Coast Shelter is a leading not-for-profit organisation providing specialist homelessness services and support programs on the NSW Central Coast.
We are a registered Community Housing Provider operating crisis accommodation refuges across the region for people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or experiencing domestic and family violence.
We continue to progress our mission to end homelessness and domestic and family violence on the NSW Central Coast by providing people with a safe place to call home, food and clothing, and access to personal support services.
From humble beginnings, Coast Shelter has grown into an organisation tackling the issues of homelessness, family and domestic violence, and poverty across the NSW Central Coast. Over the last 30 years, we have grown from one refuge in Gosford into a community housing provider with ten specialist homelessness services.
Today, we deliver a number of services designed to tackle the issues of homelessness, domestic and family violence and poverty. Each year we provide crises accommodation through our Specialist Homelessness Services and outreach properties to males, females, children and youth across the Central Coast. Our Community Centre continues to help the most vulnerable people in our Community by providing free meals and access to financial, medical and personal support services.
Coast Shelter is committed to helping people when they need help the most and we thank our generous corporate partners, donors, funding bodies, staff and volunteers for their ongoing support and commitment to ending homelessness on the NSW Central Coast.
A community where everyone has a safe place to call home and is empowered to thrive.
To deliver person centred services to people in crisis within our community experiencing homelessness or domestic and family violence.
Four core values drive our work. Trust, Respect, Innovation and Connection.
We are honest, collaborative, responsive, and accountable in everything we do. We believe everyone has the right to a safe, healthier future.
We listen, and we are accepting of others’ differences, cultures, and personal needs.
We are creative, adaptive, and explore new ideas to solve challenges
We develop, value and maintain strong connections with the people we support, our colleagues, and the communities we work in.
Coast Shelter employs staff across the Central Coast. We have a diverse, skills-based Board and Executive team with expertise across government, community and commercial sectors.
Our Board members are responsible for the overall business, management and direction of Coast Shelter. The Board are committed to best practice in governance and accountability.
BEc, MBA, FAICD, F FINSIA
Paul is a corporate advisor and company director with more than 35 years of experience in investment banking and financial services, consulting, and general management in Australia and overseas.
He has been a director of several investment banks, including Citibank and Goldman Sachs, is currently a director of several companies and is an advisor to several public companies and government boards and CEOs on strategy, governance, business development strategies, and leadership assessment.
Paul also has extensive not-for-profit (NFP) experience across diverse sectors (including disability services, medical research, education, overseas development, corporate governance, the performing arts and philanthropy), having started, revitalised and merged NFPs, helped build social enterprises, and advised many NFP boards and CEOs on strategy, governance, and performance.
He holds a Bachelors degree in Economics and a Masters degree in Business Administration.
B Com, DipFS, GDipAppFin (FINSIA), DipCouns GAICD
Michael is a seasoned entrepreneur, executive and governance professional with a track record of founding and building successful businesses in financial services, vocational education and adventure tourism.
A business founder from an early age, Michael successfully grew a specialised financial services business before its acquisition by Macquarie Group. He subsequently worked in the private equity sector, leading a sequence of mergers to deliver a diversified financial services business with over a billion dollars of client funds under management. Michael then turned his attention to building businesses in vocational education, and mountain bike adventure tourism on the Central Coast.
An experienced Non-Executive Director, Michael currently serves on the Board of UNE Partnerships, the University of New England’s education and training company.
He brings a deep commitment to social impact and governance, including the mental health sector working as an AOD addiction coach supporting participants at Dooralong Transformation Centre, and volunteering as a facilitator with the Mankind Project Australia. Michael has also spent time volunteering in the Coast Shelter kitchen over the years.
Michael holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (Economics and Marketing), a Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning), a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance & Investment (Portfolio Management), a Diploma of Counselling and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
BA, MAICD
Dale is an accomplished senior executive with CEO not-for-profit experience spanning state, national, and international levels. He is CEO of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT where he has spearheaded significant revenue growth, strategic relocations, and major branding initiatives.
He has been Acting CEO of the Australian Red Cross, as well as CEO of Red Cross Australia (SA), Campbell Page Ltd and the Royal District Nursing Service SA. He also brings not-for-profit board governance experience from the disability, First Nations services and eye health sectors and has lengthy experience in government and philanthropic funding.
Dale holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work.
B App Sc, MPH
Adam is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in environmental health, community leadership, sports coaching and a strong commitment to public health and First Nations advocacy.
He brings decades of experience in environmental health and management, including 20 years as a senior environmental health officer with NSW Health.
He is Chairperson of Bungree Aboriginal Association, the largest First Nations not-for-profit organization on the Central Coast (with programs extending to Newcastle and the Upper Hunter) delivering nearly 30 funded programs.
Adam also serves as a board member at Central Coast Sports College.
Other previous sporting roles include significant contributions as Head Coach in various rugby leagues, including the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and Sydney Roosters. He is a past player for South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Adam holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Applied Science (Environmental Health) and in Public Health respectively.
MBA GAICD
Lavinia has extensive experience in management consulting, technology and transformation in Australia, Europe and the USA. She has a proven track record of guiding organisations to elevate business performance and navigate complex market dynamics.
Her expertise covers a diverse range of industries, including banking and financial services, manufacturing, utilities and pharmaceuticals. Lavinia’s leadership and strategic acumen have been instrumental in driving operational excellence and sustainable growth. Most recently, she was with Westpac where over seven years, her roles included Head of Transformation Excellence, Program Director - Culture, Governance and Accountability, and Head of Operational Risk.
