Our Team

Redgum Justice is a dynamic team of professionals who are committed to supporting the community with their legal expertise

TEAM MEMBERS

Meet our Leadership Team

Sarah Patterson

Chief Executive Officer

Sarah is an experienced leader with over a decade of senior leadership experience in Community Legal Centres and not-for-profit organisations and substantial experience as a Board Director. Sarah is passionate about equity and is a Justice of the Peace, as well as a firm advocate for vulnerable people, and has dedicated her career to supporting our community’s most vulnerable. Sarah has a Master’s in Business Leadership and is a Graduate of the Institute for Company Directors, and is currently a Board Member of Community Legal WA, and a former Councillor with the City of Gosnells.

Funmi Adesina

Principal Solicitor

Funmi obtained her Bachelor of Laws and Barrister at Law degrees in Nigeria in 1994 and 1995 and Master of Laws in South Africa. She worked in private law firms in Nigeria mostly in Property and Commercial litigation. She was also admitted to practice in Lesotho, Southern Africa in 2002. She migrated to Australia with her husband and 2 of her 3 children in 2002 and understands the challenges of new migrants in Australia. Funmi joined Gosnells CLC in 2003 as a Student Volunteer whilst doing her conversion program at Murdoch University. Thereafter, she did her one-year Articleship with GCLC and continued to volunteer until she commenced paid employment in January 2007, and has been with the organisation ever since.

Linda Degnan

Finance Manager

Linda is a Registered BAS Agent with over 20 years of experience in financial and business management. Linda has experience in both commercial, political, and non-profit arenas, including being a Small Business Financial Counsellor at Gosnells CLC. Linda is passionate about working in the community not for profit sector and feels proud to be a part of the Redgum Justice team!

TEAM MEMBERS

Meet our Legal Team

Janet De Brito

Senior Solicitor

Janet’s qualifications include Master of Laws (Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution), Juris Doctor, Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution Practice, Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and Bachelor of Legal Studies. Janet has also completed studies in the areas of Computer Science, Education, Psychology, Mental Health and Social Services. Having lived and worked in legal services in Portugal, Janet is fluent in reading, writing and speaking Portuguese and subsequently can provide legal services to Portuguese clients. At Regum Justice Janet works exclusively in the areas of Criminal Injuries Compensation and Mediation, and clients describe her as being friendly, open, supportive and straight-forward.

Sarah Monahan

Solicitor

Sarah graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Commerce in 2016, and from the Australian National University in 2018 with a Juris Doctor. During her studies, she clerked at a top-tier firm and volunteered at community legal centres. With a legal career starting in the ACT as a conveyancing clerk before she was admitted in October 2019 to the ACT Magistrates Court and High Court of Australia. Sarah's main areas of practice have been family law, property, and wills and estates in NSW and the ACT. Sarah moved to Perth in November 2023 and has continued her practice in family law for de facto and married couples, as well as restraining orders in the local Magistrates Court. Sarah takes an empathetic yet practical approach in helping clients navigate these difficult periods and deriving efficient outcomes. Sarah is currently studying a Masters of Applied Law majoring in Family Law.

Kalanie Fernando

Solicitor

Kalanie Fernando has worked in the area of family law since 2016. She graduated from Curtin University with a Bachelor of Laws, completed her Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice and was admitted to practice in 2021, and has been an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner since 2022. Kalanie is a specialist in Family Violence and has substantial experience in supporting women experiencing violence to safely leave a violent situation. Kalanie is the lead legal practitioner in the Leave Safe, Stay Safe program, supporting women who have experienced Family Violence prior to being incarcerated to change their situation pre-release from prison so that they can start over safely.

Martins Abolarin

Solicitor

Louise Mcnamara

Solicitor

Louise is a Family Lawyer with a special interest and extensive experience in Property Law matters. Prior to Law, Louise was involved in the Finance industry, helping people to manage their finances and property portfolios. Louise is proud to work in a Community Legal Centre and assist people to have a voice in the Justice system. Louise has worked all around Western Australia, including rural and remote communities, helping local people to access justice and address the issues that hold them back. When she isn't helping clients, you can find her fishing or gardening.

