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Mallika brings many years of not-for-profit Board experience at state and national levels as a young professional.
Mallika is the General Manager at Tura New Music and was previously the Director of Client Services at Disability in the Arts, Disadvantage in the Arts Australia (DADAA).
Mallika is passionate about the importance of upholding citizens’ rights, and the key role of peak advocacy bodies in this. She believes human rights and contemporary practice must be part of the dialogue at all levels, and we must have a body that can call out those institutions that are stuck in the dark ages and do not respect the rights of health customers and patients.
Niall has been a Certified Practicing Marketer of the Australian Marketing Institute since 2018 and has over 15 years’ experience at senior levels in a variety of industries.
Originally from Ireland, Niall emigrated to Australia in 2012 and most recently moved into a senior consultancy role after leading the marketing and communications function at Activ Foundation for over four years.
While working at Activ Foundation, Niall helped to establish the crisis response team and eventually served as its Chair during the COVID-19 pandemic. This role saw him completely redirect the organisation’s focus to ensure that the health needs of thousands of individuals with intellectual disability were met.
Niall is passionate about ensuring that every person has equitable access to information that they need to make decisions about their health.
Rebecca brings a unique consumer perspective to the Management Committee, with experiences across disability, chronic illness, volunteering, and as a child of Southern European migrants.
In November 2014, Rebecca underwent surgery to partially resect a tumor located in her Cerebellum/Brain Stem. This was followed by a massive brain hemorrhage, and she was left with Locked-in-Syndrome (LiS). Her prognosis was dire – she was assessed as unable to be rehabilitated. She had three further inoperable tumors in 2015 and focused on intensive rehabilitation. She has learned to walk, see, speak, read, and write again. In 2018, she passed a driving assessment through the Independent Living Centre and has returned to study.
Prior to the surgery Rebecca worked her way from what was essentially a personal assistant role to a Quality and Welding Inspector trained to International ASME Standard. A traditionally masculine occupation, it took hard work and determination to achieve this.
Rebecca is extremely passionate about all aspects of health and wellbeing. She believes that health should be approached with a vision towards wellness as opposed to illness. Each consumer should be empowered to research and investigate methods of scientifically proven medical intervention and/or treatment so as to make an informed decision as to what will work best for their needs. She brings a very unique perspective to HCC’s Management Committee as a consumer; a woman with a disability that lives with chronic illnesses; a younger adult with an acquired brain injury that is commonly associated with the elderly; the cultural experience of as a child of Southern European migrants; and a volunteer in the health sector.
Ian is a Chartered Accountant Fellow; following eight years employed in public accounting practice, he has over 25 years of experience working at senior levels in not-for-profit organisations.
Ian has an extensive background in not-for-profit organisations across education, youth and adult accommodation, conference centre operations, large scale property management, insurance and risk management, and mental health services. He is currently the Business Manager for two schools in the Swan Christian Education Association.
Ian has volunteered with the Anglican Church for more than 30 years, with experience ranging from local parish, Central Diocese, National Church, governance, large scale youth work, and including company directorships of large and very large ($100M+ turnover) church entities delivering aged care. In more recent years, he has volunteered with Scouts WA as a leader supporting Cub Scout, Scout, and Venturer Scout sections in his local area.
Michael is an experienced legal practitioner and law academic in both Western Australia and New South Wales.
Michael has more than 10 years’ experience teaching law at Edith Cowan University whilst maintaining a right of private practice as a barrister. As an academic, he taught and coordinated a range of law units including criminal law, advanced criminal law, terrorism and the law, security and the law, public international law, coronial law and mortuary practice, and the law of evidence.
Other roles included mooting coordinator and course coordinator roles in law and forensic investigation and membership of ECU’s Security Research Institute. Michal’s research interests focused on international humanitarian law and terrorism. During this period as an academic he had extensive involvement in key international mooting competitions as moot problem writer, finals judge, arbitrator, moot executive committee member and coach. Previously in New South Wales his experience was as defense counsel in criminal law jury trials and conducting appellate work.
