Office bearers 2015-16
Chairperson
Sharron Williams
CEO, Aboriginal Family Support Services Inc. (AFSS) Adelaide, SA
Sharron Williams has served on the SNAICC national executive since 1999 and was elected as Chairperson in March 2013 (having been elected as interim chair in November 2012). Sharron also served as Deputy Chairperson — Child Welfare from May 2011 to November 2012. Sharron is a Narungga/Kaurna woman who has been the CEO of Aboriginal Family Support Services (AFSS), the peak Aboriginal child welfare organisation in South Australia, since 1997. The agency was formed in 1978 in response to Aboriginal children often being removed from their families and communities without the consent or even consultation with extended family members. Sharron’s experience has included 15 years with Correctional Services in strategic and policy development positions, including as the first Indigenous Public Relations Officer within the Correctional Services system in SA. Sharron’s strengths are building strong relationships with government and industry on behalf of the community, based on respect and a strong commitment to protecting the rights of the Aboriginal community.
Deputy Chairperson
Geraldine Atkinson
President, Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc., Northcote, Vic.
Geraldine Atkinson is a Bangarang/Wiradjuri woman. She is president of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc. (VAEAI); was instrumental in developing the 2001 Yalca education partnership between the Victorian Government and VAEAI; and she is the National Indigenous Education Consultative Body representative to the MCEETYA and the chairperson of Lidje MACS and Batdja Aboriginal Preschool in Shepparton. Geraldine has served on the SNAICC National Executive since 1999.
Treasurer
Name of Delegate: Garry Matthews
Chair of Abcare Australia, Coffs Harbour, NSW
From the Eora nation of NSW, Garry has been CEO of Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Community Care Centre since 1994. Garry has served on the AbSec Board (NSW Aboriginal State Secretariat) since its foundation in 2000, is the secretary of the Coffs Harbour Community Care Options, is involved in the local Aboriginal Interagency Committe and the Coffs Harbour Elders Committe. Garry has a background in accounting and business management. Garry has served on the SNAICC National Executive since 1999.
Executive members: 2015-2016
ACT
Name of Delegate: Reuben Ardler
Wreck Bay, Gudjahgahmiamia MACS
State/Territory Child Care Services
Reuben Ardler is a Wodi Wodi man from the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community, located in the Jervis Bay Territory (formally part of the ACT) on the NSW coast approximately 200km south of Sydney. Reuben has worked in a number of senior roles with the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council since 1996 and is currently the Manager responsible for day to day Council operations including the provision of childcare centre being the Gudjahgahmiamia MACS Early Learning Centre. Prior to joining WBACC, Reuben worked for many years as a public servant for the Commonwealth, including at the former Aboriginal Development Commission and the Department of Employment, Education and Training. He has also been a member of various boards, including the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council Board and Jervis Bay Primary School Board. Reuben has been the ACT/JBT Early Childhood representative on the National Executive since November 2010.
New South Wales
Name of Delegate: Emma Beckett
Muloobinba Aboriginal Corporation
State/Territory Child Care Services
Name of Delegate: Tim Ireland
Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat (AbSec)
National Child and Family Welfare Services
Northern Territory
Name of Delegate: Jungala Kriss
Yipirinya School
State/Territory Child Care Services
Queensland
Name of Delegate: Elvie Sandow
Gundoo Day Care Centre
State/Territory Child Care Services
Elvie Sandow is from Cherbourg in Queensland and has lived there all her life.
Elvie is the mother of three children and has two grandchildren. She has served as the Chairperson of Gundoo Day Care Centre for the last 15 years and is also the Chairperson of Youth and Community Combined Action (YACCA), a juvenile crime prevention initiative. Between 2000 and 2004 Elvie was a councillor for the local Aboriginal Shire Council. She was also the Secretary for Cherbourg Junior Rugby League for 10 years. Elvie currently works as Payroll Officer for Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council, where she has worked for the past 19 years.
Name of Delegate: Rachel Atkinson
Palm Island Community Company Limited (PICC)
State/Territory Child Care Services
Name of Delegate: Natalie Lewis
Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak Ltd (QATSICPP)
National Child and Family Welfare
South Australia
Name of Delegate: Wendy Koolmatri
Kaurna Plains Early Childhood Centre
State/Territory Child Care Services
Victoria
Name of Delegate: Rose Bamblett
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI)
State/Territory Child Care Services
Rose Bamblett is a Wiradjuri woman with ties to the Bangerang and Yorta Yorta. For the past 30 years Aunty Rose has been dedicated to providing culturally-sensitive early childhood support services for Koori families. Rose was part of a Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) committee that was pivotal in establishing the Lidje Child Care Centre in Shepparton, where she worked from 1979 to 1996 as an early childhood worker and coordinator. Rose was on the SNAICC founding committee in 1981 and has held the position of Early Childhood Specialist Representative for VAEAI since the early 1980s.
Name of Delegate: Lisa Thorpe
National Local Early Learning and Preschool
Bubup Wilam for Early Learning Inc.
Name of Delegate: Sue-Anne Hunter
VACCA – Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency
National Child and Family Welfare
Western Australia
Name of Delegate: Joanne Della Bona
Cooabaroo Neighbourhood Centre
State/Territroy Child Care Services
Name of Delegate: Kathleen Pinkerton
Yorganop Association Incorporated
Child and Family Welfare Services
Tasmania
Lisa Coulson
Director, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre.
Lisa Coulson is a member of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Palawa community. She is the Director of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, and prior to that was the Director of the long-day-care Tasmanian Aboriginal Child Care Association (TACCA) since 1993. Lisa is also the Manager of the TACCA FaHCSIA funded Indigenous Parenting Support Program and TACCA has auspiced funds for the Meenah Mienne Aboriginal Youth Justice arts mentoring program. Lisa has a Diploma of Community Services – Child Care. Lisa has been a SNAICC National Executive Member since November 2001. She was the SNAICC 2010 Conference Working Group Convenor.
