Our current members are:
Colleen Furlanetto OAM
Colleen Furlanetto, Committee Chair, is a passionate and committed community leader, specialising in diversity, equality, and the disability sector.
Living in rural Victoria, Colleen is a Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteer leader and supporter of the CFA Rehabilitation Health Monitoring Team and other committee roles in strategic planning, and diversity and inclusion in CFA. She is also Board member of Regional Development Victoria – Goulburn Regional Partnership.
With a background in nursing, Colleen’s interests extend across health access for those living in rural and regional Victoria, including those with disability. From 2008 to 2016, she was an elected local government representative (Councillor, Deputy Mayor and Mayor), focusing on community access to healthcare and timely emergency support for rural areas. She has also served on a variety of not-for-profit boards, including organisations involved in the prevention of violence against girls and women.
Colleen enjoyed two terms as a member of Victoria’s Disability Advisory Council including two years as Chair. In 2020, she concluded her three-year term as inaugural Disability Commissioner for Commercial Vehicles Victoria (taxi and rideshare industries). In 2015, Colleen was the recipient of the Brenda Gabe Award for Women with Disability Victoria, followed by the Australian Human Rights Commissioner Inspire Award in 2016.
Laura Collister
Laura Collister is passionate about supporting people to achieve good mental health in the community. Laura was appointed CEO of Wellways Australia in December 2019, having previously been the Director, Services, Research and Development, where she oversaw the provision of community-based mental health and psychosocial disability services to over 9,000 Australians. Laura’s early career was in large psychiatric institutions, where she assisted residents to prepare for community living. She also worked as an occupational therapist and case manager in one of the earliest community teams in Broadmeadows, and in specialist mental health units at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Laura lectured at La Trobe University, where she played a leading role in developing the University’s mental health curriculum. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy (BAppSc (OT)) and a Masters by research in Applied Science (MAppSc).
Ross Coverdale
Ross Coverdale was a long-term CEO of Araluen, a disability service in Melbourne’s north-eastern suburbs at the forefront of developing innovative supports and housing for adults with intellectual disabilities. Ross has vast community sector experience having worked in homelessness, mental health, youth, and literacy promotion. He spent three years in Zimbabwe managing a hospital and HIV/AIDS projects and coordinating village-based community development.
Ross also held roles in consumer advocacy and community engagement, and committee memberships including with the Royal Children’s Cancer Centre, establishment of the Eltham Community Hospital, the Salvation Army, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Centrelink, the Telecommunication Industry Ombudsman, and the Victorian Council of Social Services.
Baruch Goberman
Baruch is passionate about patient-centred care and improving health outcomes. He has been involved in pre-hospital emergency care for almost a decade, through Ambulance services, the military, and the private sector.
Starting his healthcare journey overseas with the Red Cross, Baruch currently treats over 500 patients a year as a volunteer First Responder with Hatzolah – an Ambulance Victoria Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). His patients include those from diverse backgrounds, cultures and religions, including the Jewish community through his work with Hatzoah. He is an active volunteers for youth camps, including programs for young people with a disability.
Baruch served as a Chief Battalion Medic in the military, in a unit of over 750 personnel, overseeing operational planning and deployment to deliver medical care.
Alongside his university studies, he works in the medical training sector, including training members of the Australian Humanitarian Roster.
David McCarthy
David McCarthy is a proud member of the LGBTQI+ community and is currently the Board Chair and President of JOY 94.9 Media, the largest LGBTQI+ membership organisation in Australasia. He also volunteers as host of the news and current affairs show Saturday Magazine.
David is passionate about health outcomes, community engagement and education. He previously served as a Director of the Victorian Aids Council and as CEO of People Living with HIV/AIDS Victoria. David’s experience as a community advocate has also been informed by his previous experience as Convenor of the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, President of Bent TV and Vice President of the ALSO Foundation.
Zeinab Mourab
Zeinab Mourab has a passion for creating positive change through advocacy, community projects, education, and awareness. She has contributed to organisations through project, women’s empowerment, youth mentoring, charity, and interfaith activities. Zeinab manages community events for the Islamic Sciences and Research Academy and works at Charles Sturt University as an academic mentor. She completed a Bachelor of Youth Work in 2014 and Master of Islamic Studies in 2019. Zeinab is a guest speaker, including at local Council events, and facilitates high school capacity building workshops. She is a member of the Activate Youth Board, Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilization Board, and Victoria Police Muslim Reference group.
Kane Treloar
Kane Treloar has worked in emergency services roles in the Victorian community in a volunteer and professional capacity for almost 20 years. He is currently a board director at Life Saving Victoria, where he holds responsibility for the lifesaving services portfolio which, through more than 3500 volunteer lifesavers, deliver rescue services to the Victorian community.
Kane was born and raised in Melbourne’s west, where he spent the last decade as a Victoria Police member. His work at Life Saving Victoria and Victoria Police has enabled Kane to engage with a broad cross section of the community. He is passionate about equal access to community services and opportunities for to success.
Kane also works as a risk advisor in Australia and overseas and is a board member of Urban Camp, which provides urban experiences for young people from regional communities.
