Front Row (L-R): Phil Scanlan, Dr Megan Paull, Tina Williams, Vicki Pollard, Dominique Hansen, The Hon. Hannah Beazley BA MLA Minister for Volunteering, Karina Chicote, Angelo Barbaro (guest presenter).
Second Row (L-R): Rahul Seth CA, Dr Tina Firth, Hannah Godsave, Heidi Madden, Esther Bliss, Sandra Prosser, Craig Spencer (Chair)

Volunteering Community Reference Group

The Volunteering Community Reference Group is established under the direction of the Minister for Volunteering. The purpose of the Volunteering Community Reference Group is to provide a direct voice on volunteering issues from the sector to government.

The Volunteering Community Reference Group will provide the Hon Minister with non-binding advice and information on trends and issues impacting the sector and feedback on the implementation of the State Volunteering Strategy.

Communiques from the Volunteering Community Reference Group Meetings can be found at the end of this webpage.

The members of the Volunteering Community Reference Group include:

Minister for Volunteering

Hon. Hannah Beazley BA MLA

Minister for Local Government; Disability Services; Youth; Volunteering; Gascoyne

Hannah Beazley was first elected to State Parliament as the Member for Victoria Park in 2021. Hannah was appointed to Cabinet in the Cook Labor Government in December 2023, as Minister for Local Government; Youth; Minister Assisting the Minister for Training and Workforce Development.

She previously served on several Parliamentary Committees, was Caucus Secretary (2021–2023), and Parliamentary Secretary to Ministers Dawson and Carey.

As Minister, Hannah has delivered the second phase of the Cook Government’s landmark local government reforms and launched the State’s second Youth Action Plan. She is also leading the development of WA’s first whole-of-government LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Strategy.

A lifelong Victoria Park local, Hannah attended East Victoria Park Primary and St Joachim’s (now Ursula Frayne Catholic College).

Before entering Parliament, she held senior roles in the not-for-profit and education sectors and helped deliver WA’s Containers for Change scheme. She has also worked as a speechwriter to two WA Premiers and run her own successful retail business.

Hannah is Mum to two boys, one of whom has significant extra needs. When she’s not working, she can be found at her boys’ sports games and skateboarding, or vintage shopping around Victoria Park.

Chair

Craig Spencer

Craig chairs the Volunteering Community Reference Group.

Craig has had a long term commitment to community service, currently holding several board and community representative roles and as an emergency services volunteer for over 17 years in both NSW and WA.

Craig believes the economic, social and cultural value of volunteering is very significant and that volunteering is an important part of the strong social fabric of our society, particularly in Western Australia where the vastness of our state often means that vital community services are delivered by volunteers.

Convenor

Tina Williams

As the CEO of Volunteering WA, the state peak body for volunteering, Tina is committed to driving VWA’s mission in leading, advancing and celebrating volunteering in WA. Tina’s work focuses on developing and leading a strong, inclusive and dynamic volunteer sector in WA that enriches our communities and makes volunteering safe, accessible and meaningful for everyone.

Tina is the convenor of the Volunteering Community Reference Group, where she provides government with a direct voice from the sector on their shared needs, interests and priorities. She is a passionate advocate for volunteers, supporting WA’s volunteering involving organisations and promoting the benefits of volunteering to grow the sector.

Volunteering WA Representative

Dominique Hansen

Dominique Hansen is the Manager, Policy and Research at Volunteering WA. Dominique works with our members, researchers, the community and government, to produce evidence-based policy supporting the growth and development of the volunteering sector. Dominique holds an Executive Master of Public Administration from the Australia New Zealand School of Government, and brings her extensive experience in strategic policy and advocacy in the Australian and New South Wales governments and the not-for-profit sector to this role.

