About Us
Our Purpose
To create a vibrant, inclusive arts and cultural organisation that uses storytelling to inspire cohesion and understanding through rich and diverse programs.
Open Mon – Thur. Contact us today.
Founded in 2015 by John and Caroline Wood, the Centre for Stories is a vibrant, inclusive literary arts and cultural organisation.
The Centre uses storytelling to grow skills and confidence, inspire understanding and promote community cohesion.
Our work is about more than words. We are led by and empower storytellers and writers whose experiences and perspectives may have been historically disempowered and disenfranchised.
With a focus on cultural diversity, we create opportunities for storytellers and writers who are underrepresented in Western Australia’s creative sector. In sharing their stories with arts and community audiences, we drive social change.
Read our Reforming Literature: National Cultural Policy Submission to learn about our beliefs on the literature and publishing industry in Australia.
What we do
Our services are aimed at helping individuals and organisations tell stories that engage, inform, and influence. The Centre provides a variety of services and amenities to people, community groups, government agencies, and the corporate sector. These include:
- Storytelling training and services
- Writing Programs for emerging, mid-career and established writers
- Producing writing and storytelling workshops, panel conversations and other events
- Print, online, audio, and video-storytelling production services
- Professional development training for teachers, writers, and oral storytellers
- Mentoring for emerging practitioners
Past clients
We have worked with the Department of Health, Youth Link, North Metropolitan Adult Migrant Education Program, City of Wanneroo, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Curtin University, and others.
Annual Reports
Help us do more
We’re on a mission to create a diverse, inclusive, and cohesive society through the art of storytelling. Join us in supporting emerging artists and sharing powerful stories from across our community.
Our team
-
Caroline Wood
Chief Executive Officer
Caroline Wood is responsible for advancing the vision and direction of Centre for Stories. She has held senior management positions at the University of Western Australia and served on several boards, including Amnesty International Australia and Small Publishers Network. She was the co-founder and director of Margaret River Press.
-
Robert Wood
Program Director – Writing and Publications
Robert Wood is responsible for developing partnerships with artists and social change organisations; planning writing, publishing and mentoring programs and implementing best-practice models that improve wellbeing. His concepts include Backstories and Portside Review.
-
Sisonke Msimang
Program Director – Oral Storytelling
Sisonke Msimang is a renowned storyteller who has worked with The Moth, TED, Yale University, Bellagio Centre and Aspen Institute. Sisonke facilitates story training workshops, develops training resources, and establishes the direction of story performances.
-
Logan Griffiths
Program Co-ordinator – Writing and Publications
Logan Griffiths coordinates the signature writing program, Writing Change, Writing Inclusion. She also coordinates the quarterly digital journal Portside Review and oversees production of the Centre for Stories’ print publications.
-
Luisa Mitchell
Program Co-ordinator – Oral Stories and Events
Luisa Mitchell coordinates the oral storytelling program, including story collections, training and workshops, and managing Centre for Stories’ events and festivals. Luisa’s background is in writing, film and community arts.
-
Jasmyn Hutin
Program Co-ordinator – Youth Storytelling
Jasmyn Hutin coordinates the Word Up youth storytelling program, working with schools to empower young people to learn the skills and joy of storytelling. Jasmyn has taught in Norway, Kenya and France, and delivered specialist literacy programs to youth in custody.
-
Zhanna Needham
Finance Officer
Zhanna Needham has over fifteen years’ experience as an accountant and finance officer for large corporations, small business, and not-for-profit organisations. She is responsible for preparing budgets, financial reports, and processing payments.
-
Paola Borquez-Arce
Research Officer
Paola Borquez-Arce is a PhD candidate in Biological Anthropology and has experience in the community development sector as an advocate for cultural diversity and equity. Paola is collating and coordinating data for our WA Stories project.
-
Pranay Singh
Marketing Officer
Pranay Singh is the primary coordinator of Centre for Stories’ social media and marketing strategy.
Our Board
-
Jane den Hollander
Chair
Professor Jane den Hollander AO was Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University from 2010 until 2019, and Interim Vice-Chancellor of the University of Western Australia in 2020. In 2019 she received an Order of Australia for distinguished service to tertiary education and was named in the Victorian Honour Roll for Women. Jane has done significant work to ensure equal opportunity for learners and working women as well as working to better enable the arts in regional communities.
-
Neil Fernandes
Deputy Chair
Neil Fernandes has held a number of senior positions in the vocational education and training sector over 30 years. He was the Managing Director of the former Central Institute of Technology between 2005 and 2016, and served as the Deputy Director-General (Training) in the Department of Education and Training.
-
Raj Thethy
Treasurer
Raj Thethy is the Chief Financial Officer at Youth Focus. Raj has had over 23 years experience in the not-for-profit, public, and private education sectors. His responsibilities have covered financial accounting, strategic planning, market and competitor analysis, and business improvement and development.
-
Rachel Bin Salleh
Board Member
Rachel Bin Salleh is the Publisher of Magabala Books. She won the inaugural Literary Lions Medal from Writing WA in 2020. Based in Rubibi/Broome, Rachel is descended from the Nimunburr and Yawuru peoples of the Kimberley region, and has worked in publishing for over 20 years.
-
Julie Beeck
Board Member
Julie Beeck has enjoyed a fulfilling career delivering market research and marketing strategy over the last 30 years. Most recently Julie was Executive Director at Metrix Consulting for ten years, and prior to this was Australian Managing Director of global consulting firm Synovate (now Ipsos).
-
Randal Humich
Board Member
Randal Humich is a property investor and developer who runs a family office based in Fremantle. His work has led him to be a supporter of the arts and he believes that arts and culture are the key to reviving the City. Randal also provides advice and support to other non-profit organisations.
-
Simone Flavelle
Board Member
Simone Flavelle brings a wealth of experience in the theatre and screen industry, with over 30 years of involvement. As a co-founder of DADAA and Diversity Manager of Screenwest, she produced inspiring digital projects and worked closely with artists with disabilities.
-
Charlotte Solomon
Secretary
Charlotte Solomon is a human rights lawyer working in Elder rights, advocating for older people experiencing all forms of elder abuse to live with dignity and respect. Charlotte worked previously across a wide range of roles in Commonwealth and State government agencies.
Partnerships
Our partnerships are collaborations that fund us, work with us, share expertise, and support us in delivering our objectives. Thank you to each of our partners for their ongoing support and contribution.
If you’re interested in partnering with the Centre for Stories, please Get in touch.
