Meet the Committee
Meet the Committee
GWYN JOLLEY
MSc (PHC); Grad. Dip. Occ. Health; Grad. Cert. Ed.; BSc (Hons)
Gwyn has represented SACHRU and Flinders University at Healthy Cities Onkaparinga for a number of years and was elected Chair in October 2008.
She has contributed to academic papers and conference presentations on Healthy Cities including: Jolley.G. and Baum F. Challenges and new approaches to evaluation for Healthy Cities, 3rd Global Assembly of the Alliance for Healthy Cities, Ichikawa, Japan 23rd – 26th October 2008. Baum, F. Jolley, G. Hicks, R. Saint, K & Parker, S. Healthy Cities Approach: a case study from November after 20 years. International Forum for the Alliance for Healthy Cities, Gold Coast, 26 – 28th September 2007 Baum, F Jolley, G Hicks, R. Saint, K & Parker,S (2006) What makes for sustainable Healthy Cities initiatives? A review of the evidence from Noarlunga after 18 years, Health Promotion International. 21 4: 259 – 265
Research Interests
Equity and social determinants research
Community health, health promotion and primary health care research
Community-based evaluations
Healthy Cities and settings
Food and healthy eating research
Health service research
Professional Interest
Member: Public Health Association of Australia
Executive Member: Public Health Association of Australia (SA)
Member: Australasian Evaluation Society
Past President: SA Community Health Association (2005/06)
JULI FERGUSON
Juli has represented the community at Healthy Cities Onkaparinga for a number of years and was elected Deputy Chair in 2007.
She is passionate about the value of true partnerships between community members and the health system and has been a committed community representative since 1987.
Professional Interests
SAHS: Community Participation Framework Implementation Group
SAHS: Leadership Network & Citizen for Health Working Group
Statewide Clinical Network: Cancer
Health Consumer Alliance of SA Inc.
SA Academic Public Health Consortium Consultative Committee
SA Health: Safety & Quality Consumer & Community Advisory Group
Cancer Australia: Strategic Forum
Consumers Health Forum of Australia
“I come from a primary health care/community development focus and believe in the power of community. I believe that it is everyone’s right to make decisions about their own health and to choose their own level of involvement. I believe that consumer participation, engagement & involvement is the essential main element in patient centered care within our health system thus forming strong, open honest partnerships for better health outcomes for all.
“To Encourage. To Enable. To Empower”
MARGARET STAPLES
Margaret has been involved with Healthy Cities Onkaparinga since 2004.
She has been an active community member for several years and leads the transport priority area within Healthy Cities Onkaparinga.
Margaret brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise gained during her service to the local community serving on vast & varied committees and management boards over the last 20+ years.
She has received the Prime Ministers Centenary Medal in 2003 for Service to the Community and last year received the Every Generation Onkaparinga Award for contribution to the Onkaparinga community.
Recipient of the Unsung Heroes Award from the City of Marion in 2007 and the International Women’s Day achievement Award for contributions to women in the Southern area.
Between 1989 to 1993, Margaret served as a Councillor on the Willunga District Council.
Professional Interests
Chairperson:
SARTAG Regional Transport advisory Group-Founding Member
Community Services Board Onkaparinga-Founding Member
Friends of Willunga High School-Founding Chair
Willunga Basin Advisory Group-Founding Member
Vice Chairperson
McLaren Vale Recreation Parks Management Committee
VANESSA SWINNEY
Vanessa has held the position of Secretary, Healthy Cities Onkaparinga (HCO), since it was established in 1987 as one of the Australian pilot cities to test the European Healthy Cities model in Australia.
Healthy Cities Onkaparinga is currently sponsored and supported by Southern Adelaide Health Service (SAHS). Vanessa works full-time for SAHS as an Executive Assistant for Aboriginal Health and Population & Primary Health Care and her position as Secretary, Healthy Cities, is fully supported by SAHS.
Being involved with HCO is about maximizing each other’s strengths to achieve more for the community. HCO is an incredibly resourceful group, always on the lookout for any opportunity to expand their work, to reach new audiences and to deliver great results. HCO is about skill-sharing and exchange of knowledge or learning opportunities, thereby empowering the group and increasing its capacity and that of its community
COUNCILLOR REX MANSON
Rex has represented the City of Onkaparinga on Healthy Cities Onkaparinga for a number of years.
He brings to Healthy Cities Onkaparinga his understanding and link to the City of Onkaparinga and has a long and committed history to water quality and management. A former member of the Natural Resources Management Task Force.
Rex has prepared and contributed to many reports and publications.
• Preliminary Report: Department for Water Resources South Australia; Murray-Darling division. “The cultural, social and economic impacts of lowered lake water levels on tourism and recreation around Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert”
• Profiling Report: Oxfam/Community Aid Abroad for the Federal Parliament. “Fair Trading/Free trade and Human/society rights”
• Mentoring and Evaluation Report: Prepared for Alinytjara Wilurara Natural Resources Management Board.
• Co-Operative Project: UNESCO, International year of Fresh water, 2003/4
• Submission: To Environment, Resources and Development Committee SA Parliament. ” Marine protected areas/Storm water management”
• Second Australian stream Management Conference 1999.
“I believe to understand people’s behavior it is desirable to know about the social, cultural and political values in which they function. Knowledge of the community through their cultural and educational needs requires exploration”
HELEN MIKOLAJ
Helen has represented the community at Healthy Cities Onkaparinga for a number of years.
She has vast areas of special interests: disability aged and transport and is a Healthy Cities Onkaparinga representative to SA Water Stakeholder Committee on the upgrading of the Christies Beach sewage plant and redevelopment of the sewage ponds due for closure in November 2009.
