Tammey’s Story

Meet Tammey Candeloro, a counsellor at Wungening.

A compassionate, courageous and driven individual, Tammey is determined to help people through the harder parts of life where mental health, homelessness, family violence and addiction may be concerned.

Tammey recalls always being passionate about caring for people, and not being afraid to get into the nitty-gritty of feelings and harsh thoughts. She’s spent her life working in a variety of roles, including hospitality, sales, and the most important; being a mum.

Between all this, Tammey discovered her interest in counselling, and begun to pursue her bachelor degree, completing her placement at Lifeline, and becoming a mentor.

It was after her best friends suicide in 2015, that Tammey decided to go back to her roots of counselling and mental health mentoring with LifeLine WA after taking a break to raise her kids.

“For me it was more, having a best friend or somebody extremely close to you commit suicide, it can play on your mind. Why didn’t I see the signs? Why didn’t I support her better?

I knew she had mental health (issues), why couldn’t I intervene?

So that really opened my eyes into what can I do. If I can help anybody then, there is somebody else that, doesn’t have that what can I do, or what could I have done, could I have supported that person better?”

Tammey’s passion for helping others is unstoppable, and nothing including her disability gets in her way. After 13 months at Wungening, her presence has become a force, leaving clients and colleagues in awe of her compassion and cheerful attitude.

” I’m legally blind, I have no sight in my left eye at all, that’s not viable.

Mines a metabolic error, rare genetic disorder, one in one hundred thousand- thank you!”

Recalling the visually impaired community, Tammey noticed the discrimination many, including herself face when it comes to everyday life.

” Being blind and low vision… 85% cannot find work or employment due to discrimination”

In spite of this, Tammey created the Blind Dinner Dates group, a fortnightly dinner group for visually impaired people across Perth. The group has been running for over 13 years, and has been fighting for active change for their community, including the recent success of ACROD permits for the visually impaired. It’s a place for people to be seen, heard and find connection in an accessible environment.

Between running the group, working as a counsellor part time, being a mum, a carer for some of her family members, and advocating for her community, it’s not hard to tell that Tammey has become a guiding light of strength for many clients at Wungening.

No matter the cause, issues or bridges faced, Tammey is ready to assist anyone and everyone with a cheerful attitude and smile on her face.