The Board
| Oscar Ramos – ChairpersonOscar is a qualified Youth Worker and carries significant experience in Youth Services leadership and management roles across Local Government in Melbourne Metro. He has been in the Youth and Community Development Services field for 22 years. Oscar holds a Bachelor of Youth Studies; Bachelor of Psychological Science, and a Psychology (Honours) Degree. Oscar currently sits as a board director across two non-for-profit organisations, focused on raising the profile and enhancing the delivery of youth work, education, employment and social services. Oscar's goals are to always maintain organisations that are trustworthy, respectful and empowering to all key stakeholders. “It is my vocation to work with young people and the community. I believe in a holistic approach and that we are constantly learning from each other in a fast-paced moving world. As such, it is necessary we have professional bodies such as YWA and AYAC to advocate for young people and professionals working with young people.” |
| Emeritus Professor Robyn Broadbent - SecretaryRobyn Broadbent is an academic, community researcher, community activist and a committed advocate for the human rights of young people. She wrote the Youth Work programs at Victoria University and has taught and managed the program for twenty-five years. Robyn has also been active in the establishment of the Youth Workers Association and continues to sit on the Board. Robyn has worked in local, state, national and international youth affairs. She currently chairs the Commonwealth Alliance of Youth Worker Associations. Robyn has worked with Trades Hall Council, was instrumental in establishing the Visy Cares Hub, provides advice and mentoring to youth workers in a range of settings and is well known for her collection of youth consultancy work. Robyn is proud that her professional grounding was as a youth worker in the western suburbs of Melbourne and continues to be committed to the region to ensure that all young people have access to the full benefits of a wealthy society. |
| Howard Sercombe
Howard Sercombe has been a youth worker, researcher and academic in the youth studies area for over forty years. He has worked on the street in welfare suburbs of Perth, developed youth services for Indigenous young people in the outback of Western Australia, worked with Eastern European gypsy communities in Glasgow, and heroin users in de-industrialising towns in Scotland. He was a foundation member of staff for the youth work degree at Edith Cowan University, and Professor of Community Education at Strathclyde University in Glasgow for eight years.Howard has had a major impact in the global understanding of youth work as a professional practice, especially its ethical foundations, and on the impact of neuroscience on our perceptions of young people. He wrote the foundation Code of Ethics for youth work for Western Australia n 1997, variations of which have become the standard across Australia, in the UK, New Zealand, Zambia, South Africa and the Commonwealth. Howard has been a tireless advocate for youth work as a professional practice across the world, and has been General Secretary for Youth Work NSW since its inception. He is currently Associate Professor of Youth Sociology and Programme Lead in Youth Work at Western Sydney University. |
| Paul Cabrera
Currently I am a Senior Educator at Victoria University Polytechnic, Community Services Department, focusing on the strategic planning, development and implementation of our suite of courses within our Community Services department as well as supporting the development and practice of the teaching team. This is underpinned by a passion for applying relevant theory including Constructivism, Social Learning and principles of lifelong learning. Prior to this role I worked as a teacher, trainer and assessor delivering Youth Work, Community Services and Counselling courses using both online digital tools and facilitating in person learning and development practices. The foundation of my knowledge and skill began with formal training in Youth Work and then refined in practice working in the Out of Home Care sector with Mackillop Family Services as a Youth Residential Care Worker, Youth Recreation and Therapeutic Worker, Education Tutor and Case Manager. Additional development and formal training includes Counselling, Leadership and Management and Tertiary education. I currently sit on the board for Youth Workers Australia and Docklands Primary School. |
 | Sam KettlewellSam Kettlewell is a seasoned Youth Worker with over 15 years of experience in mentoring and empowering young people. She holds a degree in Youth Work from the University of Victoria and has worked in various youth organizations and community programs. Sam's expertise lies in creating supportive environments for young people to thrive, particularly focusing on at-risk youth across Australia. As the Director of Change the Cycle, Sam provides professional supervision to Youth Practitioners. She also teaches at TAFE NSW within the Health and Wellbeing team. Sam's commitment to systemic change in youth services is evident through her collaborations with schools, government agencies, and non-profits. Her contributions to the field have been recognized with awards, including Podcast of the Year for "#Grit One road in, one road out" and a highly commended recognition in the Brilliant Idea Team category. Sam currently serves on multiple executive committees, including Youth Work NSW, Youth Work Australia, and PALYCW. |
| Dave Fregon - Digital Manager / IT Services