Professional Interests
Chair: Seniors Advisory Group, city of Onkaparinga (advisory group to council on matters of interest to seniors)
Chair: DDA Community Reference Group, City of Onkaparinga (Feedback and information regarding disability issues for council)
Chair and Co-ordinator: Celebrate Seniors City of Onkaparinga Committee Inc. (Senior’s art & craft Exhibition, October, annually.
Joint Coordinator: Noarlunga Diabetes Support Group. (Peer support group for persons with diabetes)
Chair: Christies Beach High School Adult Student Government Committee. (Social and welfare issues for adults attending the school)
Community member: Every Generation Onkaparinga, city of Onkaparinga (planning seniors events in October annually)
Member: Regional Disability Forum, City of Onkaparinga. (Feedback and information on disability services in the City)
Member: Trans Adelaide Customer Panel (Feedback and input into rail services in Adelaide)
Former chair: Health Connect SA Reference Group. (E-Health Care Planning development)
“I provide information and feedback on health issues at forums held by HCA, Diabetes SA and I advocate for better health outcomes for consumers”
RAVEN NORTH
Raven has had a long association with Community Health working initially as a community development worker and later holding a number of management positions in community health services across the metropolitan area.
She has a strong commitment to social justice, in particular to Aboriginal health and wellbeing, and to working in partnership with agencies and community people to achieve common goals.
She has been the manager of Noarlunga Health Village since 1997 and is currently acting in the role of Population Health manager for the Southern Adelaide Health Service.
Professional Interests
Co- Chair Onkaparinga Collaborative Approach to Prevention of Violence
SAHS Community Engagement coordination group
SAHS Community Participation Framework implementation group
Eat Well Be Active Management Committee
Population Oral Health Project
Member of Onkaparinga Round Table- chairs group
SAHS leadership group
Pathways Family Centre steering committee chair (past)
CHESS (Child Health & Education Support Services) Alliance & Health Promotion Task Force
Onkaparinga Collaborative Approach to Drugs network member
SAHS Population & Primary Health representative for Quality Safety & Risk
Qualifications include a B.A., qualifications in management & leadership, counselling, Healthy Cities short course and project management among other more specific work related qualifications and professional development.
“I believe that the Healthy Cities approach is the foundation of much of the progress made towards the health and well being of the community in Onkaparinga. Richard Hicks (a former Director of Noarlunga Health Services) who instigated the formation of Noarlunga Healthy Cities in 1986 and was the former chair of Healthy Cities Noarlunga was a key leader in instigating this approach in our area.”
CHRISTINA WILSON
Christina is currently Healthy Cities Onkaparinga’s Public Officer and has been a community member for several years. She began participating in council and health service forums in 1997.
She trained in community administration as a volunteer at the Christie Downs Community where she became a volunteer co-ordinator and facilitated groups and established a Creative Writers program.
Professional Interests
Broadcaster on Community Radio
Consumer consultation with the South Australian Dental Service
Domestic Violence
Housing
Transport
Small business management
Qualifications
Bachelors Degree in History and Politics
“I am a passionate advocate of local community education”
TREVOR BOWER
Trevor has represented the community on Healthy Cities Onkaparinga since 2008.
Qualifications
Diploma of Business (Administration)
Certificate 3 Information Technology
Certificate 4 First Line Management
Professional Interests
Member: Accreditation Implementation Reference Group-Australian Commission on safety and Quality in Healthcare
Member: General Practise Network-South. Consumer Reference Group-SAHS
Member: Project advisory Committee-Consumer Co-Payments for Prescription Medicines: Impact of access and Health Outcomes
Member: Noarlunga Diabetes Support Group
Chairperson: Regional Consumer and Carer Advice Group-SAHS
Member: Noarlunga Consumer and Care Advice Group-SAMH
Member: Community and consumer Participation Implementation Reference Group-SAHS
Member: Quality and Redesigning Care Group-SAMH
Member: Quality Health Care Conversation -ACSQHC
Member: Mental Illness Fellowship of SA
“I intend to make it easier for those that can not speak for themselves. While striving to be an advocate for those in similar situations and advisor to clinical and government groups”
JACQUI O’DALY
Jacqui serves on Healthy Cities Onkaparinga as a representative for Uniting Care Wesley Adelaide
She is currently participating in the Affordable Housing priority area, highlighting the need for more affordable housing in the region.
She has lived in the Onkaparinga area for over 28 years and works at Christies Beach.
Jacqui is a Micro Finance Worker and Community Development Worker for UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide Inc.
Her position involves the administration of the No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) and Community Education within the Low Income Support Program (LISP). The Community Education involves holding workshops, displays and networking throughout the southern area.
“My aim is to promote a healthy, balanced lifestyle for people living on a limited income within the southern area.”
JAN COOK
Jan has served on Healthy Cities Onkaparinga since 2008 and was Healthy Cities Onkaparinga’s representative on the Onkaparinga Cancer Network Management Committee until its completion this year.
Professional Interests
Justice of the Peace
Member of SAHS Consumer Council
Member of southern Area community Foodies
Member of the Onkaparinga Collaborative Approach to the Prevention of domestic Violence
Graduate and mentor for Leadership Onkaparinga
In 2008 Jan participated and graduated from the City Of Onkaparinga’s Leadership course and is looking forward to working more in the community in different roles in the near future. She continues to volunteer at Hackham West Community Centre where she has held a management and leadership role since 1996.
CATHERINE BYRNES
Catherine resigned from the Management Committee in February due to a move interstate. We thank Catherine for all her hard work on behalf of Healthy Cities and wish her well in future endeavours
