VAHS Board of Directors

Tony McCartney – Chairperson

Tony was born in Balranald and his first home was a tent on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. Tony’s heritage originates from the Wotjobaluk tribe in the western part of Victoria on his great Grandfathers side and from his great Grandmothers side which is the Nari Nari tribe that comes from Lake Mungo in New South Wales.

A father to five sons and four daughters and has ten grandchildren, Tony had left high school at a young age to come to Melbourne to pursue an automotive career.

Tony has worked in a number of industries such as; transportation, automotive manufacturing servicing and repair, youth services, institutional and community settings, drug and alcohol, employment recruitment, advocacy, housing, health, higher education and currently working in the VET sector in Melbourne.

Tony has held three senior management roles in Aboriginal organisations in Victoria and has previously been the Chairperson of VACCHO and the national Chairperson of NACCHO.

Tony has advocated for his people at local, state, national and international forums and is committed to working to support the Community for better outcomes. He holds a number of governance roles in Aboriginal Health, junior football, Aboriginal Theatre Company and early learning. Tony is the currently President of Bubup Wilam Early Learning Aboriginal Family and Children Services.

Stacey Brown – Treasurer

A proud Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung woman, Stacey has been working within the Early Childhood Education sector for over 25 years and had been the CEO of Yappera Children’s Service since January 2004.

Stacey’s formal qualifications include a Bachelor of Education, a Diploma of Children’s Services, a Certificate IV in Business (Governance), a Certificate in Business and a Diploma in Business (Frontline Management).

Stacey firmly believes that the Early Years are fundamentally important as they lay the foundations for future health, growth and development.

Andrew Morrison – Director

Andrew is a proud Gunditjmara man that has over 20 years’ experience working in the Aboriginal Health Sector including Government, mainstream and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. Andrew is currently a member on the Whittlesea Reconciliation Group, Northern Health Aboriginal Advisory Committee and is also a member of the Community Consultative Committee for the City of Whittlesea Community Hospital.

Andrew has a Diploma of Aboriginal Welfare, Cert IV Training & Assessment and has completed various internal management courses at is workplace.

Andrew is currently employed as the Senior Aboriginal Employment and Cultural Safety at City of Whittlesea.

Shelley Williams – Director

Shelley is a proud Gunditjmara woman, born and raised in Melbourne. Raised around the Fitzroy community and at the age of 18 Shelley started a traineeship as a Dental Nurse at the VAHS and then went on to completing the Koori Kollij Aboriginal Health Worker training course in 1984. Shelley has also been a Aboriginal Health Worker and the Closing the Gap Health Promotions at VAHS.

After a great year at Koori Kollij, Bruce McGuinness asked Shelley to edit the Fitzroy community newspaper, Koorier 2 where she went on to produced three editions of the newspaper before taking eight years off to start a family.

Shelley was involved in the creation of the community newspaper the ‘Koori Times’ in 1993 and has had previously worked at the Marg Tucker Girls and  Aboriginal Housing Victoria.

With experience on Boards, committees and involvement with the Gunditjmara Native Title Group, Shelley has passion and cares for her Community and endeavours to do her best as a Director of the VAHS.

Helen Kennedy – Director

Helen is a proud descendant of the Trawlwoolway and Plairmairrener clans from North East Tasmania.

She has over 25 years experience working at senior levels in government including supporting new policy frameworks to improve Aboriginal social and emotional well-being as well as practice-based experience in in service delivery, having managed the Aboriginal specialist ‘VAHS Family Counselling Services for seven years leading to a range of innovative new service models and research initiatives.

Marie Mitchell – Director

A proud Yorta Yorta woman, Marie was born in Melbourne and has livid in rural Victoria and Canberra. Marie returned to Melbourne in 2012 with her daughter to complete studies in Bachelor and Masters in Social Work.

Marie has worked in the family, youth and children’s sectors for the last 10 years and has volunteered on a number of ACCO Boards. Marie is passionate about supporting the Aboriginal Community in particular working with women and children.

Kaelun Brown – Director

Kaelun grew up in the local community and believes that having representation at a Board level for young people will ensure their voices are heard on how to provide the best care possible that will suit today’s social environment. They are also interested in capacity building through career and training opportunities to support and service the growing needs of community.

Kaelun is the Managing Director of Aboriginal owned and operated business Pathway Plumbing Service which employs 15 Aboriginal people. He has also been involved with a number of Aboriginal community controlled organisations in a range of roles including at VAHS as a Men’s Case Manager for six years, and maintenance for one year; Treasurer at VACSAL for two years; and currently as a member of the Operational Team at the Fitzroy Starts Football Netball Club.