Dave is currently providing Information Technology services to business and not-for-profit customers. His extensive experience in information technology and passion for social justice and supporting young people provide a foundation for his focus on digital youth work. He has worked in IT for the Education Department, as Youth Development Officer and Community Development Officer in two Tasmanian councils, as a volunteer on the phones at Lifeline, and started free food kitchens, among a plethora of other projects. Dave completed his Bachelor of Youth Work at Victoria University. |
| Dr Kathryn Daley Dr Kathryn Daley (She/Her) is a Senior Lecturer in Youth Work and Youth Studies and the Associate Director and theme lead of the Homelessness and Housing Insecurity research program in the Social Equity Research Centre (SERC) at RMIT University. Kathryn is an academic with a background as a youth worker, primarily in the area of alcohol and other drugs. Her work as an outreach worker led to her interest in research and the subsequent book, ‘Youth and Substance Abuse’. In addition to her academic work, Kathryn has extensive background in applied work. She has developed resources for the Youth AOD Toolbox and the Youth Drugs and Alcohol Advisory service (YoDAA). She teaches youth work courses on ethics, critical understandings of youth wellbeing, Alcohol and other Drug interventions and advanced youth work practice skills. |
| Maureen Rodgers Maureen has been involved in and had a keen interest in the youth sector for over twenty-five years. She is a member of the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria and the Australian Youth Workers Association. Currently, she is employed by Better Place Australia coordinating their Family Mental Health Support Service. She was the proud recipient of the YACVIC and VLGA Danny Sandor Award 2014. Inspired by the pursuit of human rights and social justice principles, she pursued Youth Work as a career. She has completed a BA in Community Development at Victoria University and a Masters in Adolescent Health and Welfare at Melbourne University. With extensive work experience in the Youth Sector, she has worked in multiple local government settings and not-for-profit youth services. The positions have included residential youth work; program development and coordination; alternative education; information and referral; sport and recreation development; crisis intervention; youth centre co-ordination; event management and extensive case management. |
| Dr Cameron (Jamie) Hogan - TreasurerDr Cameron “Jamie” Hogan is a qualified youth worker living in eastern rural Victoria and has been on the Board of the YWA since 2017. He has been involved in community services, youth work and education sectors for forty-years. He is semi-retired however he is still active as the Board Chairperson & Acting CEO of the Advocacy Institute of Australia, Board Secretary of the Derek Amos Institute for Public and Political Affair and Board Treasurer the YWA. In addition he serves as the Independent Chair of the YWA Course Accreditation Committee.In his career Jamie has worked as Chief of Staff and Advisor to a senior member of the Victorian State Government, a Legal Advocate, Independent Chair & Adjudicator, Policy & Governance Advisor, Political Commentator, Youth Worker, and served a term as a Councillor in a large Melbourne based Municipality. He undertakes some consultancy work in research and as a Political, Governance and Community specialist. He holds a number of Fellowships in professional societies. In addition he has been a Corporate Director./ Board Member and has a passion for helping LGBTQIA+ people and people with Mental Health issues particularly focused around young people, In recent years he has worked as a consultant and practitioner in Leadership, Governance, Business, Policy Para-Legal Advocacy, Politics, Mental Health, Youth Work, Quality Auditing and Education however his grass roots come from commencing his career as a youth worker. In semi-retirement he still undertakes some pro-bono consultancy work. Jamie is the author of a number of academic papers including the widely accepted “Hopes Dreams and Aspirations” focusing on the needs and issues relating to international students in 2009. He has been awarded Citizen of the Year in the Australia Day Awards, the Australian Security Medal, the Community Services Medal and the Australian Volunteers Medal. |
| Vicky CooperI have a long history of championing the voice of young people in Local Government. I have led youth services in 3 Local governments in Australia and built sustainable community partnerships in each one. Local Government is at the core of connecting young people to their community and is one of the largest employer of youth workers in Australia. I am keen to champion that industry within Youth Workers Australia and see how YWA can strengthen those partnerships. My commitment to creative, quality, data informed and evidence based Services for Young People is evident in my work particularly with strategic partnerships and programs that foster community engagement and sharing power. I note that in the most recent report from AYAC that 80% of young people do not believe their voice is heard by politicians. Youth workers can amplify that voice. My guiding principles are human rights, equity and social justice, leveraging over 40 years of experience in this domain. I have championed the positive development of young people, emphasising lifelong learning, activism and civic participation. I am committed to amplifying young people’s voices and building a responsive community and Service System in a world that bolsters strong positive people. |
