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I have lived and worked in the Latrobe Valley for most of my life, with over 30 years’ experience working in the health and community services sectors, including community health, acute health and women’s health.  Building on this extensive experience, I completed a Master of Public Health in 2013.

I have always been an active community member and have endeavoured to make a contribution to the organisations, groups and communities of which I have been a part.  I am a currently on the Boards of two not-for-profit organisations, Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault and Gippsland Rotary Centenary House and I am a Trustee of the Latrobe City Trust.  I am also a member and past President of the Rotary Club of Moe.    Through these associations, I am able to connect with and support services and projects that help to strengthen our local community.

I have a keen interest in and passion for the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities in the Latrobe Valley.   I have seen the impact that previous significant changes have had on the community, including following the privatisation of the power industry.  As we navigate through this latest period of significant change, I look forward to working with the members of the Latrobe Health Assembly, the community, government and other organisations to develop a resilient, prosperous, strong and healthy future for this area.

My name is Kristine Travers and I live in Traralgon South with my husband. Living in Traralgon South and the wider Latrobe Valley area has been a wonderful place to raise our three daughters. Not only do I live in Traralgon South, I also teach PE at the local school. I am very passionate about encouraging healthy lifestyles through sport and fitness and encouraging children to enjoy physical activity.

I enjoy going to the gym and am passionate about coaching netball. I coach netball for the Moe Football Netball Club and also for the Gippsland League. Whilst this is very busy at times, I thoroughly enjoy it and gain great satisfaction from coaching.

Being a part of the Latrobe Health Assembly has given me the opportunity to give back and contribute to this great area. There is no doubt the Latrobe Valley is facing significant challenges health wise for our population and a fresh approach needs to be taken to help educate and support people in our region. It is my greatest wish that through the work of the Assembly, significant health improvements and outcomes will occur. I look forward to seeing some of the fabulous ideas and initiatives my fellow Assembly members have suggested, becoming reality and helping improve the lives of people in this region.

I would like to introduce myself.  My name is Denise Stranger.

I have lived in Latrobe Valley for 45 years.  Until recently my husband and I lived  on a rural property  at Tyers.  We loved  living there both because of the wonderful community spirit but also because of the natural beauty of the area.  We found it to be a great place to raise our 2 sons.

Despite now living in Traralgon we maintain close connections with Tyers.

As a retired older member of the Health Assembly I bring many areas of interest. With a professional  nursing background  focusing on Mental Health and most particularly Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health my emphasis  is very much upon the emotional wellbeing of  our community.

The recent experience of watching and supporting my mother until her death  has also heightened my awareness of the  challenges experienced by the individual, staff and family at this stressful time.

However I enjoy bush walking, bike riding, gardening , reading and going to the gym.  I feel that these activities can be fundamental to maximizing our wellbeing.

In retirement I am now able to participate in volunteer work.  This includes volunteering in supporting those requiring palliative care services, Lifeline phone  crisis support and assisting in a local Opportunity Shop.

Jerril Rechter is the CEO of the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth). She has extensive leadership experience across government and not-for-profit sectors.

A World Health Organization Advisor and Chair of the International Network of Health Promotion Foundations, Jerril is also a past and current member of numerous boards and committees in government and not-for-profit sectors.  These include the Western Bulldogs Football Club, several Victorian Government ministerial committees including Chair of the Justice Health and Ministerial Advisory Committee and member of the Inquiry into Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation. She regularly presents at conferences and events in Australia and internationally regarding health promotion and innovations to improve health and wellbeing.

Jerril is a recipient of Fellowships from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, Australia Council, Harvard Club of Australia and the Australian Davos Forum-Future Summit. In 2015, she was named Victorian winner of the Government and Academia category at the prestigious Telstra Victoria Business Woman of the Year Awards. Jerril was named in The Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence in the Public Policy category for 2016. She was recently included in the inaugural Top 50 Public Sector Women (Victoria) list, which shines a spotlight on exceptional leaders, highlighting their work and creating role models for other women in the sector.

Jerril is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Master of Business Leadership from RMIT University in Melbourne.

Under Jerril’s leadership, VicHealth is prioritising action in the Latrobe Valley, where the organisation works alongside community members, local and state government, health services and other key partners in the Latrobe Health Innovation Zone. As a member of the Latrobe Health Assembly, VicHealth strengthens and supports the Assembly’s focus on innovation and co-design by sharing the organisation’s approaches and resources, and responds to issues of local importance and prioritisation.

