Legacy WA is an iconic charity dedicated to providing life-changing support and fostering connectivity for veterans’ families. With a proud history of service dating back to 1928, Legacy WA continues to evolve to meet the growing needs of the Western Australian community. This pivotal role represents an opportunity to join Legacy WA during an exciting period of growth and innovation.As a Community Programs Specialist, my position directly reports to the CEO, where I am tasked with designing and implementing impactful community support and engagement programs tailored to current and future needs of veterans’ families.Key Responsibilities: • Researching and analysing stakeholder needs to develop innovative programs. • Reviewing and enhancing existing programs to identify gaps and opportunities for growth. • Creating community-focused initiatives aligned with Legacy WA’s mission, ensuring robust evaluation methods. • Establishing risk management practices to maintain safety for staff, clients, and visitors. • Cultivating strategic partnerships with State Government, corporate stakeholders, and funders. • Overseeing budget planning to ensure efficient resource allocation. • Leading responsive service delivery plans, driven by community involvement and feedback. • Coordinating with team leaders to clarify cross-functional responsibilities. • Reporting program progress and outcomes to the CEO regularly. • Utilising data insights for strategic decision-making and recommendations.Operating from Legacy House in West Perth I am part of a small, passionate team dedicated to meaningful work that makes a real difference for veterans’ families.

As the Culture Care Connect Jurisdictional Lead, I've spearheaded strategic initiatives aimed at driving positive outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and suicide prevention across Western Australia. Through collaborative efforts with experts and individuals with lived experiences, I've been instrumental in implementing a multifaceted approach through:Strategic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention PlanningService Mapping and AssessmentEmpowering Community-Controlled NetworksStakeholder Relationship BuildingChampioning Systems and Policy ChangeIn this role, my commitment to cultural safety and community empowerment is reflected in every aspect of my work. By collaborating with experts, community members, and stakeholders, we are collectively driving transformative change and working towards a mental health system that is truly responsive to the diverse needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The Plant Alchemist is a retail and events-based business with a social focus. The company retail a wide range of indoor house plants, home accessories, coffee, tea, and baked goods and deliver activity-based workshops for community groups, the corporate sector, and individuals. We incorporate profits into change-making projects and activities. By working with business and community the company aims to bring about long-lasting social change in areas that include well-being, sustainability, community development, innovation, and collaboration. As a director, my key roles include; legal/financial compliance and governance, staff management, strategic planning, budget forecasting, funding management, and strategic partnership development.

I work with the Board to ensure good governance, legal compliance, efficient administration and financial stability. I use my knowledge, experience and independent judgement to assist the Board of Trustees to reach sound decisions.My role focuses on NAT’s representation in Northern Ireland. As a trustee I contribute to the National AIDS Trust strategy as well as serving as a point of contact for both the executive and non-executive team regarding the importance of social, political and cultural contexts for aiding issues surrounding HIV in N.Ireland.

As a community development consultant, I dedicated my expertise to fostering positive and sustainable change within communities. Driven by a passion for social impact and a deep understanding of community dynamics, I sought to cultivate collaboration, engagement, and empowerment among diverse stakeholders. My proven track record of successful project implementations highlights my proficiency in needs analysis, strategic formulation, and delivering impactful solutions. Key achievements include:Informing Loneliness Policy in N. Ireland: Collaborating with 'The Campaign to End Loneliness' and the N. Ireland Government Action Group, I conducted qualitative research that played a pivotal role in shaping the NI Loneliness Report: A Call to Action. The findings provided vital insights and recommendations to tackle loneliness within the community.Empowering LGBTIQ+ Regional Communities: Through a partnership with the Victorian State Government and LEAD Loddon Murray, I developed a tailor-made leadership development program for LGBTIQ+ regional communities.Advancing Rural Sexual Health Initiatives: Commissioned by the University of Melbourne - Department of Rural Health Centre of Excellence in Rural Sexual Health, I conducted a comprehensive program review. My recommendations, which emphasized strengthened collaborations with local government and enhanced youth co-design, consultation, and participation approaches, helped elevate their health promotion program.Supporting Family Violence and Homelessness Sectors: Following the Royal Commission into family violence, I led a crucial consultation project. This endeavour facilitated the development of an innovative service model addressing the needs of women and children fleeing violence with pets and animals. Through my commitment to community-driven change and evidence-based strategies, I worked tirelessly to create a positive and lasting impact on the lives of individuals and communities.

