CENTRAL COAST

 

OVERVIEW

The Central Coast region of New South Wales is the home of the Darkinjung people and a region rich in cultural heritage with over 7,000 registered Aboriginal sites of cultural significance.

Jawun began sending secondees to the Central Coast in March 2012.

The Central Coast region is bounded by the Hawkesbury River (Dyarubbin) in the south, the Watagan Mountains in the west and the southern end of Lake Macquarie (Lake Awaba) in the north and is aligned to the boundaries of the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council. The region is a network of towns that have been linked in recent years by expanding suburban development.

The Central Coast is home to a diverse and fast growing Aboriginal community of over 17,000 people. Aboriginal people on the Central Coast continue to face a number of significant challenges including employment, education and health. However, the community have embraced community-wide collaboration, underpinned by strong leadership, strong governance structures and a developing economic base. Amidst a changing landscape driven by regional population growth and expanding urban development, the Aboriginal community on the Central Coast have come together to drive changes and deliver services under a collaborative regional governance structure.

WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY

FIELD TEAM

  • Regional Director, Central Coast

    Liz comes to Jawun with 20 years’ experience as a communications and engagement professional across the corporate and government sectors, most recently with Aboriginal Affairs NSW. A proud Jawun alumnus, Liz was lucky enough to do a secondment with Barang Regional Alliance in 2022 and feels honoured to partner again with Barang in her role as Regional Director. Liz is deeply committed to and passionate about the Darkinjung Community and is inspired by the exceptional change makers she gets to work alongside every day.

    To contact Liz, please email lulhmann@jawun.org.a

Ashlee Renshaw

  • General Manager, Regional Investment

    Ashlee joined Jawun in 2023 as General Manager, Partner Engagement, and in 2025 stepped into the role of Acting General Manager, Regional Investment. With a strong background in People and Culture, she brings experience in HR leadership, workforce strategy, and inclusion initiatives. Her career spans both operational and strategic people functions, with a focus on fostering inclusive workplaces, leading philanthropic partnerships, and embedding values-driven practices across diverse sectors.

    Prior to Jawun, Ashlee held senior people leadership roles across blue-collar and corporate environments in the Transport and Urban Services sectors, interfacing with government and private relationships. She has led complex HR programs, managed stakeholder partnerships, and driven initiatives that balance business outcomes with social impact.

    As a Jawun alumna, having participated in 2017 R2 West Kimberley, Ashlee brings deep understanding of Jawun’s purpose and values. 

    Ashlee is honoured to support the Central Coast, Goulburn Murray, East Kimberley, West Kimberley and North East Arnhem Land regions as General Manager Regional Investment. 

    To contact Ashlee, please email arenshaw@jawun.org.au.

CASE STUDIES

Case studies show how Jawun secondees have achieved real results. If you are interested to learn more about Jawun's work in this region, click on the case studies below.

NAISDA

SUPPORTING CULTURAL GROUNDED TRAINING FOR INDIGENOUS ARTISTS

SUPPORTING THE GLEN DRUG AND ALCOHOL REHABILITIATION CENTRE

ELEANOR DUNCAN ABORIGINAL HEALTH CENTRE

PEER TO PEER KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AT DARKINJUNG

DARKINJUNG LOCAL ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL