Rana Aston
Umanga Tukumahi – Service Manager
After spending many years in and out of psychiatric care Rana was offered peer support in her early twenties and to this day believes this is how she discovered that she could create a life worth living. Seeing people with lived experience living a life they wanted and achieving things that they were told they couldn't, gave Rana inspiration to live her best life.
She went on to study university level and graduating with several qualifications including a BHSc (Even after dropping out of school at 14), she worked in allied health/rehabilitative medicine for five or six years before coming to work at Balance. Rana has had one short psychiatric admission in the last ten years rather than every other week due to learning self management, wellness tools and gaining confidence in living life.
Rana has been working with Balance to support rural people, runs practical workshops in mindfulness and wellness tools, and works as a Peer Support Worker in Te Awhina at Whanganui Hospital. She loves working with people to discover their potential, gain hope, strength and a renewed sense of self.
David Mason
At Balance I feel a sense of belonging with other people as well as being a part of the environment. I believe I have a strong ability to listen to people as well as to invite the different cultures that come to Balance.
Ben Olsen
- Mental Health & Addiction Support.
- Certified LifeKeeper.
- Te Whatu Ora: Lived Experience Consultant.
- Health Data Analysis and Consultation.
- Member: IIMHL and International Peer Forum.
Ben joined Balance Aotearoa in 2021. He lives in Ohakune and provides peer support, advocacy and education within the Whanganui's regions as well as assisting within the Whanganui City community and Te Awhina.
Ben is currently studying towards his Level 4 Certificate in Health and Wellbeing.