DV West operates services at 6 discreet sites. Each site’s Manager has a high level of expertise and oversees and supports the site operations. The staff at each site comprises Specialist Domestic Violence Workers. Our Managers make up our Leadership Team and are responsible for reviewing policy and practice and contributing to the continual improvement of our services.
Jo Campbell
General Manager DV West
Jo has worked in the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault sector for 30 years, in various roles as an advocate, counsellor, educator and manager. She has been with DV West since May 2021.
She enjoys working with DV West’s passionate and highly skilled team, who work really hard to partner with women and children to help them see their strengths despite the violence, control and discrimination they face.
Whilst awareness of domestic violence is growing in our community, women escaping violence still face the challenge of being judged and misunderstood. Jo believes that our role is to assist in advocating on their behalf and building genuine partnerships with other agencies so we can create a more flexible and effective support system.
As the General Manager, Jo hopes to help implement DV West’s strategic plan, support high quality systems and practices, and achieve more inclusive and accessible service delivery for women and children.
Vanessa Donald-Smith
Manager DV West Nepean
Vanessa is DV West’s long-standing worker and has been part of DV West’s journey from the start, therefore she brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the organisation. She has been employed permanently since 1994 after starting as a casual child support worker. Before becoming Manager, she worked as a crisis worker and outreach worker.
Vanessa loves working for DV West and she finds it incredibly rewarding to see women and children become empowered and watch their confidence grow. She enjoys learning from clients and staff and continues to be amazed by the workers’ passion for their work and the women and children that they support.
Vanessa is proud to be part of an organisation that is flexible to the needs and circumstances of women and children and to work for an organisation that is respected for its expertise, work and reputation in the field.
In her down time, she loves to binge-watch shows, read James Patterson novels and do tapestries.
Terrieanne Hughes
Manager of Aboriginal Services and Development
Terrieanne is a proud Wiradjuri Aboriginal woman with strong ties to the western Sydney area, with over a decade of experience in Aboriginal management across various industries. Serving as the Manager of Aboriginal Services & Development currently, however was the Aboriginal Manager at Wirrawee Gunya since 2018.
Terrieanne plays key roles as the Co-Chair of DV West’s Reconciliation Action Plan working group and Chair of the Aboriginal Cultural Reference Group,actively shaping strategies for reconciliation and cultural understanding. A driving force in improving organisational cultural competency, she develops policies, procedures and provides support, mentoring and guidance for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff.
Terrieanne is passionate in improving the lives of Aboriginal women and children from a trauma informed, holistic care model where women and children are empowered and can live lives free from violence.
Heather-Mae Peterson-Connor
Manager DV West Blacktown/Hills
Heather has worked in both the NGO and Government sectors in the domestic violence and family violence sector for the last 10 years. Heather has been with DV West since September 2019. Prior to that she worked on a pilot program across NSW that enabled survivors of Domestic Violence to access their partner’s criminal history to support them to make informed decisions about their relationships.
She has worked in different refuges across NSW and has a passion for supporting women and children to live their lives free from violence.
Heather hopes to use her community development skills to build a strong network of community support for the women and children who access DV West in the Blacktown/Hills area.
In her spare time, Heather likes attending community events and supporting small ethical sourced business’s at weekend markets.
Danae Amies
Manager DV West After Hours
Danae has worked as a DV Specialist for over 10 years. For the last 6 years she has worked with DV West. Danae started as a case worker and outreach worker and went on to become a senior case worker, before taking on her current Manager position. Danae has a strong and passionate belief that if we can be fully present with people and hold a compassionate and non-judgemental space that they will find their own empowerment.
Danae has strengthened this belief in her own practice of breathwork and has in her own time become a qualified breathwork practitioner.
Danae is proud to work for DV West because she feels that the organisation does not only provide a high level of professional and compassionate support but is progressive. She is humbled and honoured to share in women’s journeys and amazed by their strength, resilience and courage.
Jude Sayers
Manager DV West Blue Mountains
Jude has worked in the community sector for over 25 years. She has experience with working with women in a variety of settings, including alcohol and other drugs and the NSW prison system. Domestic and family violence was always a common experience for the women she worked with.
She enjoys witnessing the changes that occur in women and their families lives and believes that supporting women and children who have experienced violence and control achieving safety and agency over their lives is a privilege.
The workers at DV West are a committed, knowledgeable, and compassionate group of women and Jude is proud to work alongside them. She aims to lead her team to support and advocate for clients and make visible the strength and resourcefulness of these women and their families. She is also passionate about increasing community awareness that domestic and family violence impacts us all, and as that a community we are responsible to provide safety for them.
Kathleen Edwards
Manager DV West Wirrawee Gunya
Kathleen Edwards (also known as Kathy Barker) is a proud Wangkamurra and Muriwari woman from Bourke NSW who has lived on Dharug land for the past 21 years. Kathleen is a proud mother of 5 children and grandmother of 3. Kathleen has worked in the DV sector for 16 years with extensive experience in case management for both women and children with a passion working with victims of violence.
Kathleen is the Manager of Wirrawee Gunya since April 2024 and oversees the day-to-day management of the crisis accommodation service and service delivery for Aboriginal women and children.
