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About PeakCare
History
PeakCare Queensland was established in 1999 having evolved out of the Child and Family Welfare Association of Queensland (CAFWAQ) and previously the Board of Governing Authorities for residential care. This change represented much more than a name change. It reflected a significant shift in the roles and responsibilities of PeakCare in line with developments in understanding and knowledge about the protection and care of children and young people, and the broader range of services required to meet those needs.
PeakCare is a membership organisation. Members are child protection agencies and services which provide prevention, early intervention, out of home care and related support services, family support, statutory intervention and ongoing support to children, young people and their families. PeakCare works in partnership with key stakeholders to build capacity across the child protection and family support service delivery system. PeakCare also provides advice about the development and implementation of legislation, policy, service delivery and practice to members, resourcing and supporting members to respond effectively to legislative, policy and practice requirements. PeakCare supports evidence based approaches to policy development, service delivery, practice, government policy and legislation to support effective service delivery and practice.
PeakCare’s vision is to ensure children and young people are safe and secure and have a strong sense of cultural identity and belonging within their family and community.
Our mission is to promote and support excellence in the delivery of non-government services for children and young people and the support of their families.
PeakCare actively demonstrates leadership within the non-government sector and strives to develop collaborative partnerships with others that share this responsibility.
As a peak body, PeakCare is focussed on supporting members and developing the sector. Many changes have occurred since the CMC Inquiry with a great expansion of Government investment in the area of child safety and the consequential expansion of services delivered by the non-government sector. In order to keep PeakCare a relevant and vibrant organisation for members we have commenced work in the following areas:
Involvement in Sector Development
- PeakCare has signed a protocol with Department of Child Safety which involves a closer working relationship with the Planning and Partnership Branch to develop sector plans and capacity. This will impact on your ability to be involved in sector wide initiatives.
PeakCare and other Sector peak bodies are working with Government to develop a Compact to build up the sector’s capacity to respond with one voice to government initiative and to take up challenges for action.
PeakCare facilitates several policy and practice fora which develop good implementation and strategic issues sector wide.
PeakCare has a Licensing project to support organisations through the current licensing process with DChS.
PeakCare has undertaken a Central Queensland Capacity Building Project which has promoted good program design and implementation in addition to staff training.
PeakCare is an active participant in many committees which organise special weeks, conferences and guide strategic direction within the sector.
Training and Professional Development
- PeakCare presents a specialised suite of training for the sector with member discounts and priority.
On Line basic training is available via our website for member staff.
PeakCare actively participates in the development of conference content which is relevant and accessible to members.
PeakCare works closely with sector wide training bodies to ensure that sector needs are represented and met.
PeakCare has partnerships with researchers to ensure that relevant research topics are sought.
PeakCare and AASW have partnered to bring mentoring to two zones in Queensland to improve professional support and practice.
PeakCare has partnered with Ozchild to establish training for carers in developing children’s self esteem.
Members Support Services
- PeakCare will ensure that members receive excellent support to deliver quality services in a sustainable manner by an improved website, weekly email alerts, sound research of membership issues, regular contact with government agencies and sector wide meetings such as Child Protection Taskforce.
The membership survey will identify additional services which will be developed as soon as possible.
Members can use the website to advertise for staff and post information.
The website will also allow members to purchase resources at discounted rates.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children, Young People and Families
The over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families in the child protection system continues to be a major issue for government, service providers and the community. This issue can only be understood and addressed through partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities, and their nominated individuals, groups or bodies.
PeakCare is committed to working alongside Indigenous service providers and peak bodies in the development and delivery of culturally competent services.
PeakCare Strategic Plan – 2007-2010
PeakCare’s current strategic plan focuses on four main areas: Member Services, Advocacy, Capacity Building of the Broader Sector and Internal Quality Improvement:
1. Member Services
Goals:
Ensuring that PeakCare member services are local, relevant and targeted.
Improving communication with and amongst members.
Providing training services (especially relating to practice and management services)
Investigating new and exciting services for members including fee for service options (eg HR, financial management, coaching).
2. Advocacy (being a credible voice including increasing profile)
Goals:
Identifying member concerns.
Increasing influence on government through: policy, research/evidence, and innovative pilots.
Putting member interests to Govt.
Working with media re member concerns and sector development.
3. Capacity Building of the Broader Sector (including raising profile)
Networking:
A. Working closer with other peaks.
B. Working better with key state government agencies.
C. Developing federal linkages particularly the FRSP.
Encouraging diverse networks and partnerships that improve innovative service delivery with quality outcomes.
