A message from the WIFVC Chair
It’s hard to believe that Spring has started with the dreadful storms across the State. I do hope you and your families have all been ok.
I wanted to let you know about the new Governance Group for the 2024-26 term.
Standing positions:
Independent Chair: Sandie de Wolf, AM
Auspice: Dale Wakefield, CEO, GenWest
DFFH: Carolyn Grant, Manager Agency Performance & System Support (APSS) Western Melbourne Area, Department of Families, Fairness & Housing
Victoria Police: Detective Senior Sergeant Brad Lawrence, Westgate Family Violence Investigation Unit, Victoria Police
Sexual Assault Services: Annette Vickery, CEO, WestCASA
The Orange Door Hub Managers: Mo Connolly, Hub Manager, The Orange Door, Western Melbourne and Tilly O’Rourke, Hub Manager, The Orange Door, Brimbank Melton
Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation: Ani Connor-Simon, Executive Manager, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA)
Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation: Kellyanne Andy, Director of Programs & Services, Elizabeth Morgan House Aboriginal Women's Services
Elected positions:
Victim Survivor Position: Cleona Feuerring, Legal Director, Family Violence and Family Law Program, WestJustice Community Legal Centre
Perpetrator Position: Rose Byrnes, Senior Manager, Relationships Australia Victoria
Child & Family Services Position: Cathryn Ryan, General Manager, Integrated Place Based Services, VIC West & SA, Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand
Diverse Communities’ Position: Rasha Abbas, CEO, InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence
Diverse Communities’ Position: Paula Fernandez Arias, General Manager, Queerspace, Drummond Street Services
Open Position: Marquita Nolan, Deputy Managing Lawyer, Victoria Legal Aid, West Regional Office
Open Position: Lisa O'Brien, Senior Manager, Melbourne City Mission
Open Position: Olivia Nichols, Operations Manager, Odyssey House Victoria
Open Position: Vivianne Watson, Regional Manager, North and West Region, Relationship Matters
The nominations worked out that we didn’t need any election which was great. We have also added another ACCO representative and are delighted that Kellyanne Andy from Elizabeth Morgan House will join the Group.
Special thanks to our retiring members: Victor Bilous (Odyssey House), Jemma Mead (Drummond Street), Zanetta Hartley (Western Health), Belinda Blair (Baptcare) and Erin Price (Good Shepherd).
The new Governance Group has its first meeting, in person, this Thursday.
We have a few changes in our wonderful staff team.
Renee Harrison is returning from parental leave on 25th September. She and Tarryn will share the Principal Strategic Advisor role, with Renee working Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and Tarryn working Tuesday to Friday. We are incredibly fortunate to have two such capable people to lead our work.
Ellena will leave us on 5th September for parental leave and we thank her for all her work, especially in workforce development, Working In The West Communities of Practice, and the secondary consult project.
Di and Sian continue their valuable work.
The next WIFVC meeting is on 19th September and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible then as we hear from lived experience consultant Tess Moodie on the foundational steps towards safe and meaningful engagement with lived experience in our sector's work.
Warm regards,
Sandie de Wolf AM
WIFVC Independent Chair