Speaker Biographies
Monday, 30 May
Welcome to Country
Agnes Shea, Elder of the Ngunnawal people
Agnes Shea is a highly respected elder of the Ngunnawal people of the Australian
Capital Territory (ACT) and its region. She is a foundation member of the United
Ngunnawal Elders’ Council and a member of the ACT Heritage Council. Throughout
her life Agnes has worked towards building a better understanding of Aboriginal
culture among other Australians and is known for her traditional Ngunnawal
‘Welcome to Country’ ceremonies in the ACT.
In 2001, Agnes received the Centenary Medal for her contribution to reconciliation
and the community. Agnes OAM was the first person to receive the Chief Minister’s
Award in 2003 and was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2004 for her service
to the Ngunnawal people and the wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
community of the ACT.
Welcome and Opening
Joan McKenna Kerr, President of National Disability Services
Joan McKenna Kerr is Chief Executive Officer of the Autism Association of Western
Australia and has spent the last 25 years working in the field of disability at a State
and national level. She is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin from where she gained
a Moderatorship in Sociology. She is also a member of the Australian Institute of
Company Directors.
Ms. McKenna Kerr is Chair and National President of NDS and Deputy Chair of NDS
WA. She is a current member of the NDIS Independent Advisory Council; and a
Director and Vice-President of the Australian Advisory Board on Autism Spectrum
Disorders. Ms. McKenna Kerr has also recently been appointed to serve on the West
Australian South West Native Title Settlement Pre-Qualification Committee.
What’s next for disability employment?
The Hon. Jane Prentice MP, Assistant Minister for Disability
Services
The Hon Jane Prentice MP, Assistant Minister for Disability Services.
Jane Prentice was elected to the House of Representatives for the Federal Seat of
Ryan as the Liberal National Party Candidate on 21 August 2010. She was
appointed Assistant Minister for Disability Services in February 2016.Prior to her
election to Federal Parliament, Jane served for 10 years as Councillor for the
Brisbane City Council ward of Walter Taylor. In Council, Jane was a member of Civic
Cabinet, with the portfolio of Public and Active Transport and Economic
Development Committee.
Disability Excellence Award
The Hon. Jane Prentice MP, Assistant Minister for Disability
Services
The Hon Jane Prentice MP, Assistant Minister for Disability Services.
Jane Prentice was elected to the House of Representatives for the Federal Seat of
Ryan as the Liberal National Party Candidate on 21 August 2010. She was
appointed Assistant Minister for Disability Services in February 2016.Prior to her
election to Federal Parliament, Jane served for 10 years as Councillor for the
Brisbane City Council ward of Walter Taylor. In Council, Jane was a member of Civic
Cabinet, with the portfolio of Public and Active Transport and Economic
Development Committee.
Developing a desire to work
Darren Coppin, Esher House
Darren specialises in the analysis of behavioural change in the unemployed and the
impact of resilience upon job outcomes.
Darren oversees operations in Australia and Europe implementing academically-
validated behavioural and psychological interventions drawing on direct input from
some of the most esteemed experts in their field.
Darren will speak on how to develop a desire to work among people with barriers to
employment.
Let’s join the dots – can we see the picture?
Ken Baker, Chief Executive, National Disability Services
Ken Baker is the Chief Executive of National Disability Services (NDS), the peak
association for non-government disability service organisations. In that role, he
provides information, representation and policy advice.
Ken has worked in social policy and public affairs for 30 years. Based in Canberra,
he is currently a member of the NDIS Independent Advisory Council and other
committees advising on disability policy.
With a membership of around 1100 non-government organisations, NDS promotes
and improves services which support people with disability to participate in all
domains of life, including employment.
PANEL: How can we drive employment opportunities for people with
disability?
Ken Baker, NDS
Maryanne Diamond, NDIA
Maryanne is the General Manager Media, Communications and Engagement at the
National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). She is the chair of the International
Disability Alliance (IDA) and the Immediate Past President of the World Blind Union
(WBU).
Maryanne has held a range of roles in Australia and at the global level for more than
25 years. She was the inaugural CEO of the Australian Federation of Disability
Organisations and most recently was the General Manager Advocacy and
Engagement at Vision Australia until November 2015.
