About our Team
From Cradle to Careers
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The North Central LLEN is an incorporated association that partners with a range of groups and organisations including education and training providers, business and industry, community agencies, and parent and family organisations to assist in planning effective delivery of programs for young people.
The VISION of the NCLLEN is children and young people who are confident and capable, and on their way to success in life and work.
The PURPOSE of the NCLLEN is to support children and young people to actively participate in education, training, employment and the community.
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The North Central LLEN aims to achieve its purpose through the facilitation and coordination of partnerships that deliver support to children, young people, their families and carers experiencing rural disadvantage, social isolation, and from low socio-economic backgrounds within the Shires of Loddon, Buloke and the community of St Arnaud in the Northern Grampians Shire.
Solid Foundations
From Cradle to Careers! The Solid Foundation team work with children aged 0-11 years. They invest their time into the earliest years of a child's life by building the capabilities of families, services and the community to ensure all children begin school ready to learn and actively participate in community life.
Chief Executive Officer
Jane Hosking
A qualified Occupational Therapist, Jane has over two decades of experience in community development and supporting families and children across the Loddon Mallee region through a variety of roles.
Joining the North Central LLEN in 2018, initially as the Manager of the Strong Families Strong Children Loddon program, Jane took on the role of Executive Officer later that year and feels privileged to work for an organisation where she gets to focus on the needs of children, young people and their families.
Phone: 0439 886 339
Early Years Facilitator
Jess Turner
Jess is a dedicated social worker with a passion for supporting children and families in the early years. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science and a Postgraduate Certificate in Infant Mental Health, Jess brings specialised knowledge to her work, focusing on the crucial early development stages of children.
With prior experience in family services, Jess is committed to creating strong, supportive environments that enable children and young people to thrive.
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Throughout her career, Jess has worked extensively within community settings, emphasising the significance of the first five years of life in shaping future outcomes. Jess is driven by the belief that early intervention and support can make a lasting positive impact, helping families navigate challenges and ensuring children receive the care and nurturing they need for healthy emotional and social development.
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Phone: 0434 088 976
Email: j.turner@ncllen.org.au
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Special Projects Manager
Jerri Nelson
Jerri has a breadth of experience having worked in education and training, community development, human resource, business management, community health and local government.
She is passionate about ensuring that decisions which impact on children, young people and rural communities are influenced by those who will be most affected and based on evidence.
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Phone: 0427 952 042
Email: j.nelson@ncllen.org.au
Loddon Children’s Health & Wellbeing Local
Julie Martin
Julie Martin, one of our new team members for 2024, works in Bendigo at the Loddon Health and Wellbeing Local.
With a strong commitment to supporting community health and wellbeing, Julie brings valuable expertise and a fresh perspective to the team. Her passion for creating positive change makes her an exciting addition to the work we do.
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Phone: 0491 764 084
Email: j.martin@ncllen.org.au
Resilient Middle Years Team
The Middle Years team focus on children aged 12-25. They work with families, schools and the community to support young people to feel safe, supported and empowered to learn, develop and maintain friendships, and make informed decisions regarding their future.
Business & Communications Manager
Julie Slater
​Julie lives with her husband and three teenage boys within the heart of the Buloke Shire. Julie has a BA (Public Relations) and more than two decades of experience working in communications and engagement, strategic planning, community development and leadership.
She loves working with the North Central LLEN as she is passionate about ensuring all children have access to the opportunities they need to follow their dreams, regardless of where they live.
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Phone: 0409 983 270
Email: j.slater@ncllen.org.au
Project Officer - Middle Years
Pam McConville
Pam joined North Central LLEN in 2021 and later became a Careers Practitioner, bringing her passion for supporting young people to the region. With a background in teaching in Donald, she is dedicated to helping students achieve their goals and navigate their future pathways. Pam has played a key role in the Youth Take Over project and is currently contributing to the Women’s Loddon Mallee Health projects, furthering her commitment to empowering communities.
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Phone: 0449 874 914
Email: p.mcconville@ncllen.org.au
Office Manager
Julie Roberts
Julie lives near Lake Wooroonook with her husband and two children, where they operate an agribusiness that contracts services to the farming community. ​Currently the Office Manager at the NCLLEN, Julie has had a myriad of former roles including retail management, employment services and office administration. She is passionate about rural communities - particularly Charlton where she was born and still lives) and volunteers as the Treasurer on a range of community committees.
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Phone: 03 5491 1144
Email: j.roberts@ncllen.org.au
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Project Officer - Middle Years
Molly Meadows
A bright and enthusiastic young person from Boort, Molly is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to connect, grow, and have fun. Through her work with the Engage! program and in partnership with Northern District Community Health (NDCH), she is dedicated to bringing exciting events and initiatives to the community. With a Certificate II in Salon Assistance, a Certificate II in Pharmacy Assistance, and a Certificate III in Business, Molly brings a diverse skill set and a vibrant energy to everything she does, making her a valued advocate for youth in the region.
