About
We are a not-for-profit organisation funded by the Department for Communities, operating in Armadale for over thirty years.
Minnawarra House provide opportunities for local people to connect, socialize, make friends, learn, share skills and interests, and contribute to their community.
The Centre is open to everyone in the community and provides a range of services and activities, including counselling for youth and families, after school activities for children, self-development workshops, and arts and craft classes for all
Our Staff
Ruby-Sandra Leeder
Ruby Sandra trained as a Social Worker at Curtin University (WA). She completed a degree in Community Development, studied psychotherapy and Media at Edith Cowan University, and studied Sandplay Therapy with Dr John Swinburne. She commenced at Minnawarra House following a social work study period of six months in Scotland in 1995.
Ruby Sandra has instigated multiple and varied programs to cater for all age groups in the Armadale district. These have included programs for men, women and children and Sandplay Therapy training for Counsellors and Therapists. Ruby Sandra manages the Empowering Communities Program, Family Support Program and the Roberta Jull Youth & Family Counselling Service which caters for 12-18year olds and their families.
Ruby provides Sandplay Therapy and training in Perth. She has travelled to Oman, Iraq and Kurdistan to provide university lectures and workshops in Sandplay Therapy, where the primary aim is to skill counsellors so they are able to use Sandplay Therapy with children, teens and adults who have been affected by war.
Evelyn Lim
Evelyn first studied at the University of Queensland where she focused on community development, organizational psychology and counselling. She completed a Master of Counselling at Curtin University.
Since living in West Australia Evelyn has continued her work in community engagement and inclusive practices.
Evelyn takes a collaborative and strength based approach that considers all aspect of the person’s lifestyle. Her principle interests lie with Gestalt and Narrative Therapy but she draws on the strategies of a number of therapeutic modalities which best suite the individual and the timeframe available.
Patron of Minnawarra House
Mary Verstegen championed the inception of Minnawarra House in 1988, when there were limited community programs for children, youth and adults in Armadale.
We are proud Mary Verstegen is our illustrious Patron.
Leonie Wight
Leonie came to the Art Therapy profession via a creative route starting in the early 2000’s with a Diploma of Art and Design. She worked in the local film industry before settling into the stability of self-employment as a Graphic Designer for 15 years. Leonie commenced training in 2013 in Art Therapy and joined Minnawarra House as a qualified Transpersonal Art Therapist in 2016.
Leonie brings to Minnawarra House her own special flavour of passion, commitment and enthusiasm for all of her clients. Leonie’s expertise in Art Therapy provides her clients with the opportunity to experience the language of art and art making as a therapeutic tool to achieve client defined outcomes.
Services provided by Leonie at Minnawarra House include individual sessions for children, teenagers and adults. She also runs an adult women group and co-facilitated a teenage girls’ empowerment program.
Sam Craig
Samantha (Sam), Music Therapist, provides therapy for children, teens and adults with behavioural, mental health, emotional dysregulation, who seek change, wellbeing, self-expression and fun. Sam runs fun music programs for children and teens. Sam is NDIS registered.
Our Board of Management
Our friendly, active Board of Management is always looking for men and women with new fresh ideas to enhance our community house programs.