For some 10 years Michael was a lecturer in criminal law and procedure with the Law Extension Committee within the University of Sydney and a revising examiner for the Legal Practice Board of New South Wales. Before moving from New South Wales to Western Australia he was appointed visiting lecturer in law at Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China.
Meredith lives in Esperance and identifies as a carer for a family member, and an enthusiastic consumer representative for people living in rural and regional Australia.
Meredith is a member of a District Health Advisory Council and is a Board Member on the WA Country Health Service. She also runs a local radio program.
Meredith has been a board member with WACHS for the past five years as a consumer representative and has seen firsthand how much more there is to be done in the area of effective consumer representation. She is particularly interested in health in regional and rural Australia.
Kirtida is a health professional and has been a dedicated community leader for the last 12 years in Western Australia.
Born in Ahmedabad, Kirtida migrated to Perth along with her family in 2005 and has since strived to promote both Gujarati and Indian culture amongst the wider Australian population. Her passions include women empowerment, awareness and education on domestic violence, engagement and promoting Indian culture, tradition and values.
Kirtida was an integral part of helping the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading the organisation of chartered flights to India for stranded citizens and family members. Furthermore, she arranged a taskforce in-charge of providing essential groceries for Indian students as well as individuals living in rural area.
Al Muhit is the Director of Medical Technology at Child and Adolescent Health Service in WA. He grew up in a medical family and became passionate about patient-centred healthcare from a very young age.
Al has been involved with a number of not-for-profit organisations including Australian Doctors for Africa (ADFA), Osborne Park Rotary, and Bangladesh Australia Association of WA. He has been instrumental in facilitating medical and imaging equipment donations to various Asian and African countries over the last decade, through these organisations.
Al wants to see consumers empowered by digital technologies and become active partners in the management of their healthcare.
Kim is passionate about person-centred care, improving healthcare outcomes for all West Australians, and ensuring the consumer’s voice is heard in interactions with healthcare staff and the health system more broadly.
Kim’s background is in Anthropology and Sociology and Human Rights Law. She is an experienced researcher and policy professional, having previously worked in research and evaluation – utilising research skills to develop strategic recommendations to inform policy, marketing campaigns, and decision making at various levels from Ministers through to policy and research teams.
She has worked for a number of not-for-profit organisations over the years and currently works in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector (ACCHS) where she is a strong advocate for the ACCHS holistic Model of Care, preventative models of care, increased access to services (particularly for regional and remote communities), and local care in the community.
On a personal note, Kim has been both a consumer of health care and a carer for a family member, and has seen firsthand how difficult it can be to ensure your voice is heard within a complex and busy health system, and the need for consumers to be empowered to make informed choices.
Clare has a background in change management and communications in the health and social care sector in the UK and Australia. She is passionate about creating opportunities for people who use the health system and people who work in the health system to work together to improve health outcomes.
Clare joined HCC in September 2018. She is trained in change management, project management, facilitation and Gestalt therapy.
At the WA Department of Health she worked with Health Networks, Activity Based Funding and Management and in the safety and quality team. At the WA Primary Health Alliance she was the Operations Manager for Perth North Primary Health Network. In the UK, she worked on a national frontline leadership program in the National Health Service which brought frontline staff and consumers together to work on improving health services in their local area.
Clare leads HCC’s involvement in The WELL Collaborative – a forum which brings together consumers and people with lived experience, with clinicians, academics and policy makers to change and improve how we talk about and manage healthcare for people with overweight and obesity.
Outside of HCC, Clare Chairs the national Weight Issues Network, a consumer-led advocacy group for people impacted by weight issues, is an Advisor to the national Obesity Collective, is a member of the Reimagining Government Network, is a member of the Baysie Rollers Town Team, and is on the Board of the LJM Memorial Hospice. In her spare time, she loves listening to podcasts, watching British crime dramas, and doodling with thread.
