Michelle Thompson (She/Her)
CEO
Michelle Thompson is the CEO at Family Access Network (FAN). Michelle has been at FAN for almost 10 years in the role of Manager. Michelle has worked in the Community Sector for over 25 years mainly working with young people and their families. She has worked in leadership positions for over 20 years. . Michelle has worked in a variety of settings including Alcohol and Other Drugs, Mental Health, Family Services, Community Health and Youth Homelessness. Michelle holds a Bachelor Degree in Youth Work, Graduate Diploma in Substance Abuse and a Graduate Diploma in Counselling.
Michelle is a current board member on the Gateway LLEN and was previously on the Hepatitis C Council and VIVAIDS boards. Michelle was part of the inaugural LGBTIQ Leadership program in 2018 run by Leadership Victoria.
Michelle also teaches in the Tertiary Sector at RMIT in the Diploma of Youth Work. Advanced Diploma Community Sector Management and Recognising and Responding to Sexual Violence.
Oriana Phutully (She/Her)
Team Leader Client Services
Oriana is the Team Leader of Client Services. She started with FAN in 2011 in the Private Rental Brokerage Program. Prior to FAN, Oriana worked in various homelessness services in Victoria. Her educational background is a Master of Social Work and an honours degree in Social Science (Policy & Research) from RMIT.
Michael Woollard (He/Him)
Financial Administrator
Michael is a qualified accountant (CPA) with over 30 years finance and accounting experience. Michael has worked in a variety of financial roles both in the not for profit and for profit sectors with recent experience in the Community Services sector.
Chris Lulich (She/Her)
Executive Assistant/Administration Officer
Chris is a skilled Executive Assistant with significant experience supporting CEOs and Executive Management. She has held Executive Assistant roles in a variety of industries including manufacturing, not for profit (RSPCA Victoria), telecommunications and legal.
In her role, Chris provides high level administrative and business support to the Executive, Management, Administrative and Corporate systems at FAN.
Aaron Ong (He/Him)
Youth Support Worker
Aaron joined FAN in 2019 in his first role in the community service sector, prior this he worked in residential construction. He has an educational background with a bachelor in Social Science (Youth Work) and a Diploma in Community Services (Case Management). Aaron works in the Homeless Support Services (HSS) program providing case management support to young people in Transitional Housing. He also operates the newly established Peer Leadership Program; which is a skill and personal development program for young who have successfully transitioned HSS program.
Jess Austin (She/Her)
Creative Arts Therapist (LGBTIQA+, Youth & Family Violence)
Jess is employed as a Creative Arts Therapist and specialises in working with young people (12-25) experiencing homelessness and family violence including LGBTIQA+ people and pregnant or parenting young people. Jess facilitates FAN’s art therapy group “Talking with Pride” and offers 1:1 art therapy for young people who have experienced family violence. Jess also provides capacity building training in LGBTIQA+ Family Violence space and is available to conduct secondary consults with practitioners working with LGBTIQA+ young people.
Jess joined FAN in 2021 as an LGBTIQA+ Specialist Youth Worker where she provided case management support to LGBTIQA+ young people residing in Transitional Housing.
Prior to joining FAN, Jess worked in community engagement and volunteer management roles in education and recreation settings. She has experience working with children from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTIQA+ people and young people with disabilities. Jess holds an honours degree in LGBTIQA+ community grief responses, a Masters of Therapeutic Arts Practice specialising in Therapy and has undertaken additional training in support people who have experienced sexual violence.
Michelle Kiriama (She/Her)
LGBTIQA+ Specialist Youth Worker
Michelle K joined FAN as an LGBTIQA+ Specialist Youth Worker in 2022. In her role she facilitates the Eastern Diversity Group and provides case management support to young people in Transitional Housing. Prior to joining FAN Michelle worked as a settlement caseworker, and a youth health and well-being project officer. Michelle’s educational background is a degree in Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) from Deakin University. Michelle is excited to be a part of the FAN team.
Dalton Kealey (He/Him)
LGBTIQA+ Specialist Youth Worker
Dalton joined FAN as LGBTIQA+ Specialist Youth Worker in July 2023.
In his role he provides case management support to LGBTIQA+ young people residing in Transitional Housing and project support to the Eastern Diversity Group (EDG). Prior to joining the team Dalton worked as a Program Administrator organising LGBTIQA+ youth mental health training in regional Victoria. Dalton has always had a passion for creating safer spaces for LGBTIQA+ young people and has volunteered as a Youth Coach at leadership and business summits and a leader at LGBTIQA+ events in Melbourne.
With an educational background in Community Services (Case Management) and work history in the legal and property sectors, Dalton brings a wealth of experience to the team. His experience combined with strong rapport building ability, and an approachable and vivacious nature, make him a valuable member of the FAN team.
Kelly O’Sullivan (She/They)
Youth Support Worker and Young Mum’s Group Facilitator
Kelly joined our team at FAN in March 2024 as one of the Youth Support Workers and Young Mum’s Group Facilitator. Kelly is a dedicated professional with extensive experience in youth and family services overseeing multiple youth-focused programs. Holding a Bachelor of Human Services specialising in Mental Health and Addiction, Kelly is due to commence their Masters in Social Work in May 2024. Kelly excels in high-risk case management and team leadership. Previously, as a Senior Case Manager, they demonstrated expertise in high-risk case management and client engagement, utilising trauma-informed practices with a focus on age and stage development and attachment theory to support positive behaviour change. Kelly’s passion is in mental health and trauma recovery with sound experience working with complex behaviours, dual diagnoses, early psychosis, mood disorders, eating disorders, and neurodiversity.
Owen Vickery (He/They)
Pride in Place Service Navigator
Owen comes to us with 5 years of experience in the housing and homelessness sector, previously working as a long-term Case Manager providing support to access and sustain transitional housing. Throughout this period, Owen engaged with clients in various stages of housing, from rough sleeping, through to permanent public housing, all while providing wrap around support to address any outstanding needs or issues in areas such as Legal, mental health, AOD and disability support.
Owen has a strong focus and passion on inclusion and service provision for the Queer community. Owen has previously worked with Drummond Street, Queerspace and the Latrobe Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society to further specialise and expand their knowledge on the challenges that the [Queer] community faces. They additionally have a interest in public health and look to address the needs of their clients in a holistic manner.
Owen’s educational background is a Degree in Social Work (Honours) and a Diploma in Community Services that underpin their work and enable them to best support their clients. Owen is eager to build connections with the [Queer] community and relevant support services to best address the needs of those they support.