The team at LWA brings deep expertise in child safeguarding, investigations, governance, policy development, training, and organisational improvement. We deliver independent investigations across key frameworks, including the Client Incident Management System, the Reportable Conduct Scheme, the Worker and Carer Exclusion Scheme, and misconduct matters, drawing on extensive experience in child protection, law enforcement, education, early childhood services, and human services.
Beyond investigations, LWA provides a comprehensive suite of child safeguarding training programs, tailored capability‑building services, professional supervision, and mentoring to strengthen safe and effective practice across the sector.
We also support organisations to build strong systems, policies, governance structures, and service delivery models through our Organisational Development services. Our approach is collaborative, evidence‑informed, and focused on practical, defensible improvements that enhance safety, accountability, and outcomes for children, young people, and communities.
At LWA, our goal is to help organisations create safe, consistent, and high‑quality environments where children and young people can thrive.
Our team is known for:
Providing our clients with high quality service and outcomes.
A balanced approach throughout the investigative process.
Satisfying our clients with good value for their investment.
Being responsive and accessible throughout our engagement.
Act with utmost professionalism and integrity.
Meet Our Team
Christine Wanstall
Director
Her experience in Human Services spans over twenty-five years and includes direct client work in Child Protection and Health, along with significant management and organisational experience in state and local government.
Christine has worked previously with the Department of Human Services in a variety of roles including Manager, Principal Project Officer, and Senior Policy and Program Advisor. Her experience in health has been across a range of services including maternity services with high risk drug dependent pregnancies, general medical units, emergency, intensive care, and aged care services.
Christine’s recent work has focused on the safety of vulnerable clients in community and statutory services. This has included subject matter expert roles for safeguarding the safety of child protection clients in out-of-home care and disability clients in residential services.
She has managed high performing teams and lead a team recognised with a highly commended award in the Department of Human Services Making a Difference Awards 2013.
Christine is passionate about providing high quality consultancy services and looks forward to working with your organisation.
Jane Collins
Senior Associate
Jane has over 20 years experience working with children, youth and families. Jane has worked in child protection including emergency services, out-of-home care and senior policy positions within the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. Jane holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration (Hons), a teaching degree, a diploma in Family Therapy and certification in Prince2 Project Management.
Jane offers a wealth of knowledge and experience in policy, procedures, compliance, project management, data analysis and assessing the quality of care provided to vulnerable people.
Jane is a passionate advocate for vulnerable people and social justice and looks forward to working with your organisation.
Penelope McEncroe
Senior Associate
Penelope (Pen) is a highly experienced professional with more than 20 years’ government experience and over a decade of experience in the management and undertaking of sensitive and complex investigations. Pen has an extensive knowledge and expertise in the field of children and young people and has a specialisation in child safeguarding. Pen has worked on intergovernmental committees in the development of the Victorian and Federal Child Safe Standards and Guidelines, and has undertaken hundreds of investigations, involving child, youth, education, and sports-based organisations.
As well as being a licensed investigator and tertiary qualified writer and editor Pen is also a qualified Trainer and Assessor and has taught in the TAFE and out-of-home care sector training workers in children youth and family intervention, trauma informed care, child safety, CIMS reporting and Reportable Conduct Schemes. Penelope holds a Cert III in Investigative Services, Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment, Advanced Diploma in Community Services Management, Diplomas in Management and Human Resources Management and a Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing from Deakin University.
Penelope is passionate about the importance of keeping children safe and reducing child abuse in our community.
Nicole Jewell
Senior Associate
Nicole has a breadth of experience in community services and healthcare, including roles in leadership and management.
Underpinning her work experience is an extensive range of education including Graduate Diploma of Psychology, Diploma of Management, Certificate IV in Government Investigations, Bachelor of Nursing and, most recently, she has completed a Masters of Child Play Therapy with Deakin University.
Having a passion for protecting and caring for children, Nicole has also spent time volunteering with ARK Australia to support foster and adoptive carers, as well as holding the position of Board Member there. Nicole desires to work with organisations to better the outcomes and processes for children, as well as provide high quality outcomes in line with our service offerings.
Kerry Sayburn
Senior Associate
With over 30 years’ experience in the public service, Kerry is a seasoned strategic thinker adept at translating vision into actionable plans, with a track record of success across operations, policy, programs, and corporate services.
