About

The Buttery is a not-for-profit, charitable organisation delivering mental health, and alcohol and other drug rehabilitation services across Northern NSW, from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie.

We believe that everybody should have the opportunity to live their best possible life.

In 2025 we welcomed 10,009 participants across our programs; 149 participants to our residential services, and 9,860 participants across Community and Outreach offerings.

We have more than 50 years experience treating alcohol and substance misuse and mental health conditions, supporting people to improve their lives through timely and effective services, concentrating on the person’s individual needs.

While our head office is in Binna Burra in Northern NSW, the footprint of The Buttery covers Tweed Heads in the north to Port Macquarie in the south and Kyogle to the west.

As a charity, The Buttery relies on donations from the community, foundations, trusts, philanthropists, families, and individuals. We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the NSW State and Commonwealth Governments, including NSW Health and the Department of Health (Commonwealth).

The Buttery proudly celebrates diversity and inclusion, and is committed to creating a safe, welcoming space for everyone. Of our staff, 50% have lived experience.

Map of Australia showing regions in New South Wales with locations of First Nations communities and pastoral stations. Regions include GITHABUL, Lismore, Casino, BUNDJALUNG, MacLean, YAEGL, Grafton, GUMBYANGIRR, Coffs Harbour, DUNGHUTTI, Kempsey, BIRPAI. Blue dots mark towns and communities like Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, Wollumbin, Nimbin, Mullumbimy, Byron Bay, Binna Burra, Ballina, Evans Head, Yamba, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Kempsey, MacLean, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, and Port Macquarie. The map emphasizes the wide area covered by the buttery programs for Indigenous communities from the Mid North Coast to the far North Coast regions.

Our Programs

Flowchart with three main categories: Alcohol and Other Drugs Programs, Mental Health Programs, and Primary Prevention. Each category includes subcategories and specific programs or services listed underneath.

Management

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    Leone Crayden

    Chief Executive Officer

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    Frances Pidcock

    Executive Director Programs

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    Sam Booker

    Clinical Director

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    Anna Mavay

    Regional Manager North Coast

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    Stuart Nunan

    Regional Manager Mid North Coast

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    Joanne McLaughlin

    Human Resources Manager

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    Zac Dawkins

    Finance Manager

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    Georgy Searles

    Communications Specialist

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    Julie Toussaint

    Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships

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    Catherine Baxter

    Governance & Compliance Manager

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    Di Mahoney

    Business Development Manager & Tender Writer

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    Sarah Bristow

    Marketing Specialist

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Governance & Funding

The Buttery is a company limited by guarantee and was established in 1973. It relies on government funding and philanthropic support to fulfill its life-changing mission. 

As a Deductible Gift Recipient, donations to The Buttery are fully tax deductible. As well as acknowledging the generous philanthropic support of donors. The Buttery gratefully acknowledges the continuing financial support it receives from generous donors, the NSW State and Commonwealth Governments, and NSW Health Department of Health (Commonwealth).

The Buttery is governed by volunteer Directors who receive no remuneration for their invaluable services.

  • The Board of Directors comprises people with lived experience of recovery, community representatives and experts from a range of professional backgrounds including finance, law, mental health, administration and business. The purpose of the Board is to oversee the governance and strategic direction of the Buttery and ensure it maintains compliance with all relevant legislation.

    2026 Board:
    Jenna Bateman (Chair) 
    Nick Nichles 
    Catherine Hillard 
    Riley O'Hanlon (Secretary) 
    Rosemary Norgate 
    Wayne Jones 
    Salome Mulumbe 
    Ron Ford 

  • The Clinical Governance Committee provides advice on clinical issues to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and senior clinical staff to ensure that The Buttery's clinical programs are consistent with current best practice and deliver measured outcomes. In providing guidance and advice, the Clinical Governance Committee ensures that a clinical perspective is considered by the CEO so that decisions, investments, and innovations are clientcentered, cost-effective, regionally relevant, aligned to local care expectations and appropriately prioritised. 

    Membership from the Buttery:
    Leone Crayden, CEO as Chair 
    Frances Pidcock, ED Programs 
    Anna Mavay, RM North 
    Stuart Nunan, RM Mid North 
    Sam Booker, Clinical Director 
    Larissa McClelland, AOD Residential Manager 

    Externally:
    Aimee McNeill, Director Integrated Wellbeing Healthy North Coast  
    Dr Bronwyn Hudson, Addiction Medicine Physician 
    Dr Ian Hayes, Private Psychiatrist 
    Shannon White, A/Manager AOD Tweed, Byron, Ballina 
    Sue Thompson, Clinical Nurse Consultant HASI Plus Kempsey CMH 
    Serge Schinella, A/Director Outpatients and Allied Health DASSA

Board of Directors

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    Jenna Bateman


    Jenna has worked in the mental health sector for 25 years and is a passionate advocate for mental health reform. She has worked as a clinical leader in inpatient units and as an advocate for community care options. Jenna has co-authored documents on social inclusion, trauma informed care and recovery-oriented practice. She has driven accredited training qualifications and supported the Mental Health Peer Work qualification development. Jenna was appointed to the NSW Mental Health Commission task force and helped develop the NSW Mental Health Strategic Plan. She was a founding member of Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) and was CEO of the Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC) 2000-2017. Jenna is a qualified Mental Health Nurse and has a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Master’s degree in Community Management. 

