Our Team
Glenda Kickett (CEO)
CEO
Glenda Kickett (CEO)
Glenda is a Whadjuk and Ballardong woman from the Bibbulman Noongar Nation.
Prior to stepping into the role of CEO, Glenda has been the Manager, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Engagement /Therapeutic Services – Aboriginal Children and Families at Australian Childhood Foundation for nine years.
She was previously Executive Manager at Djooraminda-Centrecare for thirteen years, managing the out-of-home care and family support programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, and families. Glenda was also the Senior Social Worker at Yorganop Aboriginal Child Care, and Senior Lecturer at the Centre of Indigenous Studies at Curtin University.
Glenda has been the Chairperson of NAIDOC Perth Inc. for fifteen years, is Vice Chairperson of Wungening Aboriginal Corporation, Co-Chair Social Reinvestment WA, Chairperson of Glass Jars, Shooting Stars Australia, Netball WA, Member of the Noongar Family Safety and Wellbeing Council, Co-Chairperson of the Early Years Initiative (EYI) with the Mindaroo Foundation and the Department of Communities, and Board member of Djinda Briydia Wellbeing, Danjoo Koorliny Social Impact Team, Family and Children Lead. She has been a member of the 100 Families Research Project and is the lead researcher for the Aboriginal Voices Project with UWA Social Impact and UWA School of Social Work.
Glenda holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Western Australia, a Master of Arts in Indigenous Research and Development from Curtin University and is completing a Doctor of Philosophy through the School of Social Work at the University of Western Australia.
Denice Kickett (nee Wilkes)
Programs Manager
Denice Kickett (nee Wilkes)
Denice Kickett is a proud Whadjuk woman from Nyoongar Boodjah and has strong kinship connections to Wongatha, Gidja and Yindjabarndi peoples throughout Western Australia. Denice is a grandmother to 4 wonderful grandchildren and has 3 amazing children. Denice is a passionate advocate for human rights in particularly with the Nyoongar communities and all First Nations peoples throughout this country.
Denice brings with her a wealth of skills and knowledge that includes over 35 years of working throughout Australia in Aboriginal Affairs and has worked across many sectors as a leader throughout the workforce. She has developed many strategies with many organisations and has worked with carers and children over the past 5 years within mainstream organisations as well as doing her own consultancy.
Chris Ryder
Chris has worked in the community services sector since 2010 where he found it most beneficial supporting people struggling with youth Mental Health and sharing cultural advice in the Out of Home Care practices. I’ve also spent time helping build RAP plans and introducing ways of working with a cultural lens in a therapeutic way that best supports the child.
Chris is a community minded person that has a strong belief that cultural needs and protocols need to be managed better by organisations working with Aboriginal people. He also has been a conduit for Aboriginal people and families to be a source of familiarity when seeking supports and acting as an advocate as needed.
Chris has built up strong connections within the community service sector and within the community through separate volunteer work and networking.
Chris Ryder
Team Leader (CFC/HS)
Team Leader / Coordinator
Leonie Wilkes
Administrator Coordinator
Leonie Wilkes
Leonie is a proud Binjareb Whadjuk yok from Nyoongar Boodjah. Leonie was born and raised in Whadjuk country, and her family has been involved with Nyoongar culture since her birth and their kaartadjen (knowledge) has been passed down to her from a very early age. Leonie acknowledges her culture and is grateful to have been able to learn from her elders. Leonie’s skin name is Ngarma, this means ‘fresh-water spring in Nyoongar Language. Leonie has grown up performing and showcasing Nyoongar culture and is very proud to of her songline throughout Western Australia.
Leonie has worked with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations over the past 3 years and has developed a strong network throughout Nyoongar Nation.
Over the past few years Leonie has worked casually at a Homeless Shelter dealing with critical incidents with her clients many times having to contact 1st responders to deal with situations.
Leonie has networked throughout many sectors such as health, education, justice, housing and transport due to the nature of her previous workplaces.
Jade Wilcocks
Before joining Karla Kuliny, Jade served as an Indigenous Outreach Officer at Moorditj Koort. In this role, she focused on building meaningful connections with elderly and vulnerable members of her community, providing essential support for their social and health needs.
At Karla Kuliny, Jade has taken on the role of Administration Support Officer, where she continues to contribute her skills and passion for supporting her community.
Jade Wilcocks
Administrative Support
Liz Narkle
Carer Recruitment & Support Coordinator
Liz Narkle
Liz a Nyoongar Woman with family connections to the whole Noongar Nation, born on Willman Country where she spent very early years of her childhood living on Pingelly Reserve. Then the family moved to Wardandi Country in Bunbury growing up as a young adult Liz lived between Whadjuk Country, Boorloo (Perth) and Bunbury.
Liz lived in the eastern states in her young adult years and returned to Perth where she Married and started a family. Liz manages the Koolangkas Kreate Youth program which engages and immerses young people in cultural learning and guidance, promoting the importance of giving back to the community and the development of future leaders.
She is a qualified Trainer and Assessor, she has a Diploma of Community Service, qualified Aboriginal Health Practitioner, a Cert IV in Aboriginal Performing ARts from WAAPA, and she has more than 30 years work experience in Education, Government, Health, Community Services, performing arts, which includes acting, singing and dancing. Liz also does voluntary work in the community including the voluntary role work with the NAIDOC Perth Committee. Her experience in Out of Home Care is through lived experience both as a Foster Child and as a Foster Carer for more than 10 years. Liz is passionate and dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of young people and is currently studying part-time in the Bachelor of Social Work with UWA, she is balancing work life, community commitments, family life and studying. Liz is employed with Karla Kuliny Aboriginal Corporation as the Carer Recruitment and Assessment Coordinator.
