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Staff
Sancha Donald, Chief Executive Officer
Key areas: Strategic development, policy initiatives, advocacy, funding development, stakeholder support and general management.
Sancha oversees the day-to-day running of the organisation including, organisational development and the management of resources. She is responsible for the development of key relationships with the arts sector and disability sector, the promotion of the role of Accessible Arts through networking and representation and advocating for the rights of people with some form of disbaility to access the arts.
Sancha Donald took up the role of CEO of Accessible Arts in 2005. Prior to her current role she was the CEO of Technical Aid to the Disabled. She brings broad general management skills, a knowledge of the disability sector and the not for profit sector to the role.
Email: sdonald@aarts.net.au Phone: 02 9251 6499 ext 102
Josie Cavallaro, Arts Development Officer
Key areas: Providing professional assistance to organisations and individuals in the arts and disability sectors working to establish and improve programs that enable people with disabilities to develop their creative potential.
Josie is responsible for ensuring quality arts programs and creative opportunities for people with a disability across NSW. Liaising with artists, the disability sector and arts workers are an integral part of this role. Her work also extends to enabling platforms for emerging and established artists with a disability to develop and showcase their work.
Josie is a practicing visual artist with over fifteen years experience exhibiting in both Australia and overseas. This includes artist run spaces, museums, galleries and public spaces. She holds an Honors degree in Fine Arts from the University of Western Sydney where she received a student scholarship, enabling her to study at Silpakorn University, Thailand. Her experience as a facilitator and disability arts worker crosses a broad spectrum and has included major art institutions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Space, local government, disability organisations and independent arts projects.
Email: jcavallaro@aarts.net.au Phone: 02 9251 6499 ext 105
Sarah-Vyne Vassallo, Arts Development Officer
Key areas: Providing professional assistance to organisations and individuals in the arts and disability sectors working to establish and improve programs that enable people with disabilities to develop their creative potential.
Sarah-Vyne is responsible for strengthening foundations and networks for artists with a disability. Consulting with the arts and disability sectors to advocate and develop quality performing arts projects.
Sarah-Vyne is a choreographer, performing artist and educator and has worked in theatre, television, commercial dance and community arts over the last decade. She has worked companies such as; Sydney Festival, DirtyFeet, youMove Company, Western Sydney Dance Action, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sidetrack Theatre Company, Disney, ABC, Outstanding Entertainment and The Australian’s Girls Choir. Highlights include Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies & Rugby World Cup Ceremonies (Choreographic Team), Sydney Festival First Night (Guest Choreographer), Pulse8 Dance Theatre (Artist in Residence), Critical Path (Researcher), DirtyFeet (Board Member) A Moment to Shine (Director). Sarah-Vyne is currently undertaking Honours at Macquarie University and is a recipient in the SCOPE (Securing Career Opportunities and Professional Development) program, conducted by the Australia Council for the Arts and Ausdance.
Email: artsdevelopment@aarts.net.au Phone: 02 9251 6499 ext 110
Julie Barratt, Accessible Arts Officer, North Coast
Key areas: Establishing new arts and disability networks and supporting existing opportunities for people with disability across the North Coast region.
Julie is responsible for ensuring quality arts programs and creative opportunities for people with disability across the North Coast of NSW. She is responsible for liaising with artists, the disability sector and arts workers across 13 council regions from Kempsey in the south to Tweed in the north. Enabling platforms for emerging and established artists with disability to develop and showcase their work is an important aspect of her position.
The creative force behind Alstonville’s Barratt Galleries for 5 years, Julie comes to the position with a sound background in arts, teaching and small business management and with a passion for inclusion. Originally from Central Queensland, Julie relocated to the Lismore area in 2004 and has since studied, taught and run her business in the region. In early 2011, Julie took a break to set up a printmaking studio in Nepal for young Deaf women which reinforced her belief in the importance of access to the arts for all people.
Email: jbarratt@aarts.net.au Phone: 02 6628 0297
Sophie Clausen, Access Coordinator
Key Areas: Liaising and consulting with organisations, festivals and audiences to identify successful access initiatives and support implementation.
Sophie liaises with and supports producers, venues and presenters that are currently active in engaging Accessible Arts to improve access. She is also responsible for identifying and working with new stakeholders to advocate for improved access as part of their agendas, and provides information on operational access to develop audiences that include people with disability.
Sophie has worked extensively in the performing arts as an event and production manager. She has worked with STC, MTC and State Theatre Company SA, Company B, Griffin and Playbox as well as working on and with arts festivals including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra’s Australian Theatre Festival, and the Olympic Arts Festival, Sydney. More recently, Sophie has been the event producer on the National Play Festivals in Hobart & Brisbane.
Sophie spent a number of years lecturing stage management and facilitating the running of the production course at NIDA. Although not a practitioner, Sophie loves being a witness to creative expression and story telling in it’s many forms.