Beyond her corporate achievements, she is deeply committed to supporting purpose-driven organisations and has assisted numerous boards in developing comprehensive risk management frameworks and crafting long-term strategies.
Lavinia holds an Engineering degree in Computer Science and Automation, a Masters degree in Technology (Advanced Control Systems) and a Masters degree in Business Administration.
BA (Hons), Dip Ed, M. Clin Psych
Waverney is an experienced Clinical Psychologist who has practised for over 20 years. She holds a Senior Clinical Psychologist position in Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) where she specialises in working with children and families. She also holds the role of Deputy Director of the CCLHD Psychology Department, serving on committees involved in Clinical Governance.
She has completed the Clinical Leadership Program with the Clinical Excellence Commission, NSW Health. She is also a member of the Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA).
Waverney holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Psychology and Education, a Diploma of Education (Primary School Teaching) and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology.
Kevin is an accomplished business professional with a career spanning both senior executive and CEO roles across several sectors, including consumer food, tourism, nutrition, disability services and professional accounting services, in Australia and Asia. His expertise includes sales, marketing, brand development, complex stakeholder management and cross-cultural organisations.
His board experience includes NFP, commercial and ASX listed company boards and Kevin has a proven record of delivering transformation and growth, building brands and digital marketing.
Kevin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business (Finance & Accounting) and he is a member (CA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
RN, B Soc Sci, MHA, MPH, GAICD
Deborah is a highly experienced mental health professional with over 40 years of experience in senior clinical and operational leadership roles within the NSW mental health sector.
She most recently served as the Acting Commissioner of the Mental Health Commission of NSW, a statutory agency dedicated to enhancing mental health and wellbeing across the state. Currently, Deborah holds the position of Acting Director of System Reform at the Commission, where she continues to drive strategic initiatives aimed at transforming mental health services.
Throughout her career, Deborah has demonstrated expertise in mental health policy development, transformational leadership, clinical engagement, quality improvement, and patient care. In her role as Mental Health Network Manager at the Agency for Clinical Innovation, she led significant reform programs focused on suicide prevention and the implementation of trauma-informed care within public mental health services. Deborah also contributed her expertise as a past member of the Headspace National Clinical Research and Advisory Committee.
In addition to her extensive career in mental health, Deborah has more than a decade of board governance experience as a non-executive director of Pacific Link Housing, a prominent provider of social and disability housing in the Central Coast and Lake Macquarie/Hunter regions.
Deborah is a registered nurse and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science (Community Mental Health Care), as well as Master’s degrees in Public Health and in Health Administration.
Dip.Law (LPAB), GDLP, AGIA, GAICD
Lyndelle Taylor has been a lawyer since her admission to the Supreme Court of NSW and High Court of Australia in 2008. For more than 15 years she has consulted to not-for-profit boards in the areas of governance, compliance, regulatory, policy and legal research and has been the Company Secretary of Coast Shelter since May 2023. Lyndelle is also Member of NSW Law Society, Graduate member of Governance Institute of Australia and Graduate member of the AICD Company Directors Course.
The Executive team is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Coast Shelter.
Lee Shearer has been with Coast Shelter since late-2023 and has more than 25 years experience working in senior leadership positions. Lee was Chief Operating Officer of Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council and played pivotal roles in NSW Government departments including as Deputy Secretary/Resources Regulator at the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, Chief Compliance Officer at the NSW Department of Industry and was the Administrator for NSW Cemeteries. In addition to these roles she also had a career as a lawyer and police officer, where she was awarded the Australian Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
Rachael commenced her career in the Community Services sector at Coast Shelter, after the completion of a Bachelor of Social Science at the University of Newcastle. Rachael has experience across SHS programs, case management, domestic and family violence and managing multi-site programs and teams. Rachael is passionate about developing and maintaining a healthy and thriving workplace culture, which flows onto providing trusting, trauma informed services and programs for all Coast Shelter clients.
Ashlee truly believes in performance through people and is passionate about coaching and creating exceptional employment experiences and alignment to meaning and purpose across the organisation. Ashlee is an experienced People & Culture professional, with a Bachelor of Human Resource Management from Macquarie University and extensive experience working across FMCG and For-Purpose organisations.
B Com, Member of Chartered Accountants ANZ
Jason commenced his accounting career within the public sector before moving to Coast Shelter in early 2019. As a Central Coast local, Jason is a passionate supporter of the vision and mission of Coast Shelter and, combined with his financial and accounting experience, he devotes all his energy to drive growth and develop new opportunities.
Bachelor Information Technology and Marketing
Crystal is an experienced leader with expertise in driving continuous improvement across private and public sectors, including highly regulated industries and organisations. She has successfully navigated complex mergers and acquisitions, focusing on regulatory compliance, corporate affairs, and brand transformation. With a proven track record of building and leading high-performing teams, Crystal prioritises client experience, while driving business growth and social impact.
Download our most recent annual reports to find out where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re headed.
2023 Annual Report
2022 Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
2020 Annual Report
2018/2019 Annual Report
Coast Shelter is committed to strengthening our relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are the sovereign peoples of this land, and that sovereignty was never ceded. We recognise the structural and historic factors that continue impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia and we have a role in contributing to and promoting the reconciliation movement.
By developing this Reconciliation Action plan, we will improve our services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the community more broadly. We aim to cultivate respect and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, histories, cultures and knowledge.
We do this by building key partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations and businesses, participation in reconciliation events across the Central Coast, and strengthening the voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within Coast Shelter.
Download our most recent strategic plan to see what we have planned for our people, services and partnerships over the next three years.