Tarlia Davis
Tarlia is a proud Whadjuk/Ballardong Yok, who was raised in Whadjuk boodjah (Perth). I’m a mother of 3 beautiful children 1 boy and 2 girls and a grandmother to 2 amazing granddaughters, all who are my heart.
Tarlia considers herself to be a strong independent person who loves my culture and believes that she is very privileged to grow up with a family that taught her so much about her people and culture, all the ancestors.
Ilove to cook and play darts in I’m spare time. Tarlia also kin cares for her brothers daughter.
Tarlia has worked with the Department of Transport and the DOME.
Tarlia brings a wealth of knowledge about Nyoongar protocols, culture and family lifestyles.
Tarlia Davis
Carer Coordinator
Janelle Smith
Therapeutic Specialist
Janelle Smith
Janelle is a Wagyl Kaip, Gnaala Karla Boodja Nyoongar Yok living on Whadjuk Boodja. She is a mother to 1 biological child. Janelle is very involved with in her children’s school community, she is on the P&C and the School board, supporting the school community with sharing knowledge and education about culture and school events such as NAIDOC week. Janelle also volunteers with NAIDOC Perth opening day.
Janelle started her career in Early childhood education and development, working at Gurlongga Ninny Childcare Centre (an Aboriginal Childcare Centre) while studying and going to school.
When Janelle finished school, she then moved to Karratha, where she continued to work in Early Childhood education, until moving on to work as an AlEO at a primary school. When Janelle moved back to Perth, she started work at Wungening Aboriginal Corporation (formallyAboriginal Alcohol and drug service) supporting admin staff and programs team.
Janelle’s passion to support and work with Aboriginal people and the community grew from there. She worked as a Drug and Alcohol Counsellor with Wungening for a little over 10 years. Janelle would support people through Counselling and Education, advocate for clients and their families, facilitating group sessions in the community and prison settings, supporting parents with Department involvement. After Wungening Janelle worked briefly with the Mental Health Commission in the Strong Spirit Strong Minds program providing training to other community workers, with in the Aboriginal community and then to Palmerston Association as an Aboriginal Community Worker, supporting individuals and their families. Janelle now works at Karla Kuliny as a Therapeutic Specialist.
Robyn Humphries
Robyn’s professional journey has been shaped by a passion for empowering individuals and families, particularly Aboriginal people, through holistic and culturally safe interventions. At Karla Kuliny, Robyn is dedicated to supporting individuals to overcome challenges, reconnect with their strengths, and thrive in their personal and cultural identities.
Community Foster Care Program
Therapeutic Specialist
Lauren Tink
Staying On Facilitator
Lauren Tink
First and foremost, I am a proud Aboriginal Mãori Woman. I belong to the Wardandi Nyoongar people from the South-West of WA and the Ngai Tahu and Moriori iwi (tribe) from the South Islands of New Zealand.
My culture is what centers my practice as a Social Worker. I am passionate about utilising Aboriginal ways of being, knowing and doing, and using a decolonial lens in my practice to critically reflect on current systems and practices.
Prior to joining the team at Karla Kuliny, I was a Youth Worker working alongside children and young people in different residential settings. During this time, I worked in high needs placements in a 1:1 setting; regional placements in Broome with family groups; and at an At-Risk-Youth-Accommodation (ARYA).
I have also worked as a Cultural Support Coordinator, writing cultural plans for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home-care, where I was able to work alongside young people and their families and carers to keep them connected to culture in ways that were meaningful to them. Each plan was individual and unique to the young person, with their voice being central to the process.
More recently I have successfully completed Social Work Honours, whereby my thesis was conducted solely using an Aboriginal paradigm and methodology to explore the experience of an Aboriginal student undertaking a degree in social work. The aim of this research is to raise awareness of the prevalence of colonisation and whiteness in tertiary education. I am aiming to have this body of work published in a peer reviewed journal in 2024.
Phillip Barlett
Phil has a strong passion about supporting and helping people, especially our younger generation in different ways. Phil brings many years of experience through the power of Music, Music Therapy, Employment support, Counselling, Events Management, Cultural Enrichment and more.
As one of the Karla Kuliny Transition Coaches, Phil will help to empower our young people to become the best they can be during the transition years from being a Young Person and through into adulthood to gain, confidence and independence and to learn more about their Cultural Identity, Family connection, Self-belief, Self-discovery and much more.
Home Stretch Program
Transition Coach
Home Stretch Program
Transition Coach
Matthew Moody
Brendon Boundary
Starting his workforce journey at 18 through a traineeship with the Department of Transport, Brendon’s career in community services has spanned a range of roles, from administrative support in a hospital to case management for adult males in prison, guiding their reintegration into society. His experience also includes providing counseling for survivors and perpetrators of family domestic violence, as well as youth work in a care school setting.
Brendon holds qualifications that reflect his professional dedication, including a Certificate in Business, a Diploma in Youth Work, and a focus on trauma-informed practice. His leadership experience includes co-chairing a Reconciliation Action Plan, where he worked to strengthen an organization’s approach to engaging with First Nations people in a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed manner.
In his current role as a Transition Coach at Karla Kuliny, Brendon’s passion for helping young people reconnect with their community, country, family, and culture guides his work. He is driven by the belief that while his people have experienced extreme trauma, they are resilient and capable of shaping a better future. For Brendon, making meaningful change in his community is not just a career, but a calling to support his mob in healing, growth, and cultural revival.
Home Stretch Program
Transition Coach
Lois May
Elder & Cultural Navigator
Lois May
Bio Coming Soon...
Care Coordinator (Vacant)
Bio Coming Soon...
Vacant
Lois May
Cultural Lead
Naala Djookan - Vacant
Bio Coming Soon...
The Karla Kuliny Board
Our board members hold extensive experience in service delivery and cultural governance for First Nations people across the social service sector.
