Narelle is the CEO of Southern Youth and Family Services (SYFS) a not-for-profit operating a range of community services including social housing, supported accommodation and homelessness support, family relationship counselling and support, education, training and employment programs, early intervention and outreach support and youth health programs. She has worked as a teacher in TAFE for 25 years.
Narelle is a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of her support and advocacy including for community services, young people and homelessness locally, in the State and Nationally.
Narelle has been elected or appointed to senior and leadership roles and holds some of these currently including in 2007 was elected President of the Australian Services Union NSW/ACT and is currently still serving so has served 17 years.
Previous Chairperson of Nation Youth Coalition for Housing (NYCH) 6 years, then elected as the National Chairperson of Australian Federation of Homelessness Organisation (AFHO), and in July 2002-June 2006 was the inaugural independent National Chairperson of Homelessness Australia and re-elected in 2009 to 2013.
Narelle has been on many State and National Advisory Committees eg Prime Minister’s Task Force, Community Advisory Committee Housing, and currently on the National Community Services Advisory Group and a Board Member of the McKell Foundation.
Narelle has extensive experience in governance across community organisations, and other organisations, has worked in and progressed outcomes in very complex situations, and supported Boards. She has also extensive experience in the industrial relations area, in staff development and support, contract management, consultation, assessing strategic plan progress, submission writing, development and assessment, asset management and property development, data analysis, advocacy, partnerships management, service improvement and development, evaluation, community development, leading and overseeing projects, budget development and compliance, and other aspects of organisation leadership and operations.
Has strong and positive connections with Aboriginal leaders.
She is known for her advocacy and campaigning including the successful Equal Remuneration (ERO) case, the Domestic Violence Leave provisions, and is an expert on costings and financing for community organisations including indexation.