Maryanne’s most significant achievement was leading the WBU delegation during
the negotiations and diplomatic conference with The World Intellectual Property
Organisation (WIPO) that led to the adoption of the Marrakesh treaty to Facilitate
Access to Information for persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired or otherwise Print
Disabled in June 2013.
In June 2015 Maryanne was awarded an Officer in the Order of Australia.
Sean Fitzgerald, C3 Solutions
In mid-2007 Sean started working for Hartley Lifecare, a local accommodation and
support service, to start up and manage their Accenture sponsored Assistive
Technology program. This allowed him to continue his passion in matching
technology to a disabled person’s needs and capabilities. He started focusing his
energies on a "Technology to Work" program aiming at using technology, training
and employer/employee disability awareness to help people get meaningful work.
Sean left Hartley's assistive technology program in late 2009 and now runs his own
technology, training and awareness business for people with a disability, C3
Solutions.
It is Sean's advocacy and technology work that brought him closer to the wider
disability community and acutely aware of individual and families need for a peer to
give them a voice with politicians, government and in the media. Eventually this led
Sean to be a campaigner with the "Every Australian Counts" campaign for a National
Disability Insurance Scheme. His involvement with the campaign has seen him
joining other campaigners at Parliament house lobbying our politicians for a fully
funded NDIS. Sean considers the NDIS a vital initiative for Australia's future as it will
help people and their families be engaging and productive members of society as a
whole.
Marlene Krasovitsky, Australian Human Rights Commission
Marlene Krasovitsky is currently the Director of Willing to Work, the National Inquiry
into Employment Discrimination Against Older Australians and Australians with
Disability with the Australian Human Rights Commission. This Inquiry is being led by
The Hon. Susan Ryan AO, Age and Disability Discrimination Commissioner.
The Inquiry has held over 120 consultations in metropolitan, regional and remote
locations to speak with older people and people with disability about their
experiences of employment discrimination and their ideas for change. In addition,
over 340 written submissions have been received by the Inquiry.
Marlene has worked in Commonwealth and State Government in a range of policy and
operational roles as well as a number of major public inquires including the Review of
the Treatment of Women in the Australian Defence Force and the Special Commission
of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW.
Marlene is currently undertaking PhD studies with the School of Government,
University of Sydney. Marlene holds an Executive Masters of Public Administration
(ANZSOG), a Masters of Business Administration (University of Technology, Sydney)
and is a registered psychologist.
OE – Innovation
Right support, right job, works everywhere
Olivia Sorre, MJP Employment Services
Olivia has a long history working within the Disability and Employment Services
sector across all levels of service delivery.
Manager MJP Employment Services she leads a team of highly dedicated people
working with local communities and businesses to make a difference in daily lives of
people with intellectual disabilities accessing the service. She has a strong record in
Leadership, Change Management, Business Development and Building Team
Capacity.
She is a member of Disability Employment Australia, Edwardstown Region Business
Association and Community Centres SA.
Olivia holds a Diploma in Management and a Bachelor in Behavioural Science.
Opportunities for innovation: bringing the policy drivers together
Chris Gration, CoAct
Chris is the General Manager Growth at CoAct, a network of not for profits that
believe in the power of sustainable, fulfilling work to transform lives and
communities. He’s interested in how we put people and their communities at the
centre of our effort as markets are unleashed across human and disability services.
Before CoAct, Chris led the National Respite Association working with small services
on transition in the NDIS, community aged care, mental health and carer support. He
has a background in social policy and government; financial services and strategy;
and the not for profit sector.
Peer work in action
Damien Becker, Ability Links North West Alliance
Damien Becker has worked in community development for twenty years, specialising
in developing innovative community-led projects and supporting leadership and voice
within marginalised communities. He is passionate about people living with disability
taking leadership roles in the design and implementation of policies and programs
that affect them directly. Damien has a Masters in Community Development and
lived experience of disability, having been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth and
last year receiving a double-lung transplant. He currently works with Ability Links
NSW for Northern Rivers Social Development Council, lead agency of the North
West Alliance.
Prue McCarthy, Ability Links North West Alliance
Prue McCarthy has cerebal palsy from birth, and is an active campaigner for social
inclusion. From an early age she has been a pioneer in accessing the mainstream
education system, and in 1987 won the Orange Junior Citizen of the Year. Prue is
currently working with Ability Links NSW for CareWest, a partner in the North West
Alliance, and is also active on a range of board committees such as Central
Tablelands Housing. As part of her Peer Linker role Prue coordinates a Disability
Awareness Program called ‘Different on the Outside but Same on the Inside’ which
has delivered strong results to a range of primary schools across the Central West of
NSW. Prue loves to travel, and will shortly add China to her extensive list which
includes Europe, UK and South East Asia.
