Our Team
South West Compassionate Communities Network
Meet our dedicated volunteer committee, leading Compassionate Communities in the South West.
The South West Compassionate Communities Network is led by a Committee made up of a diverse group of passionate local people committed to progressing the practice of Compassionate Communities in the South West.
Dr Julieanne Hilbers
(Chairperson)
Julieanne has over 30 years’ experience in the health sector with professional and lived experience in aged and end-of-life care. She is a co-founder of the South West Compassionate Communities Network and is committed to everyone being able to care, die and grieve supported by their community.
Michelle Elson
(Deputy Chairperson)
Michelle is currently on extended leave.
Michelle Elson brings over 25 years of diverse professional experience across telecommunications, arts and culture, seniors living, politics, and regional development in the South West. Her career has been defined by a commitment to exceptional customer service, collaborative stakeholder engagement, and principled governance.
A passionate advocate for community connection, Michelle has volunteered in a wide range of local organisations and roles. She believes deeply in the power of inclusive engagement to foster compassion and make conversations around illness, death, and grief more open and acceptable.
Inspired after attending a Compassionate Workplaces ethos, she co-developed a fortnightly ‘Connection Café’ for staff in her workplace, creating space for meaningful dialogue and peer support. Her personal journey as a carer for her terminally ill husband, who died after many years of illness, has given her profound lived experience and insight into the emotional and practical realities of caregiving and end-of-life support.
Michelle is excited to work alongside a passionate local team to strengthen community resilience, deepen compassionate practices, and support inclusive conversations that honour life’s most vulnerable moments.
Kristy Constantine
(Treasurer)
Kristy Constantine is the Chief Executive at the Bunbury Cemetery Board. She aims to be pro-active engaging with the community to enhance death literacy and collaborate with like-minded organisations. She has recently been elected to the Board of the Australasian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association (ACCA). ACCA is a non-profit professional organisation that exists to provide leadership, professional services and development, communication and networking platforms to the cemetery and crematorium industry.
She believes the vision of creating a Compassionate Community will only enhance the quality of life of people who are living with chronic disease, life-limiting illnesses, bereavement and loss.
Associate Professor Melissa Carey
(Secretary)
Dr Melissa Carey is an Associate Professor at Edith Cowan University’s South West Campus and a Registered Nurse with advanced practice clinical experience in regional settings. She leads the research theme Safe Community Care in the Centre for Aged Care Research and is passionate about creating health systems that are culturally safe, compassionate, and responsive to community needs.
Melissa is a member of the Te Ārai Palliative and End of Life Research Group at the University of Auckland, collaborating on research that advances compassionate and person-centred care at the end of life. She has deep roots in the South West, arriving the South West in 2024, 120 years after her great-grandparents were married in Bunbury. She is committed to building partnerships that empower communities, foster inclusion, and advance compassionate care across all settings.
Melissa has a long history of community volunteering, including participating in the Cancer Council Nurse of the Year Campaign in 2008 and 2009, and was named Regional Charity Nurse of Year, South East QLD in 2008.
Heather Wade
As a volunteer, Heather was a Breastfeeding Counsellor with Nursing Mothers (now the Australian Breastfeeding Association) for 10 years.
Heather was our secretary for many years and is one of the pioneer Connectors of the Compassionate Connectors initiative in the South West. She has played an integral role in supporting Dying to Know Day activities over several years. Heather is also interested in local history.
James Jarvis
James Jarvis works as the CEO of the Busselton Hospice Care Inc and is committed to working in partnership with people to create strong communities of connected and capable people. James holds a variety of committee positions with community groups, including Volunteer South West. His approach to developing communities is strengths-based and follows asset-based principles.
Tasha Kernohan
Tasha has worked across community development and social impact initiatives. She is passionate about person-centred approaches that empower individuals, families, and communities to navigate life’s challenges with dignity and support.
Christine Morgan
Christine Morgan currently sits on the Morrissey Homestead Inc. Board as Chairperson. Morrissey Homestead Inc. supports older people and people with disability under the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care and the National Disability Insurance Agency Programs or as a private paid client. We partner with the Department of Communities to support vulnerable young people. We also provide respite beds from our Leschenault site for clients to access to allow carers time away from caring roles.
Christine has extensive experience in the field of Dementia Care and is a founding member of Bunbury Alzheimer’s Association. She managed the Home and Community Care Program, Dementia Specific Social Centre, National Respite for Carers Program, Aged Care Packages and the Commonwealth Home Support Program under the auspice of the Bethanie Group for 25 years to retirement.
Anne-marie Hastwell
Anne-marie Hastwell is a dedicated community member with over 20 years’ experience as a registered nurse and a strong commitment to supporting people at the end-of-life. She holds a Master of Palliative Care, is passionate about improving local palliative options in the South West, and is currently working toward establishing a community hospice to provide an additional, meaningful choice for individuals and families. Anne-marie believes deeply in empowering others and contributes as a Girl Guide Leader, YouthCARE committee member, and mentor to healthcare students. In her role with Compassionate Communities, she aims to share her knowledge of the local palliative care landscape, her understanding of the challenges faced by individuals and families, and her connections with services across the region.
Deborah Nicol
Deborah Nicol is a qualified Social Worker (BSW Hons, AASW) and the co-founder of South West Mentoring Specialists, where she provides counselling, psychosocial support, crisis response, and capacity-building services across the South West. With extensive experience in mental health, disability, trauma-informed practice, and community connection, Deborah is committed to strengthening wellbeing and dignity for individuals, families, and carers.
Her work spans therapeutic support, advocacy, end-of-life processes, and multidisciplinary collaboration. She is an educator and enjoys delivering workshops and sessions on mental health, neurodivergence, trauma, psychological safety, and community resilience.
Deborah is passionate about supporting inclusive, connected communities where people feel safe, understood, and supported through all stages of life.
Constitution
A copy of our current constitution can be downloaded here.
The South West Compassionate Communities Network acknowledges the Noongar community as the traditional owners and custodians of Country in the South West of Western Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.
