Community Advisory Committee

John Gavens

Chair: Community Advisory Committee

John is a Partner in Crowe Melbourne’s Audit & Assurance Division and has more than 30 years’ experience in the provision of internal and external audit, assurance, strategic, risk management, probity, compliance, fraud and governance advice.  John provides strong strategic thinking capability combined with sound technical skills.

John has been responsible for audits across many sectors with particular emphasis on public sector agencies, local government and not-for-profits.  John has been an approved service provider to the Victorian Auditor General for over 20 years. In addition, he has recently completed 7 years as a member of the Australian Auditing and Assurance Standards Board.

John’s board experience includes the water sector, coastal asset management and the disability sector.  He is also an independent member of several audit committees.

John is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, has a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) University of Melbourne and a Master of Arts (Accounting) University of Kent at Canterbury.

Candice Charles

Candice Charles has had a career in the financial, health and community sectors. She has a deep commitment to the human service sector, and in particular ensuring these services are accessible and effective for people in our community who are vulnerable or experiencing disadvantage.

Candice has held senior leadership positions in the financial services sector at National Australia Bank and Transport Accident Commission, and in health and community service organisations including Good Shepherd Microfinance and Breast Cancer Network Australia. Candice has also run her own consulting business. She is currently Chair of Aruma Services, one of Australia’s largest providers of disability support services. She was previously Chair of The Tipping Foundation, Deputy Chair of the North Richmond Community Health Centre and has served on the board of several other community organisations.

Candice has a Masters Degrees in Public Health and Business Administration from the University of Melbourne. She has a strong interest in clinical governance and health policy.

Katherine Stevenson

Katherine has worked extensively in public health as a nurse, lawyer and leader for over 20 years at a variety of public health services across Victoria.  She is currently a senior lawyer at The Royal Children’s Hospital.

Katherine has advised on matters of governance, the law and Board operations.  She has also been responsible for the translation of strategy into innovative policy and responsive legal frameworks.

In previous roles, Katherine has been responsible for a wide range of matters across operational and structural change, strategy development, and the delivery of major capital developments.  She prides herself on her ability to identify and engage stakeholders whose participation in strategic endeavours will facilitate effective and efficient change.

Kevyn Morris

Co-chair: Community Advisory Committee

Kevyn is a furniture maker, artist and photographer. Since 2017, Kevyn has been an active advocate and member of the Dementia Australia Advisory Committee (DAAC). He has worked on a variety of projects with the DAAC providing information to department heads, staff and researchers.

Andrea Cooper

Andrea is a professional communicator specialising in inclusion with expertise across a wide variety of sectors. She brings her professional expertise and lived experience of partial hearing loss to our CAC. She is an advocate for providing accessible information for people from diverse cultures, those with a communications disability, and those with low English literacy.

Rana Ebrahimi

Rana is a strategic adviser in diversity and inclusion, monitoring and evaluation. She has 16 years’ experience working with United Nations agencies and international NGOs globally. She is working at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission to reduce racism.

Billy Park

Billy is a social researcher, volunteer and peer support person. Billy studied community services, mental health peer support and leadership. He brings experience in research and community services advocacy and support.

Wolfie Sun

Wolfie is a co-chair of the Gender Clinic Consumer Advisory Panel, a student and performer. Wolfie joined the CAC to support members of the queer community who are financially disadvantaged and find it difficult to access dental services.

Jody Letts

Jody has been an active member in executive and non-executive roles for over 6 years as a volunteer, advocate and peer support graduate; contributing to the improvements of homelessness & community services; and physical, mental & oral health experiences. She has worked on a variety of initiatives with DHHS (Department of Health & Human Services) and CHP (Council to Homeless Persons) to provide information and a lived experience aspect to department leaders, staff and researchers in the development of the Client Voice Framework, Workforce Transition Plans, Quality & Safety Monitoring and the government response to homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is involved in raising awareness through media and training opportunities within government, sector employees & volunteers the keep a continued focus on the delivery of services that are person-centred, trauma informed and use shared decision making to deliver the best experience and outcomes.

Email us

Email community@dhsv.org.au with your contact details and why you are interested in joining

• Contributed to the development of DHSV Strategic Framework for Community and Consumer Engagement 2016 - 2021, to guide DHSV's community engagement strategy.
• Presented the RDHM clerical team with a Disability Champions award to recognise the training they requested to assist people with vision and hearing loss.
• Contributed to the Extensive Achievement rating DHSV received for its commitment to consumer participation during Accreditation. Surveyors noted DHSV’s strong commitment to patient-centred care.
• An accredited Changing Places toilet on the ground floor of the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne to facilitate access for patients with a disability.
• The CAC initiated a partnership with the Health Issues Centre to produce a special oral health edition of their Health Issues journal. The journal features an article from a CAC member about her personal journey to overcome her dental phobia.
• A Welcome to Country ceremony was performed at The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne. It included the unveiling of a plaque which acknowledges the Wurundjeri people as traditional owners of the land on which the Hospital is built.
• The CAC was instrumental in having representatives from all units at DHSV as well as partners from RMIT University and the University of Melbourne signing the Victorian Community Accord. The Community Accord is a public gesture which shows support of a multicultural community.
• The committee was influential in DHSV organising an audit of The Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne building for compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act and the subsequent development of a Disability Action Plan to address findings.
• The following actions on the Disability Action Plan have been sponsored by the CAC:
  • Signage on Swanston Street installed to direct people with disabilities to parking bays.
  • Zoning of parking bays on Swanston Street changed to make them drop-off points for people with mobility difficulties. Crossing paths created at both ends of drop-off zone.
  • A Disability Awareness Guide published and distributed to DHSV staff.
  • Disabled toilet facilities modified to improve accessibility.
• Improvements were made to children’s spaces in waiting areas throughout The Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne. Thanks to funds provided by the Collier Charitable Foundation, a ‘cubby house’ was also created in the Day Surgery Unit.
• Improvements were made to the Hospital’s ground floor main entrance. Patients and visitors are now received by a Meet and Greet Officer instead of a security guard, and seating is available outside the foyer for patients and relatives waiting for transport.
• The process for collecting compliments and complaints was revised with DHSV’s Business Improvement Unit, and a new feedback form was developed. The CAC receives periodic reports on compliments and complaints.