About Human Development Workshop

Richard Williams has more than three decades’ experience working in welfare and education, both in community and private sector organisations. He has worked in youth theatre, juvenile justice, youth homelessness and adult migrant education. From 2001-2004 he was Executive Officer of Manningham Youth and Family Services.

He is currently a Research Fellow at the McCaughey VicHealth Centre for Community Wellbeing at the University of Melbourne. His research interests are community engagement in decision-making, policy implementation in disadvantaged communities, and the development of university-community partnerships.

Kate is an educator, counsellor and development worker with over twenty years experience working with young people, their families and communities.

After working in outdoor education and at an indigenous drop-in centre in South Australia Kate spent five years at Manningham Youth & Family Services as a counsellor and Programs Coordinator. After a spell in the Yarra Ranges as Youth Programs Coordinator for Upper Yarra Community House she founded ‘The Workshop’ with Richard Williams and has gone on to become a highly respected provider of programs to agencies, schools, refugee groups, LGA’s and community organizations running workshops on diversity, leadership, mental health, adolescent development, and other relevant topics. Kate is an engaging facilitator of parent/carer and community forums and sought after conference speaker and facilitator. She also maintains a small counselling practice working with young people and their families.

Josh is a Facilitator with the Human Development Workshop. He also works as a Student Wellbeing Leader and was previously a teacher with over 10 years of experience in the Victorian education system.

Josh began his facilitation and counselling experience at a US summer camp in 2011 & 2014 before he completed his Bachelor of Education in 2015. After completing his degree, Josh briefly taught English as a second language while travelling South East Asia.

Josh returned to Australia to continue his teaching career and began working as a Physical Education teacher at a local primary school. Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, Josh established a YouTube presence and founded PE with Josh. He found a need for wellbeing support with many of his students (and himself) and found a passion for social and emotional learning during this time. In response, he developed online health and wellbeing content for students, school staff and their families. In recognition of this initiative, he was the recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award for the Eastern Melbourne Region in 2020.

In 2023, Josh completed his postgraduate degree in Youth Mental Health at The University of Melbourne and began working at The Human Development Workshop the same year.

Communication and connection are key to Josh’s personal and professional approach, as he aims to make a difference so that school communities are capable of supporting positive mental health outcomes for young people.

Kyla is a Youth Support worker who likes to laugh at her own jokes so no one else has to. She has years of experience working with people of all ages living with disability.

She found herself to be particularly fond of working with young people. While completing a Diploma of Community Services, Kyla became part of the team after completing her placement with us.

She wishes to stand alongside young people to build resilience, a sense of belonging and reliable life skills. Kyla also desires to complete further study in the Social Work Sector.

Rohan is a youth facilitator and caseworker with over three years' experience working alongside migrant and refugee young people. He has delivered community-based programs, school workshops, and youth camps that build confidence, leadership and connection.

Rohan brings a calm, warm presence to his work, and believes in meeting young people where they’re at—with empathy, curiosity, and the occasional bad joke.

Jennifer has over a decade of experience volunteering in community minded organisations. She has a Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced) and is a Certified Youth Mental Health First aider.

Jennifer is an experienced administrator and project manager and joined the team after working with The Workshop on the Knox Nocturnals Social Inclusion Program. She is passionate about mental health, community engagement and colour-coded spreadsheets 🙂

Sue is Student Wellbeing Leader at St Charles Borromeo Primary School, a role she has held for over 20 years. She is a member of the advisory council of The National Centre Against Bullying (NCAB), an initiative of the Alannah & Madeline Foundation. NCAB is a peak body working to advise and inform the Australian community on the issues of childhood bullying, cyber safety, and the creation of safe schools.

Sue is also an accredited Values Based Education trainer as a result of her involvement in the Federal Government’s Values Education Good Practice schools program. She was a member of the Beyond Blue National Education Initiative Technical Advisory Network that worked on the Be You initiative.

Sue leads 24 Catholic Primary schools in Student Wellbeing and is the lead for 11 schools in Respectful Relationships education. She is passionate about supporting the social, emotional and mental health of all young people.

Natalie is an educator with 23 years experience of teaching and leading in five secondary state schools. Natalie's journey in education began in 1999 as a science teacher. She took on her first leadership role in her second year, heading up the integration department in a large secondary school. This formative experience ignited a passion for leadership and an ongoing desire to improve the learning and life outcomes of students with disabilities, complex needs and from disadvantaged backgrounds. She has subsequently held positions as a student counsellor, student wellbeing and programs leader, and became an assistant principal in 2015. In 2019 Natalie expanded her horizons into a systems leadership role within the Department of Education, coaching and mentoring principals and leaders, to realise their potential and to improve the quality of teaching and learning within their school. She is currently an Assistant Principal for Learning and Teaching at Wantirna College and a proud board member of The Workshop.

Greg Thomas is a primary school principal, a position he has held for 11 years. Prior to his principalship, Greg was a deputy principal for 14 years where he also held various leadership roles including Wellbeing Leader and Student Services. In both school leadership positions; wellbeing and building respectful relationships were cornerstones for Greg in maintaining a positive culture for his staff, students and school families. Greg’s teaching career spans over 30 years and during this time he has taught in a number of Catholic and Government Schools. Greg started his teaching career on the island of Nauru, where he witnessed first hand the importance of home/school partnerships. This work/life experience helped shape what sort of teacher he wanted to be, and the leader he is today.