Who We Are
Our Mission, Vision & Values
Achieving Milestones
We are achieving milestones contained in our 2020-2024 Strategic Plan.
CALM is a values driven, for purpose organisation, led by a diverse Community Board of Governance and dedicated CEO.
Established in October 1987 as ‘Westlakes Activity Van’, we have continued to grow and evolve, yet never losing sight of children, young people and families in Lake Macquarie.
Click below to view our strategic plan.
Our CEO
Sheena Harvey
Chief Executive Officer
Sheena is a passionate community leader who has pursued an extensive career with community-based organisations and in August 2017, was appointed to the position of CEO at Community Activities Lake Macquarie (CALM).
Sheena has a strong commitment to equality and hopes that by working in the Community sector she can make a difference to the lives of people, who for whatever reason are not treated fair and equal.
Her passion for Community Leadership is evidenced by her ability to grow local organisations and groups into busy, vibrant and viable organisations servicing the wider community with a place to feel safe and connected.
Along with her keen interest in empowering and advocating for our community she is a dedicated wife and mother of two girls.
Our Manager
Prue Hughes
People & Purpose
Prue’s career in the community services sector has seen her take on a variety of leadership roles in both government and non-government organisations as well as private practice.
After specialising in behaviour intervention in the youth and disability fields, Prue developed a passion for empowering direct service staff across the sector. Deeply committed to supporting individual staff to achieve their best – not only professionally but personally, Prue enjoys working with organisations to facilitate growth and implement change.
Actively involved in their local community, Prue and her husband are raising two young sons.
The CALM Team
Our Board
Gary Collins
President
Garry is a mining engineer with extensive experience in metalliferous and coal mines. He has held executive roles on Parent and Citizen Committees, is a long-term Australian Red Cross member, and part of the Red Cross Newcastle Emergency Services Team.
Terry Hardman
Secretary & Public Officer
Terry recently retired as a Crown Prosecutor after working for 42 years in the NSW Court system. He is married with three adult children and has been a resident of Newcastle since 2000.
Luke Hughes
Treasurer
Luke has a career in corporate management and policy with the Australian Government, working in foreign trade, marketing, finance, and business. He holds multiple degrees, including a Master’s in Social Change and Development. He is currently driving audit, risk, and compliance reform in the not-for-profit sector.
Gwenda Brownell
Gwenda’s areas of special interest and experience include anxiety, depression, grief and loss, post traumatic stress, pain management. She mainly uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Hypnosis and EMDR (especially helpful for trauma) and undertakes regular ongoing professional development and supervision.
Astrid Hocking
Astrid is passionate about child protection with extensive experience in special needs and TAFE teaching, and coordinating foster care training. She holds degrees in Education and Community Services and a Master’s in Social Science. A foster carer for 24 years, she now chairs a child protection charity and volunteers for disadvantaged communities.
Gemma Morgan
Gemma, an accountant and active community member, has been part of the Youth Reference Group for the Bright Minds Project since 2014 and joined the CALM Board of Governance this year. She also serves on the Board of The Place: Charlestown Youth & Community Centre.
Anastasia Mortimer
Anastasia is a scholar and activist focused on disaster and climate justice, supporting child and youth-led advocacy. She lectures at the University of Notre Dame Australia and the University of Newcastle. Currently, she is completing a PhD on disaster displacement following the Eastern Australian Floods and Black Summer Bushfires.
In the lead up to this year’s AGM we will be looking to recruit up to 3 new Board members. We are looking for the following skills sets in particular:
- Project/change management
- Parent or a young person (aged 18-24years)
- Passionate about children, families, and young people in local community
Anyone interested is invited to contact either Garry or myself for a confidential discussion or to come meet us at our next Board meeting on Wednesday 16 August at 5.30pm.
Annual Reports
Annual General Meeting
CALM’s 2019- 20 Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday, 28 October 2020
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