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About

Sia Ropati

Psychosocial Recovery Coach and Assessor

Sia Ropati, smiling, in a red and charcoal Pacific-patterned top.
Title
Psychosocial Recovery Coach and Assessor
Qualifications
Bachelor of Human Services
Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice (2013)
Experience
10+ years
Languages
English and Samoan. Other Pacific languages and interpreters can be arranged.
Practice
Restore and Beyond · Sole Trader
ABN 70 569 712 899
Insurance
Covered for public liability under TRAILS, a not-for-profit Public Benevolent Charity.
Serving
Queensland, with telehealth for regional QLD

Background

My background is in Youth Justice, where I worked with young people across the full spectrum from high-risk to low-risk. I then transitioned into the NDIS space, working with participants living with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, dementia, anxiety, autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), mental health conditions and limited mobility.

Across case management, court reports and assessments, I have learned that the work is about understanding people holistically and persisting with them.

Why psychosocial work

Psychosocial assessments require a genuine willingness to understand people holistically and to persist with them, taking time to understand their journey, triggers, family relationships, pro-social factors and support systems.

It is a process of continually assessing and reassessing as you walk alongside someone. When equity and trust are built through that process, the work becomes truly transformative.

What I bring

As a child of the diaspora, I build equity and trust with participants from all backgrounds. Years of working with high-risk and difficult situations have taught me to be patient and persistent. I don’t give up easily, I keep instilling hope, and I hold people accountable to their goals.

Read about the cultural approach

What drives the work

I want people to feel the deep care I have for others, and the genuine joy I find in co-labouring alongside them. With patience, time and trust, real and transformative change is possible.

Scope of practice. Sia Ropati is a Psychosocial Recovery Coach and Assessor. She is not an AHPRA-registered psychologist and does not provide therapy, counselling, diagnosis or medical treatment. Assessments and recovery coaching are designed to complement, and not replace, clinical treatment or medical care.

Career

  • Founder and Managing Director

    TRAILS Foundation · Brisbane · 2025 to present

    Founded and leads TRAILS, a registered charity and Public Benevolent Institution serving Samoan and Pacific Islander communities through youth development, wellbeing support and pastoral care. Built the organisation end to end, including its governance, compliance and safeguarding framework.

  • Director and Project Manager

    Star Compass, Harbour of Hope · Logan · 2020 to 2026

    Established the organisation and took it through to NDIS registration, writing the policies and procedures behind compliant service delivery. Oversaw support workers and their training, managed university student placements, and ran the Harbour of Hope project in partnership with Brisbane South Primary Health Network and Logan Hospital, delivering support coordination and community integration for families facing hardship.

  • Caseworker, Interventions Officer and Acting Team Leader

    Youth Justice, Department of Justice and Attorney-General · Queensland · 2013 to 2020

    Case management, risk and needs assessment and court reports for young people on supervised orders and in detention, across Brisbane Youth Detention Centre and the Ipswich and Logan Youth Justice Service Centres. Coordinated the Logan Youth Direction and Community Youth Response Diversion teams, working alongside Child Safety, Health, Education and the Queensland Police Service. Designed and delivered the Transition to Success program at Ipswich, and facilitated Aggression Replacement Training, RAGE and cultural programs as main trainer.

  • Youth Worker

    Department of Youth Justice · Queensland · 2012 to 2013

    Front-line support for young people in the youth justice system, building rapport with them and their families.

Qualifications and training

Bachelor of Human Services and Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University. Juris Doctor, Advanced Legal Studies, University of Southern Queensland.

  • Trauma Informed Practice
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • Suicide Prevention
  • Multi-cultural Capability in Service Delivery
  • Restorative Justice
  • Supporting LGBTI Youth
  • Griffith Youth Forensic Services, Levels 1 and 2
  • YLS/CMI 2.0 risk and needs assessment
  • Aggression Replacement Training, main trainer
  • RAGE facilitator
  • First Aid and CPR

Recognition

  • Ipswich District Child Protection Week Award, 2019
  • Youth Justice Excellence Award for Courage and Integrity, 2016

In their words

What people say

I have never been one to share my thoughts, feelings and struggles openly, but Sia has been a different influence.

My journey has been solitary and Sia has helped me to view issues from a new perspective. I have learned strategies to overcome the barriers I have created.

With Sia strengthening my faith in God as the most powerful strategy, my life has been stronger and clearer for some time.

Elisha Elisaia

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