Governance

President - Beth Davidson

Anglesea Community House

I have a background in disability services and first worked in this sector in Winchelsea starting as an Adult Ed Worker in the mid ‘80s.   I progressed through a variety of roles including Adult Ed., Community Support and Coordinator in my eleven years there. I was also on the committee of the Anglesea House (including terms as Sec and Pres) and the Barwon Network. This gave me a healthy perspective on the difference between governance and operational roles.

Following more than a decade in local government I returned to the NH sector in 2010 as Manager at Grovedale Neighbourhood House. This followed a range of governance failures that saw CoGG agree to auspice the house. I was charged with rebuilding community confidence and activity at the house and this growth was demonstrated in the annual survey. In Oct 2015 I resigned to allow new energy and enthusiasm to leverage the great new facilities available following the redevelopment as a Community Hub. I continue to participate in programs there and volunteer on a regular basis.   

My Skills and Interests:

• Governance. Particularly exploring new governance models that support the diversity of Houses. I question whether the one size fits all approach serves all communities all the time and believe we should explore and support approaches that are flexible enough to take account of local circumstances at a given time.
• I am excited by systemic change, rather than one off or ad hoc approaches. Whether its development of systems and processes that support good governance or the change that serves individuals and Houses I tend to be on the lookout for long term approaches.
• I am a bit of a stickler for process, within the framework that good process must serve its intention and is not an end in itself.

Secretary - Sandra Anderson

Norlane Community Centre

I have been involved with Norlane Community Centre for 30 years since it opened in 1986. Over this period of time I have seen quite a great deal of changes. Things such as the Norlane Community Centre have changed from being a Committee of Management to become a Board of Management. Coordinators have changed. Even the title is now Manager. This has been an exciting but adoring era. My positions have varied from Committee Member to Secretary to Chairperson and then back to Secretary. Which is currently my job title.

I also joined the Barwon Network of Neighbourhood Centres Committee  on Monday 12 August 1997. I have enjoyed my position as Secretary and seen a great deal of changes to the Committee and specifically the Networker Coordinators that been employed by us. Changes have continued to be exhilarating and stimulating to us as Committee members.

One of my dynamic periods was being on the Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres (now known as Neighbourhood Houses Victorian) Board of Governance for 6 years. After being a Board Member for 2 years I was elected on the Executive as Treasurer and spent four stimulating years increasing my knowledge and awareness of funds, grants, assets and resources. Being on this Board was both captivating and educational. This has assisted me to be the person I am today.

Committee Member - Jodii Anderson

Vines Road Community Centre

I have a background in working within the community service sector for many years working in various roles ranging from managing a non-profit to administering public funds. Recently l have been involved in the neighbourhood house sector both managing a house and being a member of Neighbourhood Houses Barwon Committee.

Currently l am teaching at the Gordon TAFE in the Community Service department. You will find that I am passionate about education and lifelong learning. It is my belief that the neighbourhood houses plays a vital role in bring together community members to  learn connect and enjoy shared experiences.

Our wonderful region enjoys sharing and building partnership to provide unique community development projects. l am very excited to contribute and build on the strengths of our community to continue to build a strong networks with the region.

Committee Member - Julie Hallifax

Colac Neighbourhood House

I have worked in the community health sector for 20 years after being in private enterprise for the 12 years prior. Those 12 years were in the hospitality business and my love of people and place, having lived in the Colac Otway Shire my whole life, being born in Forrest and then moving to Colac as an adult, has never changed.

My roles within community health have always been related to supporting vulnerable people as an AOD counsellor and youth mental health clinician. I have also worked as a Senior Child Protection worker and for St John of God within their social justice program establishing a service  for people with Dual Diagnosis across all the sites in Australia.

In late 2018 I stepped into the role of Coordinator at the Colac Neighbourhood House initially as a caretaker. Within three days I knew this was the job for me. I was fortunate enough to be successful in my subsequent application for the ongoing position  and have enjoyed all the wonderful challenges that present each day since. I look forward to 2021 and resuming as normal as possible programs, groups and activities and being part of the NHBarwon Committee of Governance.

Strengths:

• Engaging community
• Assessing and scoping the needs of the community
• Grant writing

Committee Member - Chris James

Bellarine Training and Community Hub

Much of my career over the past twenty years has been spent within the education, employment and training sectors in Melbourne, Sydney, Europe and for over ten years in regional Victoria.

I have extensive operational management experience over a variety of industries within the profit and not for profit sectors and am a strong believer in empowering the people you work with and making a real difference to the community you serve. My background has been heavily involved in team development, strategic business growth, change management and financial management.

I have a real passion for education, the community, youth based programs and disability services. Having only recently entered the network and am very excited with the possibilities ahead and the opportunities to work with a network that really appreciates and invests back in the community in which they work.