Our Team
Chief Executive Officer - Kay Chapman
Kay joined the Lifeline family as the Chief Executive Officer – Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter in July 2007.
Fortunately Kay had chosen a career that offered diversity, opportunity and wonderful life experiences. Her nursing career spanned three States and Territories, commencing as a general nurse, intensive care nurse and later, a community nurse and midwife. As a midwife she was privileged to care for birthing families from remote settings to homebirth to hospital birth. Apart from her family, which includes her husband, children and grandchildren, midwifery underpinned her passion for seventeen years.
Kay was the inaugural coordinator/manager for the John Hunter Hospital Birthing Centre, the Bundaberg Birthing Centre and the Wards/Maternity section of the new Gladstone Mater Hospital. These management positions provided an opportunity to influence the culture of birthing practice.
Her experiential and formal learning later launched her into a position with local government as Director Community Services, which took on a broader community perspective.
Kay has completed a Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing), Graduate Diploma in Health Administration and Information Systems and a Master of Primary Health Care. She is now enjoying the challenge of working for a charitable organisation and heads a team of motivated and dedicated workers at Lifeline Newcastle and Hunter.
Business Manager - Lisa Tierney
Lisa joined the Lifeline team in January 2006 and looks after the finances for Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter ensuring all funding is spent and allocated appropriately from all revenue sources. Lisa also oversees our eight retail outlets and warehouse.
Lisa completed her Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology Sydney whilst working for the investment bank Salomon Smith Barney for 5 years before returning to her hometown in 2005.
Originally joining a firm that helped businesses set up and establish an accounting and business frameworks that worked for them, Lisa found more satisfaction in working for a charity that saves lives through counselling.
Telephone Counselling Manager - Annette Cain
Annette is the Manager of the Telephone Counselling crisis line for Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter.
She joined the Lifeline family as a volunteer Telephone Counsellor in 1997. Since then Annette has worked in all of the supervisory positions within that section including the job of rostering volunteers, until taking on her current position of Manager. She is also the OH & S Officer for our centre and has had many years experience and qualifications within this field.
One of Annette’s greatest loves is training and watching the growth in people, especially as they learn new things about life and learn more about themselves. She is the trainer in the Telephone Counselling section and has a Certificate IV Training and Assessing qualification to enable her to present the Certificate IV in Telephone Counselling and the other training that is required. She also is a qualified Trainer for Beyond Blue and ASIST Living Works, suicide training.
Annette feels honoured to be part of Lifeline and loves working with a great bunch of Lifeliners who give from the bottom of their heart. She feels that everyday we make a difference in someone’s life in just being there really listening to someone’s pain in an empathic non-judgemental way.
Manager Organisational & Development - Kate Munro
Kate Munro was born in Northern Ireland, where she completed three nursing certificates before joining her brothers “Down Under”. She has worked in the health care industry for over thirty years before joining the staff at LLNH.
One of Kate’s greatest passions is education and she brings her own life skills as well as certain “Irishness” to all her presentations and of course her TAA qualifications.
She is known for her:
- Ability to design and deliver creative & innovative educational
- sessions/workshops/seminars that reflect the needs of the client
- Ability to use empathy to quickly understand the emotional needs, motivations and concerns of others especially those bereaved by suicide
- Ability to listen deeply and think clearly
- Excellent public speaking and presentation skills
- Caring & supportive attitude whilst ensuring high levels of customer service consistently achieved
Personal Counselling Co-ordinator Michella Wherrett
Michella is the coordinator of Lifeline Face to Face Counselling Service, for Newcastle & Hunter.
She started with Lifeline as a volunteer personal counsellor in 2003 while studying for a Bach Counselling.
In October 2006 Michella left Qantas Airways, where she had worked as an international flight attendant for twenty seven years, and commenced working for Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter in her present role.
Michella continued postgraduate studies and completed a Masters Counselling in October 2007. She is passionate about counselling and how it empowers people to find strengths within themselves to face changes or losses in their lives.
Financial Counselling Coordinator - Wendy Maile
Wendy has participated in community work for many years for a variety of service providers.
Since completing a Social Science Degree at the University of Newcastle, Wendy has become a qualified Financial Counsellor with the New South Wales Association.
Wendy has a passion for community work and sees Financial Counselling as a long term user-friendly service that provides people with options in overcoming their financial stress.
