Provide free, evidence-based wellbeing and resilience support to young people
Our Story
In 2018, our team at the University of Auckland embarked on a mission to enhance the mental wellbeing of rangatahi. We aimed to create accessible tools by drawing on our background in wellbeing interventions. That year, we blended positive psychology with chatbot technology to bring to life Headstrong.
We understood that young people sometimes hesitate to seek help, so we set out to create a space where they felt heard and cared for. We also wanted to offer a secure digital platform for seeking help, all while embracing our unique Kiwi culture and values.
The result? Headstrong, an app designed to support rangatahi, promote healthy habits, and teach evidence-based strategies for managing stress, resolving conflicts, and tackling tough emotions.
And we don't stop there! We're committed to constant improvement, regularly adapting to changing user preferences and evolving technology to ensure we remain a valuable resource for all rangatahi.
Our Values
How we do things is just as important as what we do. In our mission to offer free, evidence-based wellbeing support to young people, we are guided by these core values:
We Care
We aim to create a supportive digital space that resonates with young people and makes them feel valued, heard, and genuinely cared for.
We Empower
By providing youths with knowledge and practical tools, we hope to empower them to confidently manage life’s challenges, build their self-esteem, and strengthen their resilience.
We take Responsibility
We are committed to cultural responsiveness and inclusivity. We hold ourselves responsible for ensuring that our content is evidence-based and ethically sound, while serving all young people in Aotearoa.
Leadership & Operations Team
Pioneer of Headstrong (from its inception to its current form), Karolina is an expert in developing, testing, and implementing digital wellbeing tools, including SPARX. Her vision drives Headstrong's evolution.
Dr Karolina Stasiak
Project Lead & Associate Professor
Dr Naomi Davies
Project Manager & Research Fellow
Naomi is a Research Fellow, and Lead of Operations at Headstrong, where she oversees project delivery, coordination, and strategy. She brings expertise in research and collaboration to ensure impactful, well-run initiatives that support the Headstrong mission.
Dr Holly Dixon
Project Manager & Research Fellow
Holly leads the design of Headstrong’s product and content, ensuring it is evidence-based and emotionally resonant. She combines expertise in health and social psychology with a focus on creating conversational, youth-centered experiences that connect deeply with young people.
Sarah Bodmer
Brand & Partnerships Lead, Research Assistant
Sarah leads our in-house brand and communications strategy and helps ensure engaging content. Her research expertise focuses on communication technologies and public health.
Natalie is our in-house social media content creator, and supports youth engagement for Headstrong. She is completing her postgraduate studies and co-leads research into chatbot conversationality.
Natalie Poša
Communications Advisor & Research Assistant
Sasha Finlay
Content Developer & Health Psychologist
Sasha draws on her clinical experience working with adolescents and young adults to develop engaging and youth-centric content.
Annie Kang
Content Developer & Research Assistant
Annie draws on her expertise in public health and health ethics to help shape our youth-centric content and coherent user experiences.
Clinical & Cultural Strategy
Dr Tania Cargo
Māori Lead & Clinical Psychologist
Tania applies her clinical psychology expertise to guide Te Ao Māori content, ensuring Headstrong aligns with Te Tiriti principles and supports strong Māori partnerships.
Ngāti Manu, Ngāti Maru, Ngāpuhi
Dr Grant Christie
Youth Addiction Psychiatrist
Involved in its original design and creation, Grant has recently returned to the Headstrong team to provide expertise and create content in the addiction space.
Kaumātua Sonny Niha
Kaumatua & Māori Cultural Advisor
As Kaumātua Kai Tautoko, Sonny ensures Te Tiriti o Waitangi's principles are upheld and offers cultural guidance to our team.
Ngāti Hine
Design & Development Team
Jodie Kennedy
Co-Founder & Head of Design at Edition Group | Ngāti Maniapoto
Scott Kennedy
Co-Founder & UX Director at Edition Group
Grace Thomson
Digital Product Designer at Edition Group
Priyanka Rana
Operations & Delivery Lead at Edition Group
Chester Holt-Quick
CTO and Software Engineer at Kekeno Tech
Luke Polson
Software Engineer at Kekeno Tech
Joshua Morley
Software Engineer at Kekeno Tech
A special thanks to
Sarah Hetrick
Matt Shepherd
Supported by
Te Whatu Ora
We are proudly supported by Te Whatu Ora. With their help, Headstrong is free for all young people in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The University of Auckland
Headstrong began and continues to thrive at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. Their support is key to our work in supporting the wellbeing of rangatahi.
Here's what others are saying
Thanks to our backers for their support
Awards & Recognition
2024 eMHIC Leadership Excellence Award Winner
Winners of the Leadership Excellence Award in Digital Mental Health Implementation for New Zealand 2024
Read more
2023 Indigo Design Gold Award Winner
Gold Winner in Apps for Social Change, Gold Winner in Mobile App, Silver Winner in Digital Tools and Utilities
Read more
In the Press
Get the app for free today!
Headstrong is a free mobile and desktop app designed to empower rangatahi and enhance their mental wellbeing.
Don't have a compatible device? No worries! You can use our web app instead.