Shufaa Athman

Solicitor

Shufaa is a dedicated legal practitioner with a strong focus on Family Law. She completed her Bachelor of Laws (2014), followed by a Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and a Master of Applied Law (Family Law). Shufaa was admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia in November 2016 and to the High Court of Australia in January 2017. In her final year at the University, Shufaa was a recipient of the 2014 CISWA City of Perth International Student of the Year. In October 2013, she received the 2013 ECU Vice-Chancellor Student Award for Contribution to University Life. Shufaa practised solely in Family Law matters in busy and fast-paced private legal practices including a national legal practice

Sonali De Alwis

Solicitor

Sonali completed her Bachelor of Laws at UWA in 2002 and her professional experience includes writing the Edith Cowan University Family Law Unit (FL 4607), establishing the Legal Department of the Women’s Legal Referral Service, and as a supervisor for the Legal Advice Service where she was trained in the Commonwealth Family Relationship Services Program in Melbourne and Canberra. She has Legal Practice experience in Child Protection, Legal Aid and as a private practitioner, trained under the supervision of 2 Accredited Family Law Specialists. Her work is published in the “Journal of Human Rights in the Asia Pacific Region.

Robert Vincent

Solicitor

Rob is a recently admitted lawyer and after completing his Juris Doctor at UWA and GDLP with the College of Law, he has gained over 12 months experience in both private law firms and community legal centres. Rob is a dedicated member of the team who showcases a deep-rooted passion for all facets of Community Law and specialises in Family Law and Civil Law matters. Rob comes from a background of 20 years service in the Australian Defence Force and also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Curtin University, making him a well rounded and mature lawyer capable of navigating the most complex legal matters.

Monty Grover

Solicitor

Monty is a distinguished legal professional with a robust academic and professional background, holding both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree with a specialization in Commercial Law. He is admitted to practice as a Lawyer in Western Australia and India, reflecting his broad legal expertise and international perspective. Monty is deeply committed to community service, exemplified by his role as a volunteer solicitor at the Gosnells Community Legal Centre. His volunteer work focuses on Family Law and Civil Law, where he applies his legal knowledge to support and advocate for those in need. In addition to his legal practice,

Tara Sherwood

Solicitor

Tara began working in the legal sector in 2017 as a Mediation Coordinator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. In 2020 she was admitted to the Supreme Court and began practicing law specialising in Child Support, Tenancy and Family Law. Tara studied for a Bachelor of Laws, Grad Dip of FDRP and Grad Dip of Legal Practice, and has a passion for empowering people to navigate the legal system and resolving conflict through mediation and negotiation.

Amutha Kurasamy

Solicitor

K Amuthavalli G P (Amutha) Kumarasamy has a Bachelor's degree in Creative Multimedia, majoring in Media Innovation, from Malaysia, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Perth, WA, and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the College of Law in Perth, WA. Amutha was admitted as a lawyer in Perth in 2024 and has been with Redgum Justice since her Practical Legal Training. Amutha has a deep passion for justice and a special interest in women’s prison services. Amutha is dedicated to supporting individuals who are released from prison in their journey to become positive members of the community and lead peaceful lives.

Sharon Edwards

Mediation Coordinator

Sharon is a highly experienced community service professional with extensive experience across multiple areas of community service, including Disability services, Administration, intake and assessment, Criminal Injury Compensation and Mediation. Sharon has been with Redgum Justice for 3 years coordinating our Family Dispute Resolution (Mediation) program, and is passionate about supporting people to resolve their matters outside of court, and assisting people to get closure after a traumatic event.

TEAM MEMBERS

Meet our Tenant Advocacy Team

Renaye Dicker-Lee

Tenant Advocate

Renaye is a passionate community service specialist who has dedicated her career to supporting people who are experiencing hardship. Renaye has worked in legal administration and triage for Community legal Centres, as well as Financial Counselling before settling into her career as a Tenant Advocate. Renaye provides training and support to new Tenant Advocates and has extensive experience supporting clients at court. Renaye’s specialist areas are negotiations with landlords, Department of Housing breach appeals and Bond disputes.

Lisa Castel

Tenant Advocate

Lisa is a passionate and committed advocate for her clients. Her experience in this field is firmly rooted in 15 years of experience in the real estate industry, which has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the housing market. This background enables Lisa to effectively guide tenants in both private and public housing through a variety of situations. Whether it's addressing maintenance issues, negotiating lease terms, or advocating for fair treatment, Lisa leverages her expertise to ensure tenants receive the support and solutions they deserve. Lisa’s real estate experience has sharpened her skills in negotiation and problem-solving.