Kerry possesses extensive executive leadership experience, excelling in strategic project management, organisational change management, and fostering a positive organisational culture. Passionate about continuous learning, Kerry holds an Executive Master of Public Administration, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts (Major - Psychology and Sociology).
Kerry is motivated by driving initiatives that empower and sustain the community and aspires to leave a positive and constructive leadership legacy.
Justine Scott
Senior Associate
With more than 30 years of investigative experience in law enforcement, government regulatory bodies, aged care sector and private industry, Justine brings a wealth of expertise to our team.
Justine's passion for safeguarding children and vulnerable people is evident from her extensive experience with the Victoria Police Sexual Offences and Child Investigation Units; as a Manager in aged care and as a Senior Investigator at the Victorian Institute of Teaching.
With specialist skills in interviewing children and vulnerable people and substantial experience in Reportable Conduct Scheme investigations, Justine consistently delivers excellent results for our clients.
Helen Georgiou
Senior Associate
Helen is a highly respected social care leader, strategic adviser and reform specialist with more than 25 years’ experience across government and community sectors. Her expertise spans children, youth and families, disability, safeguarding, redress and service system reform. Throughout her career, Helen has held senior leadership, policy and operational roles across the Victorian public sector, leading complex services, multidisciplinary teams and major reform initiatives. She is recognised for her ability to navigate complex and sensitive environments, bringing together policy, practice, governance and stakeholder perspectives to deliver practical, sustainable and trauma-informed solutions.
Helen has played key leadership and advisory roles in significant government reform initiatives, including responses to Royal Commissions, Parliamentary Inquiries and Ombudsman investigations. Her experience includes senior leadership of Parentline Victoria, leadership within the Restorative Engagement and Redress Scheme for Victoria Police, co-design and implementation of Victoria’s Direct Personal Response Program under the National Redress Scheme and the Disability Worker Exclusion Scheme, and operational experience in the Adoption and Permanent Care sector here and overseas.
Helen is known for her authentic leadership style, strategic thinking and commitment to building high-performing teams and trusted partnerships. She combines deep operational experience with reform and policy expertise. She is frequently called upon to provide advice and leadership in environments where safeguarding, risk, service quality and stakeholder confidence are critical, helping organisations strengthen governance, navigate complexity and deliver safe, effective and person-centred services.
Helen holds a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences) with majors in Psychology and Sociology from Monash University.
Andrew Hastings
Senior Associate
With more than 30 years of service in law enforcement, including over 22 years as a detective and senior investigator, Andrew brings extensive experience in complex investigations, evidence analysis, witness and victim interviewing, and investigative report writing.
Andrew has specialised in serious criminal investigations, including sexual offences, child abuse and child exploitation. His experience also includes leading investigative teams and conducting sensitive interviews involving vulnerable people.
Andrew brings a professional, impartial and evidence-based approach to investigations, underpinned by a strong commitment to integrity, procedural fairness and achieving accurate, defensible outcomes.
Selma Ramic
Associate
Selma Ramic is a highly accomplished professional with over 10 years of experience in Child and Family Services across Government and Community and Not for Profit Sectors. She has extensive expertise in CIMS and RCS investigations, Child Safe Standards and compliance.
Selma’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Business (Management), Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary), Certificate IV in Government Investigations and Certificate III in Investigative Services (Licensed Investigator)
Selma is dedicated to providing children and clients with a considered, supportive, and positive experience throughout the investigation process.
She understands that these situations can be stressful and works to ensure every individual feels heard, respected, and comfortable. Drawing on professional development training, including Interviewing Children delivered by Griffith University and the Centre for Investigative Interviewing, Selma applies best-practice, evidence-based interviewing techniques. Her approach ensures that vulnerable children, subjects of allegations, and witnesses are treated with procedural fairness, sensitivity, and care.
Known for her calm and gentle manner, Selma adopts a sensitive, trauma-informed approach that helps build trust and rapport. She prioritises creating an environment where everyone feels safe to share their experiences and confident that they will be supported throughout the process.
Sodany Quinn
Associate
Sodany (Sod) is a child safeguarding specialist with over 20 years of experience across Victoria’s community sector. Sod has extensive experience leading complex investigations under the DFFH CIMS and the SSR Reportable Conduct Scheme, with a strong foundation in organisational quality, compliance and risk. Sod holds qualifications in Investigations, Justice, Management and Training and Assessment.
Known for her integrity and balanced approach, Sod pairs her deep commitment to protecting children and young people, and hearing their voice, with being respectful and fair.