Rebecca has a strong background in executive-level roles in the community and health sector.
Rebecca joined the HCC team January 2023 in an interim role, after serving four years on our Management Committee. She now leads HCC’s Strategic Projects.
Tania is an Aboriginal woman originally from Queensland, with a special interest in the areas of disability and young people.
Prior to coming to the Health Consumers’ Council, Tania worked on various Aboriginal programs from ear health to parenting support. She is interested in how the engagement and empowerment of young people and people with disability in the health system can be supported and encouraged from an early age.
Aimee has worked in the not-for-profit health sector since 2006 in a variety of customer service, corporate support, and management roles, and joined the HCC team January 2023 in the Corporate Services Lead role.
Aimee brings a for-purpose focus to her work and strives to make a positive impact in the community by supporting organisations to deliver on their vision and purpose.
Her interests focus on increasing equity in the health system, reducing barriers to accessing health care and support, and advocating for ongoing psychosocial support to those impacted by cancer (treating the whole person not just the disease).
When Aimee isn’t at work you will find her cooking up a feast, creating the perfect cheese board, or bingecasting Brené Brown podcasts.
Nadeen initially came to HCC in 2017 as a Master of Public Health student volunteer and she returned as a staff member in 2019, having completed a Bsc(hons, first class) in Chemistry from Cardiff University and a Master of Public Health from UWA.
Nadeen had a corporate career before she decided to pursue her passion for health and what she considered to be a more meaningful career. Nadeen’s own lived experience with a rare, systemic disease and navigating the health system in that context has made her passionate about patient-centred healthcare, health literacy, and patients understanding and managing (where possible) their own healthcare.
Nadeen is of Indian heritage but grew up in the UK, born to parents who had come there from East Africa. As such she is aware of some of the issues faced by migrants and refugees, and she enjoys helping people newly arrived from overseas to understand their health rights and how to fully benefit from health services. She is excited by Australia’s growing multiculturalism and is enthusiastic about communities making Australia home, integrating whilst maintaining cultural identity.
Nadeen has a young daughter and enjoys spending time with her family, enjoying the Aussie outdoor lifestyle, and traveling overseas when possible.
Rachel’s background is in both corporate and creative writing, and she has more than 15 years’ experience in media – ranging from journalism and copywriting, to marketing and social media management.
Rachel joined the HCC team in 2018. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts in English and Creative Arts (First Class Honours), and a Certificate IV Business – Social Media Mastery. She is always looking for ways to further develop her skills, and has completed several copywriting and creative writing courses in recent years. Rachel believes that sharing stories is one of the most powerful ways to encourage change, and plays an integral role in supporting person-centred healthcare.
Kieran has a background in facilitation and marketing. He joined our team in late 2022 in a full-time role, but he’s been a part of the HCC team far longer having helped deliver our Empowering Health Consumers with Disabilities project in 2019, and our Electronic Medical Record Consumer Charter project in 2021.
Kieran has worked as a facilitator within the social services sector in WA and has been involved in the development of many statewide policies and not-for-profit strategic plans.
Kieran enjoys travelling, board games, and is a bit of a ‘green thumb’ in the garden.
Michelle Mandoreba joined the Health Consumers’ Council (HCC) team in July 2024. She holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and has built a diverse career in the disability sector since 2019.
In her roles as an education assistant and support worker, Michelle has supported individuals with a range of needs, including autism, ADHD, physical disabilities, and mental health challenges. Her experience has fuelled a strong commitment to advocating for health rights and ensuring access to positive health experiences. Michelle has also served as a COVID Support Officer, where she played a key role in helping individuals navigate the complexities of the pandemic, ensuring their safety and offering support during a challenging time.
