The Board has a governance role with the delegation of authority to the Manager for day-to-day operations. Board members contribute a range of skills and expertise to the role and may also assist in operational matters as required/requested specifically in areas such as legal, accounting and others, which may emerge periodically eg research. However, such participation is on an individual basis and is not meant to weaken the concept that the Board’s role is one of Governance.

Day-to-day operations and responsibilities of the Manager incorporate: staff appointment, support and supervision across all aspects of performance and client management, community liaison, partnership developments, quality and accreditation frameworks, accountability requirements and negotiations with funding bodies. FAN’s activities are comprehensively reported through monthly Executive and bi-monthly Board meeting reports and updates.

The Executive provides support and guidance to the role of Manager and where authorised by the full Board addresses governance matters as required. The Executive comprises Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. The Financial Administrator reports on the FAN financial accounts to the Executive and provides full statements, budgets and variation to budget to the Manager, Executive and Board.

The Board oversees the financial viability, legislative and compliance requirements, establishes and monitors the strategic directions of FAN.

FAN presents its Annual Report to members at the Annual General Meeting, which is usually held on the third Wednesday of October.

In February 2005 FAN sought input from an independent consultant around Governance principles. The outcome from the presentation to board members reflected that the key principles of governance are demonstrated in FAN’s processes.

At the AGM in October 2005 FAN introduced constitutional changes to reflect the governance functions and the change to FAN Board of Governance. A copy of the FAN Constitution is available on the server.

In February 2006 FAN Board and Staff commenced a review of the Strategic Plan to set the future directions for the next 3 to 5 years. The FAN staff contributed to a review of operational services, which was guided through internal planning sessions and portfolio reviews from February to August 2006. An independent consultant facilitated the Board Strategic Plan development from December 2006 – February 2007.

Further internally led work from the board and staff led to the adoption of the FAN Strategic Plan 2007 – 2010

Board meetings are held bi-monthly on the third Wednesday currently commencing at 5.30pm and generally completed within one and a half hours. Board members need to allow one hour to read Board papers before each meeting. Four members of the Board Chairperson, Deputy Chair, Treasurer, Secretary together with the Manager, form an Executive Sub-committee, which meets monthly (second Wednesdays at 12.30pm). FAN does not currently have other sub-committees, however working groups emerge as needed, the most recent one related to Board Recruitment.

Other Board members might expect to contribute say 1 to 2 hours per month beyond meetings, contributing an individual skill or working on a Board project or helping to develop a strategic plan. Present workloads do not exceed 3-4 hours per month.

It is requested that apologies be given prior to the meeting, preferably advised to both the Manager and Chairperson, this will assist in determining if the meeting will have a quorum. As the meetings occur bi-monthly it would be anticipated there is a regular commitment to attend. Inconsistent attendance interrupts the flow of information and decision-making and potentially exposes board members in the context of fiduciary responsibility and general due diligence.

The week prior to each meeting you will receive a mail out, and where possible this is also provided electronically, which contains –

This allows for consideration of documents and issues prior to the meeting to assist in informed discussions and decision-making.

The agenda is prepared by the Executive at the meeting, which occurs in the week prior to the committee meeting.

In the event of the Chairperson being unavailable the Deputy Chairperson chairs the meeting.

Helen Killmier - Chair Person
Appointed to the FAN board: 2005.

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts (Latrobe University); Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Swinburne University); Graduate Diploma in Applied Psychology (Victoria University); Master of Applied Psychology (Victoria University). Currently a PhD candidate. Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Member of the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS).

Career Summary

Helen is a community psychologist. She is currently employed as Manager Business Development for Interact Australia. In this role she works in partnership development, community capacity building, social policy and strategic planning. Prior to this position she spent 12 years in Local Government in management positions working directly with communities. Her research interests are in sense of community, the built environment, place attachment, community development, community governance, health and community wellbeing.

Helen Buckingham - Deputy Chair
Helen is married to Ian, and has two adult children Lisa and Nicholas. Helen qualified as a history and politics teacher and worked in the Government education system before having children. She returned to work in the private sector and gained post graduate qualifications in careers counselling - working for the next 12 years as a careers counsellor at Presbyterian Ladies College, Burwood.