The VMAX study is a partnership between the Burnet Institute and Monash Rural Health. To help us better understand what is happening in the community with meth use, we are undertaking a study – VMAX – involving 800 Victorians who currently use meth. Organisations and Governments require data on long-term patterns of methamphetamine use, including what causes people to start and stop using over time, the types of services that they use (e.g. GPs, ambulances, drug rehab), and the types of services they wish to access for help.Without these details, we can’t improve services and don’t know the best time to intervene and prevent people transitioning to more problematic use patterns.Major aims:Determine the nature and extent of methamphetamine use in Melbourne and three regional areas (Bendigo, Shepparton and Latrobe)Identify the natural course of meth and other drug use, including periods of dependence and abstinence and relapse, and the health (e.g., drug treatment) and social (e.g., major life events) factors that drive such changesIdentify cost-effective approaches of delivering treatment services to people who use methamphetamine in these Victorian locations.Through statistical and economic modelling, we will also estimate the effectiveness of different drug treatment strategies (e.g., counselling, residential rehabilitation) in contributing to reduced drug use and improved health more broadly. Along these lines, we will compare the costs and benefits of different treatment modalities in metropolitan and regional Australia.Findings from the modelling will inform the ways in which existing services are offered to people who are dependent on methamphetamine.

The advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management is a new and innovative qualification that supports the role of workers who are managers across a range of community sector organisations. This qualification will provide participants with the skills and knowledge to undertake management and leadership roles within an array of industries and community areas. This qualification is ideal for managers who work in Community Services and Development, Disability, Early Childhood and Aged Care. Key subjects taught include:• Innovation and continuous improvement • Advocacy• Financial management • Funding applications• Diversity• Risk management• Quality frameworks• Lead organisational change

Provide high-level support to the Federal Member for Bendigo around media, communications and stakeholder management including managing and resolving constituent issues.

I developed and delivered the Victorian AIDS Council first regionally based program. The service covers the Loddon Mallee region. The program includes primary prevention, education and awareness, testing, treatment, counselling support, and activities to link services through strategic partnerships and workforce development.Key achievements: • Securing a range of funding from philanthropic organisations, government and other sources, including: William Buckland Foundation, Murray PHN, Victorian Government Ice Action Grant, and the Australian Drug Foundation.• Development and delivery of the first regionally based peer led sexual health and rapid HIV testing clinic.• Delivery of regional Victoria’s LGBTI local drug action task force. • Implementation of counselling service working with LGBTI communities and people living with or affected by HIV. • Project design and evaluation: I designed, obtained ethics approval and implemented a research project to evaluate the impact of peers in online spaces. I recruited, trained and coordinated 10 volunteers to carry out the project. Design, delivery and execution of outdoor and online health promotion campaign across the Loddon Mallee region.• I have led the development of an organisational Reconciliation Action Plan, with emphasis on consultation, inclusion and equity. Plan attached in media section.

During my time at head office I lead a team of seven health promotion officers.This role worked within the policy frameworks and strategic direction of the Victorian AIDS Council and I was responsible for creating a team environment that effectively contributed to the development and delivery of effective and innovative health promotion strategies. The role included developing and implement project strategies, formulate work plans, time lines, key performance measures, and budgets designed to achieve goals of the health promotion strategic plan. This role sat within the senior leadership team of the organisation.• Development of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander program• Led the team through a team review function and implemented recommendations

This role entailed working within the health promotion department to deliver specific targeted health promotion project to men at risk of acquiring HIV. During my time in this position I developed an outreach testing model which brought clinical services to outdoor events and festivals.

This role entailed working within the contractual guidelines from Public Health England to deliver a sexual health program across the North West of England. A key focus of the role was to work at a strategic level within local authorities and governmental agencies to influence funding and priorities during National Health Service restructure.

In this role I managed and developed The Rainbow Project’s sexual health program and provided strategic representation to the Northern Ireland Department of Health on issues of sexual health for gay and bisexual men to inform and influence the delivery of The Northern Ireland Sexual Health Promotion Strategy and Action Plan 2008-2013.

The role developed and delivered area strategies in a cross community area. The main aim of activities were around social justice and conflict resolution by identifying area needs, implementing recommendations and initiating groups and projects for the benefit of the community.