Originally from Zimbabwe, Michelle moved to Australia in 2008. Her personal experience of navigating the Australian health system as an international migrant has given her valuable insight into the complexities faced by those from different backgrounds. This perspective has further driven her passion to assist others in overcoming similar challenges and accessing equitable health care.
Sam first came to HCC in February 2019 as a social work student on placement within the advocacy team, and was later offered a permanent position within the team. In late 2021 Sam started as the Acting Senior Advocate, and formally moved into the role in 2022.
Previous to Sam’s experience at HCC, she spent nine years working in the disability field as an education assistant and a community support worker. Through Sam’s experience, she recognises the importance of having the consumer at the heart of the situation, and brings with her a strong sense for social justice.
Chrissy is passionate about being master of your own health, and ensuring people know their rights and what tools are available to help them improve their journey through the WA health system.
In 2011 Chrissy joined HCC. Before this she was advocating for people with Hepatitis C and drug and alcohol issues, ran a successful natural therapies clinic for 7 years, completed general nursing training, and assisted people with an intellectual disability to become more independent. She also is a mum and grandmother.
Chrissy believes healthy eating and keeping active is the cornerstone to health. She cycles almost every day, swims, and loves to dance.
Kerrie joined HCC in August 2017, using her knowledge of both the medical health industry, and her mental health profession, to assist consumers to navigate the healthcare system.
After working for 9 years for the medical health industry as a laboratory technician, Kerrie gained knowledge of the physical ailments that affect patients in the hospital system. Driven by a passion for helping others, a career change saw her achieve a degree in social science, specialising in counselling. Kerrie is dedicated to supporting people with their health and well-being and has a strong desire to help vulnerable people in the community.
As a member of the advocacy team, Kerrie is passionate about self-care for herself and others. She believes that keeping a healthy balance of eating well, exercise, enjoying the great outdoors, and spending quality time with family and friends is the foundation of her own well-being.
Helen has a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology. She has worked in the community sector for many years in Perth, in the North West WA – East Pilbara, and in Queensland, including a number of years in Mental Health Advocacy.
Helen is a new addition to the HCC team starting in January 2023.
Helen believes that “knowledge is power” and assisting people to gain relevant knowledge, skills and support will provide greater equity and improve consumers experiences in the health care system.
Jenni has a passion for advocacy. She comes from 20+ years working for non-profit organisations in roles which have all required some form of social advocacy, including victim support, housing support, DV support worker, paralegal and claims manager.
She also has a medico-legal background having worked in medical negligence for 6 years and enjoys utilising her experience in the medico-legal and not for profit sector to help consumers to be empowered to overcome the many barriers they face whilst navigating our health care system.
Jenni has worked at Health Consumers’ Council since early 2018. She has taken up a number of different roles in that time including Administration Officer, Information and Advocacy Officer, Administration Coordinator, Corporate Services Coordinator, and in 2023 moved back into the Information and Advocacy Officer role.
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Unit 4, 434 Lord Street
MOUNT LAWLEY
Western Australia 6050
PO. Box 923
MOUNT LAWLEY
WA 6929
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info@hconc.org.au
advocacy@hconc.org.au
(08) 9221 3422
1800 620 780
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Health Consumers’ Council acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities as the Traditional Custodians of the land we work on, specifically the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. Australia always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
Health Consumers’ Council recognises the individual and collective expertise of those living with health challenges. We recognise their vital contribution at all levels and value the courage of those who share this unique perspective for the purpose of partnering to achieve better health outcomes for all.
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Thank you for your interest in becoming a Health Consumers’ Council member. Membership applications will be reviewed by the HCC Management Committee, usually once per month. We will contact you once your application has been approved.
Acknowledgements
Health Consumers’ Council acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities as the Traditional Custodians of the land we work on, specifically the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. Australia always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
Health Consumers’ Council recognises the individual and collective expertise of those living with health challenges. We recognise their vital contribution at all levels and value the courage of those who share this unique perspective for the purpose of partnering to achieve better health outcomes for all.
