WHAT WE DO

We are carving spaces where rest, rage, and play can co-exist. To be alongside others who just get it, for solidarity in our shared experiences, and to feel free to do what works best for you and your body.

Imagination is at the heart of what we do. The Rest Sanctuary is emergent, dynamic and evolving— as we dream into new ways of navigating the crevices in systems of care. 

You are welcome here, wherever you are in the diagnostic odyssey; having a formal diagnosis is not required to engage with The Rest Sanctuary offerings.

OUR VALUES

Our team is guided by the rights model of disability and concepts of disability theory. 

For us this looks like:

Centring autonomy and agency

Active listening and continuous learning

Awareness of diversity of experience

Valuing collective care and inter-dependence

Acknowledging our community are experts by experience

  • We acknowledge the mahi of many BIPOC activists, cultural workers, artists and writers who have carved lineages of rest and community care.

ABOUT US

COMMUNITY

Be part of shaping The Rest Sanctuary community! Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram. We would love to connect with you!

OUR TEAM

Headshot photos:
Nico Rose Penny

Headshot of Amelia Jacobson, flowers are in the background.

Amelia Jacobson (she/her)

  • Amelia grew up in Naarm (Melbourne), and now lives in Tāmaki Makaurau. Imagination and storytelling have offered her ways to explore body-based ways of knowing and meaning-making. With a decade of experience in creative facilitation, Amelia has witnessed how the arts can connect communities. Curious to integrate her interests in disability theory, lived-patient experience and creative-practice, Amelia completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Arts Therapy in 2024. She digs connecting with people in all their funky weirdness.

Headshot of Caitlin Roper, flowers are in the background.

Caitlin Roper (she/her)

  • Caitlin is a proud Aucklander, a self-proclaimed research nerd, and a firm believer that community and whānau make the world go round. After five years on a health journey that taught her more about resilience (and medical jargon) than she ever expected, she’s now diving into a Master’s in Research, exploring the hypermobility aspect of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. With a background in Exercise Sciences and Business Operations, she’s always looking for ways to make life easier for those facing hardship—whether that’s through advocacy, support, or just a well-timed cup of coffee.

Headshot of Sarah Jacobson, flowers are in the background.

Sarah Jacobson (she/her)

  • Sarah is originally from the Southside of Tāmaki Makaurau, she travelled widely, then landed in Naarm (Melbourne) for many years, before persuading her aussie husband to relocate with their three children to Aotearoa. After a career in early childhood education, Sarah has been practicing as a counsellor for over five years, weaving together curiosity for others stories and her strongly held values for social justice. Whānau experience of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome has offered Sarah an understanding into navigating the systems of care and the gaps within them.

Large digital illustration, abstract swirl shapes in blue, orange, white and purple. Light moves across the image.