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Melanie spent 15 years working in the university sector and has taught in Aboriginal studies, specifically in cultural safety and community engagement.
Growing up in a remote community and being involved in sport and social activities such as netball, jiu-jitsu and boxing provided Mel with a sense of belonging and purpose. Now as a coach Mel is determined to provide that sense of belonging to the teams and affiliated clubs she leads.
Melanie is an Awabakal and Worimi woman from the Newcastle and Port Stephens areas of New South Wales and for the last twenty years has been located on Kabi Kabi country in the City of Moreton Bay, Queensland. Melanie spent 15 years working in the university sector and has taught in Aboriginal studies, specifically in cultural safety and community engagement. She is a graduate of Wollotuka, the school of Aboriginal Studies, University of Newcastle, where she completed a Bachelor of Aboriginal Studies. She brings a deep experience in community engagement and has also and in 2019 Mel founded Black Wattle Professional Services an Aboriginal consulting business to support meaningful collaboration and culturally responsive practices for Aboriginal peoples and communities. She has experience in developing Indigenous led frameworks, and has a history of being involved as both a player and coach in Netball.
University lecturing in Indigenous Studies, especially in health and education.
Bachelor of Aboriginal Studies
Melisa is a health and physical education (HPE) academic within the University of Southern Queensland and research on health-related work of teachers.
Adrian is an experienced sport and recreation leader with over 25 years’ experience in community development, facility management, and strategic sector advocacy, driving inclusive, active, and connected communities across Australia.
Kristen is a marketing, business development consultant with an extensive background in stakeholder management to drive growth. Kristen has sourced and secured mutually beneficial business partnerships for over 25 years spanning education, corporate, sport and professional associations.
Sam Rossi is a passionate education leader with a strong track record in delivering innovative health and wellbeing programs that empower students to thrive through active, engaging learning experiences.
Russell is the President of ACHPER Australia, now leading the organisation following the outstanding tenure of Dr. Sue Whatman. Russell has been a member of ACHPER since 1975 and was awarded Life Membership in 2006.
He has been a lecturer in Physical Education and Health at Flinders University since 1990.
Associate Professor Sue Whatman is the immediate past President of ACHPER Incorporated. Sue has been a teacher-educator for more than 30 years, currently convening Higher Degree Research (HDR) in education and the HPE Double Major at Griffith University.
The Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land across and waters within and surrounding Australia in which we share. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and to the leaders of tomorrow. We acknowledge the histories and living cultures and the many thousands of years in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have sustainably developed their nations with dignity, grace and aspiration. We recognise and accept yours as the oldest continuous living culture in the world and that your sovereignty has never been ceded.
We are an inclusive, safe and respectful organisation which celebrates diversity and actively supports the inclusion of children, young people and adults from LGBTIQA+ communities, people with disabilities, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and people with diverse religious beliefs or affiliations.
Australian Council for Health Physical Education and Recreation Ⓒ2025 All Rights Reserved. ABN: 76 631 438 668
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