Reception - Laurice Scevak
Laurice’s association with Lifeline began in December 2001 as a volunteer, joining the Administration team as Receptionist in June 2003.
Following a 30 year background in administration and reception work, Laurice is passionate about Lifeline’s role and services provided to the community in line with the Mission Statement.
She is married with three adult sons and enjoys reading, walking, art and theatre.
Fundraising, Marketing and Public Relations - Julienne Constable
Julienne (aka Jules) has been with Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter since 2007.
Jules' role as PR, Marketing and Fundraising is both interesting and demanding and allows her to indulge in her favourite pastime- talking!
Jules has a Bachelor of Visual Arts from the University of Newcastle and loves her family, friends, live music and her job.
Financial Counsellor - Janette Laver
Janette commenced work with Lifeline in 1996 as a Financial Counsellor and over the ensuing years has observed many changes from both within Lifeline (the Department growing from 2 to 7 Financial Counsellors) and the community as to the always changing financial climate that is instrumental in people requiring financial counselling help.
Janette has 2 adult sons and 2 grandsons. In her leisure hours she enjoys music, dancing, visits to the beach and travel.
Damien Cooke – Financial Counsellor
Damien is desirous of helping people and raising community awareness with regard to the needs of others.
He enjoys cooking, classical music and has an especial interest in mental health issues.
Lauren Payne-Blaire – Trainee Financial Counsellor
Lauren is one of the newest additions to the Lifeline team commencing her traineeship in November 2009.
Lauren is currently overseeing the Energy Efficiency Home Visiting Program in the Newcastle region. Through the program, clients learn about ways to help reduce the cost of energy bills.
Accountant - Wendy Peacock
Coordinator of Volunteers - Alan Whitehead
Alan joined the telephone counselling team at Lifeline in October 2009.
Amongst general administration duties, he is directly responsible for the rostering of Lifeline Telephone Counsellors and Support on Call volunteers.
Alan comes from a background in community organisations with 5 years experience as an administrator for the Police and Community Youth Clubs of NSW movement. Within this time Alan has been regularly involved with engaging and coordinating volunteers for events, fundraising and youth activities within the PCYC organisation.
His friendly, empathetic and positive nature has been a complete advantage in working with Lifeline Telephone Counsellors as they provide a service to our community that is both a personally challenging and emotionally taxing voluntary role.
In his spare time Alan undertakes many hobbies and interests, most notably he is a musician and an active member of working bands in the Newcastle area.
Program Administration Officer - Jodi Miliken
Jodi joined the staff of LLNH in July 2009. In December 2009 Jodi completed the Telephone Counselling training.
Training and Promotion Officer - Leone Woolnough
Leone was appointed to LLNH in February 2009. She is responsible for developing, updating and delivering the initial and ongoing training for potential volunteer counsellors, trained telephone counsellors and support on call volunteers. She works part time and is also charged with the responsibility of promoting the service and recruiting potential telephone counsellors.
Project Coordinator - David Coren
David joined Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter (LLNH) on 10th March 2009, working part time. He will work collaboratively with Personal Counselling staff to deliver education and support services for men in the Singleton Local Government Area. This program has been funded by Xstrata Coal NSW and is a twelve month project aimed at maximising men’s positive contribution to family and community.
David will also work with and support other projects, in particular, the Maitland Crisis Intervention Response Service and the Maitland Suicide Prevention Network. A program also made possible with funding from Xstrata Coal NSW.
David has had extensive experience in management, strategic analysis and business development. He holds a Degree in Engineering (Chem), a Master of Business Administration and has completed the Lifeline Volunteer Telephone Counselling course and ASIST training.
Financial Counsellor - Franco Di Lorenzo
Franco began his association with Lifeline in 2005 as a volunteer having previously volunteered at VOCAL and Tax Help. He joined the Lifeline staff in July 2008 taking on the role of Lifeline Financial Counselling Service Manager.
Franco is married with 2 adult daughters, takes interest in the share market as well as watching rugby league and rugby union.
Muswellbrook Shop Managers - Dianna Smith and Erica Bailey
Mayfield Shop Manager - Bronwyn Strickland
Jesmond Shop Manager - Amanda Shay
Islington Shop Manager - Lynelle Pollock
Cardiff Shop Manager - Brenda Alley
Wallsend Shop Manager - Jenni Hoysted
