Bridge It’s Crew
“Bridge It is doing things differently: the team is passionate and tenacious, and we believe in them and their cause.”
– IGNITING CHANGE
We’re a diverse crew blending expertise, qualifications, lived experience and neurodiversity. Because of this, we have pioneering programming and ways of working.
The young people we support are part of the team, too; we co-design programs based on regular feedback. They are the experts and they know what they need.
Carla Raynes
Carla’s our founder and CEO (AKA Head of Caring & Eternal Optimism). She’s worked in the homelessness field for over 2 decades. Her experience spans crisis accommodation, drug and alcohol teams, tertiary hospitals and youth residential units.
She’s a trailblazer in trialling creative approaches to homelessness to make the solution lasting. As well as leading Bridge It, she launched a social enterprise speaker agency, Challenge The Label with 50% of profits going to Bridge It.
She’s a mother to Billie and Ted. She’s a fierce change warrior, lover of gingerbread and getting sand between her toes.
Jenna Wilson
Jenna’s our Partnerships Manager. She’s worked in the disability and homelessness field for 15+ years and has a strong passion for mental health and recovery-focused practices.
Before Bridge It, she worked in mental health rehabilitation and inpatient mental health wards.
When not Bridging it, Jenna enjoys being in nature and spending quality time with her daughter Maia. Or she’s immersed in alternative therapies. Wherever she is, there’s a mug of tea in her hand.
Kate Mackenzie
Kate’s our Team Leader. Since 2017, she’s worked in the homelessness sector as a social worker. She’s developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness.
Kate’s a ‘northsider’, living in Melbourne’s inner north with her partner. She studied and loves art history, and in her spare time enjoys making music, spending time with friends, reading, and drawing. She’s a zen master!
Sage Leslie
Sage is our Wellbeing Coordinator. Before this, she worked as a specialist family violence advocate. She approaches her work with an intersectional feminist lens, collaborating with the people she supports to make them the centre of decision-making.
Outside work, Sage enjoys exploring parts of Victoria (whether camping or a lovely little AirBnB), hanging out with her beloved Cat (Theodora – ‘Dora’), reading, listening to spooky podcasts or watching D-Grade horror films.
Sam Jones
Sam’s our Lived Experience Mentor. She has a lived experience of mental ill-health, which is vital in her role. Before becoming unwell, she worked in business development. Her passion is supporting others through similar challenges.
She likes hanging out with friends and loves art and music. Before the pandemic, Sam loved travelling and new adventures. Now, you’ll see her out and about Bayside, enjoying the freedom to explore.
Cass Holeczy
Cass is our Wellbeing Mentor and supports our residents holistically around all areas of their wellness.
She completed her degree in Psychology in 2014 and has been working in mental health ever since- including high schools, youth refuges, family refuges and domestic violence refuges.
Outside of work Cass is geeking out on all things wellness and has qualifications in multiple other modalities such as constellations work, Authentic Relating, kinesiology and shamanic studies.
Philippa Gavin
Pip is our Cocoon Coordinator. She’s a recent social work graduate who has been working with women in the homelessness sector since 2020. She brings a relational practice approach grounded in an intersectional and anti-oppressive lens. She’s passionate about creating spaces where women feel safe, heard, and empowered to define their own path forward.
Outside of work, Pip enjoys hunting for antiques, watching beautifully bleak films, dancing, exploring new nature trails, and attempting to befriend every animal she meets.
Ryan Stevens
Ryan handles Operations Support at Bridge It, working across all areas of the organisation to make sure things run smoothly and at their best.
Before joining Bridge It, Ryan built and ran his own businesses, giving him first-hand experience in leadership, operations, and creating systems that work in the real world. He brings that entrepreneurial spirit and practical know-how to Bridge It
His role is all about keeping the wheels turning so the team can focus on our residents.
Outside of work, Ryan is Dad to his much-loved furbaby, Lexi. He’s always up for an adventure, with a love for travelling and exploring new places.
Monica Whitfield
Monica is a Support Worker at The Cocoon. Before joining the team, she developed and led a pioneering social work role in a kindergarten setting, working alongside staff, families and children to foster wellbeing and connection.
She brings an anti-oppressive, anti-racist and systems theory approach to her practice, always mindful of the broader structures and power dynamics that shape people’s lives. While making sure the young people she works with are front and centre in their own stories and choices.
Outside of work, Monica enjoys making costumes from recycled materials, spending time in nature exploring, surfing, dancing, pilates, and a good lounge-around day at home.”