Email: ac@aarts.net.au Phone: 02 9251 6499 ext 107
Liz Hill, Policy and Projects Officer
Key areas: Policy and research projects in the arts and disability sector.
The Policy and Projects Officer is responsible for generating, coordinating, collaborating and evaluating issues relating to internal and external policy and research projects. The position holder acts as an advocate for inclusion of people with disability in the arts and facilitates methods of active and representative consultation across communities, government, organisations and with individuals.
Liz's first job in the arts was to coordinate an attempt on the world tap dancing record on the steps of the Opera House and has worked most recently with Playwriting Australia. In between, Liz has had a long career analysing and developing policy for government organisations, working predominantly within children's and community services. Liz has an interest in community theatre and young people, education and the arts and has a Master of Arts (Theatre Studies) from UNSW and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Government and Public Administration from the University of Sydney.
Email: Ehill@aarts.net.au Phone: 02 9251 6499 ext 104
Virginia Pacino, Development Manager
Key areas: Overseeing all aspects of Accessible Arts’ development activity.
Virginia Pacino is responsible for the Accessible Arts’ development plan aiming to secure income and support for our work from government groups, trusts and foundations, individual donors and corporations.
Prior to joining Accessible Arts in 2011, Virginia managed the grants program at Musica Viva Australia. Virginia has a strong personal interest in the arts and disability sectors and brings professional experience and skills from both the arts and education sectors to the role. Virginia holds a BA in Theatre Studies, an MBA (AGSM) from the University of NSW and a postgraduate qualification in Book Editing and Publishing from Macquarie University.
Email: vpacino@aarts.net.au Phone: 02 9251 6499 ext 103
Amanda Tink, Training Coordinator
Key areas: Organising, designing, and facilitating professional training and educational opportunities that foster full inclusion of people with disability in the arts .
Amanda coordinates all aspects of Accessible Arts Education and Training. This includes training on Disability Awareness and Access (with the option of TAFE-accreditation), Disability Action Planning, Arts Awareness; educational seminars and forums; and the Arts Activated Conference.
Amanda is passionate about disability rights as human rights, facilitating for positive change, universally accessible art, and coffee. Amanda has been in the role since October 2010. Previously she worked as the Training Officer at People with Disability Australia (PWD), and, before that, as the CEO of Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN). Her other work has included: producing and presenting Access All Areas (a national radio program on disability-related topics); guest lecturing at Australian Catholic University; movie reviewing for commercial radio; and presenting as a keynote speaker at the Disability Advocacy Resource Units 2nd Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference.
Email: atink@aarts.net.au Phone: 02 9251 6499 ext 106
Jacqui O'Reilly, Communications Coordinator
Key areas: Providing information and referral service to the arts and disability sectors, including website, information service and monthly newsletter.
Jacqui is responsible for writing and editing content for the Accessible Arts website and newsletter and developing communication about creative opportunities for people with a disability across NSW. This involves documenting the projects of Accessible Arts, photography, producing the annual report and gathering news about arts & disability locally, nationally and globally.
Jacqui has worked extensively in community arts and services for many years, including organising events and community groups, training, providing customer service and performing as a musician. Her work with early school leavers in music and communication projects at Hunter Valley WEA was awarded high commendation by the organisation. She has worked on projects with East Side Arts, Newtown Festival, Newcastle Fringe Festival, the Bondi Wave, Electrofringe and in the folk festival circuit as a singer/songwriter. Jacqui is currently developing electronic music projects that include opportunities for people with disabilities. She is passionate about participation in the Arts and the connection and voice this can provide.
Email: info@aarts.net.au Phone: 02 9251 6499 ext 101
Jennifer Teo, Web Coordinator
Key areas: Developing and managing the website, podcast and social media sites.
Jennifer is responsible for the development and management of the Accessible Arts website, podcast, social media and online presence.
Jennifer is a qualified Occupational Therapist and has worked in the disability sector for over sixteen years. She has worked on community development projects, developing aged care and disability services and resources with indigenous communities throughout Central Australia and Cape York. Jennifer is a new media artist and has been a Sydney director of the Liquid Architecture festival of sound arts. She has produced numerous electronic and experimental music events in Sydney and Cairns since the early 90’s. Currently, Jennifer produces and curates an experimental music podcast called Eleven Eleven, and is also a Director at Plum Industries.
Email: web@aarts.net.au
Mukesh Bhardwaj, Accounts and Administration Manager
Key areas: General company administration, office and resource management, accounts and overall financial management.
Mukesh holds professional membership of CPA Australia (CPA), National institute of Accountants (PNA), Chartered Secretaries (ACIS) and AIM. Educated in India, Nigeria and Australia in the field of accounting, commerce and computer science. He has worked in various commercial organisations in accounting, finance and management.
Email: mbhardwaj@aarts.net.au Phone: 02 9251 6499 ext 108