Department of Communities

Karina Chicote

Karina Chicote is the Director of Inclusion Policy at the Department of Communities, where she leads strategic policy across sectors such as early years, youth, women’s interests, seniors, volunteering, and carers. With over two decades of experience, Karina has co-designed and led cross-sector partnerships and programs to support vulnerable Western Australians, such as the Early Years Partnership and the Youth Partnership Project. Her work has been recognised with five state-wide awards for excellence.

Karina holds a Bachelor of Social Science and a Master of Human Rights, having written her dissertation titled “Leave No-one Behind: Australia’s Promise to Aboriginal Children.” In 2019, Karina undertook a Churchill Fellowship in New Zealand and the USA, producing a report titled “The Long View: Designing a Proactive Service System to Prevent Intergenerational Disadvantage.”

Corporate Representative

To be confirmed

Bio coming soon.

Research Representatives

Dr Megan Paull

Dr Megan Paull is Associate Professor of Management in the Murdoch Business School at Murdoch University.

With over 30 years of volunteering research and hands-on experience, Megan brings a unique blend of academic and practical knowledge to the VCRG. Megan undertakes research into volunteering, volunteer management and nonprofit organisations, first becoming involved when examining managing change in volunteer involving organisations in the 1990s.

Having completed her research masters and her PhD researching difficult aspects of managing volunteers, a key aspect of her work is engaging with the communities in which she undertakes research, ensuring that findings are validated and then disseminated through workshops and activities, returning valuable insights to the participants.

Local Government Representatives

Hannah Godsave

Hannah is the Policy Manager Community at the WA Local Government Association (WALGA). WALGA is the peak body representing the Local Government sector in WA. WALGA uses its influence, support and expertise to deliver better outcomes for WA Local Governments and their communities.

The Community portfolio covers a range of policy priorities, reflecting the critical issues the sector is engaged in. In addition to evolving and time critical priorities, the team also provides support and advice on social and community policies Local Governments manage. It is within this context that WALGA can facilitate and support the sector ton engage with the volunteer community.

Hannah has over 15 years’ experience in strategic policy development and stakeholder engagement through her work in the UK and WA State Governments before joining WALGA. Hannah volunteers in her local community and previously worked for a small volunteer operated Not for Profit organisation.

Volunteer Resource Representatives

Elizabeth Acason

Elizabeth is the Manager of the Swan Volunteer Resource Centre, where she coordinates a team of volunteer and paid staff to deliver support, information, referral and resources to the community and Volunteer Involving Organisations. With the Centre’s current membership of 220 groups, ranging from large not for profits and NGO’s to smaller volunteer led community groups, Elizabeth has a breadth of understanding of the successes and the challenges facing a wide cross section of the West Australian NFP sector. As a Centre that connects individuals through face to face consultation with volunteer opportunities in the community, Elizabeth is uniquely placed to understand the motivations and requirements of volunteers and how these issues should drive volunteer program development and innovation.

Elizabeth has volunteered and worked in the NFP sector in Perth for 29 years and is currently a member of the Volunteer Resource Centre Network Steering Committee.

Vicki Pollard

Vicki is the Manager of the Peel Volunteer Resource Centre (PVRC) and Rockingham Volunteer Centre (RVC), where she manages a team of volunteer and paid staff to deliver support, information, referral, and resources to the community and Volunteer Involving Organisations.

Vicki has a wide range of understanding of the successes and the challenges facing a wide cross section of the West Australian NFP sector, having held many executive roles in local NFP’s board of management including; Greenfields Family & Community Centre, Allambee (Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence), WestAus Crisis & Welfare and Lightweight Motorcycle Club to name a few. Vicki is well placed to understand the motivations, challenges and requirements of volunteers and volunteer managers and how these issues should drive volunteer program development and innovation.

Vicki has extensive years of experience in the Volunteer sector, with over 25 years as a volunteer and worked in the NFP sector in the Peel region for 15 years and is currently a member of the Volunteer Resource Centre Network Steering Committee and a founding member of the Volunteer Leadership Network.