Valerie Thompson, Ability Links North West Alliance
Valerie Thompson is the Program Manager of North West Alliance Ability Links and
coordinates the implementation and delivery of the service across the Northern and
Western regions of NSW. Valerie has a diverse background in strategic planning
and policy development across state and local government as well as the non-
government sector.
OE – Business Challenges
The impact of star ratings on service provision
Ann Nevile, ANU
Dr Ann Nevile is an experienced Australian social policy researcher who has spent
many years evaluating the impact of funding and performance management
frameworks on third sector service delivery agencies and their clients, most recently
in the area of disability employment where she has been Lead Chief Investigator and
sole Chief Investigator in two Australian Research Council Linkage projects.
Today Dr Nevile will be presenting results from the second of these research
projects.
Partnerships deliver results
Justin Brown, Castle Personnel
Justin Brown is the General Manager of Castle Personnel Services.
Having commenced with Castle in 2015, Justin is responsible for the overall
operations and achievements of the business, both DES and NDIS operations.
Always looking for new ideas and innovation in the way a business operates; he is
focused on Castle developing new models of service and the achievement of great
outcomes for the participants.
Justin describes his key responsibility as leveraging the past successes of Castle to
ensure the organisation is capable of succeeding through the significant environment
of change that exists today.
Business initiatives in the current DES environment
Bill Gamack, Epic Assist
As the CEO of EPIC Assist (EPIC), I am responsible for developing EPIC’s business
globally. I have worked in the recruitment industry since 2006. My career has taken
me from working at a major Chartered Accountancy firm in both Australia and
England, to senior management positions in a range of industries, including seven
years in the Middle East.
I joined EPIC because I’m passionate about helping people obtain meaningful work
and aspiring to their greatest potential. As a disability employment organisation,
EPIC was particularly relevant since in my family I have a lived experience of
disability.
At EPIC we provide a personalised service to assist people with disability or
disadvantage to achieve success. We stay with them on their journey until we are
no longer needed. We place people into meaningful jobs, deliver education and
training and provide services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme
(NDIS).
SE – Innovation
New approaches to supporting people with disability in employment
Lisa Browne, Kalianna Enterprises
Lisa Browne is the Business Services Manager for Kalianna Enterprises ADE. From
the beginning Lisa knew that she wanted the ADE to be a vibrant, challenging, and
forward thinking environment. First up was to allow ADE staff to step up, staff to run
it and staff to own it. Allowing ADE staff to fully participate has resulted in increased
profit, less absenteeism, increased opportunities and a greater level of positive talk.
The flow on effects to the entire business has been outstanding and marks for a
positive future.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Leisure & Health), Graduate Certificate
(Leisure & Health) and a Masters in Gerontology from Charles Sturt University.
Transitioning from supported employment to a social enterprise
Cathy Miller, Minda
In May 2010 Cathy accepted the role of Chief Executive Officer, Minda Incorporated,
a non-government organisation and a leader within the disability sector. Services to
over 1,700 people with intellectual disability include residential, commercial
enterprises, aged care, day options and respite care. A turnover of over $85 million,
1,400 staff and over $110 million in assets. Minda has entered the retirement living
sector with a $265 million development. At the end of eight years there will be 288
beachside retirement apartments at Brighton.
Cathy Miller was Chief Executive Officer, Southern Adelaide Health Service (SAHS)
from July 2007 – May 2009. SAHS had a catchment population in excess of
330,000 people, employs more than 7,000 staff and has a budget of in excess of
$700 million. Services include Flinders Medical Centre, Noarlunga Health Service,
Drug and Alcohol Services SA, Repatriation General Hospital, Southern Mental
Health and Southern Population and Primary Health Care.
New ways to solve old problems: innovation through social enterprise
Fiona Beermier, Intework
Fiona Beermier is the Chief Executive Officer for Intework, one of Western
Australia’s leading Disability Organisations. Intework provides opportunities for
people to participate in employment, education, social and cultural activities both
within Intework and the community.
