The Ripple Effect of Helen Jarvis and Her Innovative Social Entrepreneurship
Helen Jarvis is joyfully embracing her Second 50 years with energy, presence and focus on her purpose-led work.
“I’m empty nesting for the first time this year and there’s finally time to properly finish a thought process and get tasks completed without interruption,” Helen says. “I have a new lease of life and a new energy for this next phase.”
That presence and clarity extend to her work, where she facilitates the kinds of conversations many people prefer to avoid. Helen’s long-standing career as a workplace and family mediator is now balanced with an unexpected (and more recent) calling to be a social impact entrepreneur.
It was Helen’s commitment and passion for raising funds for youth mental health that led her to establish Ripple Learning, a social enterprise and registered charity dedicated to facilitating effective workplace learning experiences and directing 100% of profits to youth mental health charities.
Filling the Funding Gap for Youth Mental Health
Helen’s social entrepreneurship didn’t begin with a grand plan, but with an urgent need that surfaced during the pandemic. At the time, she chaired the board of KYDS Youth Counselling, a community-based non-profit that has provided free, accessible mental health support to young people and their families since 2005.
Securing ongoing, repeatable funding for youth mental health counselling services is notoriously difficult. It’s known in the sector as ‘the missing middle’ — the space that falls between federal and state funding appetites.
“The young individuals who need these services are often too complex for early-intervention services, but not considered acute enough for the hospital system,” Helen explains.
When the pandemic halted fundraising events overnight, Helen suddenly found herself under immense pressure to manage staff salaries and cash flow. Instinctively, she went into problem-solving mode. “My husband and I decided that for a period of time, we would donate the proceeds from the training side of my business to try and meet the shortfall,” she recalls.
What started as a short-term pledge soon revealed an exciting opportunity. “I realised that training — if it was done well — could become a sustainable funding model to help close the gap in this critical youth mental health services area.”
Building a Sustainable Social Enterprise
A few years on, Ripple Learning is a thriving social enterprise with a large team of experienced, skilled and highly accredited trainers and facilitators across Australia. They deliver customised, safe and highly effective learning experiences that equip workplaces with essential skills to navigate conflict, manage stress and maximise performance.
Crucially, 100% of all profits are directed to youth mental health charities, with funding now flowing to two charities: KYDS Youth Counselling and Stepping Stone House.
Helen has a fundraising purpose, but it is coupled with a clear vision for delivering quality learning experiences. “We didn’t want to be an organisation that delivers cookie-cutter training, just reading off PowerPoint slides,” she says. “All of our training is led by very experienced mediators, coaches and HR professionals who are still living the work, managing difficult conversations day in and day out.”
There is an impressive menu of training offerings, but every session is customised, with content and approach drawn from the real issues participants face. “Our facilitators are trained to respond, redirect and contain what arises, drawing from their extensive real-life experience.”
A Model Built on Respect, Agency and Contribution
Helen is proud of the growing team of professionals now working with Ripple Learning across Australia. The model respects their expertise by paying them professional rates and allowing each trainer to choose their level of financial contribution to the fundraising mission.
“Some opt for their full professional rate, based on their personal circumstances or current life priorities,” she says. “Others generously deliver at a reduced rate or even pro bono, driven by their desire to contribute to the cause.” All profits flow to the youth charities.
This agency empowers trainers to engage meaningfully in a way that aligns with their values and capacity. “We’ve cultivated a highly motivated and dedicated team who are fully invested in the quality of the learning experience as well as the broader social mission,” she says.
The impact extends beyond the workplace and fundraising. Helen shared that, although the training is carefully tailored to the specific challenges people face at work, a lot of the conversations participants bring to the training are actually about their families.
“They start talking about the difficult conversations they’re having at home,” she says. “As they build the skills to have challenging conversations well in the workplace, my hope is that they also take those skills home and begin to role model different ways of interacting, problem-solving, and navigating tough moments on the home front.”
The Power of Purpose in Our Second 50
Helen’s story reminds me of something we see over and over in our community. Amazing things become possible when women step fully into their Second 50 power with purpose, generosity and the energy to amplify their vast skills and experience in innovative new ways.
Ripple Learning is growing something amazing that ripples beyond workplaces and training rooms — and Second 50 women are excited to help her.
Three Ways You Can Support Helen’s Mission
Join the Ripple Learning community of trainers
If you are an experienced mediator, counsellor, psychologist, general manager, HR professional or coach, Ripple Learning is interested in knowing you. As the organisation grows, there is room for more skilled professionals who want their work to create genuine impact.Bring Ripple Learning into your organisation
If your organisation is seeking professional training that is customised, safe and delivered by facilitators with significant real-world experience, choosing Ripple Learning strengthens your team while directly supporting youth mental health.Spread the word to organisations who could benefit
If you’re connected to workplaces, leaders, business owners or community groups who value strong communication, wellbeing and conflict resolution skills, let them know about Ripple Learning. A simple introduction or recommendation can help direct vital training — and vital funding — to where it’s needed most.
Standing Beside Helen at Second 50
At Second 50, we are wrapping our arms around Helen’s mission too. Among other things, we are proudly partnering with Ripple Learning to offer a special workshop in March 2026: Courageous Conversations for Second 50 Women. Our members are booking their spots now and we will also be offering an online version soon.
Both of these customised Second 50 workshops will be facilitated by Helen Jarvis, creating a safe, professional and supportive space to learn, practise, and grow our courageous conversation skills together.
The cost is just $149pp. All profits will flow to Ripple Learning’s youth mental health charities. Helen is donating her time and Second 50 is not making any money from this.
If Helen’s story inspires you, explore the Ripple Learning website. Share Ripple’s work.
Because real change begins the moment we choose to step in — one brave conversation, and one ripple, at a time.
About Helen Jarvis
Helen is a Nationally Accredited Mediator, Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, Counsellor, Coach, Facilitator of Restorative Engagement conferences and Clinical Supervisor in private practice. She brings an in-depth mix of change management experience, mediation and corporate coaching.
Helen facilitates conversations between workplace employees who are in conflict or going through rapid change; providing a safe forum for them to discuss the underlying issues and make decisions together. She has extensive experience mediating for non-profit, health, education, construction, call centres and local councils.
Helen is also a lecturer for the College of Law. She teaches the Mediator Training Programme and subjects of the Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution. Helen's volunteering commitments are focused on the mental health and wellbeing of youth.