Bob has over 20 years experience working in the Disability Field as a Disability Jobseeker Adviser (CES), Disability Officer (Centrelink) and as an Advocate (Rights in Action).
He has a strong interest in Employment Issues in Cairns and has previous involvement with the Cairns Council of Unions and the Far North Queensland Regional Economic Development Organisation. He is currently the local Social and Community Services Representative for Far North Queensland with the Australian Services Union.
Currently employed with the Department of Communities (Disability Services) as the Far North Queensland Regional Coordinator, Kellie is responsible for leading and managing a team to facilitate the establishment, development and delivery of a range of disability services in the region.
Her public service career spans over a period of six years and has given her demonstratable experience in developing and implementing strategic planning, managing the human, physical and financial resources. Kellie's past roles in State government include:
o Senior Resource Officer
o Senior Project Officer (Referral and Coordination ~ Cyclone Larry Recovery Unit)
o Senior Project Officer (Homelessness and Public Intoxication)
o Community Support Officer (Youth) Planning, Engagement and Coordination
o Executive Support Officer ~ Far North Queensland Regional Managers Coordination Network (RMCN)
Roger is currently Manager - Far North QLD Rural Division of General Practice and previously gained skills over a decade with Skill360 Australia (formerly Cairns Region Group Training) in management and facilitator roles in both training and employment. Roger contributes project management skills, vocational training expertise and employment knowledge in the Australian Apprenticeship system aligning to DES's objectives. Roger has put strategies in place to successfully up skill disabled jobseekers in many training programs with employment outcomes. He has also previously worked in retail management roles with national retailers and has a good knowledge of employment issues in the retail environment. He has qualifications in Workplace Training, Project Management, Frontline and Retail Management, Workplace Health and Safety and Quality Assurance. He is also an Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.
Elizabeth is a previous employee of DES, currently employed as a Community Resource Officer with Disability Services Queensland. She is a mother of 2 adult sons and has 2 grand-daughters. Elizabeth has a personal passion and dedication to be actively involved in the disability sector with a goal to achieving improved community inclusion and quality of life for people with a disability.
Jodie is currently employed with Skills 360 as the Recruitment Co-ordinator.
As a facilitator of Certificate II & III in Retail of both school based and full time trainees for over 5 years, this has allowed her to interact, mentor and coach young people, some with learning disabilities. She also has a keen interest in literacy and numeracy and is also a strong advocate for the disability employment sector.
Jodie's employment background is Retail Management and has held management, service and sales roles with national retail organisations and has gained a wide range of skills during this time.
She holds a Certificate IV in Workplace Training, Certificate IV in Employment Services and Certificate IV in Retail Management.
Don Nurthen is currently a co-owner and director of a Cairns based management consultancy, Integrated Improvement. He has twenty years leadership experience in and working as a business improvement consultant across a wide variety of disciplines including, engineering, production, maintenance, quality, health, safety and environment, HR and IT. He has worked in both the corporate and small business sectors.
As a result of his own personal experience managing a disability Don is passionate about the creation of an employment environment where disabled people are proactively engaged and make a personally satisfying and meaningful contribution to the workplace.
Sonja Anderson is a media specialist who has worked in print, radio, television and digital media over the last 14 years. She currently uses her extensive background in her work as a corporate communications for Cairns Regional Council.
She holds a Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Arts as well as a Bachelor Environmental Studies and Diploma in Horticulture and worked as a horticulturist and environmental designer before joining the media.
Sonja has a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment.