Governance

Karen Field is a Social Worker and Chief Executive Officer of Drummond Street Relationship Centre. Karen has 20 years experience in developing, managing and delivering a range of programs and services to young people, families and the broader community. Her work has involved a range of sectors including health (primary and mental health) and welfare, education, employment and justice sectors. This work includes direct clinical work and the delivery of a range of innovative programs including Social, Community Cultural Development (music, visual arts, film, graphic arts and animation) economic participation programs including Social Enterprises.

Karen has written post graduate curriculum and taught at Melbourne University and was an Academic Fellow. While a Senior Manager at Jesuit Social Services, Karen established the Education and Training unit and initiated the Strong Bonds Project and wrote a High Risk Adolescents subject for the Centre for Adolescent Health. While a Senior Manager at beyondblue Karen project managed a range of significant national projects in relation to mental health (Indigenous, Youth and CALD) and has been a significant developer of youth specific programs including a model of youth participation.

B Econ (Monash), Grad. Cert. in Philanthropy (part complete) Asia Pacific Centre for Philanthropy and Social Investment, Swinburne University, Financial Advisor.

Margaret Howden AM TPTC, BA, Dip App Ch Psych, MAPS is an educator and counsellor in stepfamily issues. She co-founded the Stepfamily Association of Victoria Inc (SAVI) in 1981 and is a senior consultant and trainer with Stepfamilies Australia. She is the author of Making Molehills out of Mountains: a practical guide for stepfamilies and the Stepfamily Tip Sheets, and co-author of the group Leaders Manual Making Stepfamilies Work – a course for couples, all published by SAVI.

Malcolm Rust BA, B Special Ed., TPTC was a teacher in primary schools in Melbourne for 6 years before specialising in education of children with a visual impairment, firstly with the Education Department and then with the RVIB School for the Blind at Burwood. Specialising further in resource provision, he developed technology solutions to overcome barriers to education for visually impaired children, including access to text material through voice and tactile computer enhancements and computerised Braille production. He retired as Head of School in 1998.

Since retiring he has been involved with Stepfamily Association of Victoria as a volunteer and then as committee of management member, Treasurer, and secretary before joining the inaugural Board of Stepfamilies Australia.  He has been involved with local community activity as committee member with the local tennis club, building their website, as well as involvement with a community car share organisation.

Malcolm is very actively part of a stepfamily, with nine children between two families, aged from 14 to 24.

Fiona Trembath BA (Hons), is director of the Pacific Treefrog Group Pty Ltd, a successful writing, editing and corporate training facility, and has been teaching professional writing and editing at Box Hill Institute of TAFE since 2000.  She is also a member of the Society of Editors Victoria, Australian Society of Authors, Society of Children’s Writers and Book Illustrators, Institute of Value Management and the National Speakers’ Association of Australia.

Dolla Shireen Merrillees BA, Grad Cert Museum Studies, is an author, publicist, senior arts administrator and consultant to the cultural and non-for-profit sector. Her career spans managing and developing exhibitions, public programs and collections at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and the Powerhouse Museum; to disseminating information on sectoral issues on a national and international level and conducting client briefings at the Australia Council for the Arts; from exhibition management at the Biennale of Sydney to Director Visual Arts, Museums & Galleries NSW, and currently as General Manager – Artistic Programs, Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation.

Over the course of her career she has acted as advisor to institutions and not-for-profit organisations on administrative, programmatic and fundraising issues including strategic plans, policy and procedures, exhibition development and tours, acquisitions and commissions of art, feasibility studies, communications, budgeting and contracts.

Dolla is a stepmother and published author of the critically acclaimed book -

The Woodcutter’s Wife: A Stepmother’s Tale. She has written extensively for print and online media on a wide variety of issues and presents regularly on radio and television, and at public events.

M.A. Counselling (Tas.);  Mediation Training; Dip. Community Welfare (NSW); Cert. IV Workplace Training and Assessment, is Program Manager, Dispute Resolution Practitioner and Counsellor at Positive Solutions Hobart.

Her career spans working in Sydney with homeless youth; Families experiencing drug and alcohol related issues; Parents and siblings grieving the loss of babies and children; Relationship Counseling and Family Violence.  Since moving to Tasmania five years ago, she has Facilitated Psycho-Educational groups and Parenting courses; Co-Ordinated the Parenting Orders Program at Relationships Australia; worked with Families experiencing Family Violence and as a Dispute Resolution Practitioner and Relationship and Family Counsellor.

She is a stepparent herself and has developed and facilitates programs for separated families and step families.

Chris Street (Proxy for Maryse) B.Ed (Hons) London; Grad. Dip. Counselling (Tas) has extensive experience as a Relationship Counsellor and Facilitator of Psycho-Education and Relationship Enhancement groups.  His career has spanned many of the prominent Counselling organisations, including Relationships Australia, Vietnam Veterans and at the University of Tasmania.  He also runs professional development for Counsellors in Family Violence issues, facilitates Step Family programs and is a stepparent himself.

Steve Martin, Executive Officer, Public Officer

Steve Martin BA/LLB, BSW, MSW, Accred. Member AASW, is Executive Officer of the Stepfamilies Australia. With background in legal aid, youth work and social work, Steve combines interests in direct practice, education and community management. He has coordinated the growth of Stepfamilies Australia and prior to that Stepfamily Association of Victoria from a grass roots movement to a dynamic community organisation since 1997.

Steve brings 30 years personal and professional experience to his passionate commitment to the wellbeing of stepfamilies, and to developing resources which will strengthen them.