Danny O’Kelly is currently the Acting Deputy Secretary for the South Division within the Department of Health and Human Services. Danny joined the department over 20 years ago working in the Disability program. Since then Danny has held a number of senior leadership roles within the department including, Director, North East Melbourne Area; Director, Loddon Area; Director, Corporate Services North Division; Assistant Director, Community Residential Services (Disability) and, Manager Primary Care (North and West).

During his tenure with the department, Danny has provided leadership, direction and oversight across significant operational programs and large change management processes including, leading the implementation of a number of significant systems reform and redevelopment initiatives. His current role as Acting Deputy Secretary South Division, oversees one of the four operational Divisions across the state. This role involves responsibility for service delivery across the South Division, an area spanning metropolitan Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula and extending to Outer Gippsland area.

Danny holds a Bachelor of Arts (LaTrobe University), Graduate Diploma Human Services
Administration (Monash) and a Master of Business (VUT) and is currently undertaking further
development through the Victorian Leadership Development Centre.

My name is Danny O’Donnell, I am a 67 years old retiree, I have lived in Morwell for 50 years, I am married to a Morwell (born and bred) retired school teacher. We have 3 adult daughters and 10 grandchildren who all live in Morwell. The eldest three grandchildren are embarking on University studies in Melbourne as of this year.

I am a fully qualified Boilermaker/ Welder and I worked in the Gippsland power, paper and oil construction industry for about 30 years, I spent the last 20 years of my working life with Apprentices Group Australia (formerly Gippsland Group Training) as a field officer and Manager.

I have been involved in Gippsland sport, predominantly football, as a player, coach and administrator for over 25 years, I have also had a strong interest in netball, basketball, soccer and tennis through my daughters and their children.

I was Chairperson of the Morwell Catholic Parish finance committee and a committee member for over 15 years, I am currently Chairperson of the Sacred Heart Retirement Village committee, a role I have held for the last 6 years.

As a member of the Latrobe Health Assembly I feel I can bring an insight that spans decades of the Latrobe Valley’s working history and hopefully enlighten other younger LHA members of a community culture vastly different to what is evident today. I am a passionate Morwell / Gippsland person, I believe we live in a fantastic part of Victoria, however, I understand the considerable challenges we face both socially and economically.

Professor Darryl Maybery works in the Monash University Department of Rural Health (UDRH). For 15 years he was a mental health clinician and psychologist in the areas of drug and alcohol counselling, prison psychology and employee assistance. He commenced his academic career in 1999 at La Trobe University in Wodonga after completing his PhD in the stress and wellbeing field from James Cook University. After a further five years teaching statistics and research methods, mostly to distance education students at Charles Sturt University (Wagga Wagga), he commenced as the Mental Health Academic at MUDRIH in Gippsland in 2009.

He is currently the Director of Monash University Department of Rural Health, and Professor Rural Mental Health in the School of Rural Health.arch projects involving rural, urban and international collaborations. A focal research area, in collaboration is in relation to vulnerable families and in particular those affected by parental mental illness.

He has over 80 publications and multiple research projects involving rural, urban and international collaborations. A focal research area, with multiple Australian and International collaborators is in relation to vulnerable families and in particular those affected by parental mental illness. The aim of this work is to stop the cycle of mental illness in families.

Den Lim moved from Melbourne to Churchill in 2004 to undertake the Bachelor of Business and Commerce at the then Monash University (and never left the region). For 8 years Den lived on campus & worked (for a decade) in various voluntary and paid positions which led to her role as Manager, Student Residences from 2009-2016.

At the end of 2016 Den took a short career break, worked at Latrobe City Council as an Economic Development Officer, joined the Latrobe Health Assembly (community member) and is an active member of ‘Latrobe Women Creating Conversations’, a community advocacy group that meets on the 1st Tues of the Month at the Vault, Morwell.

Den is a graduate of the 2017 Gippsland Community Leadership Program. The program solidified her knowledge, broadened her perspective and extended her network across the region.

Den is now the Neighbourhood Learning Links Coordinator at Berry Street, supporting the ‘3840 Our Learning Future’ project working collaboratively with stakeholders and community to establish a new ‘Learn Local’ to provide further study and employment pathways.

