Dawn Walker

Dawn has a strong background in strategic community development; assisting not-for-profit organisations with program development, project planning and grant applications. Her major focus is in the areas of arts/music funding, localised indigenous projects and sustainable living community and/or education projects.

Dawn is also experienced in research, policy development and program delivery in the areas of small business and employment development strategies. As a Policy Advisor for small business issues, Dawn has over ten years experience in preparing cabinet submissions, writing ministerial briefing papers, assisting groups approach Ministers for funding, speech writing, event management, drafting ministerial correspondence, program development and delivery, developing funding guidelines, assessing funding submissions and evaluating/reporting on project outcomes.

This work required a sound understanding of regional issues and Dawn has worked with a wide range of regional stakeholders including Group Training Companies, TAFE, Adult Community Learning Centres, universities, industry/employer groups, economic development organisations and local governments.

Dawn has also been active on a range of community committees including;

Chairperson and board member of a Community Co-operative Child CareCentre involving extensive negotiations with local council to expand Centre from 30 places to 120 places.
Previous Board member of local Primary School and assisted with identification of suitable fund raising/grant sources.
Previous Advisory committee member for local Community Recreational Centre representing the views of the local community.
Past sub-editor of a local newspaper co-operative.
Current member of a local Enviro-Fund advisory committee, set up to manage the administration of a federal government grant for the development of a bush tucker walk and reforestation of indigenous bush land. This role includes grant management for a community arts project and the commissioning and installation of local indigenous art.
Current member of local Coast Care group and community association.

Dawn holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours, Monash University, 1983 and a Graduate Diploma in Adult Education and Training, Melbourne University, 2002. She is currently completing Post Graduate studies at the University of Queensland in Art History.