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    Catherine Hillard


    Catherine possesses more than 14 years of experience in community-based social work and leadership. Since 2011, she has held senior roles at Namatjira Haven Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre in New South Wales, where she supports holistic healing and recovery for First Nations clients leading wellbeing programs, cultural support, and care coordination.  An experienced non-profit manager, Catherine integrates her deep cultural knowledge with trauma-informed social work practice to design and implement programs that strengthen community resilience and wellbeing. As an Aboriginal leader, she’s a dedicated advocate for culturally safe service delivery and empowerment.

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    Nick Nichles


    Nick is an accomplished business leader and Commercial Diplomat. Formerly CEO and COO of a number of major organisations, Nick has experience in driving business transformation, governance excellence, and strategic growth. He previously served as Consul-General and Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner in San Francisco. Nick’s background includes senior commercial roles at Southern Cross Austereo and Foxtel, as well as leadership in NSW Lotteries’ successful privatisation. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and holds a Bachelor of Business and Graduate Diploma in Marketing.

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    Riley O'Hanlon


    Riley is a senior healthcare quality and governance professional with extensive experience across accreditation, clinical governance, and system-level quality improvement in health and community services. She is the Founder and Director of Soteria Healthcare Consultants and currently serves as National Manager at QIP Consulting, providing strategic leadership across national consulting teams delivering accreditation, standards interpretation, and quality improvement support. Riley works with a diverse range of health and community organisations, including general practice, mental health and wellbeing services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services, and multicultural organisations.

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    Wayne Jones


    Wayne has more than 40 years of experience in health care and leadership. Beginning his career as a registered nurse, Wayne progressed to several senior Executive roles, including Chief Executive of Northern NSW Local Health District (2016–2023), where he guided the region through major challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and 2022 floods. Wayne’s career reflects a deep commitment to patient care, system resilience, and community health. Wayne was awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) in 2025 for outstanding service to NSW Health, especially in the field of Emergency Management.

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    Ron Ford


    Ron is a seasoned accountant and business leader with decades of experience in finance, governance, and entrepreneurship. He began his career qualifying as a Chartered Accountant while working full-time and studying at night. After gaining international experience in London in 1977, managing multi-currency, multi-country transactions, Ron returned to Australia and worked extensively across Asia before settling in the Tweed Valley. There, he established a public accounting practice specialising in Australian tax law, auditing, and corporations law. In 1992, Ron transitioned from accounting to business ownership, leading Madura Tea Estates for 25 years.

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    Rosemary Norgate


    A distinguished legal professional with over 25 years of experience, Rosemary is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law. She combines deep litigation expertise with a strong commitment to alternative dispute resolution, leveraging her training as a mediator, collaborative lawyer, and parenting coordinator to resolve complex financial and parenting matters with minimal conflict. Rosemary is a member of the Law Society of NSW’s Family Law Specialist Accreditation Committee, where she assesses accreditation applications, and a former President of Collaborative Professionals NSW, demonstrating her leadership within the profession. She mentors young solicitors and supports pro bono work through the Law Society of NSW’s scheme.

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    Salome Mulumbe


    Salome is an experienced finance professional currently working as a Senior Business Partner & Business Analyst. Driven by a passion for purpose-driven work, Salome has previously held various finance and accounting roles across different industries within the not-for-profit sector, specialising in budgeting, asset management, financial consolidation, and board reporting. Salome holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) and Master of Business Administration from the University of Adelaide and is a Certified Practising Accountant. As a board member, Salome brings strong financial governance, strategic business analysis, and accountability.

Our joint Patrons;
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC
& Mr Dennis Wilson

  • Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC is the 39th Governor of New South Wales, and was sworn-in on 2 May 2019.

    Prior to her appointment as Governor, Her Excellency enjoyed a long and distinguished law career spanning 43 years, during which time she served as a role model for women in law at both the State and national level.

    Appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1989, in 1993 she was made a judge of the Federal Court of Australia, the first woman to sit exclusively in that Court. In 1996, she achieved the distinction of being the first woman appointed to the New South Wales Court of Appeal and, subsequently, as the first woman to be appointed as its President. She served, on a number of occasions, as Administrator of the Government of the State of New South Wales.

    She was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours List on 26 January 2020 for "eminent service to the people of New South Wales, particularly through leadership roles in the judiciary, and as a mentor of young women lawyers".

    Her Excellency has three children - Erin, Lauren and Anthony Sullivan - and is married to Mr. Dennis Wilson, a solicitor, mediator, accredited international arbitrator and Adjunct Professor of Law, at Notre Dame University, Sydney.

    Her Excellency brings her deep commitment to education, youth leadership, human rights and social justice to the role in service of the people of New South Wales.

Government Support & Partners

The Buttery gratefully acknowledges the financial support it receives from the NSW State and Commonwealth Governments: NSW Health, and Department of Health (Commonwealth), and Partners.