valuable perspective on the social and structural dimensions of mental health. His work is grounded in both academic insight and real world experience, allowing him to connect deeply with individuals and groups from all walks of life.
Having been previously positioned within a leading Primary Health Network (PHN), Damien understands the broader systems that shape our mental wellbeing and is committed to being part of the change toward a healthier, more informed society. He believes that knowledge is one of the most powerful tools for positive social change, and he has built a career around sharing that knowledge to uplift and empower others.
Damien’s contributions to workplace mental health were formally recognised by SafeWork NSW in May 2021, where he was featured for his insights into creating mentally healthy workplaces.
Known for his patient, engaging, and down to earth style, Damien is genuinely invested in helping people grow through education, curiosity, and compassion. Whether he's delivering Mental Health First Aid training or supporting NDIS participants, Damien approaches every interaction with purpose, respect, and a deep belief in the power of prevention and early intervention.
Damien Burke
Sociologist / Consultant / Facilitator
The Team - Focused Mental Education Pty Ltd
Alfie Walker
Consultant / Facilitator
Alfie is a proud Aboriginal man and passionate mental health educator with a strong background in youth work, community engagement, and culturally responsive support. He brings both lived experience and professional expertise to his role, with a deep commitment to empowering others and strengthening communities through meaningful mental health education.
Alfie currently works with a leading First Nations organisation, where he supports Aboriginal businesses and community-led initiatives across the country. His work centres on self-determination, cultural safety, and building stronger futures for First Nations peoples, values that are deeply aligned with his approach to mental health education.
Alfie recognises that for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, mental health is inseparable from social and emotional wellbeing, a holistic concept that includes connection to community, culture, spirit, and country. This understanding forms the foundation of his work, and at Focused Mental Education, we proudly embrace and integrate this perspective into our programs.
With qualifications in community services and youth work, Alfie has supported a wide range of audiences including young people, educators, frontline workers, and community leaders. His facilitation style is grounded, culturally safe, and deeply engaging, creating spaces where participants feel respected, understood, and empowered.
Whether working one-on-one or with entire organisations, Alfie brings a culturally informed, people-first approach that leaves a lasting impact.
Yann is an experienced and highly regarded mental health practitioner who brings a unique and powerful blend of life experience, clinical training, and therapeutic insight to the Focused Mental Education team. His background spans a distinguished career in both military and law enforcement, which now informs his trauma-aware, empathetic approach to counselling and hypnotherapy.
With formal qualifications in Clinical Hypnotherapy, Counselling, and Applied Neuroscience, Yann specialises in supporting individuals experiencing trauma, anxiety, stress, and other complex mental health challenges. He is a registered member of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and plays a key role in Focused Mental Education’s NDIS service delivery, providing both psychosocial recovery coaching and therapeutic counselling to NDIS participants.
Yann’s work is grounded in evidence-based practice and delivered with compassion, clarity, and respect. His calm and professional presence helps clients feel safe and understood, allowing for meaningful progress and lasting change.
As Focused Mental Education expands its counselling and NDIS offerings, Yann continues to lead with integrity and clinical excellence, supporting participants and clients to move forward with confidence and improved wellbeing.
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Yann Schipfer
Consultant / Counsellor / Clinical Hypnotherapist
