Our Management Committee
Christine Overstone
Founder/ChairChristine Richardson is a Social Scientist, Wellness Consultant and Education Management Professional, researching and working in behavior, thought and emotional management, developing and presenting seminars, courses, workshops and training programs for over three decades. Christine’s practice uses her skills and experience in the self management and emotional literacy arena to empower individuals, families and communities from all walks of life. Since 2010 that work has been mostly focused on those in mourning and grief. Not to minimize or distract them from the despair and brokenness this emotion can bring. But to invite, to encourage people to lean into their heartbreak, to ignore societal expectations around how they should or shouldn’t be responding, to grieve well. So that they are more ready and able to find pathways and purpose in life after loss. Her work within the communities systemic dysfunction and societal ills, led to Christine being a founding board member of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Consumer Community Coalition (AODCCC), for a number of years. As Founder of The Grief Centre of Western Australia, she is using her corporate training work in private practice and the public sector, Christine continues to use her strong position to advocate for change in the way grief and loss is viewed within the community. Her belief that grief has a profound impact on lives, with often intergenerational consequences, drives her work to educate and better inform individuals, families, workplaces, departments and communities on the issues of unresolved grief.
Hayley Solich
Interim Secretary | Business & Engagement LeadHayley Solich is a mother of five, wife, sister, aunt and survivor of grief and trauma, having lost her mother in a tragic car accident at 23 years of age, as well as both of her grandmothers in the same year. In her professional life, Hayley is a recognised national leader in the mental health space and was the Carer Co-Chair of the National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum. She is a passionate and awarded community developer and systemic advocate, whose family has been touched by road trauma, cancer and suicide. Hayley has a strong passion for uplifting the voice of others and has been a past Editor of several Australian magazines, a writer for magazines such as Honeybee Lifestyle Magazine, Finally at 40 Life Begins to name a few and is a past radio announcer for 89.7fm. Hayley brings a broad range of skills and experience to the Centre and was a professional performing artist in her young adult years, as well as, a youth worker, working for the Anglican Dept of Education and the WA Police. Hayley has also been an employment consultant, a TAFE lecturer and University Tutor. Hayley is a seasoned facilitator, with a strong background in governance and experience in the public sector, community managed organisations and private enterprise. She brings to the Centre her depth of knowledge of administration, curriculum development, marketing and business development, as well as, understanding of the structures and processes required for good governance. Hayley's awards include: 2019 - WA Mental Health Award for Consumer Impact Inspiration 2019 - Community Citizen of the Year Award for City of Stirling 2023 - ANZSWWER Achievement Award for Research about Community Education, Community Development and/or Social Action by individuals or teams. Hayley is soon to be a published author, with an article she co-authored set to be published in the International Journal of Care and Caring (IJCC).
Marian Phillips
TreasurerWith over 25 years of experience as a Chartered Accountant, Marian brings a wealth of expertise spanning various sectors including Public, Private, and Not for Profit organizations. Marian's journey in financial management has been enriched by roles in Charities and Chartered Accounting firms, honing her skills in diverse environments. Adept in Financial and Management Accounting, Marian has navigated complexities within Defence, Immigration, and Private Sector entities, consistently meeting stringent deadlines for audit and reporting. Her proficiency extends to implementing FMIS systems, enhancing efficiency across NFP and Charity organizations. In leadership, Marian has overseen teams, fostering growth through recruitment, training, and performance management. Her strategic acumen is evident in preparing budget papers, delivering presentations to boards, and streamlining processes for improved outcomes. As a Subject Matter Expert, she provided invaluable training on budgeting, financial delegations, and variance analysis, contributing to informed decision-making in large public sectors. Collaborating seamlessly with cross-functional teams, she facilitated transitions and optimized financial systems, ensuring compliance and efficiency. In her varied roles, from Corporate Accountant to Finance Manager, Marian demonstrated a knack for business partnering, providing insightful analysis for significant decisions and managing multimillion-dollar budgets with precision. Her commitment to professional development is underscored by numerous qualifications and continuous learning initiatives. Beyond the boardroom, she is deeply involved in community activities, leveraging her skills to support literacy initiatives, cultural exchange programs, and Toastmasters International. Her diverse interests, from fitness to culinary adventures, reflects a balanced approach to life, enriching both personal and professional endeavors.
Regan Cleland
Committee MemberRegan is a Chartered Accountant with over 3 years’ experience as a Management Accountant and Company Secretary in both the private and public listed sectors, providing accounting, financial modelling, business improvement and governance expertise. Regan also has over 6 years’ experience in public practice providing tax, accounting and business advisory services to a wide range of businesses and other entities from SME’s and large private businesses to high net worth individuals. More recently, his ethical values and passion for people and equality, have seen him seek out more purposeful work and apply his skillset and add value to the Management Committee on matters of finance, corporate governance, risk management and strategy.
Kathryn Budzinska
Management Committee MemberKath has been involved at the Grief Centre of WA since December 2015 initially as a specialist grief counsellor and support group facilitator, and more recently as a member of the Management Committee, and now the GCWA Advisory Board. Kath has 4 decades of experience as a Registered Comprehensive Nurse specialising in midwifery. As a result, Kath has worked across the birth, life, and death spectrum. In addition to continuing with her nursing career, Kath completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology in order to offer grief support for the parents of baby-death. Kath regularly runs Professional Development seminars for health professionals, so they have opportunities to acknowledge and attend to their grief outside of the workplace.
Tony Mullen
Management Committee MemberTony retired from paid employment after serving 25 years in the Union movement, over a decade as a high school teacher and finally advocating for injured workers. Retirement was spurred after the loss of his eldest daughter who had succumbed to severe and profound depression. Attending counselling, group sessions and engaging in creative research projects at the Grief Centre of WA was central to helping navigate the ongoing grief journey. It is widely accepted that there is systemic ignorance of the impacts of grief on people. This leaves many vulnerable to exploitation in the short term and deterioration of health, physical and/or mental, in the longer term. Having spent most of a lifetime promoting justice in various ways, contributing to the Management Committee was a logical and consistent move.
Danielle Mettam
Management Committee MemberDanielle is an experienced strategic business development professional, with lived experience in grief. Her passion grew to bridge the gaps for individuals and families trying to navigate this journey. She believes these gaps appear in the information and resources provided within communities, work life, education, health and support work. However, through educating and guiding society Danielle believes we can reduce some of the pain by creating a holistic resource centre for grief. Caring and supporting her Mum after the loss of her Dad, then later in life with a terminal illness, prompted her to seek more information around what support services and information is available to individuals and families experiencing end of life circumstances. Trying to navigate through the legalities, advanced health systems, documentation and simply trying to find support was incredibly overwhelming and the information provided was inconsistent from so many sources. This frustration led her to change industries and work with the Grief Centre, so she can utilise her knowledge to help reduce the stress and confusion for others.