About Us

About Nadine & Absolute Minds

Nadine’s journey into mental health started back in 2000 when she began working as a Registered Nurse specialising in mental health. Over her career, she’s worked across a broad range of services, including acute adult mental health, child and adolescent mental health, forensic services, secure and extended care, residential mental health, and family services. She’s seen a lot and learned even more along the way.

In 2009, Nadine completed her Master’s in Nursing (Mental Health) at Monash University. Since then, she has worked extensively across the public hospital system, Monash and Federation Universities, GP clinics, Head to Help, and welfare services for the Department of Education Victoria. This journey has allowed her to build a rich, multi-faceted understanding of mental health and how to support individuals in a variety of settings.

Fast forward to 2020, and Nadine founded Absolute Minds—a mental health service combining her two passions: horses and mental health. This unique combination allows her to support individuals in a non-clinical, natural outdoor environment that creates a calming and grounding energy for therapy sessions.

Nadine is registered with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and a member of Australian College of Mental Health Nurses

Equine-Assisted Therapy: A Safe Space to Build Mental Health Skills

At Absolute Minds, non-ridden equine-assisted therapy offers participants a trauma informed and neuro-affirming  opportunity to explore their challenges in a supportive and safe environment. Working with horses provides a unique pathway to emotional healing and personal growth. These sessions focus on building essential mental health skills such as:

🌱 Stress Reduction

• Being surrounded by horses in a calm, natural setting promotes relaxation and mindfulness. This connection helps reduce stress and creates a sense of peace and balance.

🤝 Conflict Resolution

• Horses have an incredible way of reflecting human emotions and behaviours. Through Equine-Assisted Therapy, individuals learn to identify and shift patterns, improving problem-solving and interpersonal skills by observing how horses respond to actions and intentions.

💔 Trauma Recovery

• Equine-Assisted Therapy offers a safe, calming space to process trauma and begin the journey toward healing. The non-judgemental presence of horses helps individuals confront past experiences and emotions without pressure.

🗣 Social & Emotional Growth

• Connecting with horses fosters better communication, empathy, and connection. The interaction helps individuals improve their social skills and emotional understanding, supporting stronger, more positive relationships.

🔍 Building Awareness

• Equine-Assisted Therapy helps boost self-awareness, awareness of others, environmental awareness, and relational understanding. These insights can lead to personal growth and improved relationships with others.

💡 Developing Independence Skills

• Working with horses is hands-on and interactive, encouraging individuals to take initiative and make decisions. These experiences empower participants to build independence and confidence in their choices.

🏆 Confidence Building

• Overcoming challenges during therapy and forming connections with horses can greatly boost self-confidence. This sense of achievement often carries over into other areas of life.

🧠 Emotional Regulation

• Equine-Assisted Therapy teaches strategies for managing emotions effectively. Participants learn emotional awareness, self-regulation, and positive coping mechanisms through guided interactions with horses.

• Equine-Assisted Therapy provides a supportive, non-judgemental environment where individuals can grow, learn, and heal—one interaction at a time.

The outdoor environment and equine interaction allow participants to feel grounded, explore their emotions freely, and learn practical coping strategies without judgment or pressure as they work towards their personal goals and needs.

Who We Support

Absolute Minds welcomes anyone who wants to improve their mental health journey. We’re here to support:

• Individuals facing emotional distress or mental health challenges

• People with Autism Spectrum challenges, neurodivergence, or intellectual disabilities

• Individuals interested in improving their self-awareness or emotional wellbeing

We’re a private clinic that’s flexible in supporting individuals using various funding options for mental health services, including NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) and DFFH (Department of Families, Fairness and Housing) support.

Why Absolute Minds?

With Nadine’s experience as a mental health nurse and her passion for equine therapy, Absolute Minds offers a unique approach combining mental health nursing expertise, EMDR therapy, mindfulness, and equine-assisted therapy. Nadine brings a compassionate, trauma-informed, and evidence-based approach to every session.

Our outdoor, non-clinical setting offers:

✅ A calming, grounding space to explore challenges and emotions.
✅ Safe, non-ridden equine interactions to promote healing and growth.
✅ Practical mental health skills like mindfulness, stress management, and self-regulation.

No two journeys are the same—whether you’re struggling with trauma, anxiety, self-awareness, or life challenges, Absolute Minds is here to walk alongside you.