Our People

Foster Carer & Child | Family Spirit Staff

A team committed to families

Our team is committed to the vision and mission of Family Spirit and do everything they can to support the many children, young people and families in need.

To make sure there is support at every stage, we invest in ongoing training for all Family Spirit staff. Embracing innovation and growing our skills, we deliver consistent care and meaningful support when you need it most.

Our leadership

Sheree James

Chief Executive Officer

Sheree James is the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Officer at Family Spirit.

With 30 years’ experience within the Community Services Sector, Sheree is qualified and registered as a Specialist Behaviour Support Practitioner, Counsellor, Psychotherapist and Educator. She holds a Bachelor Arts (Psy), Grad Dip Applied Science, Grad Dip Family Therapy, Master Medical Science, and Grad Cert Behaviour Support.

Prior to her role at Family Spirit, Sheree has previously provided leadership to several multidisciplinary therapeutic teams and has had extensive experience in Clinical Governance and Quality Assurance. With a passion and interest for Child Protection, Out-of-Home Care and Adoptions, she is also an experienced assessor and trainer within the sector having taught at TAFE NSW, ACAP and Bidura College.

Alicia Johnson

Aboriginal Practice Lead

Alicia Johnson is a proud Muruwarri woman who has had extensive experience working with Aboriginal communities providing counselling, advocacy, and clinical expertise to mob in Community.

Alicia holds a Bachelor of Health (Mental Health) and is undertaking her master’s in social work.  Alicia has demonstrated experience and specialised skills and knowledge working with Aboriginal families & Communities in Aboriginal Mental Health, trauma recovery, healing, drug & alcohol family violence, sexual assault counselling, PHSB and child protection with the embedded holistic approach to culture, connection, healing, and wellness.

The Family Spirit Board

Family Spirit’s Board and Leadership Team provide overarching governance to enable us to deliver on our mission.

Jonathan Raja

Jonathan Raja

Chairman

Jonathan Raja is the Director of Services at Marist180. He has over 25 years of experience across health and community services sectors in both the United States and Australia. Jonathan holds a Masters in Clinical Social Work and has experience working with young people in both acute psychiatric and foster care settings, managing emergency service response teams, and developing and managing mental health practitioner and hospital service delivery networks. He has contributed to the successful implementation of several innovative health improvement services targeting the appropriate use of medication, and provided leadership to strategic projects evaluating the efficiency of Commonwealth Government programs and to support NSW Government reform.

David Stefanoff

David Stefanoff

David Stefanoff is the Finance Director at CatholicCare Sydney. With a background in banking and structured investing in both public and private markets, David transferred his learnings to the social services sector in 2017. Since then, David has been responsible for delivering several projects at CatholicCare Sydney, including leading the development of the agency’s evolving social housing strategy. David is a lay member of the St Vincent’s Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee.

Peter Hanson

Peter Hanson

Peter Hanson is the Head of Finance and Company Secretary for Marist180. He has held senior financial and governance positions in a government owned enterprise in New Zealand an ASX listed entity, private companies and not for profits in Australia. Peter is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (FCA) and a member of the Governance Institute (ACIS). He served on the Council of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants for 6 years representing Australian resident members until the merger of the New Zealand and Australian bodies. He has served on the Board of a not for profit and is active in the lay leadership of his church.

Foster Carer & Two Boys | Contact Family Spirit

Contact Us

Call our team 9am to 5pm weekdays on 13 18 19
(In an emergency please call 000)

Family Spirit Ltd, Suite 301, 2-14 Meredith Street, Bankstown NSW 2200

To send us a message or to be contacted by a staff member please complete the contact form below.