Prior to her appointment at Intework, Fiona spent seven years as the Chief
Operating Officer at Youth Care where she was instrumental in leading the
organisation through a period of cultural and structural change.
With over 30 years’ experience in health, community and social services she is
passionate about leaving a positive legacy in the not-for-profit sector.
Fiona is a member of the WA NDS state committee and advocates strongly for
employment opportunities for people with disability.
SE – Business Challenges
On the road to sustainability – Wallara Logistic’s journey
Warren Kemp, Axial Enterprises
Warren Kemp is an experienced business development professional who has been
working with ADE’s to transition their businesses for over 10 years.
He works on the principle that ADE sustainability and enhanced employment
opportunity provision have to be driven by commercial principles. He tasks himself
and ADE management with answering the question ‘Where do I want this
organization to be in five years and how can we get there?
He is currently working with a number of ADE’s in Melbourne to plan, implement and
consolidate business strategies that establish the foundations for sustained business
growth.
Garry Baker, Wallara Logistics
Garry Baker is a highly experienced business executive who has extensive
commercial business management experience spanning over 35 years.
Garry has worked in commercial enterprise in Senior Management and CEO roles
across a diverse range of businesses, including Direct Marketing, Logistics,
Manufacturing and Oil & Gas industries. Garry has both the experience and capacity
to analyse and develop new opportunities, implement processes to drive business
growth, and obtain buy-in from all levels from the Boardroom to the shop floor.
Recruited to Wallara Industries in the capacity as General Manager almost 6 years
ago, Garry has driven change management of the entire operation and grown the
business by in excess of 400% in that time.
Ongoing employment & business development
Steve Beard, The Accounting Professionals
Steve started his career as a Chartered Accountant providing business services
advice to a broad range of small business clients. He then moved into his own
successful commercial printing business, a business that was awarded the Illawarra
Business of the Year in 2002.
Steve sold his printing business to The Flagstaff Group in 2004 and went on to
become the Group’s CEO for six years. Steve was also the CEO of Greenacres
Disability Services and over the last three years has been consulting to a broad
range of disability services in his role as a Disability Sector Consultant at the
Accounting Professionals.
The interaction between employment and community participation
Liz Neville, NDS
Liz has 20 years’ experience working in the human services sector including in
service delivery, regulatory compliance, policy implementation and advisory roles.
Prior to joining National Disability Services as a National Manager of Sector
Development, Liz worked as a Senior Manager at KPMG where she undertook
program evaluations, organisation reviews and business performance improvement
activities across the health and community services. In her current role, Liz is leading
a program of work around provider readiness for the NDIS including promoting
models of support that allow people with disability to experience more active
participation in their community.
Tony Fitzgerald, Outlook
Tony has extensive and varied management experience in the non-government
sector. His background includes overseeing the development of community
accommodation options in the 1980’s for people with disability as part of the
Victorian State Government deinstitutionalisation program. Prior to this Tony
managed a state wide community development initiative for the Brotherhood of Saint
Laurence establishing cooperatives for people on low incomes as an alternative to
dependence on traditional charity handouts.
Tony’s interest and belief in the role that Social Enterprises could play as a powerful
social justice tool was sparked as a result of his work with the Brotherhood.
Productivity Bootcamp
Paul Breen, Productivity Bootcamp
Paul Breen has been in the construction industry for over 20 years and after selling
his company in 2013, Paul decided to pursue his vision of building a training
company that taps into the younger generation. This style of training not only meets
the learning needs of young people, but is directly linked to the needs of industry. In
February 2015 he launched Productivity Bootcamp followed by the launch of
Productivity Force in May that same year. Many young people with diagnosed
disabilties have entered Paul's program and successfully gained employment upon
completion. Paul believes that if you tap in to young people in the right way - they
could be the best generation to hit the workforce
Tuesday 31st May
Welcome
Rohan Braddy, NDS Board Member
Rohan is the CEO of Mambourin Enterprises Ltd, an innovative and highly regarded
company empowering people to live great lives. Rohan has been on the NDS Board
since 2010 and also assists with sector development through a number of
representative roles.
What’s next for disability employment?
The Hon. Jenny Macklin MP, Shadow Minister for Disability Reform
Jenny Macklin is the Member for Jagajaga and Shadow Minister for Families and
Payments and Disability Reform.
