Staff

Brendan Church

Chief Executive Officer

Brendan Church is an Aboriginal man whose family are the Barkindji people of Western NSW. Brendan has however spent his entire life living in Canberra. On completion of his formal education, Brendan undertook an apprenticeship as a Stonemason and in 2003 he became the Aboriginal Stonemason to successfully complete the trade.

In 2005, Brendan entered the ACT Public Service where he worked in the Indigenous Education Section as a Liaison Officer. Brendan then spent the next 4 years in the Public Service working in ACT Health within the Court Diversion Program and more recently in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services Unit within the ACT Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services. Through his employment within DHCS, Brendan worked as the Assistant Manager of Integrated Indigenous Service Delivery which provided case management and coordination for many individuals and families in the ACT Community.

Through his employment with the ACT Public Service, Brendan was fortunate enough to complete a Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) through Charles Sturt University. Through the completion of this course, his passion for bettering the delivery of services in the community finally led him to his current position as the A/g Chief Executive Officer of the ACT Aboriginal Justice Centre. Brendans interests are community development, empowerment and building a bridge for the next generation of Aboriginal people in this community.

Peter Savage

B.T.H Counsellor

Peter Savage is a Torres Strait Islander from the Crocodile/Stingray (Tupmul/Kodeal) mother's totem (Badu Island) and the Pelican (Gauwei) father's totem (Maura Island) and is from far North Queensland.

He has three children and resides in Canberra.

Previously Peter was employed with the Queensland Railways before coming down to Canberra for career change in health, working for Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT as the Indigenous Peer Education Coordinator.

Then moving to Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service Inc, as the Counsellor and Child and Adolescence Mental Health Worker and, with Justice he love's the opportunity to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the community.

With his current position as the Bringing Them Home (BTH) Worker, he finds the position challenging and rewarding. Also Peter has a special interest in the field of sexual assault he is keen to educate himself and others in the effects and impacts.

Roslyn Smith

Office Manager

Roslyn was born in Canberra and has lived and worked in the local area all of her life. Her first job was with the Australian Public Service, within the then Commonwealth Police Department and then the Australian Federal Police.

After 10 years with the Australian Public Service she left to raise a family.

Ros returned to work within the aged care Industry as an in home support worker and later on studied to obtain her Cert 3 and 4 in aged care which led to a job as an Asst in Nursing in a local aged care facility.

Roslyn also obtained a Certificate 3 in Business Administration during this time.

She joined the Aboriginal Justice Centre in November 2007 as part time receptionist. Then was rewarded for her efforts with a full-time position in April 2008.

Roslyn enjoys working at the centre to service our people. She has a firm belief that the Aboriginal Justice Centre can make a difference and help reduce the numbers in the Criminal Justice System.

Sharon Ingram

Case Manager

Sharon Ingram is an Aboriginal woman born in Nowra NSW. She came to Canberra in 1974, and started as a trainee with the Department of Patent and Trade.

In 1976 she left to have the first of 4 of her daughters.

In 1988 she started part-time employment, progressing to full-time, at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies (now known as the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies) where she worked for 12 years in several areas of the organisation.

In 2001 she was offered the position of Social and Emotional Wellbeing Counsellor at Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service. After 2 years in this position, was offered the Reception Co-ordinator then later in the Practice Manager position. Her period of employment at Winnunga lasted 7 1/2 years.

In 2008 she moved onto Greater Southern Area Health Service as the Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer before starting with the Aboriginal Justice Centre as a Case Manager in August 2009.

Warren Daley

Case Manager

Warren is a 49 year old Aboriginal man born and bred in Wellington N.S.W. He has a wife Lee-Anne and three children Jay 27 Mitchell 22 and Megan 17. Warren has lived in Canberra for 10 years and loves the place.

He has connections to Ngunnawal land through my Great Grandmother Lexa Lane great grandfather John Bell ,Grandfather Ken Bell , and also my mother Rachel (Queenie Bell) who was born at Pudmans Creek Yass in 1928.

Warren was first employed in Queanbeyan making windows, before working seven years at the Aboriginal Medical Service Winnunga, where he started as bus driver and held a number of positions.

Then he travelled to Yass as the Hospital Liaison Officer/Education Officer before filling in at the Aboriginal Justice Centre, taking phone calls and assisting with enquiries.

Warren's hard work was rewarded with a full time position as Case manager in 2008.

Board Members

Staff