Coming from a refugee background, Den understands the importance of education, employment and social connectedness as platforms to develop independence and confidence to pursue dreams and aspirations. Having worked with individuals and communities from all walks of life, Den is passionate about supporting the whole person and creating opportunities to develop individual skills and passions through learning and education. It is for these reasons, Den was drawn to the Pride of Place, Employment and Education workgroup.

Den loves connecting, working and collaborating with others to make big and small things happen. There is a wealth of knowledge, expertise and creative minds in the Latrobe Valley. With the right support, resources and connections, individuals and communities can achieve amazing things and thrive together. The Latrobe Health Assembly has been charged to do this, to be the glue that supports all aspects of health and community development. Den feels privileged to be part of this innovative movement and looks forward to shaping the Valley together.

I originally come from Pakistan and is the president of United Muslim Sisters of Latrobe Valley (2015-2016/2017-2018),our organisation won the best community event award AG the Australian Day Award In Morwell.

I have worked as journalist Public relations officer and a lecturer.I have done my masters in political science and development journalism.I was the editor of local newspaper ‘Traf News’ and is engaged in the development of local community.

I am an ardent supporter of women’s empowerment and education,as well a strong advocate of multi faith causes .Coming from Pakistan where I have taught graduate students and as well underprivileged children.

I have joined the Latrobe Health Assembly  with the aim to represent Muslims and multicultural community living in the region and to rely their needs in the region.

I firmly believe that  at the heart of healthy community is respect for all, no-one should be discriminated and the services should be available for everyone .

A Latrobe Valley resident for 23 years, Karen has significant experience working across government, leading strategic innovation, and developing and implementing policy in Gippsland.

Karen’s career in education as a teacher, principal and senior manager in two states, Victoria and Tasmania, has led to experience in preparatory to year 12 settings.

Karen has also worked with families and the community as a principal in government schools in the Latrobe Valley for 11 years, including Woolum Bellum Koorie School in Morwell, Traralgon College Junior Campus, and Lowanna Secondary College in Newborough.

She has held several key roles in state and regional curriculum and policy implementation, notably in the areas of Special Education, Literacy, Indigenous Education and Post Compulsory Education.
Her experience in developing and delivering on issues that reflect what matters to community and government has left her well prepared for the role of Chief Executive Officer at the Latrobe Valley Authority, which she has held since April 2017.

Karen was chair of the Baw Baw Latrobe Local Learning and Employment Network from 2000 to 2004. Karen is a fellow of Leadership Victoria’s Williamson Community Leadership Program and was also a member of the Gippsland Regional Managers Forum for six years.

For the past 21 years, she has owned and operated a commercial beef farm with her husband at Boolarra South.

Brendan has had a long history of volunteering including youth mentoring with Berry Street Gippsland, Gippsland Rainbow Collective and Gippsland Fm along with a wide range of LGBTI programs. He has campaigned publically to call out people over homophobic and xenophobic comments and stand up for members of the Latrobe Valley community.

Brendan feels it is a massive privilege to sit in Latrobe Health Assembly’s Early Childhood Families Youth and Young people working group with some amazing people.

Jane has in excess of 25 years’ experience in the community based education, vocational training and wellbeing,  holding a variety of positions within non-government welfare settings, and State Government vocational educational training providers.

Jane joined is a community organisation representative and has worked as a practitioner specifically working with vulnerable children and families experiencing family breakdown, abuse, violence, low socio economics and homelessness.  Jane commenced her leadership role in 2000 co-ordinating the daily operations of a broad range of community programs that specifically support the engagement of young people into education, service provision to families who are experiencing difficulties and also pre-employment and training programs for early school leavers and disadvantaged young people and since 2011, Jane has significantly contributed to strategic transformational leadership within placed based and collective impact frameworks working on the ground with community to realise their vision.

Clare was appointed Chief Executive of WorkSafe Victoria in June 2015.

Clare was recently the Executive Director of the Insurance Business Unit for WorkSafe. Prior to that Clare was Executive Director of the Health & Disability Strategy Group, a collaboration between WorkSafe and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) that provides health policy and strategic support to the TAC and WorkSafe.

Clare spent six years as the Chief Executive Officer of the Western Region Health Centre and five years prior to that as its General Manager, Primary Care Services.

Clare’s educational qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Social Work and Masters of Social Work; she holds a Graduate Certificate of Public Policy & Management and is a Harvard graduate from the Advanced Management Program (AMP).

Clare is a Director of Reach, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and a Fellow of Leadership Victoria.