Jenny was elected to Federal Parliament in 1996 as the Member for Jagajaga.
Upon the election of the Rudd Labor Government in 2007, Jenny was appointed the
Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
In this role Jenny oversaw the historic apologies to the Stolen Generations and the
Forgotten Generation. Jenny was also responsible for the most significant reforms to
Australia's pension system in its 100 year history. These reforms delivered pension
increases, a new pension supplement, a pension Work Bonus and a new indexation
system.
In 2011 Jenny added Disability Reform to her portfolio reflecting Jenny's strong
personal commitment to reforming the disability services sector in Australia. In this
role Jenny oversaw the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme
(NDIS) in 2013.
Bridging the Gap
James Murphy, KereKere
James Murphy is an entrepreneurial social worker that brings together his
passions for giving, community and innovation. James is the founder of
KereKere, a coffee shop that seeks to foster a spirit of generosity within our
community. KereKere started out as a coffee cart at The University of
Melbourne in 2007. By 2010, it had evolved into a purpose built kiosk, in
2012 KereKere South opened at Boyd Community Hub and in 2014,
KereKere Green opened in the Fitzroy Gardens Visitors Centre.
James holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Social Work from The
University of Melbourne. He has worked at Child Protection and in Family
Service along with Business Development positions with Jesuit Social
Services and Social Firms Australia. James is currently working on the
development of Oswald + Co, a specialist consulting service helping
organisations do good business.
Career creation – the Micro Enterprise Project
Jayne Barrett, Community Living Project
Jayne has been a strong advocate for families who have a son or daughter with
disability. As a parent Jayne was involved in initiating many community based
services in the southern areas of Adelaide during the 1980's. Amanda, the eldest of
Jayne’s three daughters lived with severe and multiple disabilities until she was 27
years of age, she died in December 2000. Jayne continues to have a deep personal
commitment to work at inspiring people to think that a better life is possible for
people with disabilities. This passion has given her opportunities to travel and work
with families locally, interstate, and overseas, in Ireland, New Zealand and Canada.
The Community Living Project Inc.(CLP) - an agency that facilitates highly
individualised community living opportunities for people with disabilities - has been
Jayne’s employer since 1984. The work of CLP is to work collaboratively with
families to find the best ways to serve and individually support people with disabilities
to be included in their own homes and community life. In her current role Jayne has
worked on designing and trialling a new project, CLP’s Micro Enterprise Project
which assists people to have their own small business as an alternative to attend day
programmes.
Open Employment
1.1 Redesigning DES
Peter Broadhead, Department of Social Services
Peter Broadhead is the manager of the Disability Employment Services (DES)
Branch in the Department of Social Services. This follows consolidation of the
previous DES Programmes and DES Policy and Performance branches in mid-
February this year. The branch also has responsibility for building on the work of the
Disability Employment Taskforce, to provide advice to government on options for
DES beyond the expiry of the current arrangements in March 2018, and any related
initiatives to address increased employment opportunities for people with disability in
the open labour market.
Peter has only recently arrived in this role, having commenced as the manager of the
DES Policy and Performance Branch in late August last year. He has worked in
departments of health and social policy in 2 states and the Commonwealth for about
30 years, and at senior executive levels for the last 25.
2.1 Panel: How to better engage employers
Gail Johnson, Department of Defence
I began my working life as a teacher and completed post graduate work to become a
teacher of the students with Hearing Loss. In 2007, I joined Defence to work in the
Office of the Chief of Army, managing the Parliamentary Business Section.
In 2010, I was asked to develop the Army Alcohol Management Strategy and in
2012, was seconded to the Australian Drug Foundation to develop the Defence
Alcohol Management Strategy. This was completed in late 2013, at which time I
came back to Defence and joined Defence People Group Diversity Directorate to
work in the area of disability
Jenny Lambert, ACCI
Jenny has been serving the business community for 32 years as a senior manager
within industry associations, including 16 years as a CEO of associations largely in
the services sector.
Commencing with the Australian Hotels Association as their Industrial & Research
Officer in 1984, Jenny then served as Project Manager at Tourism’s Industry
Training Advisory Board in the early 1990s, working on projects relating to workplace
reform, workplace assessment, competency standards, training accreditation and
quality assurance.
