About Bonnie’s
We are Bonnie Support Services Ltd but most people call us Bonnie’s…
We’re an all-female not-for-profit support service, supporting women and children to lead the best lives they can. Established in 1975, we are committed to bringing our 50 years of experience, understanding and best practices to make a real impact. Read more about our incredible long history here.
We are a registered Community Housing Provider and are funded by the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) under the Specialist Homelessness Services and Specialist Workers for Children and Young People programs.
How we work –
the Bonnie’s Journey to Safety
Hear about Bonnie’s in…
Arabic
English
French
German
Hindi
Mandarin
Spanish
Tamil
Vietnamese
We are Bonnie’s – Meet the team
We are highly skilled women from diverse backgrounds. We share strong feminist principles and live by the belief that everyone has a right to safety.
Homelessness and domestic and family violence affect people from all different cultures. In order to best assist women from non-English speaking backgrounds, our bilingual staff are fluent in English, Vietnamese, Spanish, Serbian, Greek, Croatian, French, German, Fijian, Hindi, Urdu, Cambodian, Japanese and Nepalese. We can connect with interpreters at all times if you speak another language.
Sarah – Executive Officer
Sarah was born in Sydney and has lived most of her life on Gadigal and Wangal land. Sarah has a passion for social justice, devoting her career to working alongside others to improve outcomes for children, young people, women and communities. She trained as a social worker and has worked in both government and community sector services in a wide range of policy and program areas including children and families, young people, homelessness, disability and community development.
An – Program Manager
An was born in Vietnam and is fluent in Vietnamese as well as English. She has a background working in mental health, child protection, domestic violence and social work. An says she likes to cook and look for kitchen gadgets though ‘This is not to say I am a good cook!’
Heike – Finance Officer
Heike is passionate about the not-for-profit sector, she has worked for community organisations for the past 30 years in a variety of roles. Her expertise is in the areas of accounting, commerce and community services. Heike sees her role as ensuring that efficient financial systems are in place and that financial information is communicated timely, professional and easy to understand.
Marcela – Environmental Officer
Marcela was born in a South American country – Chile. Prior to Bonnie’s, she worked at an organisation which cared for and supported individuals with disabilities. Marcela was a Support Worker for 5 years. She loved working with and alongside her colleagues.
Vasita V – Administration Officer
Vasita is an Indigenous Fijian, born and lived in Fiji all her life. Vasita arrived in Sydney in August 2022 for further studies. She worked in the banking sector – Westpac Fiji for 14 years in the various departments – Customer Service, HR & AML Risk. She loves meeting people, travelling to learn about new places and culture, spending time with friends & family and is a crazy rugby fan – who loves watching rugby. Currently pursuing a Diploma in Leadership and Management Program.
Paris – Administration Officer
Paris comes from Spanish & French parents and was raised in a multicultural community which has helped her to learn Spanish, very basic Hindi and greetings in many different languages. She has spent the last ten years working in Accounts/Administration roles for the Woolworths Group but made the change to Bonnie’s when she moved to Sydney in September 2024. She works part time so that she can volunteer in a Bible education program. Outside of work and volunteering, she loves travelling to find the food highlights of different cultures.
Fiona R – Project Lead – Digital Fundraising and Content
Originally from New Zealand, Fiona is proud to call Sydney home. Working in the not-for-profit sector for over 10 years, she is passionate about improving health and wellbeing for people and communities. Having studied psychology and business administration, she brings experience from a range of roles in communications, health service delivery and for-purpose leadership. She loves to bake and believes in the power of food to bring people together
Our Intake/Community Network Officers
The Community Worker will be your first point of contact at Bonnie’s. She can provide information about our services or can refer you to other services that you need. If you require accommodation, she will get the information from you that we need to provide assistance. The Community Worker can talk to you about the services Bonnie’s provides and answer any questions you have when you are taking the first steps to get support.
Meet our Intake Workers:
Carolina – Senior Community Network Officer (Intake). Carolina was born in Australia. She is fluent in both English and Spanish. Carolina brings experience in education, behavioural therapy, youth and social work to her role as a Family Worker. She enjoys travelling to learn about and experience different cultures and customs. She recently volunteered in Cambodia to work one on one with children.
Alison – Community Worker. Alison was born in Scotland and arrived in Australia aged 18. She has a background in Art Psychotherapy and Transactional Analysis (Psychotherapy). Alison has been working with women and children who have been victims of domestic violence since 2004. Alison has also worked with the chronically homeless in a program, Project 40. Alison’s passion is working with women in a group setting allowing the creative process to inform, empower, and facilitate healing. She has three daughters, two grandchildren and a cat named Maisy.