Phone: 0409 633 431
Email: m.meadows@ncllen.org.au
Strong Careers & Pathways Team
We support young people to explore their future, encouraging them to focus on career pathways that align with their interests, equipping them with a range of skills to help them navigate their ways.
Team Leader
Jacinta Sutton
After completing a Bachelor of Applied Science (human movement), Jacinta gained over 10 years of experience working at a TAFE, where she held key roles in administration, management, and campus coordination - an example of how career paths can shift direction. In 2023, she returned to her hometown of Boort and joined the North Central LLEN. Her background in the education sector gave her the skills needed to support the careers & pathways team, which includes the role of North Central VET Cluster Coordinator.
Jacinta is passionate about ensuring that young people in rural areas are not disadvantaged by their postcode and have every opportunity to succeed in work and life. She finds great fulfilment in being a small part of the "village" that supports each young person in the community, hearing their success stories—whatever form they may take—is one of the highlights of her role.
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Phone: 0491 776 984
Email: j.sutton@ncllen.org.au
Events Coordinator
Julie Bourke
Julie Bourke lives just outside Charlton with her husband and boys and is the driving force behind the Broad Horizons program. Passionate about helping young people discover their future career paths, Julie excels at building strong connections between students and industry. Her dedication and genuine care for the success of young people make her an incredible mentor and advocate. With her ability to engage with both students and employers, Julie is making a lasting impact on the next generation.
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Phone: 0407 842 936
Email: j.bourke@ncllen.org.au
Lead Careers Practitioner - Donald, Pyramid Hill, Charlton, St. Arnaud
Sue Clay
Sue has qualifications in Business, HR and Marketing which she put to good use with DON KRC at Castlemaine before deciding to complete a Dip Ed so she could share her skills with others.
Over the last seven years Sue has been a Careers Development Practitioner with the North Central LLEN working with students in Years 10-12 at St Arnaud College, Donald High School, and Charlton College.
Phone: 0429 426 950
Email: s.clay@ncllen.org.au
Special Projects Officer
Sue Gould
Susan grew up in Bears Lagoon and now lives on her family farm in Mysia. With a background in education, she has taught English and History at Wedderburn and Boort and has also been a VCE English exam marker. Passionate about rural communities, she is dedicated to promoting diversity, kindness, and opportunities for young people.
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In 2023, Sue joined North Central LLEN as the Coordinator of the Secondary Schools Agricultural Fund, working to support students in pursuing careers in agriculture. She has also contributed to the Youth Take Over project and various career initiatives.
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In her spare time, Sue enjoys reading and listening to cricket. She is deeply committed to self-sufficiency, striving to grow her own food and eat seasonally, embracing a sustainable lifestyle.
Phone: 0490 205 705
Email: s.gould@ncllen.org.au
Coordinator
Mary-Ann Sait
Mary-Ann has had a very diverse working life including Small Business Ownership, Clothing Manufacturing, Education Support, Customer Service, Finance, Job Network & Group Training, Hospitality, Retail, and Administration.
This wealth of experience is invaluable in her role of supporting students to find and participate in work placements as part of their VCAL studies and her role with the Broader Horizons program.
Mary-Ann enjoy assisting young people to explore and find their area of interest through hands-on industry experiences. She is constantly amazed at the support local employers give to our young people and the generosity of local business willing to give up their time and knowledge to provide young people with industry experience to assist them in their career pathway.​​​​​​
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Phone: 0400 696 156
Email: m.sait@ncllen.org.au
Communications Officer/ Project Support
Claudia Cox
Claudia has completed a Bachelor of Design from Melbourne University and has experience working with Rural Inspire. After traveling through Europe and Canada, she joined North Central LLEN, where she is dedicated to empowering young people and helping them achieve their goals. Claudia also oversees the organisation's social media presence, ensuring strong communication and engagement.​​​​​​
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Phone: 0492 902 801
Email: c.cox@ncllen.org.au
Careers Practitioner - Birchip, Boort, East Loddon, Wycheproof
Angela Poxon
Ange graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Science and Diploma in Education and has taught at Boort District School for 25 years, predominately in Maths and Science.
She loves being on the journey of discovery with the students in the schools and following up on their pathway through destination tracking and is always amazed at how flexible, resilient and adaptable our young people are and how they strive to succeed.​
Phone: 0429 148 399
Email: a.poxon@ncllen.org.au
FLO, Buloke Loddon L2P
Peter Aurisch
Peter is a member of the FLO team and also works on the Buloke Loddon L2P program.
He is passionate about helping people learn new skills and develop existing ones. He gets great enjoyment when people have an idea and work towards making it a reality. The real fun begins when that idea is then pushed in complexity to produce something new.
Peter studied Visual Arts at La Trobe University and has worked a wide variety of jobs in his time. Everything ranging from dog training to hospitality, from factory work to construction in the NT and WA outback, as well as Sand Blasting. Even one that involved putting holes in kitchen sinks.
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Phone: 03 5491 1144
​Email: p.aurisch@ncllen.org.au​​