Events

Donations in Kind working bee to unpack and sort new clothing plus checking medical equipment. 

Shed 39, 400 Somerville Road, West Footscray 

Acting Sergeant Ellani Little is a proud Australian / Papua New Guinean woman. She is a wife and busy mother of three primary school-aged children. In her personal life she enjoys playing sports, dancing, being creative and practising her faith. She is also a general committee member of St Andrews Basketball club in Werribee and coach of her daughter’s U10s basketball team.

Her journey with Victoria Police began in September of 2012. After graduating from the Academy, she began duties at Sunshine Police station. During her10 years there she completed various roles and secondments. A highlight was being a family violence liaison officer where her passion for victim-centric work and thirst for improving her practice grew. She was part of the North-West Orange Door working group where she learnt how to foster relationships with external stakeholders which set her up for her next destination.

In 2022, Ellani was successful in obtaining a position at the Proactive Policing Unit (PPU) located at the Caroline Springs police station which services Brimbank and Melton areas. Currently she is an Acting Sergeant leading the unit through changes in the youth space, resourcing constraints with a heavy focus on improving practice.

Working with young people can be challenging, however it inspires her to continue to grow personally and professionally. She sees every interaction with young people as a chance to change the course of lives.

Through lived experience, Shane Jay shares how one decision in a high-pressure moment can change lives forever. His talk opens up honest conversation around choices, consequences, resilience, and the ripple effects our actions can have on families, friends, and the wider community.

Shane is the founder of Safe Roads For Us, based on his lived experience, he speaks around the topics of road safety and resilience initiative that speaks to young people, parents, community groups, sporting clubs, and organisations across Victoria. Through his personal story, Shane shares the reality of how one moment and one choice can change lives forever, while also highlighting the importance of responsibility, resilience, and rebuilding after adversity.

Shane’s work is focused on creating honest, real conversations that connect with people on a human level. He has delivered sessions across schools, clubs, community groups, universities (Deakin), and workplaces (JB Hi-Fi and Life Saving Victoria), with the aim of helping people think more deeply about pressure, choices, and the impact they can have on others.

Since co-founding Interplast with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1983, Rotary Clubs and Rotarians across Rotary South Pacific have continued to provide essential support for Interplast. The provision of free reconstructive plastic surgery, nursing and rehabilitation in developing nations where these services would otherwise be unavailable have changed more than 20,000 lives. Interplast volunteers also provide sustainable training and mentoring to build capacity in the countries we work with.

Janette is the Rotary Coordinator at Interplast, a position she has held since 2019. In Janette’s own words, this is her dream job – a part-time role that enables her to combine her shared passion for both Interplast and Rotary. Her favourite part of her job is sharing Interplast’s story, and Rotary’s contribution to it, by visiting Rotary Clubs as an Interplast speaker.

Janette is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Nunawading, and has been a Rotarian for 14 years. In previous professional lives, Janette has worked in senior management roles in the general retail and book-selling sectors, and in the Vocational Education & Training, and Apprenticeship sectors. She has also volunteered as a director on a number of not-for-profit and community organisation Boards.

This presentation will highlight the work of Steps Outreach Service, success stories about the recipients of the Scholarship program, and the support we have received from Rotary Central Melbourne for over 24 years.

Anne Mitchell is the manager of Steps Outreach Service. She has working for Steps for the last 24 years, providing outreach and support to young people and families experiencing homelessness. Prior to this, Anne was a primary school teacher and Welfare Coordinator at a primary school. She has postgraduate qualifications in Student Welfare and Alcohol and Other Drugs.

Anne is passionate about supporting young people and families experiencing homelessness and disadvantage and helping them to have positive futures.

Steps Outreach Service is the youth homelessness program of Concern Australia. Since 1985, a Steps’ team of workers and volunteers has provided street outreach in the city at night-time to young people and families with children who are experiencing, have experienced, or are at risk of homelessness. This support is followed up during the daytime with holistic outreach and support. Steps’ workers and volunteers demonstrate to the young people that they believe in them and have hope for their future. They empower the young people to develop and work towards their goals and dreams.