OUR BOARD

Alan is a proud Gunditjmara man, whose people are the traditional Owners of Lake Condah, in Victoria’s far southwest.

Currently works for Dept of Education as a KESO (Koorie Engagement Support Officer)

Has worked across a number of roles in the Aboriginal Community in NSW and Victoria over many years, including teaching Aboriginal Studies at tertiary level, Training – delivering programs with specific Aboriginal content (both in-house and to external organisations), high-level Information Technology as a System Engineer, and providing guidance and mentoring to young Aboriginal people in his workplaces.

Brian is a Yorta Yorta/Wemba Wemba man who grew up and lives on Bunurong land. He has lived in Frankston for over 20 years.

Brian has extensive leadership experience working with the Koorie community in employment, engagement, and education roles, as well as strong networks in the Koorie community and a deep understanding of cultural protocols.

As a foster carer with wife, Machelle, they have cared for over 60 young people, as well as their children Karen and PJ

Aunty Yvonne Luke was born on Wurundjeri Country and identifies with her mother’s Alyawarr Country. She is the proud mother of three children.

Yvonne has worked supporting Aboriginal young people in Victorian both in Aboriginal community organisations and Government. She is a past Elder of the Broadmeadows Koori Court and a current Elder at the Melbourne County Court. She has sat on Government Boards and Committees including: the Dept of Justice Ethics Committee; Youth Parole Board; First Peoples Directions Circle and The Child Death Review Committee. Yvonne is a past member of the Margaret Tucker Management Committee and is a current director of Baluk Arts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation and Nairm Marr Djambana.

Kerry Strickland is a proud Wodiwodi woman from the Yuin nation, the First Nations people from the Illawarra region in NSW. She is a Registered Nurse with a passion for achieving positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children. Kerry’s nursing career has been focused on Aboriginal Early Years, and she is currently working at Monash Health as the Manager of Aboriginal Health Community.

Kerry has been the treasurer for Nairm Marr Djambana for the last 5 years and is committed to ensuring its financial stability. Additionally, she sits on the Women’s Spirit Program committee as the Cultural Advisor.

Kerry’s dedication to improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is evident through her work and community involvement.

Jenny is a proud Larrakia woman from Darwin, Northern Territory.
Jenny has previous experience as an Aboriginal youth worker for DDACL and was an active member of the Community Aboriginal Justice Panel (ACJP) for approximately 2 years. This program was designed to assist in the prevention of deaths in custody of our young people and is funded by RAJAC.

Jenny currently works for a supportive housing team in the Frankston area as the Aboriginal Social and Emotional Well-being Worker and does outreach work with the most vulnerable people in our community who have endured long term rough sleeping and trauma. It is a privilege to be able to walk along side of my people to support them with their recovery journey into housing.
Jenny is honoured to be on the board and looks forward to getting to know our community members and supporting those in need.

Kylie Bell is a proud Yorta Yorta and Wamba Wamba woman who has had the immense privilege of living, working, and playing on Bunrong country for over 30 years. Through her strong connection to the land and the community, Kylie, along with her husband and child, has been accepted by the local Aboriginal community.

Born and raised in a small country town boarding Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta country, Kylie grew up in the bush, where she developed a deep connection to the land, water, and sky. As a child of a parent who is part of the Stolen Generations, Kylie has experienced the profound grief and loss that comes with not knowing one’s family or place within it. Her journey as an adult has involved navigating the challenges of building connections to her family and community, both locally and back on her country. Kylie knows the grief and loss that comes with not knowing who your family is and where you fit in, along with the anger you feel that it was done under government polices!

Kylie has been also blessed to see firsthand the strength and resistance that Aboriginal people have, firstly demonstrated by her parent who was part of the stolen generation as well as border Aboriginal community.
For approximately 20 years, Kylie has dedicated herself to the child and family services sector, working on Bunrong and Wurundjeri country, where she has provided crucial support to Aboriginal communities.
In addition to her professional work, Kylie has demonstrated strong leadership within the local Aboriginal education sector. Seven years ago, she was voted in as the vice-chairperson of the Local Aboriginal Education Consultation Group for the Southern Metro region, and four years ago, she became the chairperson. She is also an active member of RAJAC (Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee) and a founding member of the Eyes on Boorais Committee, both of which work to advance the rights and opportunities of Aboriginal children and families.

Currently, Kylie serves as the Aboriginal Practice Leader for the Nugel Program at the Victorian Aboriginal Child Community Agency (VACCA). In this role, she continues her commitment to improving the lives of Aboriginal children and families, ensuring that services are culturally informed and support the unique needs of Aboriginal children and their families, in a culturally responsive way.