Jenny took on her first CEO role as head of Restaurant & Catering NSW, and then
jointly held the national CEO role until 1999. Then followed six years as CEO of
Meetings & Events Australia, overseeing amongst other activities, a structured
professional development and accreditation system. In 2005, she became CEO of
Nursery & Garden Industry Australia and in 2007, CEO of the National Tourism
Alliance, which is the peak body for tourism associations nationally. She
commenced with the Australian Chamber in May 2011 and is responsible for policy
development and advocacy in vocational training, higher education, schools,
employment and migration.
Supported Employment
1.2 Shaping the Evolution of ADEs
James Kemp, Department of Social Services
James Kemp has almost 20 years’ experience working in the Social Policy field and
is currently Acting Branch Manager, Disability and Employment Sector Reform
Branch in the Department of Social Services. James’ substantive position is as
Director NDIS Transition, in which his focus is on ensuring a smooth transition for the
17 Commonwealth programmes which have funding transitioning to the NDIS. Prior
to commencing work on NDIS Transition in February this year, James was the
Director of the Payment Scheme and Supported Employment Policy, which involved
the development of the Business Services Wage Assessment Tool (BSWAT)
Payment Scheme as well as considering broader supported employment policy
issues. Prior to joining the Disability, Employment and Carers Group in 2013 James
worked on Departmental Grant Management issues and Commonwealth Housing
Programmes.
2.2 Launch of ADE Campaign Social Impact Tool
Ken Baker, NDS
Ken Baker is the Chief Executive of National Disability Services (NDS), the peak
association for non-government disability service organisations. In that role, he
provides information, representation and policy advice.
Ken has worked in social policy and public affairs for 30 years. Based in Canberra,
he is currently a member of the NDIS Independent Advisory Council and other
committees advising on disability policy.
With a membership of around 1100 non-government organisations, NDS promotes
and improves services which support people with disability to participate in all
domains of life, including employment.
Daniel Kyriacou, NDS
Daniel Kyriacou is General Manager Communications with National Disability
Services. Prior to taking up this role in mid-2012, Daniel was the National Operations
Manager of the Every Australian Counts campaign for an NDIS. A keen campaigner,
Daniel has held senior coordination roles in the Trade Union movement and served
as the National President of the National Union of Students in 2003. Daniel has the
role of building both political and community support for the introduction of an NDIS.
At NDS Daniel is responsible for the development and implementation of integrated
communication initiatives, both internal and external, to support the strategic and
corporate objectives of NDS, increase engagement with key stakeholders and drive
advocacy.
Open Employment
3.1 Identifying opportunities for DES providers under the NDIS
Peter De Natris, NDIA
Peter currently works at the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) as a
strategic advisor on early childhood and early education and employment. Prior to
this he had 12 years with Ageing, Disability and Home Care, in NSW as a Regional
Director in Southern NSW and the Executive Director, Community Access.
In his role as Executive Director, Community Access he lead the implementation of a
broad range of programs and strategies to increase employment for people with
disability in NSW. This included the redesign of and reinvestment in community
focused supports in the disability sector in NSW with a strong emphasis on
employment outcomes.
In his current role with the NDIA he is focusing on key areas of Scheme Design
which recognise the shift from the current program based systems to an Insurance
scheme based on markets that need to be developed and supported so that best
practice can be enabled and continuous improvement encouraged.
Peter has had various roles with TAFE in Victoria and NSW and then with the
Victorian and Commonwealth public services working in Employment, Adult
Education and the Human Services areas.
Leah Twaits, Karingal
Leah Twaits has worked in various roles and contracts in Employment Services for
the past 13 years, assisting people of all abilities to find employment.
This experience has included over 8 years assisting people with a disability into the
workforce.
Leah is currently working with a Geelong based organisation, Karingal ,as an
Employment Pathway Coordinator assisting NDIA participants that have identified
goals of obtaining employment and are ineligible for service within the DES Program.
Leah works collaboratively with local providers to help prepare the participant for
work and achieve independence in a mainstream environment.
She is passionate about assisting people achieve their goals.
4.1 Closing the gap between the supply and demand sides of disability
employment
Dr Katherine Moore, QUT Business School
Dr Katherine Moore is a Research Associate at the QUT Business School. Alongside
members of the Work/Industry Futures Research Program, her research focuses on
the employability of vulnerable groups, with a specific focus on youth and people
with disability. Her PhD research adopted qualitative methods and an embedded
case study analysis of a large Australian retailer to investigate the employability of
people with disability from an organisational perspective. Prior to an academic
career, Dr Moore worked for 12 years as an employment consultant in the disability
employment field, primarily assisting people with moderate to high support
requirements.
