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Who are we?
Supporting our First Responders & Veteran community
Established in 2018 by Danielle Baldock and Daniel Bates, two former Police Officers who shared a vision to change the landscape of uniformed mental health, Soldiers & Sirens quickly won the respect of the community it serves.
After funding issues saw it have to temporarily close its doors late in 2021, a new-look Soldiers & Sirens was reborn in August of 2022.
Soldiers & Sirens has a highly motivated governing board, all driven by the need to see our current and former Police, Firefighters, Paramedics, Prison Officers and Military personnel receive the care and compassion they've rightfully earnt, as they go about addressing with their mental health needs.
Soldiers & Sirens recognises that uniform members value community - and yearn to feel a sense of purpose and belonging.
To meet that need, our service-delivery approach incorporates peer support from those who have served, encourages volunteering and engagement, and allows our Military and First Responders to recover in a supportive community for growth. And at low or no cost.
Soldiers & Sirens offers professional mental health pathways inside an empathetic and understanding community of support, which extends from individual clients to their families.
Meet the Board
FOUNDER / BOARD CHAIR - Danielle Baldock MPsych (Prof), BPsych, PostGrad Dip Counselling (Health), MBA
Danielle Baldock graduated from the UWA Psychology program in 2001 and joined the WA Police Force as an officer. After serving six years, she left to pursue her psychology career as a Registered Psychologist. Since 2010 she has worked in various organisations including the Sexual Assault Resource Centre, WA Police Health & Welfare, Victim Support and Child Witness Service, Soldier On, HMAS Stirling, The Marian Centre and ADF Careers. She has continued to study throughout that time, completing a Masters of Business Administration in 2015 and a Masters in Psychology (Professional) at Murdoch in 2020.
In 2018 she joined the Australian Army as a Reserve Psychology Officer.
In 2019, she founded Soldiers & Sirens.
As a former serving member of WAPOL, a current WAPOL spouse, and an Army Officer, she is passionate about the health and wellbeing of all who serve in Uniform.
DEPUTY CHAIR - Nikki Mencshelyi
Nikki Mencshelyi was a 15 year serving member of the WA Police Force (civilian), a Defence widow, and now wife of a serving WA Police Force officer who is also an Australian Army veteran. She is now working as the Lived Experience Coordinator for Great Southern Mental Health Service.
Nikki has been in and around the Defence and Emergency Services communities since 1999.
Her roles have varied across her career, but she has always maintained a keen focus on mental health advocacy and critical-incident management within workplaces. Her current role oversees the development of the Lived Experience workforce and ensures the person-centred voice is maintained in all aspects of Mental Health service.
Nikki has a lengthy academic history and a varied appetite for knowledge, with study in Medical Microbiology, Forensic Science, Psychology (no formal qualification held) and most recently, a post-graduate degree in Intelligence Analysis. She is also progressing her Certificate IV in Mental Health and a Certificate IV in Peer Work.
Nikki is a passionate advocate for preventative mental health, with a special interest in PTSD and innovations in treatment.
She has been a strong supporter of Soldiers & Sirens from its creation and deeply believes the work done in this space is immensely valuable and under-appreciated.
BOARD SECRETARY - Trevor Cruikshank
Trevor enjoyed a 34-year career with the Western Australian Police Force, working in various locations including country postings.
In 2013, he was appointed to the position of Unit Sergeant, Peer Support Coordinator in the Health & Safety Division, Welfare Unit. He was responsible for coordination of the 165 Peer Support Officers across Western Australia.
Arranging training, ensuring confidentiality and significantly growing the number of participants.
Trevor, who also spent 15 years as a Volunteer Fire Fighter, has served on many Boards - and brings his knowledge of Peer Support and Board Governance to the role.
BOARD TREASURER - Mary Tyack
I am a registered BAS Agent. I know numbers, I love making them balance and reconcile, and don't rest until I do. I started my business about 10 years ago to assist businesses to deal with the admin, the processing, the reconciling, the government compliance and reporting. And I'm pretty damn good at it!
Then along came S&S. I'd never heard of them, but my hubby came home from work at WAPOL one day and asked if I could give them a hand. So I asked a few questions and attended my first meeting with the Board. Driving home that night I was concerned I had no point of reference that aligned me with the amazing peopIe I had just met.
As it turned out, there was a lot! My hubby is WAPOL, over 25 years in service and we've dealt with some rough times; my Dad was career ADF and a Vietnam Vet; my brother is career NSWRFS; 2 nephews both ADF have been to Afghanistan. I have a close friend who is ex WAPOL. I've lived under the cloud of suicidal family members for years. They all have suffered some sort of trauma along the way and I haven't witnessed much assistance in any form for them.
Maybe this is my alignment. Maybe this is where my service to a community that I've always been a part of, starts.
The passion that I see within the S&S Board, with Danielle leading them, means there are people who are actively working and willing to be of service to others in this particular community. These people would help my people if needed. So, if I can help in my small way to take some of the admin burden off the board and allow them the time to do what they are best at, then I've found a place I can be, and in the process, honour my family and their various services, by being a part of a team that they could have used or one day need.
PEER SUPPORT COORDINATOR - Gavin Baldock
Gavin “Baldy” Baldock joined the WA Police as a Cadet in 1994. Throughout his career spanning three decades he has been diligently committed to general duties policing, placing him on the frontline in service to the community. He has served in multiple metropolitan locations including Nollamara, Mirrabooka, Joondalup, and Perth City as well as country locations Collie and the Wheatbelt District. He has worked in specialist units including Canine and Emergency Operations Unit (EOU). He holds a Diploma of Business and an Advanced Diploma in Police Search and Rescue Coordination. Since 2018 he has been a Peer Supporter within the Police Force. In 2020 after having his own lived experience of mental ill health, he spoke up in order to show others that there is no shame in getting help, and that putting your hand up does not mean the end of your career. While he has been a supporter of Soldiers & Sirens since its inception in 2018, he proudly joins the board in 2024 to develop and oversee the Peer Programme.
BOARD DIRECTOR - Dave Blyton
As a banking professional with almost 40 years worth of experience, Dave has worked across the broad spectrum of roles in Financial Services, has worked in most States and Territories across Australia, and also spent several years in banking throughout the United Kingdom.
Bendigo Bank’s Community Banking model saw Dave join as a board member when Soldiers & Sirens Ltd was founded.
He was drawn to the organisation as a concerned member of the general public and works on creating connections to further advance the profile of Soldiers & Sirens within the broader community.
BOARD DIRECTOR - Dr Mihaela Iliescu MBBS FRANZCP
Dr Mihaela Iliescu has developed her practice to become a recognised specialist in General Adult Psychiatry including mood disorders, anxiety, OCD, Service-Related Trauma and PTSD. Her principal area of interest has developed towards caring for those who serve.
In keeping with her collaborative, care team-based approach to care, Mihaela has developed a broad network of providers who also commit their time and effort towards the care of Defence, Veteran and First Responder populations.
Mihaela works closely with ADF Joint Health Command based at HMAS Stirling and Campell Barracks. Mihaela is actively involved in supporting the health and safety team at WAPOL in the provision of assessment and management of Police Officers.
Mihaela is excited to join the board of Soldiers & Sirens to continue working with this special population and provide the best care possible.