Meet The Board
ARTA is governed by a voluntary Board of nine elected representatives. The four Executive Board members are President, Vice President, Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Secretary. The other five Board member positions will take the lead in driving a portfolio of interest.
Currently the portfolios which have been identified are:
- Education and Training
- Marketing
- Care and Support Services
- Disability and Mental Health
- Governance and Professional Scope
Board members are drawn from all areas of our membership – although only Certified Members can serve on the Board. Annual elections are held, usually at the AGM. Currently ARTA Board members are:
President
Charlise Bennett
Charlise Bennett is a passionate advocate for recreational therapy and its vital role in enhancing wellbeing across the lifespan and diverse populations. With years of hands-on experience and leadership in the field, Charlise recently completed a PhD exploring the evolving scope of practice, professional reasoning, and education within recreational therapy across Australia. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to person-centred care, innovation in practice, and strengthening the recognition and impact of recreational therapists within health and community settings.
Board Portfolios
ARTA’s Board is comprised of nine voluntary members. Four members from the executive and five Ordinary Board Members.
The Board meet via video conference each month. At the Annual National Conference which is held in a different city each year, the Board holds an all day face to face meeting.
There are so many aspects to governing, guiding and administering a national not for profit organisation – the work of the ARTA Board is much appreciated by ARTA staff, Board members and membership in general.
To help manage the tasks involved, the ARTA Board often establishes projects. While the president and all the Board are kept appraised of the progress of each project – a Project Leader from the Board takes responsibility for ensuring the project is progressing and completed.
Vice President
Renee Smith
Renee has been working within the aged care sector for the past 25 years, holding roles such as Recreation Officer, Degree Qualified Diversional Therapist (2003), Diversional Therapy Manager, an Allied health consultant and private consultant, TAFE teaching, and presently working for HammondCare, as a Team Leader.
She completed her Bachelor's in 2000 and signed up as a student member of ARTA. This was where her first glimpses of the passion that our members have for our profession were experienced. During her years as a Diversional Therapist, she has held positions on the DTA NSW board, worked with a team of members within our professional body as National Chair through the birth of Diversional Therapy Australia, our National Association.
Knowing the benefits of Diversional Therapists in Dementia Care have, Renee went on to complete her Bachelor of Dementia Care in 2017, as ongoing learning and professional development is key to strength and expertise.
Each role Renee has been in she sees as a privilege to be a part of, which has provided experiences, challenges, and opportunities to learn and to teach as well as motivating opportunities for change and growth within an ever-changing industry.
Renee is excited to continue the dedicated work of all members of the board, as a team moving ARTA into the future of recognition with our place in the allied health and international arenas.
Treasurer
Stewart Alford
Dr Stewart Alford holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master of Health Science (Aged Care & Health Services Management), alongside a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice and a Bachelor of Health Science (Therapeutic Recreation).
Before moving into academic leadership, Stewart worked as a Recreation Therapist and Recreation Therapy Manager across public health, private, and not-for-profit services. His clinical and research interests span leisure and wellbeing, mental health recovery and personal resilience. He has a strong passion for improving access to therapeutic recreation in rural and marginalised communities and publishes regularly on a variety of topics related to recreation therapy practice.
In his role as Treasurer of Recreational Therapy Australia, Stewart aims to strengthen the financial sustainability of the organisation to support innovation in practice, robust research translation, and workforce development. He is committed to advancing recreational therapy’s voice and impact in health services, ensuring it remains agile and evidence‑informed for evolving community needs.
Secretary
Kayla Garside
Kayla graduated with a Bachelors of Health Science (Therapeutic Recreation) in 2008 from UWS. She has been working as both a Diversional and Recreational Therapist ever since in both NSW and Vic in residential aged care and disability in metro and regional settings. She also has a Diploma in Business and Cert IV. in Community Services.
Kayla has been a member of the association since 2006 and has volunteered as network coordinator for the St. George and Sutherland shire network group, Conference Committee, Marketing committee, Vic Board Representative and Vice President 1. In July 2021 she was appointed DRTA Executive Officer, which allowed for greater representation of the profession nationally.
Kayla is very passionate about the Diversional and Recreation Therapy profession and she hopes to do her part in moving the profession to greater recognition.
Director
Jody Asquith
Jody completed her Bachelor of Health Science (Recreational Therapy) at Western Sydney University in December 2024. For her 560-hour internship, she was placed at the Liverpool Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit where she worked with inpatients, community clients and those transitioning between. Jody currently works part-time as a Diversional Therapist in mental health rehabilitation at Campbelltown Hospital, as well as operating a private practice, “Better Day Recreational Therapy” with a focus on canine-assisted therapy.
Jody started her working life as a mechanical engineer, including working as a consultant which involved managerial and auditing roles. Her experiences as a pet therapy volunteer led her to make a career “sea change” – you might say she’s a good advertisement for “serious leisure”.
Director
Michelle Hill
Michelle is a Recreational Therapist and Mental Health Clinician practicing in inpatient settings, where she champions recovery through meaningful connection and purposeful activity. A recent graduate of Western Sydney University, she brings fresh energy to the profession while honouring its core values: that every person deserves autonomy, choice, and the opportunity to reclaim their life story.
Michelle's approach is deceptively simple—help people rediscover what matters to them. Whether supporting someone to explore a long-forgotten interest, build confidence through creative expression, or take small, brave steps toward wellness, she creates space for transformation. Her work is grounded in trauma-informed, culturally sensitive practice, paired with the kind of calm, hopeful presence that makes difficult conversations feel possible.
Collaborating closely with multidisciplinary teams, families, and community partners, she ensures care is coordinated, responsive, and genuinely person-centered. She tracks outcomes, adjusts interventions, and stays committed to evidence-based practice as daily commitments to the people she serves.
What drives her? The belief that joy, belonging, and purpose aren't luxuries—they're necessities. And that recreational therapy has a unique power to deliver all three.
Outside the clinic, you'll find Michelle in her garden, wandering art galleries, or settling into a theatre seat—reminding herself why beauty, creativity, and leisure matter in the first place.
Meet The Office
DRTA Office Administrator
Diana Tocknell
Diana joined ARTA in 2013 and is currently works part time as the Office Administrator.
Diana has always worked in accounts, administration and credit control in various industries including banking, insurance, engineering, manufacturing and most recently in a clerical role at the local school.
Office Assistant
Jodie Nunes
Jodie's working background was in Administration Management which she took a step away from when she had her first child.
Jodie started working for ARTA in 2010 collating and mailing all the workshop mailers from home!
Jodie continued to do this until both her children started school and has been working at the North Ryde office as ARTA's Office Assistant from 2017.