5.1 How early intervention can increase skill and human capital in the
workforce
Professor Jeff Borland, University of Melbourne
Jeff Borland is Truby Williams Professor of Economics at the University of
Melbourne. His main research interests are analysis of the operation of labour
markets in Australia, program and policy evaluation and design, Australian economic
history, and sports economics. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in
Australia, and in 2010 was the Visiting Professor of Australian Studies at Harvard
University. Jeff publishes a monthly ‘Snapshot’ on the Australian labour market at:
https://sites.google.com/site/borlandjum/labour-market-snapshots
Supported Employment
3.2 Meeting the challenges of ADE transition to an NDIS environment
Brett Lacey, House with No Steps
Brett Lacey is the Executive General Manager Businesses for House With No Steps.
Brett has been part of the House with No Steps team for 12 years, and is fortunate
enough to be based at Summerland House Farm on the north coast of NSW. Other
business portfolio’s include Packaging, Facility Services and in the NDIS
environment a number of Newcastle based businesses. These include a Laundry,
Manufacturing, Recycling and MediRedi. More than 500 people with a disability are
employed in the businesses, across NSW, the ACT and QLD
Miranda Garnett, Koomarri
Koomarri CEO, Miranda Garnett, joined Koomarri in April 2008 after an extensive
career in both the private and not for profit sectors. With a firm grounding in
business and finance balancing experience and commitment to social welfare
reform, Miranda's expertise and passion is pivotal in leading Koomarri’s future as a
specialist disability service provider, employer of people with disability and shifting to
a sustainable ethical business model. As the national disability sector embarks on its
transition into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the greatest social
welfare reform in Australia's history, Miranda is with confidence, committed to
leading Koomarri into the 21st century with a firm view to growing the organisation's
capacity to support more people with disability to be empowered and supported to
achieve their life goals, ambitions and independence within a community that
promotes choice, equality and respect.
A chartered accountant with qualifications in Accounting from the University of
Canberra, Miranda has worked internationally and across Australia in roles which
have brought her to value diversity and to the benefits which can be gained from a
professional approach.
Kevin Todeschini, Colony 47
Kevin Todeschini became involved in the ADE sector in 2008, as the Manager of
Colony 47’s ADE enterprise known at Start Fresh Services. Prior to this Kevin was
an Operations Manager of a major Tasmanian food manufacture, SQF
practitioner plus he has a Diploma of Management. Not having experience in the
disability sector Kevin found himself on a journey of unique challenges while
ensuring the business remained stable in a competitive market. During this time he
has adapted the business model to which he is in the process of doing again as the
NDIS is rolled out across Tasmania.
Kevin lives south of Hobart with his family.
4.2 Wage setting in supported employment – the living wage
Chris Christodoulou, Greenacres
Chris was a Director of Greenacres Disability Services from February 2012 but
resigned from this position following his appointment as CEO in September 2013.
Prior to this, Chris was Assistant Secretary of Unions NSW a peak body organisation
that advocates for the rights of working people in Australia. He has served on
numerous Boards and Committees over many years and is absolutely committed to
good governance. Chris was involved in the creation of the first ever award to
provide wages and conditions for people with disabilities in supported employment
enterprises in the early 1990’s.
Kerrie Langford, NDS
Kerrie has over 30 years’ experience working in the not-for profit sector in direct
service, policy development and senior management. Prior to joining National
Disability Services in 2013, she was the CEO of a leading Disability Employment
Service for over 10 years. Kerrie’s career encompasses a broad range of specialist
disability service experience including: nursing, accommodation support and
management, community services, volunteer management and disability
employment. In her current role with NDS, Kerrie has oversight of the disability
employment services including Disability Employment Services, Australian Disability
Enterprises, Social Enterprises, transition to work programs and their interface with
the NDIS.
5.2 Supported employment pricing and funding under the NDIS – where
to from here?
