ABOUT EASTCOAST WELLBEING
Our experienced facilitators come from a background of mental health and organisational psychology. We offer a suite of workshops and talks which can be combined to create individualised programmes to suit the needs of most organisations. We also create bespoke programmes focusing on specific issues within organisations, effective leadership, managing workplace change, and peer support.
OUR VISION
We aim to optimise your mental health at work through a series of bespoke, expert-facilitated, evidence-based solutions that prioritise your mental health and wellbeing.
OUR TEAM LEADERS
Get to Know Us
Our team are experts in their fields, with vast practical experience spanning decades and a cohesive approach to working with their clients. Our founders Andrew and Vijaya formed a partnership in 2023 with the aim of reworking the way aviation employees in Australia approach their mental health and positively impacting their performance at work. Now they have expanded to include corporate businesses who wish to reduce staff anxiety, inefficiency, and burnout.
ANDREW STEWART
GradDipCouns, MSt MBCT, Retired 747-400 Captain
Andrew Stewart has studied and practiced mindfulness and meditation for over 20 years. He has attended mindfulness training in Australia, Europe, and the United States including the Insight Meditation Society in Barre Massachusetts with Kamala Masters and the Oxford Mindfulness Centre in Oxford with Professor Mark Williams. He has also completed the Compassionate Mind Training program with Professor Paul Gilbert of the Compassionate Mind Foundation.
Andrew holds a master’s degree in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) from the University of Oxford and a counselling degree from the Australian College of Applied Psychology in Sydney.
As Co-Director of East Coast Wellbeing and drawing from over 30 years of flying experience with Qantas Airways, Andrew is currently engaged as a counsellor and training instructor for the Qantas pilot group, delivering programs to support their psychological and emotional wellbeing.
Andrew was also part of the supportive care team at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse hospital, helping patients manage some of the challenges associated with their diagnosis.
DR VIJAYA MANICAVASAGAR
BSc, Psych (Hons), MPsychol (Hons), PhD, FCCP
Vijaya trained as a Clinical Psychologist and has more than 30 years of experience in clinical practice, as well as experience teaching, training and mentoring other mental health professionals. She has published in the fields of Positive Psychology, Resilience and Mindfulness and brings a wealth of clinical and organisational experience to improving workplace mental health and wellbeing.
Her previous role as the Director of Psychological Services at the Black Dog Institute involved developing clinical services and education/training programmes for psychologists, general practitioners, and other mental health professionals. She has also been responsible for the development and dissemination of several workplace programmes including those for the NSW Police Force, the Department of Defence, and the Judicial Council of Victoria.
Vijaya works with Andrew to develop mental health programmes and train airline pilots in peer support through the Pilot Assistance Network (PAN).
Vijaya is currently the Director of the EastCoast Psychology and Psychiatry Clinic in Sydney and is the
Co-Director of EastCoast Wellbeing, which specialises in workplace mental health including enhancing mental health literacy, providing resilience training, and promoting wellbeing.​​