Career

Current contracts

  • NZ Film and Literature Board of Review: Department of Internal Affairs: Board Member as from 1st January 2016 to 2018. Re-appointed by Governor General in 2022 to present.

Past contracts (examples)

  • NZ Law Society, Complaints Committee No 2, I was a lay person on this Committee for two years to 2024.
  • Le Va (Le Va is Aotearoa’s Pasifika primary prevention organisation, supporting people of the moana to unleash their full potential). Internal report: Primary Prevention for Pasifika in Aotearoa: Prevention is better than cure – What works for primary prevention in mental health, addiction (alcohol, drugs), suicide, self-harm and violence and sexual abuse? 2023
  • Voices for Children – Adviser/researcher contracted by Health to work alongside Police, Oranga Tamariki and all government agencies to ensure the safety of children 0 to 5years (”Safe and Visible”) in the Western BOP. 2022-2023.
  • New Zealand Liaison for the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership now the Global Leadership Exchange. Writing (e.g. IIMHL Annual reports and newsletters) and facilitating national and international connections – 18 years part-time to October 2022. Finding research and policy reports for the newsletter: January to May 2023.
  • Director/Board member of Pathways, a national mental health NGO focusing on accommodation, employment and doing “whatever it takes” to support people with mental illness and addiction problems to live a meaningful and productive life. Ten years to 2022.

Awards

  • In 2022 Janet was awarded a Queen’s Award: A Member of the NZ Order of Merit MNZM.
  • In 2015 Janet was awarded the “Exceptional Contribution Award”.
    “This award recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to mental health service delivery and acknowledges a remarkable accomplishment in the unfolding story of mental health service delivery in Australia and New Zealand”. THEMHS.
  • In 2012 Janet received the New Zealand Psychological Society “Public Interest Award: For valuable contributions to psychology in the service of the public.”
    This acknowledged her involvement of many years in the New Zealand Ministry of Health’s Like Minds Like Mine national public health programme to counter stigma and discrimination against people with mental illness.

Voluntary work

  • Chair, Clinical Ethics Committee, Bay of Plenty District Health Board
  • Street Coordinator: Neighbourhood Watch, Omanu, Mount Maunganui
  • Assessor: TheMHS media awards for many years
  • Gatherer of items for causes (e.g. Food bank and Women’s Refuge).

Previous (a selection from last 23 years)

  • First National Coordinator for Like Minds Like Mine (the national public health anti-discrimination/stigma campaign) – one year. Nearly 30 years of talent support for television advertising (TVCs). Talent support during filming of televisions advertising (TVCs) and website videos.
  • Health Promotion Agency Janet assisted on the National Depression Initiative – on the national advisory group and talent support during filming of (TVCs) and website videos for 15 years. She was on the NDI Advisory Group, and assisted with talent selection and support for TV advertising and website videos with John Kirwan for adults and, more recently with young people for “The Lowdown”, 20 years in total; and has also done similar work for Like Minds Like Mine (the public health anti-discrimination/stigma campaign) advertising and videos since its inception nearly 30 years ago.
  • Review of all the NZ Mental Health Foundation’s leaflets on mental health and addiction problems to ensure accuracy of the information, 2014.
  • Health and Disability Commission: review of consumer and family booklets: Oranga Ngakau, and the Guide for Family Whanau and Friends.
  • Appointed a Board member of the New Zealand Psychologists Board from 2000 to 2007. Janet had two roles: Deputy Chair and Chair of the Complaints Committee. Ministry of Health Public Health Depression Initiative, co-wrote an Environmental Scan in July 2005.
  • Mental Health Commission Managed a project which looked at how to improve crisis mental health services in New Zealand. Co-wrote Open all hours? A review of crisis mental health services in 2001.
  • Health Research Council of NZ (to 2004) Part-time Manager Mental Health Research and Development Strategy for four years; budget $1m per year. Janet managed the research tender processes linked to the Ministry of Health’s priority research areas.