Volunteer Representatives

Phil Scanlan

Phil Scanlan brings over a decade of dedicated service to emergency response and volunteer work, including roles with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) in the State Emergency Service (SES), Bush Fire Brigade (BFB), Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS), and Marine Rescue Service. He is an active management committee member and regional representative on the SES Volunteer Association committee. His professional experience spans government and private sectors, specialising in digital transformation, strategic planning, operational optimisation, and stakeholder engagement. Phil has also contributed to emergency management at district and local levels in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions.

With a passion for volunteering, Phil is committed to promoting volunteer well-being and ensuring their interests are represented at the highest levels. Drawing on his extensive experience, he aims to strengthen and advance volunteering in Western Australia through effective advocacy and strategic initiatives.

Esther Bliss

Esther is part of the dynamic Town Team Movement and supports regional Volunteering Involving Organisations (VIOs) and active citizens as the coordinator of the Act Local program in the Wheatbelt. Esther’s enthusiasm in both work and volunteer roles is directed towards energising others to get involved, sharing ideas and skills, and ensuring the success of community-focused events and activities while championing the growth and well-being of the Wheatbelt region.

More recently, by co-creating the Northam Town Team, Esther and G.R.E.G (Group of Responsible Enthusiastic Go-Getters) have been able to involve the wider community and collaborate with numerous groups on a wide variety of community projects and events in Northam.

Sandra Prosser

Sandra has been a regional volunteer for more than two decades, with one of her earliest roles as secretary for the Jerramungup and Districts Agricultural Show. Since then, she has held executive roles on the local football club committee, community kindergarten, junior cricket association, and has run the primary school uniform shop.

Sandra lives in Esperance and is currently a member of a local primary school P&C, vice chair of a primary school board, and a member of the Esperance Emergency Support Unit. She has also worked in government for 25 years.

Sandra volunteers because she loves contributing to her local community. Her regional background and active involvement in these volunteer groups will help her represent regional perspectives.

Dr Tina Firth

Tina is a passionate young leader dedicated to caring for others and embodying kindness through action. Since turning 18, she has volunteered extensively with organisations such as the Starlight Children’s Foundation, St John Ambulance WA, the Salvation Army Street Outreach Service, and as secretary for the Mind the Change Inc board. For Tina, volunteering brings unparalleled joy, lifelong friendships, and valuable lessons in leadership and self-discovery, surpassing those gained in paid roles.

As a representative for youth and CALD communities, Tina is committed to breaking down barriers to volunteering, advocating for more flexible and accessible opportunities that fit around study and work commitments. She envisions a culture where volunteering is as common as playing a sport, empowering others to experience its transformative benefits.

Rahul Seth CA

Rahul Seth CA is the visionary founder of Activate Mental Health, Perth’s largest mental well-being support group, established in 2016. With a dedicated team of over 50 volunteers, Activate Mental Health fosters meaningful connections through uplifting social activities like walks, board game nights, and book clubs, empowering members to break free from social isolation. Rahul combines his passion for mental health as a professional support worker and business coach. In 2023, his exceptional contributions were recognised when he was named WA Volunteer of the Year.

Michael Wainwright

After a 20-year career in the Australian Army Michael (Mick) retired to Perth in 1994 and looked for opportunities to give back to the community. He joined the Noranda Lions club in 1999 and has completed several leadership roles in Lions including District Governor. Mick is still involved in the District Cabinet as the Constitution and By-laws Chair. Mick is currently the Chair of the Lions Cancer Institute (WA) Inc and the Lions Festival for Disadvantaged Children. Mick was elected to the City of Swan council in 2005 and served 12 years, which included six years as Deputy Mayor and two years as Mayor.

Mick retired from work in Oct 23 and is still deeply involved with Lions and is also currently the Treasurer of the Young Australia League and President of the Morley Noranda Recreation Club and Noranda Lions Club, he is a volunteer driver with the City of Swan Community Care.