Award-Winning Success Built Through Creativity and Purpose
What began as a personal journey of recovery has grown into an award-winning business that is changing lives across the Mandurah community.
For Katrina Capone, founder of A Brush with Fun, the path to business ownership was inspired by her own experience overcoming significant health challenges following a workplace injury and multiple surgeries. Throughout her recovery, Katrina discovered the powerful role creativity could play in rebuilding confidence, improving wellbeing, and fostering hope.
Drawing on more than 40 years of experience in education, she saw an opportunity to combine her teaching expertise with her passion for helping others. The result was A Brush with Fun, a creative wellbeing studio that delivers art therapy, psychosocial recovery, rehabilitation support, and art-based wellbeing programs for people experiencing disability, injury, psychosocial challenges, and social isolation.
Today, the business provides a safe and welcoming environment where participants can develop practical life skills, build social connections, improve their wellbeing, and regain confidence through creative expression.
Turning a Vision into a Business
While Katrina had a clear vision for the impact she wanted to make, transforming that vision into a sustainable business required guidance and support.
Through the Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) program delivered by ABS Institute, Katrina accessed structured small business training and personalised mentoring that helped her navigate the complexities of starting a new enterprise.
The program provided practical support across business planning, financial management, marketing, legal compliance, and business development. With guidance from her ABS Institute mentors, Katrina was able to refine her business model, identify her target market, establish strong foundations, and build the confidence needed to launch and grow her business.
“Knowing I wasn’t doing it alone made all the difference. The guidance helped turn uncertainty into confidence,” Katrina said.
The ongoing mentoring proved particularly valuable, giving Katrina a trusted source of advice and encouragement as she made important business decisions during the start-up phase.
“The Self-Employment Assistance program gave me far more than business knowledge, it gave me confidence to believe that my experience, skills, and passion could become a successful and meaningful business.”
Making a Difference in the Community
Since launching, A Brush with Fun has continued to grow and expand its impact throughout the region.
The business now supports a diverse range of clients through individual and group-based creative recovery programs and has developed strong referral partnerships with NDIS participants, support coordinators, allied health professionals, insurers, and community organisations.
Katrina has also broadened her service offering to include educational tutoring and additional wellbeing-focused programs, creating greater opportunities for people to engage, learn, and thrive.
Most importantly, the business is helping people improve their quality of life through meaningful creative experiences.
“I wanted to create a place where people could experience the same hope and healing through creativity that I had discovered myself.”
Award-Winning Success
Katrina’s commitment to supporting others, combined with her innovative approach to wellbeing and community engagement, has earned significant recognition.
In 2026, A Brush with Fun was named the Start-Up Winner at the WA Regional Business Excellence Awards, a remarkable achievement that highlights both the success of the business and the positive impact it continues to have within the community.
The award reflects Katrina’s dedication, perseverance, and vision, as well as the value of having the right support during the business start-up journey.
“This program helped transform an idea into a business that changes lives every day.”
Katrina at the WA Regional Business Excellence Awards
Supporting Future Entrepreneurs
For Katrina, Self-Employment Assistance provided the foundation needed to turn a business idea into a sustainable and impactful enterprise. With the support of ABS Institute’s training and mentoring, A Brush with Fun has grown into an award-winning business recognised for its contribution to wellbeing, recovery, and community connection. Her success demonstrates how the right support can help aspiring entrepreneurs build thriving businesses that deliver lasting value to their communities.
