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Treasurer, CAFAWA
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CAFAWA is continuously engaged with numerous working parties and consultation forums and develops policy papers and written submissions on topics focused on the needs of children, families and community.
Child and Family Alliance WA @ 2025. All Rights Reserved.
Co Chair, CAFAWA
Helen Nys has a long career across government and the sector in Australia and Overseas with a strong interest in the Child Protection and Out of Home Care Systems. Helen is the WA State Director Child Youth and Family for Life Without Barriers, a national provider of services in Out of Home Care. As Co-Chair of CAFAWA Helen is focused on collaboration across the sector, government and community partners to deliver first class services for children with a particular focus on growing and strengthening the Aboriginal Community Controlled Sector.
Vice Chair, CAFAWA
Fiona Cafferty has over 27 years’ experience working with children, young people and families.
Fiona began her career as a Social Care Worker in Scotland before relocating to Australia in 2005. She was initially employed at UnitingCare Adelaide and went on to become a Senior Support Worker, Case Worker, Team Leader and Manager at Uniting WA (previously UnitingCare West) in Perth. She is currently the Practice Lead Children’s Services and chairs the Child Safe Working Group at Uniting WA.
Fiona has a Post Graduate Certificate in Developmental Trauma from the Australian Childhood Foundation and completing a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Disability and Community Rehabilitation) at Flinders University. She’s also completed the Rising Leaders Program at Leadership WA.
In addition to her board position for Child and Family Alliance WA, Fiona sits on the Children’s Policy Advisory Committee.
As a mother of three adults and a grandmother of three children, Fiona is passionate about nurturing children to create positive outcomes for the next generation, with a specific focus on children who have experienced trauma and children living with a disability.
Board Member, CAFAWA
Guy has over 35 years’ experience in the Community Services Sector, with a large focus of this being focused on delivering front line services for children, young people and their families. A substantial amount of this has also been with young people who have experienced the out of home care system in WA and the UK. Guy has worked for TSA for the last 20 years and has a strong advocate for creating opportunities for young people and system reform.
Treasurer, CAFAWA
I have over 30 years in the community service sector primarily in the government (25 years) starting off as a case worker in child protection to managing offices in New Zealand and the Northern Territory (Central Australia). Our family came to WA Jan 2014 where I joined the Department as an Assistant Director for Residential Care. During this time I have had the opportunity to work at the Disability Justice Centre; in the Rockingham District Office; in the East Kimberly region and latterly with Yorganop on a seven month secondment. My heart has always been to get back to being part of a practice based organisation and when this opportunity came up to work with Wanslea I jumped at the chance knowing it would ignite a passion. I am the Operations Manager and oversee the OOHC team, Homestretch and our Leaving Care Service.
EO, CAFAWA
Elizabeth, better known as Libby, is the CEO of FINWA. Libby joined FINWA in July from Yorganop, Western Australia’s only Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation providing foster care, as the Executive Manager of the Out of Home Care Program form more than 9 years accumulatively. Libby has worked both within the Community Sector and the Department (of Communities – Child Protection and Family Support) in various roles, including frontline child protection and as a foster carer, both metropolitan and regionally based. Libby holds a Bachelor of Social Work, Graduate Certificate in Child Protection Practice and Diploma of Leadership and Management.
Board member, CAFAWA
Kellie has over 20 years’ experience working with children and families in Western Australia with strong experience working in regional and remote areas, alongside Aboriginal Communities and in the out of home care sector. Kellie leads the West Australian services for Mackillop Family Services including foster care services in the Perth Metropolitan area, specialist foster care and an emergency support service in the Southwest and general foster care, Indigenous Healing service and Intensive and Family Support services in the Pilbara region.
With qualifications in psychology and a history working in health, disability, mental health and with the Department of Communities, Kellie has been instrumental in ensuing high quality, trauma informed care for children in residential care, secure care, and foster care for more than 15 years.
Having an expert knowledge of the Sanctuary Model, Kellie has developed and facilitated Sanctuary training, created resources, and continues to be involved in consultation around the Sanctuary framework at Mackillop and as a national consultant.
Board Member, CAFAWA
Jennifer Hannan is currently the part time Executive Officer for the Child and Family Alliance WA and works as a Consultant. Previously she was the State Director for MacKillop Family Services before that worked as a Manager and Executive Director for a number of not for profit organisations including Relationships Australia, Centacare and Anglicare over her 40 year career.
Jennifer was past Chair and Board member of FRSA and Families Australia, served for 5 years on the Family Law Council of Australia as the community sector appointee and has current positions on the Department for Child Protection Department (WA) Case Review Panel and is Chairperson of the Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre Board.