Helen's community involvement includes serving on the Board of Box Hill Hospital (1994-96) and being elected as a Councillor in the City of Whitehorse in 1997 and again in 2000. She served a term as Mayor in 1998-99 and was the Labor Candidate for Deakin in 2001. In September 2002 Helen became the Labor candidate for Koonung Province and was elected on 30 November 2002. Helen retired from Parliament at the 2006 election. During this time, Helen was a member of the Parliamentary Education and Training Committee. Helen also chaired the Government Inquiry into the review of Body Corporate Laws, culminating in the approval of the Owner Operators Act 2006. She is currently chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Home Schooling.

Colin Bellis - Secretary Public Officer
Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts (Monash University); Bachelor of Laws (Monash University).

Career Summary

Colin is a lawyer, having worked primarily in the area of personal injuries law, initially in private practice, and more recently with both the TAC and WorkSafe. His present role is as a Senior Legal Counsel / Manager, in WorkSafe’s Dispute Management Division.

Other Interests
Apart from being a husband and father of 2 teenagers, Colin is also involved with Scouting as a leader.

David Burlew - Treasurer

Michael Smith
My professional journey: Originally trained as a youth worker, worked and managed in youth housing and housing support services (SAAP); community development roles in a State peak, the Uniting Church and local government (Nillumbik).

Manager of Eastern Community Legal Centre since July 2004. Completed a Master of Social Work (management and policy focus) at end 2005.

I Joined the FAN Board in late 2004 to renew support of young people and families who are homeless or ‘at risk’. Continually impressed by FAN’s effectiveness and efficiency for its size, healthy and positive and professional management and governance systems. Given these, confident can develop and flourish despite proliferation of ‘big agency’ approaches, especially in the Eastern region.

Chair since late 2006.

Sue Carlile - CEO of Family Access Network
Manager of Family Access Network for eleven years; 26 years of experience in the homelessness sector - specifically young people and young families, several years pre-dating that in juvenile justice and other community based youth services.

Professional study in Youth Work, Social Sciences, and Family Therapy and since 2004 an Accredited Review Manager with QICSA.

Active board member on a number of regional, local and statewide services; currently Deputy Chair of Eastern Community Legal Centre

Since 2004 participated and collaborated in several research projects, predominantly with Melbourne University – Key Centre for Women’s Health in Society – notably on topics around Inclusion, Young Motherhood, Sexual Health, and just commenced Children In Homelessness.

Participation in a number of regional and statewide reference groups, accreditation models, EMR Monitoring and Advisory Group, and currently involved in a number of partnership projects notably: Alsorts with The ALSO Foundation and Creating Connections Integrated Youth Hubs with Harrison, Anchor, Wesley and EastCare.

Presented at the National Homeless Conference in March 2006 and the National Homeless Youth Inquiry in April 2007; including a requested submission reflecting on 25 years of youth work practice in the homelessness sector.

Mother of two sons, 25 and 29 and servant to two dogs and a cat 

Dr Lynne Hillier - Board Member

I am a social psychologist and Vic Health Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Research Centre in Sex Health & Society (ARCSHS) at La Trobe University. My research over the last 12 years has focused mainly on the sexual health and well being of marginalised youth, in particular rural young people, homeless young people and same sex attracted young people. My main research interest over the last 10 years has been with same sex attracted youth. Two national reports, the Writing Themselves In reports (1998; 2005) have been used to obtain funding for a range of community development projects that create safe spaces for these young people and raise community awareness. The research has also been used to reframe same sex attraction in young people as a safety and rights issue rather than a moral issue and this has allowed for widespread change in organisations around Victoria, particularly, schools. The research is cited in many official government policy documents.

On a personal note I live on 5 acres in the bush north east of Melbourne with my partner of 26 years. We have 4 children between us and many grandchildren. We spend hours weeding the bush and enjoying the orchids and other beautiful plants as well as the birds and animals that visit. I am interested in photographing and painting the bush and making strange mosaic creatures like Tahlula, the 9 foot long lizard and Finula her froggy friend. I’ve been learning Spanish for the last two years and love travelling to Spain and other Spanish speaking countries.

I joined the board of FAN two and a half years ago because I have a commitment to social justice and am very excited about the excellent work FAN is doing with same sex attracted young people.