Sue – Community Worker. Sue was born in Sydney, Australia. Prior to Bonnie’s, she worked in domestic violence refuges for 6 years and the welfare sector for 14 years. Previously Sue has worked in a variety of administration and support roles for a range of industries before returning to her true passion, the community sector. Her main interests are mental health and community education and development.
Alyssa is an Australian born Muslim revert with a strong passion for supporting women and children. She is currently learning Arabic, completing her Diploma of Community Services and recently joined Bonnie’s Intake team. She comes from a background in aged care, corporate sales (administration), and the beauty industry and outside of work she enjoys cooking and spending time outdoors.
Our Tenancy Workers
Our Tenancy Workers can assist you with your housing needs. They have links to local Real Estate Agents and Housing NSW, and can help you to find the most appropriate housing for your needs and eligibility and advise you about social housing assistance that may be available to you.
Meet our Tenancy Workers:
Dragana – Tenancy Worker. Dragana was born in Serbia. She speaks Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian, Russian and Macedonian. Dragana has been with us since 2014. She has extensive work experience in the community sector, having worked in culturally diverse organisations for many years helping women and children in need. Dragana has experience in frontline management, customer service and social housing as well as children’s services. She has a Diploma in Community Services and Certificate IV in Frontline Management.
Bianca – Tenancy Officer. Before joining Bonnie’s in 2011, she worked in the real estate and property management areas. In her time here, Bianca has learned a lot about social housing and values its importance in a fair and equitable society.
Our Family Workers
A Family Worker will work with you to develop a case plan to help you to achieve your goals. If you are living in domestic violence she can help you to work out a safety plan. She can assist you in dealing with the police and the legal system, developing living skills to maintain your tenancy, provide advice and support, link you up to a counsellor, health services, parenting and other groups. The Family Worker can advocate on your behalf and refer you to other services you require. She will work with you and our Child Support Worker to assist your children if that is needed.
Meet our Family Workers:
Peta – Family Worker. Peta is a Gooreng Gooreng / Kabi Kabi woman, from Gladstone and Sunshine Coast Areas of QLD. She was born in Brisbane and was raised in both Brisbane and Sydney! Youngest of 10 children (9 being women!), who are all practitioners / educators in the same field. With over 15 years’ experience of working in the community service sector, Peta likes to “fight the good fight” for social justice in our communities. A founding member of Breaking Silent Codes (Movement of First Nations Women from Australia, New Zealand and Pacifica). Speaking up about Family DV / Sexual Assault in our communities, our aim is to educate and empower women. Peta is a trained facilitator in Circles of Security and Parent Trail.
Mel – Team Leader/Family Worker. Mel was born and raised in Sydney’s North Western suburbs on Bidjigal land. She started her career working in marketing and digital design, before moving to the not for profit sector and landing here at Bonnie’s. She lives with her partner and cat in the Inner West on Wangal land and when not working you can usually find her gardening or making art with her nieces.
Jessie – Family Worker. Jessie was born and raised in Sydney, from a multicultural family of Filipino and Irish backgrounds. Jessie completed a Bachelor of Social Work which strengthened her passion for social justice and commitment to continuous learning. Jessie has previous experience working with transgender and gender-diverse communities and has a particular interest in advocating for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. When she’s not at work, you will usually find Jessie learning a new song on the guitar.
Vicky – Family Worker. Vicky was born in Canberra and has worked in the Community Welfare sector for 5 years after completing a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Prior to working in the Community Welfare Sector, Vicky worked in retail. In her spare time, Vicky likes to spend time with her family and friends and loves to read and travel, and learn about different cultures, and then visit the places that she has learnt about.
Hiroko – Family Worker (Japanese). Hiroko was born and brought up in Japan. She loves travelling and lived in France, Philippines and New Zealand and arrived in Sydney 2003. Hiroko is interested in community development and volunteered, studied, and worked in the community sector since 2008. She has worked in disability and is passionate about inclusion. She likes walking, gardening, and making origami paper art works. She had yabbies and a ferret as family pets and is currently living with two cats.
Ali – Outreach Worker. Ali was born in England and moved to Australia in August 2023. Ali completed a Bachelor of Social Work and has previous experience in statutory child protection. Ali enjoys spending her spare time in the gym, running or exploring new beaches in Sydney.
Donna – Family Worker. Donna resides on Bidjigal country alongside her partner, son and two beloved dogs. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, and is dedicated to strength-based, feminist practice. Donna enjoys working in the field of domestic violence and working towards ending gender -based violence within a generation.
