Helen J SheilHelen is a community development practitioner, researcher, educator, essayist, poet and activist. She has worked within communities, TAFE and Universities at undergraduate and post-graduate level, in local government and organisations in urban and rual communities. Most recently for local government with communities in recovery after the 2019 - 2020 bushfires in East Gippsland.Her interest in skills, knowledge and resources relevant to community engagement began in Kensington working for Save the Children fund as After School Care Co-Ordinator. A challenging time for the Kensington Women's and Childcare Co-operative to purchase a 'home' while going about the daily business of after school care without premises. Her employment includes the Nunawading Adventure Playground, coordinating Elley Park Community Centre in Blackburn, then East Gippsland Community College of TAFE as Orbost Outreach worker active in establishing the first East Gippsland Neighbourhood House. Social Researcher of coordinated care in South Gippsland and Hard to Reach communities in Moreland. Her research of Rural Women's Programs became the guiding principles and practice that informed a post-graduate course for community engagement facilitators at Monash University (2000-2007). The revised text is a resource for a new wave of community engagement facilitators. Returning to East Gippsland, Helen and her partner bought a quirky caravan park. She lives on Lake Tyers where concern for this catchment led to hosting 'Stories of Influence' (2014 - 2023). https: //ruralcommunities.com.au/stories Helen is a founding member of Centre for Rural Communities and a collaborating member of the Victorian Universities Regional Research Network, an editorial correspondent and a peer reviewer for New Community journal, and an active presenter at regional, national and international community development conferences.Publications include journal articles, book chapters, reflective essays and a professional development manual, and study circle kits on rural futures and preparation, management and recovery from disasters. https: //ruralcommunities.com.au Read More Read Less