Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Service
Board of Directors
Aunty Janet Turpie-Johnstone
Chairperson
Janet Turpie-Johnstone was born in Portland, Victoria and has been a resident of the Eastern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne for the last 3 decades. Janet has been involved in a range of Aboriginal community organisations including Minajalku and Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place. Janet has served on several national and international committees developing policy and community development protocols.
Janet is currently employed as a sessional academic in the Health Science Faculty at the Australian Catholic University and is involved with the Higher Degree by Research program at the College of Art & Design, Australian National University.
Uncle David Farrall
Deputy Chairperson
David Farrall is a proud Eastern Arrernte (Alice Springs) man that has lived in the Eastern Metropolitan area of Melbourne all his life. He calls this place his home and community, but his culture and stories come from the Centre. He is actively involved with the Aboriginal community in the Eastern Metropolitan Region and participates in the Koorie Courts proceedings as a respected elder.
David feels honoured to have been a leader in the community since 1995, serving on several committees and Boards. The community has given him strength and belonging over the years and with this knowledge and life experience he has been a strong advocate for the communities needs and aspirations.
It gives David immense satisfaction to serve on the Board of Directors at Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Service, providing cultural, nurturing and clinical services to people exposed to family violence.
Healing is the natural and cultural way of looking after our people in a non-judgmental way and has positive outcomes.
Jake Berthelot
Treasurer
Jake Berthelot is a proud Potawurtj Padthaway man with experience in strategy and finance across a variety of industries including gaming & entertainment, retail and management consulting.
Jake is passionate about the Indigenous business sector and promoting opportunities to bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Jake’s goal is to build successful and rewarding relationships by advising and guiding clients in the value of diversity and the inclusion of Indigenous business and community.
Jaynaya Williams
Director
Jaynaya Williams is a proud Gunditjmara woman who has served as a role model in community and is well respected for the work she undertakes around family violence in Aboriginal communities.
Jaynaya has been involved in a range of Aboriginal community organisations including the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Heath Organisation and the Victorian Treaty Advancement Commission. Jaynaya currently works with Djirra, formerly known as the Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention & Legal Service Victoria, where she served on the Board of Directors for over 10 years.
Aunty Lucia Baulch
Director
Lucia Baulch, affectionately known as Aunty Lou, says that her two passions in life are advocating for improved health outcomes for Indigenous people and singing.
She grew up in Orbost as the eldest and only girl with eight brothers. Life for Aunty Lou was hard but good, with stern and loving parents, everything handmade and home grown. Her heritage is Monaro-Ngarigo and Anglo Indian on her maternal side and Italian on her paternal side. Aunty Lou has lived in Mount Evelyn for 54 years and life for her now is busy, happy and involved in community.
At 18 years old, Aunty Lou left Orbost to study nursing and midwifery. She married and worked at the Lilydale Bush Nursing Hospital and in community nursing until having two children. She says that once you are a nurse, you are always a nurse, and this led her to establish a support group for new mums as well as being involved in numerous volunteer and charity roles throughout her life.
Aunty Lou is often invited to sit at the table with Government to advise on Aboriginal health and wellbeing strategies, particularly in relation to chronic illness, family violence and improving life expectancy.
A keen singer, Aunty Lou is a member of the Mullum Mullum Yen-Gali Choir. The Choir from Indigenous, non-Indigenous and refugee backgrounds have come together with the common love of singing, united by a sense of community and reconciliation. To Aunty Lou, singing is healing.
Tony McCartney
Director
Tony McCartney’s heritage stems from the Wotjobaluk tribe in the western part of Victoria. Tony is a father to five sons and four daughters and is a proud grandfather of ten.
He has worked across a number of industries including distribution logistics, automotive manufacturing, youth residential services, drug & alcohol services, employment strategy and recruitment, housing and health services, higher education and the vocational education and training sector.
Tony has held senior leadership roles in Aboriginal corporations including senior advocacy roles at the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.
Tony is committed to giving back to the community and holds governance roles in Aboriginal Health, Aboriginal Healing Services, the Aboriginal Theatre Company and Early Aboriginal Childhood Services.
Garen Smith
Director
Garen Smith is a proud Murrawarri man and has lived in the eastern metropolitan area of Melbourne since 2004. Prior to moving to Melbourne, he spent thirteen years in the Army with postings across all corners of Australia. Garen grew up in Dubbo and joined the Army when he was twenty.
He currently works in the Australian Defence Force, and is active in the Indigenous community within Defence, ensuring the Force meets their Defence Reconciliation Action Plan.
Garen is proud to be on the Board of Directors at Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Service and to be able to offer a voice for the Indigenous community.