Sarah is Irish and comes to Bonnie’s with extensive experience in Case Management having worked in the homeless sector, Youth Work, Out of Home care, Mental Health and Child Protection. Sarah is passionate about improving quality of life for vulnerable members of society as well as research and keeping up to date with policy and legislation and hopes to one day influence policy to improve women’s opportunities and safety in Australia. Sarah has qualifications in Community Care, Social Studies, a degree in Sociology and Social Policy and a MSC in Public Policy. In her spare time Sarah enjoys attending music festivals, crocheting, reading, gardening and gentle hiking.
Our Child and Youth Workers
A Child and Youth Worker can work with you and your child alongside a Family Worker to provide case management support that your child/ren may require. She can assist you with parenting issues you might have and can provide assistance to refer your children to other services that they need, such as schools, childcare or health services.
Meet our Child and Youth Workers:
Marryanne – Child and Youth Worker. Marryanne was born in Australia and is of Greek Cypriot descent. Marryanne has a Media Arts background and has worked in the Art/Film and Design area for many years, before deciding to work in the homeless sector. Marryanne has worked in the homeless Sector for many years and still practises her Art.
Sarah Mc is a vibrant personality with a strong background in social work and a passion for mental health. She has spent several years working with at-risk youth, providing support and resources to help them navigate life’s challenges. Sarah is particularly passionate about working with diverse individuals focusing on empowering women and their children. With a blend of empathy and expertise, she is committed to fostering resilience and promoting mental well-being, believing that every individual deserves the opportunity to thrive.
Sophie is from England and has a background in Children and Adolescents mental health and emotional wellbeing. She has focused the last few years in supporting children with adverse childhood experiences, to build resilience, overcome anxieties, emotional challenges and build self-esteem. Sophie is keen to support others through guided self-help, so that both mums and children have the skills to continue their upward journey independently.
Our Rapid Response (DVRE) Team
Domestic violence doesn’t stop over the weekend and neither do we. From 1 pm on Friday to 9 am Monday, we make sure that women and children escaping domestic violence during these times can get immediate support. That’s where our team comes in.
Meet the DVRE team:
Kate – DVRE Worker. Kate has a double degree in Social Work and Arts from the University of New South Wales. Kate completed her Social Work Honours Thesis on how the courts view and respond to technology-facilitated abuse occurring post-separation. Kate completed her Level 4 Social Work Placement at Bonnie’s before moving into the role of Community Worker. Kate is currently a Rapid Response Worker in the DVRE team.
Jess – Senior DVRE Worker. Jessica was born in Australia and is of South Korean heritage. She has completed a Bachelor’s in Social Work from The University of Sydney. During her studies, Jessica completed her placement in a women’s refuge in rural Broken Hill. She continued her career in the homelessness sector in Sydney before joining Bonnie’s.
Tina has a degree in Social Sciences and Psychology and has completed her Master’s in Social Work. Since the completion of her degrees, Tina had moved into the disability sector, but was always passionate about empowering women. Tina is now a part of Bonnie’s DVRE team. Outside of work, she spends all her free time with her dogs.
Community Workers Groups
Community Workers Groups work with particular cultural or ethnic groups to provide support and information and reduce isolation for those women.
Meet our Community Workers Groups:
Nancely – Hindi/Urdu Speaking Women’s Health Group Facilitator. Nancely was born in Fiji of Indian heritage and has worked in the community sector since 2002. She has particularly worked with women and children who have experienced domestic violence, mental health issues and/or homelessness. Nancely is running a weekly health and information group for Hindi and Urdu speaking women. She is an active member of the Indian community and is an active charity worker for the National Breast Cancer Foundation holding an annual fundraising event for breast cancer research.
Darany – Khmer Women’s Health Group Facilitator. Darany was born in Cambodia and arrived in Australia with her family as a refugee. She is fluent in English and Khmer. Darany completed Social Work studies and is a member of the AASW. She has extensive experience and has worked as a Counsellor with Child and Adult Family Team; Sexual Assault Services, in Women’s Health and Transcultural Mental Health. Darany is passionate about working with women from diverse cultural backgrounds to promote healthy self-discovery via self-reflection, sharing of wisdom and experiences.
Our Board
Betty Green – Chairperson
Betty is a committed feminist advocate and her work in the women’s community services spans three decades. Violence against women, particularly domestic violence, has been her focus.
She has served on numerous management committees and boards in the community sector locally as well as a state-wide peak body, Women’s Health NSW and on government committees such as NSW Premier’s Council for the Prevention of Violence Against Women (2009-2013) and the NSW Domestic Violence Death Review Team (2010-2014) and nationally as a committee member of Australasian Council of Women and Policing. She co-founded NSW Domestic Violence Committee Coalition in 2006 and is the recipient of an Edna Ryan Award for Community Activism (2006). She is currently a PhD candidate undertaking research on domestic violence death reviews in Australia.
