About

Our Story

The Central Coast Community Council (CCCC) has been supporting community service organisations since 1993 as a regional organisation to disseminate information and co-ordinate area responses for service providers/groups on the Central Coast.

Woodport Retirement Village was the location where the Central Coast community, represented by community groups as well as Local, State and Federal government departments, decided that there was a need for a regional body and that it would be given the name of Central Coast Community Council.
On 21 December 1994 the CCCC became an incorporated body. The first funding received was $10,000 through NCOSS in May 1994 which allowed us to employ a worker for 10 hours per week to provide support to the working party.

The New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) and the CCCC are parties to an Agreement for Funding for Services – Program – Targeted Early Intervention.  The program scope includes Education and Skills Training, Activities, Information/ Advice/ Referral and Community Sector Coordination.

Our Programs and Initiatives

During 2020-21 the Central Coast Community Council (CCCC) commenced the first year of the Targeted Early Intervention (TEI) Program funded by the Department of Communities and Justice.

The TEI Program is focused on providing early help and support to children, young people, families and communities within NSW who are experiencing, or at risk of vulnerability. The objective of the TEI program is to provide targeted services at the point where they can have the most impact, and deliver the best investment for communities and government.

The TEI Program has been extended to 30 June 2025.

The CCCC facilitates and is engaged with Interagency meetings and forums. The Youth, Birth to Five Years, Central Coast Young Parents and Family Interagencies are led and nurtured by the CCCC.

Interagencies are important sources of sharing information and developing professional networks. Collaboration within interagency meetings is “the process of agencies joining together for the purpose of interdependent problem solving that focuses on improving services to our local community …collaboration occurs when people from different organisations produce something through joint effort, resources and decision making, and share ownership of the final product or service.”

We work to prevent inadequacy and inequity in the delivery of services to disadvantaged communities on the Central Coast.

MEET OUR TEAM

We have a highly skilled team whose talents encompass enterprise, governance, social inclusion, human resources, marketing and vast experience working with Government at local, state and federal levels.

President

Vice President

Treasurer

Secretary

Committee Member

Committee Member

Committee Member

Regional Development/ Chief Executive Officer

Community Engagement Coordinator

Beth Bolte

Beth has lived on the Central Coast most of her life, being involved in community organisations as much as practicable whilst juggling a busy family life, work, and study.

Past working and voluntary roles include: registered nurse and midwife at local hospitals; Nursing tutor at University of Newcastle; local high school teacher (both in the public and private sectors); voluntary literacy tutor, The Glen; TAFE Teacher Consultant (Learning and Mental Health) at Gosford and Ourimbah campuses.

At present Beth is semi-retired, enjoying the freedom to complete a new area of study, an online Certificate III in Business.

Beth feels her years of community commitment, the awareness of local history and issues, and involvement with regional needs of the broader community, can contribute to the Council’s social justice endeavours.

Melissa Olsen

Melissa is a proud and long term resident of the Central Coast. She is a highly capable human resources executive with experience leading numerous high performing HR teams in a variety of industries across Australia and internationally. Melissa has a proven track record in cultural transformation, change management, talent management and employee relations. Melissa has achieved a Masters of Business Administration (Leadership), Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate of Business Administration (Leadership), Bachelor or Business (majoring in HR), Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Communications) and is a PROSCI qualified change manager.

Lillias Bovell

Arriving in the Central Coast 15 years ago from WA, Lillias has a strong and committed history of involvement with her local community.

A former elected member of local government – including a term as deputy mayor and chair of council finance – Lillias was also actively involved in her children’s pursuits as they were growing up; P&C President, Group Scout Leader, and junior sport coach.

Professionally, she qualified as a biochemist in the UK and gained a BSc specialising in pollutants and toxicology at Murdoch University.  Lillias is a founding member of the Centre for Excellence in Cleaner Production at Curtin University.  She also completed the Aust Institute of Company Directors course.

Lillias was elected the Australian Delegate to a national industry association World Congress encouraging sustainable solutions to pollution issues worldwide. She held the position for 4 years.

Semi-retired Lillias is currently the Deputy Chair of the Central Coast Local Health District Community Engagement Advisory Board, sits on the Clinical Risk Management Committee, is an active Rotarian and an avid supporter of the local arts.

Having worked in all three levels of government and the private sector Lillias has a clear understanding of how each sector operates and with collaboration where each can contribute to improve outcomes for the Central Coast.  She is passionate about engaging with our Community, including, supporting and encouraging people in managing their own future.

Veronica Nash

Veronica was raised on the Central Coast. She left to study economics and sociology at university, later working in the government sector. She then travelled extensively, finally returning to live on the Central Coast and gaining a law degree. She practiced law for many years on the Central Coast whilst raising her family. She continues to reside on the Coast and has maintained her passion for community and social justice.

Veronica Nash

Emma Bucholtz

Emma Joined Central Coast Community Council in March 2023 as a Board Director and has over 23 years’ experience working across all community service business streams including Early and middle Childhood services, Youth services, Aged Care services, NDIS Disability Services, Gambling counselling, Home Building and Modifications service, Contract management across whole of government service system (Government funding and fee for service) and oversight of community programs. Emma has extensive experience in Government and Non-Government organisations,  holds a Post Graduate Degree in Business Administration and is passionate about providing quality services to all people in community.

Brittani Presland

2023 Young Person of the Year (Winner) – Brittani Presland
Brittani has recent experience working in the financial sector and local not-for-profit organisations. Brittani is a MBA and Master of Finance student and has studied governance at AICD. Brittani serves on a range of community-based boards and committees, contributing sound financial and accounting knowledge to the table. Brittani is a member of the Wyong Neighbourhood board, she is Secretary on the Scouts NSW public fund committee, an assistant treasurer to Cooks Hill lifesaving, on the Newcastle City Council Youth Committee, and lastly on the Gosford Preschool board. Brittani is ambitious, driven and serves her community well in these roles. Brittani brings a youth perspective to the board and a commitment to the local community.

Souzan Yates

Coming soon!

Dr Penny Newson

Penny has lived on the Central Coast most of her life, teaching at TAFE, lecturing at University of Newcastle and being involved in community through various organisations.

Penny’s interests lie in the development of pathways and community infrastructure that can support and facilitate the potential of all community members.

Penny has lectured at University of Newcastle (Psychology), taught at TAFE (both in the disadvantaged and higher education sectors) and has also been a local business owner.

TAFE teaching in the Outreach section at Gosford, Ourimbah and Wyong campuses, as well as running her own not-for-profit, Happiness Habits Inc, has involved working closely with community members.

Penny‘s many years of community involvement along with longstanding local knowledge and connection, can hopefully enhance and advance the organisation’s promotion of community and social justice for all residents of the area.

Rebecca Smith

Rebecca has lived on the Central Coast all of her life. Like many other Central Coast residents, Rebecca spent the majority of her career commuting to Sydney. After working for ASX listed companies in the fields of Marketing, Communications and Branding, Rebecca decided that it was time to work closer to home and gain a greater understanding of the Central Coast community.

Rebecca’s role is to provide marketing/events support and guidance for collaborative sector initiatives. These have included expos, forums and awareness raising events.

Rebecca Smith
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