| Adam Blakester Conference MC Adam’s passion and work is focussed on improving community wellbeing in ways that are environmentally sustainable and economically equitable. Adam blends business and organisational acumen with expertise in social change, social leadership, social marketing, community psychology, consciousness, facilitation, strategic planning, human development and wellness. Adam is the Executive Director of Starfish Initiatives and holds directorships with several other social and environmental organisations. Adam is our MC for the conference. | |
| Nicole Blundell Senior Investigation Officer Nicole is Senior Investigator with the Disability Reportable Incidents Division (DRID) of the NSW Ombudsman. DRID’s responsibility is the review of disability service providers’ management of serious allegations of abuse and neglect involving clients living in supported group accommodation. Nicole liaises extensively with service providers and other stakeholders on complex matters and is charged with reviewing the quality of investigations conducted by service providers. Nicole previously worked as an investigator in the Employment Related Child Protection and Police Divisions of the NSW Ombudsman. | |
| Mark Branson Chief Executive Officer Mark is the Director Disability Services at Allambi Care. Mark has been involved with the growth and development of the organisation from service delivery to 8 clients in 2001 to the provision of support to 800 service users across the Hunter and Central Coast in 2016. Allambi has been involved in the NDIS Trial in the Hunter for the last three years and was the first NGO to trial the use of Complex Case Coordination and Behaviour Management. | |
| Felicity Burke Speech Pathologist Felicity Burke has over 25 years experience in the field of disability. She is a certified practising speech pathologist who has served as a National Board Member for Speech Pathology Australia and is currently a member of that organisation’s Ethics Board. With a wealth of experience in her professional sphere, Felicity also brings knowledge of the wider world of systems organisation and service approaches. | |
| Dr Angela Dew Sociologist Angela is a sociologist experienced in the disability sector as a direct service provider, manager and researcher. Angela is Senior Research Fellow at the Intellectual Disability Behaviour Support (IDBS) program at the University of NSW. Angela’s research relates to people with cognitive disability and complex needs and focusses on understanding the lived experience of people with disability and their families with a particular interest in rural and regional communities. Angela is experienced in policy analysis and engaging policy makers in bridging the research divide through knowledge translation. | |
| Anders Hansson Senior Clinical Consultant Anders is a psychologist and senior clinical consultant with the Statewide Behaviour Intervention Service, Ageing Disability and Homecare, NSW FACS. For many years Anders has been interested in the role that attachment relationships play in the development of psychological concerns. More recently, Anders has focussed his attention on the impact of complex trauma on mental health and behaviour. Anders presents a session on “Systemic Thinking” introducing Systemic Practice and its application in the context of behaviour support. | |
| Mark Harrison Senior Operations Manager Mark has worked for Allambi Care for 10 years specialising in the development and implementation of residential therapeutic care for children, young people and adults with disabilities and complex needs. Mark is Senior Operations Manager facilitating the implementation of processes and strategies for complex case co-ordination under the NDIS. Mark supports case management teams to navigate new procedures and supports the internal feedback process. Mark is at the forefront of explaining and navigating the NDIS world with participants and their support circles. | |
| Laura Howarth Senior Clinical Consultant Laura is a registered psychologist with a Master’s degree in forensic psychology, currently working as a Senior Clinical Consultant with Statewide Behaviour Intervention Service, Ageing Disability and Homecare, NSW FACS. Laura is experienced working in behaviour support and assessments with people who have intellectual disabilities and complex support needs and provides consultancy services to organisations working with these clients. Laura also works with a forensic population with the Community Justice Program and additionally provides psychological assessment and treatment in a private practice setting, in forensic and clinical services. | |