TEAM MEMBERS

Meet our Leave Safe Stay Safe Team

Mehreen Basaria

Project Manager

Mehreen is a business management professional with over a decade of experience, holding an MBA in Human Resources and a Diploma in Financial Counselling. Her career is distinguished by a profound commitment to empowering women, a passion that is reflected in her dedicated involvement with the "Leave Safe Stay Safe" project. This intensive program is designed to support and empower victims of family domestic violence (FDV) who are currently in women’s prisons. With a rich background in cultural understanding gained from her years living in Pakistan and the UAE, Mehreen brings a nuanced perspective to her work. Fluent in English, Urdu, and Hindi, and possessing a comprehensive understanding of Gujarati, she is adept at navigating diverse cultural contexts. Since relocating to Australia as an immigrant in 2017, Mehreen has focused on advocating for and empowering immigrant and Aboriginal women, leveraging her unique background and expertise to drive impactful change.

Winnie Hayward

FDV Advocate

Winnie

Gaylene Bolton

FDV Advocate

Gaylene Bolton is a proud Noongar women that loves to help people achieve their goals. Gaylene supports regional women in Bandyup prison who have experienced Family Violence to change their lives. Gaylene also loves spending time with her family. Family is everything.

TEAM MEMBERS

Meet our Financial Counsellors

Jamie Leroux

Financial Counsellor

Jamie Le Roux is a Financial Counsellor who for over three years, has helped over 600 people navigate financial hardship and acute financial issues. With a Diploma in Community Services (Financial Counselling), Jamie strives to give a breadth of advice in relation to financial issues with warmth and a consideration for underlying complex issues affecting individuals. Jamie also holds a specialty in Small Business Financial Counselling. Jamie’s passion lies in helping individuals and businesses navigate difficult immediate challenges with the goal of working towards long-term financial stability.

Minh Bui

Financial Counsellor

Minh Bui is a financial counsellor with 19 years of experience in small business management across retail, hospitality, and logistics. Minh understands the real-world challenges individuals face and brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to the team. Passionate about empowering clients, Minh fosters strong connections and emphasizes practical, common-sense solutions. Committed to reduce financial stress, Minh provides a supportive environment for clients to explore options and develop actionable plans for a brighter financial future. MInh has a diverse educational background with a Bachelor in Food Science, Bachelor degree of Commerce and Accounting, Graduate Diploma in Financial Counselling and Graduate Diploma in Community Service.

TEAM MEMBERS

Meet our Energy Coaches

Donna Kasper

Energy Coach

Donna has over 20 years of experience in community services in both the aged and disability services sector, and has a deep understanding of the challenges facing people in our community. Donna loves her role as an Energy Coach as she enjoys working out in community and seeing how the program benefits so many people. When asked what she does for a living, Donna says she helps people save money and the planet!

Joshua Marr

Energy Coach

Josh has dedicated his career to assisting vulnerable individuals facing severe financial hardship. As a Financial Counsellor, Josh’s role involved helping clients budget and manage their money effectively. Prior to this, Josh garnered extensive experience in finance and small business. Given the current cost of living challenges, Josh understands the crucial need to save on bills to allocate income towards other essential expenses, hence his involvement in the Energy Ahead program. Josh has a Diploma of Business and a Bachelor of Commerce, and his specialty lies in understanding each client's unique situation and offering tailored, practical solutions to meet their needs

TEAM MEMBERS

Meet our Administrative Team

Kylie Honey

Admin Assistant

Kylie has over three decades of administrative and customer service experience in various business areas, and prides herself on excellent service for our clients. Kylie has a passion for Family Violence, having excelled in her studies in the field, and supports the staff in all of Redgum Justice’s programs to assist vulnerable women to address Family Violence, and build resilience. Kylie manages all of the triage and intake assessments for Redgum Justice services and supports our administration volunteer pool to understand community legal process.

Renu Nair

Admin Assistant

TESTIMONIALS

What our clients have to say about us

Sarah Patterson

Chief Executive Officer

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Suite 1, 2232 Albany Hwy Gosnells WA 6110

Redgum Justice acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land, the Noongar Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and recognise their strength, resilience, and capacity in this land.

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