Soft Systems is a creative consultancy working at the intersection of arts and health.

We partner with individuals, organisations, and communities to co-design culturally grounded art based strategies that foster improved health and wellbeing.

Two men shaking hands outdoors during a gathering, with several people clapping and smiling in the background near a grill.
A black and white photo of a woman with short dark hair, wearing a dark long-sleeve sweater, standing against a wooden wall. She is smiling slightly, with one hand near her chin and the other crossed over her stomach.

Gülsen Özer (she/her)

Founder of Soft Systems Lab

Gülsen Özer brings over twenty years of experience working in the arts, health, and community sectors, specialising in consultancy that integrates creative practice with systems thinking.

Through Soft Systems Lab, she designs and delivers impact-driven projects, strengthens organisational capability, and supports community engagement.

Her work champions cross-sector collaboration, evidence-based practice, socially engaged art, and approaches that deliver measurable, sustainable social outcomes.

Associates

  • Black and white photo of a smiling woman with short hair wearing glasses, standing against a brick wall.

    Kristy Barnes-Cullen (she/her)

    Public Health - Consumer Engagement

    Kristy works at the intersection of medical research, data, community engagement, and advocacy. Her work focuses on centring lived experience in health research design, governance, and decision-making to drive more equitable outcomes. Influenced by an early career as an actor, she brings curiosity, creativity, and a relational approach to complex systems. She serves on a health service Board Quality Committee and holds a Master of Public Health.

  • Black and white photo of a man with glasses and a beard, standing with arms crossed against a wood-paneled wall. He is wearing a button-up shirt.

    Gareth Hart (they/them)

    Artist & Creative Consultant

    Gareth is an artist with a wealth of leadership experience, having worked in a range of arts development and culture-building settings, including festivals, local government, and as a creative director and CEO of arts organisations. They aim to create relevant and responsive programs that engage communities in meaningful, ambitious, and bold projects.

  • A young woman with dark hair and a white t-shirt peeking out from behind a curtain, smiling.

    Sara Disegna (she/her)

    Artist & Educator

    Sara is an accomplished dance artist and educator. She has undertaken the Creative Aging Skill Set training program with Ausdance VIC, a registered training authority, and provides specialist workshop facilitation for children and seniors.

  • Black-and-white portrait of a woman with long hair, smiling slightly, with patterned background.

    April Clarke (she/her)

    Youth Mentoring Specialist

    April has over 20 years of professional experience leading complex mentoring programs and projects involving youth, paid employees, boards, contractors, and volunteers. She is highly attuned to systems of care, adept in impact evaluation, risk evaluation, and front-line crisis management.

  • A woman smiling with feathers behind her at an event, with a background that has the text 'THE MESSAGE OF THE' and 'LYREBIRD' visible, along with hashtags #ECHO and #THECALL.

    Dalys Hill (she/her)

    Artist & Educator

    Dalys is a socially-engaged recording artist, songwriter, composer, vocal coach, musician and choir master. She is currently co-leading a woi wurrung songwriting collaboration with artist Dr Mandy Nicholson (Wurundjeri, Dja Dja wurrung and Ngurai illum wurrung woman)

  • A woman with long dark hair taking a selfie outdoors in a snowy landscape, wearing a winter jacket.

    Michelle Conroy (she/her)

    Educator

    Michelle is a qualified teacher with 14 years’ experience in classroom teaching and curriculum design. Michelle brings a deep passion for learning through creativity and contributes her expertise to Soft Systems Lab’s consulting projects, embedding thoughtful, inclusive, and effective learning strategies.

    …

Our Values

If these values resonate, we would love hear from you.

  • We champion creativity as a means for cultural identity, storytelling, and connection across communities and generations.

  • We prioritise inclusive, respectful practice and actively work to remove barriers to participation.

  • We partner with individuals, organisations, and communities to support agency and voice through creative processes.

  • We build partnerships grounded in empathy, trust, and reciprocity.

  • We act with care, transparency, and responsibility, reflecting critically on our impact and relationships.

  • We listen and adapt creatively to evolving needs and community insights.

  • We recognise the power of place, working responsively with land, memory, and community to create meaning and belonging.

Contact us

Let’s Work Together

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