Arely Carrion – Secretary
Arely is the Head of Social Impact at Clubs NSW. With nearly 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Arely has held various operational roles across multiple venues, showcasing their versatility and expertise.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Arely is also a survivor of domestic violence and has dedicated the last few years to being an advocate for and promoting domestic and family violence education and awareness within the club industry. She has been instrumental in creating the first Domestic Violence Action Plan in the Club Industry and has been a leader in improving workplace responses.
In addition to her work with Mounties group, Arely also serves as an associate with Insight Exchange, an organisation that focuses on the expertise of individuals with lived experience. This role allows victim-survivors to contribute their valuable insights and knowledge; helping to create positive change.
Arely is actively involved in various boards and advisory panels. She serves as a director on the boards of Bayside Women’s Shelter and the Southwest Mounties Magic Premier Netball Team. Additionally, she is also a member of the advisory panel for the Centre for Women’s Economic Safety, where they provide guidance and expertise on women’s economic empowerment.
Dr Lai Heng Foong
Dr Foong is a Senior Emergency Physician and Sexual Assault and Forensic Physician based in Sydney who has a passion for Public Health, including Domestic violence, Disaster preparedness, Climate Change and Health, Indigenous Health and the social determinants of health.
Before she studied medicine, she completed a Master’s in Public Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. She is currently the Chair of the Public Health and Disaster Committee of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) and a member of the Indigenous Health Committee. She has travelled to Cuba, Vietnam, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to teach Emergency Medicine, and to discover new cultures and local food. Dr Foong has conducted and presented research on Domestic violence, and been an invited speaker on health impacts and health system response on this area. She is the Clinical lead of the NSW ED Community of Practice (CoP) in Covid-19 Pandemic Response. She is a strong advocate for health equity and supporting the most vulnerable people in our community. She has contributed to the Network of Women in Emergency Medicine (NoWEM) on domestic violence and anti racism and currently sits on the Antiracism and Discrimination Committee of the South West Sydney Local Health District. Her other areas of interest include refugee health, multicultural health and improving cultural competency in healthcare providers. She is the Chair of the Medical Staff Council and enjoys mentoring women in her workplace and community to rise to their fullest potential.
Claire Roberts
Claire has over twenty years experience in banking and finance. This experience is complemented by roles as a director and participation in the not-for-profit sector. Claire has worked and studied in Australia and overseas.
Lisa Bonavia
Lisa has a 20+ year career as a senior Executive within the Human Services including Community Housing, Health and Jobs and Skills Councils. Lisa’s most recent role was Executive Director, Corporate Services & Compliance and Company Secretary with HumanAbility Ltd.
Holding a Bachelor of Business, and as a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Lisa is able to support the Bonnie Board with deep expertise in risk, governance, compliance, people & culture, and strategic planning.
Lisa has experience across a range of organisations from start-up to well established and has been instrumental in supporting organisations through transformational change resulting in accolades as employers of choice and funding growth.
Lisa is committed to making a positive impact in the social and human services fields. Being a proponent and advocate for a Housing First approach, Lisa believes that safe and secure housing is a basic human right, as is a world without violence.
Angela Wood
Angela Wood is a highly experienced healthcare leader with over 30 years in the public health sector. She holds a Diploma of Applied Science (Nursing), Graduate Diplomas in Clinical Practice (Child and Family Health) and Critical Care Nursing, Diploma of Management, and a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Redesign from the ACI Centre for Healthcare Redesign and the University of Tasmania.
Angela began her nursing career in 1989 at Liverpool Hospital, working in the Emergency Department for eight years. In 2001, following her completion of Child and Family Health studies, she joined Karitane, where she has held numerous clinical and senior leadership roles including Child & Family Health Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Unit Manager, and now, Director of Clinical Services.
An Accredited Nurse Immuniser and trained Group Clinical Supervisor for Health Professionals, Angela has played a key role in strengthening clinical governance and embedding evidence-based frameworks such as Family Partnership, Family Functioning, and Safe Start. She is an active member of Karitane’s Sub-Clinical Governance Board and liaises closely with the NSW Ministry of Health.
Angela is a member of the Family and Domestic Violence Steering Committee for the South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) and is deeply passionate about supporting women and families experiencing violence. She is committed to improving access to responsive, trauma-informed care and is eager to contribute to governance and policy decision-making with organisations such as Bonnie Support Services, where her expertise can help shape systemic improvements in service delivery and advocacy.
Known for her innovation and strategic leadership, Angela has led the digital transformation of Karitane’s services over the past five years, improving accessibility and outcomes for families across NSW.