This panel session will highlight the important role that Tax Clinics play in helping vulnerable community members complete their tax returns. By sharing their clientele’s challenges in managing their finances, the Tax Clinic Directors will underscore the importance of financial literacy in the school curriculum. The session will also discuss careers in tax and business and the benefit of education providers engaging with the community to deliver meaningful outcomes. An opportunity to ask questions will be provided.
Tracey West
Facilitator
Dr Tracey West has been at the forefront of financial education in Australia for over a decade, focusing on improving financial literacy for women and young people. She joined Ecstra Foundation as the Financial Education Manager for the Talk Money with Ecstra Foundation program in 2023, which provides free financial literacy workshops and resources to schools.
Donovan Castelyn
Tax Clinic Director, University of Tasmania
Donovan is the Co-Founder of the Curtin Tax Clinic, Australia’s first pro-bono tax clinic and the impetus for the National Tax Clinic Program and currently a Senior Industry Fellow – Taxation at the University of Tasmania (UTAs) and Director of the UTAs Tax Clinic.
Donovan holds higher degrees and qualifications in law and commerce, is admitted as a Lawyer of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and is recognised as a Chartered Tax Adviser and Chartered Accountant.
Donovan is also pursuing his PhD in financial and tax literacy and regularly works with schools around Tasmania developing materials and delivering lessons on financial concepts and tax.
Rob Whait
Tax Clinic Director, University of South Australia
Dr Rob Whait BSc (Hons) BCom PhD CTA CA FHEA is a Senior Lecturer in Taxation at the University of South Australia Business Unit. He is the founder and Director of UniSA Tax Clinic, which is part of the National Tax Clinic Program and provides free assistance and representation to those who cannot afford a tax agent and cannot complete their tax alone. It also provides valuable work experience to students by bridging the gap between university and the profession. His research is directed toward making the tax system fairer and easier to negotiate by removing legal and administrative barriers, improving consistency in ATO decision-making, and ensuring that taxpayers’ rights are protected. His research also involves studying gaps in tax literacy to inform the development of remedial programs and other assistance. Before becoming an academic, Rob was employed for several years in the tax profession in small and large accounting firms, including one of the ‘Big 4’.
Connie Vitale
Tax Clinic Director, University of Western Sydney
Dr Connie Vitale is a qualified tax professional with a Registered Tax Agent licence, an ASIC registered Agent, and a Senior Accounting Lecturer at Western Sydney University. Connie is the Founding Director, Manager and Supervisor of the Western Sydney University Tax Clinic, which was established in 2019. The Clinic’s objectives are to assist vulnerable taxpayers in Greater Western Sydney and to bridge the gap between theory and practice for WSU students considering taxation as a future career path. To achieve these objectives, Connie brings over 30 years of professional tax experience into the Clinic. Connie has multiple teaching awards excelling at bridging the gap for students between theory and practice. She specialises in financial decision-making, which was the focus of her PhD, and her research expertise has extended to include tax literacy and improving administrative aspects of the tax system for vulnerable taxpayers.
Ann Kayis-Kumar
Tax Clinic Director, UNSW
Dr Ann Kayis-Kumar is Associate Professor of Taxation Law at UNSW Business School, specialising in tax law and policy (both domestic and international). She is the Founding Director of UNSW Tax and Business Advisory Clinic and her research on systemic issues faced by clinic clients has appeared in the media, including ABC’s The Business, Radio National and Channel 10’s The Project TV. Ann serves on the Tax Institute’s National SME Technical Committee, the Law Council of Australia’s Taxation Committee, and the ATO’s Small Business Stewardship Group and National Tax Clinic Stewardship Group.