| Dr Graeme Innes AM Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissionaire from 2005 to 2014 & prominent Disability Rights Advocate Dr Graeme Innes AM was Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissionaire from 2005 to 2014. Graeme, Member of the Order of Australia (AM) is a lawyer, mediator and company director. He has been a human rights practitioner for more than thirty years, and is an informative and entertaining conference presenter. Graeme was a Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission for almost nine years, responsible for issues relating to disability, race and human rights. In this role he led work on: • The ratification by Australia of a UN Convention on the rights of people with disabilities; • The Same Sex Same Entitlements inquiry; • Regulations in the areas of accessible buildings and transport; • Work with industry on TV and movie captions and accessible banking standards; • And three inspections of Australia's immigration detention centres. Graeme led the merger of four blindness agencies to form Vision Australia, and chaired the board of that agency. He is currently the chair of the Attitude Australia Foundation, a start-up aimed at using media to change attitudes towards Australians with disabilities. He is also a board member of Life Without Barriers, a $300 million dollar turn-over Not For Profit organisation providing support to people with disabilities, Aboriginal people, asylum seekers and children in out-of-home care; and Livable Housing Australia, an initiative of the disability sector and the property industry to ensure that new houses in Australia are designed and built to meet the needs of all Australians. Graeme was awarded an AM for his work on the development of the Disability Discrimination Act, and was a finalist for Australian of the Year. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Canberra in recognition of his work as a human rights activist. Graeme is married with two children, loves cricket as a spectator and sailing as a participant, and relaxes by enjoying fine Australian white wine. | |
| Angela Koelink Manager, Behaviour Support Policy Unit Angela has extensive experience in behaviour support and restricted practice authorisation and its associated processes. Angela has worked in disability services for 25 years in a range of roles that include managing a Regional Behaviour Intervention Team, delivering behaviour support services from rural and remote local teams through to district, regional and state-wide behaviour support roles. In the role of Manager Behaviour Support Policy Unit she is overseeing the implementation of key projects related to capacity building and safeguarding within the sector for NDIS readiness. | |
| Faren Lynch Practice Leader Faren is a Practice Leader working with the Samaritans Clinical Services Unit. Faren has experience in working within the education and aged care sector, as well as experience in providing behaviour support to people who have intellectual disabilities, mental health and complex needs. During her time at the Clinical Services Unit Faren has also played a lead role in the design and development of a web-based portal system built to support the ethical and legal responsibilities of organisations in relation to restricted practices. This portal has also been designed to assist in promoting the rights for people subject to restricted practices. | |
| Lloyd Neill Psychologist Lloyd is a psychologist working with the Statewide Behaviour Intervention Service, Ageing Disability and Homecare, NSW FACS. Lloyd brings combined experience working within the Alcohol & Other Drugs sector, Mental Health sector and more recently the Disability sector. Lloyd’s professional practice has been most influenced by Motivational Interviewing, Miller & Duncan’s work on maximising engagement and outcomes through feedback, and Trauma Informed Practice. Lloyd presents a session on “Reflective Practice” and the significance of deliberate reflection on experience. | |
| Karin North Director Karin commenced nursing at Stockton Hospital in 1983 and has worked within the area of disability services in the government sector for 33 years. Karin has held roles in nursing, community and management across Hunter New England and is now the Director Disability, Hunter New England. Karin’s favourite saying is “never say never, as you just never know where your pathway may lead you. Remember you started on your journey to keep your soul warm and bright - my light is still shining”. | |
| Rudely Interrrupted According to Music Oz http://rudelyinterrupted.com/about-the-band/ and Can-Do- Musos http://www.candomusos.com/profile-rudely-interrupted.php Rudely Interrupted is one of Australia’s most unique indie rock acts; touring and releasing their brand of pitch-perfect indie rock/love/pop across the Globe since 2007. This remarkable group of unlikely rock stars have carved out a sonic signature all of their own; firmly cementing their music in the world’s cultural heritage. ‘Here’s a group of unlikely rockers, making serious music and seriously impressing people the world over, they are the real deal’. ‘Lets get the elephants out of the room: Rohan Brooks (42) was born with red hair, Rory Burnside (26) was born without eyes and lives with autism, Josh Hogan (26, drums) lives with physical and intellectual differences and Sam Beke (28) lives with Down syndrome’. Rory Burnside Joshua Hogan Sam Beke Rohan Brooks | |