Paul Musso, NDS
Paul Musso is the Policy Advisor for Disability Enterprises with National Disability
Services (NDS). He is an Economist who has worked with Disability Enterprises in
various capacities for over sixteen years. He worked at DSS for over a decade prior
to joining NDS. He is a passionate advocate for the Disability Enterprises sector and
through his work with NDS seeks to influence Government policy for the benefit of
Disability Enterprises and their supported employees, staff and management.
Transition to work
1.3 NDIS School leaver employment supports – a pathway to
employment
Joanna Battersby, NDIA
Joanna began her career in the UK coordinating ergonomic workplace assessments
for people with a disability returning to the workforce. She then returned to Australia
and worked in local government as a community development worker, ageing and
disability, working closely with the Deaf community to increase access to mainstream
activities including the first screening of open captioned movies in Western Sydney.
Joanna then moved into open employment, directly supporting people with a
disability to find and maintain work.
Joanna has over 11 years’ experience in the NSW Government in operations and
policy roles. Working for the NSW Department of Family & Community Services she
was responsible for implementing employment programs, individualised funding
models, self-managed supports and NDIS readiness projects.
Joanna holds a Bachelor of Arts (Anthropology) and Masters in Public
Administration. In 2014 she was awarded a travelling research prize to the UK to
examine the role for governments in enabling or building communities to deliver
social change for people with disabilities.
Joanna joined the NDIA in September 2015 to lead employment initiatives for
Scheme participants.
Jillian Paull, NDIA
Jillian trained as a social worker many years ago & then worked for the SA
government for a number of years. Primarily in the welfare related fields of child
protection, domestic violence, homelessness, out of home care and intercountry
adoption.
Amongst a number of other things, she was the delegate for the SA government in
negotiating new arrangements between India and Thailand for intercountry adoption.
After leaving the SA Government she moved to the community sector where she
headed up the SA branch of a national not for profit organisation.
Whilst there Jillian established a University level course for people at risk of
homelessness as well as leading a project to acquire a number of Early Learning
Centres following the demise of the ABC Child care chain.
Some four years later Jillian accepted a role with the ACT Government leading
reform in their community services area.
She joined the National Disability Insurance Agency in 2014 and established the
ACT Trial site before moving to their Geelong National Office in 2015 where she
headed up the Media and Comm’s team. She delivered the NDIA’s first
international conference last year…with a focus on how technology can change the
lives of people with a disability.
Jillian now heads up the Scheme Practices Branch with a focus on strategies and
processes required to deliver the National Disability Insurance Scheme across
Australia.
2.3 Longer term outcomes of Ticket to Work
Andrew Hawkins, ARTD
Andrew Hawkins is a Director at ARTD consultants where he has been for the last
nine years. He works as an evaluator and mentor for social policy professionals to
deliver credible and useful evidence for decision making. He has a background in
psychology, a deep interest in the philosophy of science and the highest regard for
the people who do the real work on the frontline.
Michelle Wakeford, Ticket to Work
Michelle Wakeford is the National Ticket to Work Manager at National Disability
Services (NDS). Michelle has extensive experience in developing, implementing and
researching innovative practices. Michelle has been a passionate advocate for
opportunities and support for young people transitioning from school to employment.
She has a particular focus on increasing expectations and opportunities of young
people with disability through career and workforce development and inclusive and
meaningful employment participation.
3.3 Marriott Employment Services’ Ambassadors program
Jennifer Lumsden, Ambassador Co-ordinator
Jennifer Lumsden is an experienced project facilitator currently using story
development with young people with intellectual disability to build insight and
confidence to pursue work, at Marriott Support Services. Having worked in corporate
innovation and research utilisation Jennifer has a strong interest in social innovation
and in particular finding ways to engage service users in project development, and
stories is one strategy to effective engagement.
Hannah Skipper, Ambassador
Having a disability did not stop Hannah from completing her VCE over two years.
Hannah has learnt to manage anxiety by identifying triggers and ways to bring calm
in the midst of chaos including a wonderful talent for drawing. Hannah started
studying animation this year and works at Woolworths Deli.
Nomaan Ahmed, Ambassador
Nomaan is a hospitality worker at Crown Casino and an aspiring actor. Through his
involvement in Ticket to Work he commenced a school-based traineeship and
gained valuable experience that supported him to successfully transition into post-
school employment. Nomaan has big plans for his career.
Hannah and Nomaan are part of Marriott Employment Services’ Ambassadors
Program.