Leading Ladies: Sarah Martin
- Stacey Dick
- Aug 20
- 2 min read
Sarah Martin – Connect 2 Thrive Yarrawonga
Nominated by: Jacqui Anderson
"Sarah has taught me that dedication and integrity are essential to not just being a good therapist but an ethical one. I trust Sarah with any person I send her way, and I also trust that if she isn’t the right fit, she will help them find who is. She works hard not just to make ends meet but because she is passionate about equity for all people." – Jacqui Anderson
Meet Sarah Martin
I’m Sarah Martin, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, and I’ve spent over 20 years working across education, case management, clinical intervention, and trauma-informed practice. Over the years, I’ve seen how deeply children and families can be impacted by adverse experiences, and I wanted to create a space in our community where they could feel safe, supported, and truly heard.
That vision became Connect 2 Thrive, which I founded in Yarrawonga. It’s not just a therapeutic service, but a hub—a place where other practitioners from out of town can also provide services right here in our community. In rural areas, people often can’t easily travel to access allied health support, so my goal was to create a local base where families can be linked with the help they need, while building a network of supportive, like-minded clinicians.
A few years ago, I also started the Yarrawonga Mulwala Mental Health Professionals Network so local practitioners could connect, share ideas, and support each other. It’s been on pause while I juggled different roles, but I’m now relaunching it—because I believe we do our best work when we work together. In addition, I provide outreach services to Shepparton, Wangaratta, Cobram, and Numurkah, so that support can reach people where they are.
I’m proud that I’ve been able to keep learning, growing, and expanding the ways I can help—supporting individuals right across the lifespan. I’m also proud of the way I’ve been able to connect with my peers, share knowledge and experience, and advocate for others. It’s these connections that make the work richer and more impactful.
What I’d Love to See for Women in Rural Communities
I’d love to see more opportunities for women to connect at all different levels and capacities—whether that’s through professional networks, creative spaces, peer support groups, or just honest, real conversations. And of course, I’d love to see more access to tailored, trauma-informed support services, especially around perinatal and postnatal mental health, parenting, and birth support.
What Community Means to Me
Community, for me, is about belonging and connection—it’s walking alongside each other through the ups and downs, sharing wisdom, lending a hand, and celebrating one another’s wins. It’s the feeling that you’re not alone, no matter what’s going on.
✨ Women like Sarah remind us how powerful it is when passion, integrity, and care combine to create lasting change in our communities.
You can get in touch with Sarah through the following channels:
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