23years’ experience in the community services sector with development and implementation of collaborative integrated strategies to increase community-based partnerships. Since 2015 supported various Western Australian community place-based initiatives as a facilitator of the Platforms Model under the guidance of Dr Paul Prichard as the key founder of this outcomes-based strategy to better understand how service design shapes improved child health and social outcomes. Has experience working in partnership with local Aboriginal Elders and respected Aboriginal community members to strengthen young children’s lives in the City of Swan. Sara’s psychology background and Catherine McAuley Award: Developing Women in Leadership and Service by the Sisters of Mercy combined with being a candidate of UWA Business School’s MBA Program support her passion to strengthen community led-initiatives to benefit sector-wide progress to improve children’s lives.

Melanie has been the Executive Officer at the Financial Counsellors Association of WA (FCAWA) for over two years and before this managed a large counselling and support service in a women’s health organisation. She has a wealth of experience in a range of sectors including, mental health (MH), alcohol and other drugs (AOD), education and women’s health. She holds post graduate qualifications in leadership and management, a master’s in health counselling and worked in a client-facing capacity as a counsellor for over five years in the AOD/MH environment. Melanie is a staunch advocate for social justice and ensuring the voices of the most vulnerable are heard and is passionate about developing services that are effective in meeting the needs of the people that require them. Melanie is originally from a small town called Rochdale in the Northwest of England – she relocated to Australia in 2014 and is now a proud Australian citizen living in Bassendean with her three boys, poodle cross Bean, and Maple the cat.