Leading the policy debate re the future of child protection away from the current focus on tertiary services towards a full continuum of flexible services to children and young people.
Determining how we can better respond to Indigenous issues including over-representation, community connectedness and community involvement in the management of services.
4. Internal Quality Improvement
Goals:
Growing the membership base.
Increasing government and independent income.
Improving internal operations such as infrastructure, operational processes, communications and improving the structures and processes that inform the work of the Board.
Improving staff working conditions.
Succession planning at Board level.
2007 Annual Report & Audited Financials
Click here for the 2007 Annual Report
Click here for a copy of the Audited Financials
Click here for a copy of the Independent Audit Report
Meet the Team
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President, Anthony O'Hare
Tony O'Hare is the Executive Director of Community Care Inc, a diverse community based agency in Queensland. He has many years of experience in the management of community and corporate agencies and has specialised in the management of community and public agencies. Tony is an Associate Fellow in the Australian Institute of Management and has been listed in Who.s Who for his work as a CEO.
Despite this vast experience in management he is a qualified and practicing Psychologist who has been engaged in relationship work for the last 15 years. He has expertise in the area of PDR and Children.s Contact Services, and his agency provides Counselling, Mediation and Therapeutic Interventions. The agency has a staff of over 200 and provides services in the areas of Childcare, Youth and Family Services, Aged Care, Disability Services, Veterans. Services, Multicultural Services, Child Protection, Family Support, Community Development, Training, Employment, Research, and also business enterprises.
Tony is a member of several boards and committees and has considerable experience in corporate governance. He is also a consultant to several community and departmental agencies on the issue of good governance and presents workshops and supervision/support in this area. He chairs or is a member of several committees, reference groups and ministerial advisory committees. Over the last three years Tony has been an active member of Family Services Australia, is their current President, and has been prominent in promoting the interests of Contact Services, making significant links with both providers and government officials / representatives.
As President of the state peak body Child Welfare agency, PeakCare Qld., his knowledge of the sector, governance expertise, practice experience, track record of work on the Board and management experience provide him a vital blend of skills necessary to represent at this level.
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Vice President, Mandy Jones
Mandy Jones has been employed by Anglicare Central Queensland for 10 years. During this time she has been employed as a Foster Care Program Co-ordinator, a Team Leader and as a Regional Manager in both the Western Region and Gladstone. Mandy currently holds the position of Child Protection Cluster Leader with Anglicare Central Queensland.
Mandy's experience includes residential care, disability care, early childhood and local government. Mandy was an elected member for 7 years and held the position of Council Chairperson. Having previously been a foster carer Mandy is committed to child protection (and passionate, just ask her!).
Mandy is the proud mother of 6 children and 12 grandchildren and lives with wonderful husband Peter on acreage just outside Gladstone.
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Treasurer, Steven King
Steven has twenty-five years experience working in community service provision ranging from front line worker to an Executive Director of a large community organisation. His expertise is in management and the provision of community services particularly in the area of child protection services including alternate care (residential and foster care) and intensive family support programs.
Currently he is employed by Spiritus to provide leadership and advice for the ongoing accreditation and licensing, and the implementation of their Risk Management system, for the Social Services stream. This includes: Licensing for Dept of Child Safety, DSQ Accreditation, Dept of Communities Accreditation, Licensing of our Child Care Centre and risk management to ensure the safety of children required by CCYPCG.
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Michael Tizard
Secretary
Michael Tizard is the Senior Manager, Queensland with The Benevolent Society. The Benevolent Society, Australia's oldest charity was established in Sydney in 1813 and today provides services in residential and community aged care and in the child and family services field. The Benevolent Society is establishing an Early Years Centre on the North Gold Coast, funded by The Department of Communities and is working to develop relationships and partnerships to become an established service provider in Queensland.
Michael is a Social Worker with over 25 years experience in the child and family services sector and has worked in both government and non-government organisations. He has worked in statutory child protection and in the family support and parenting areas as a practitioner and senior manager. Michael worked in Victoria until 1999 as the CEO of Children.s Protection Society and then moved to NSW taking up roles as Principle Policy Adviser Child and Family Services and Regional Director Metropolitan South East Sydney with the NSW Department of Community Services. He then spent 2.5 years as the Regional Director Metropolitan South East with the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care before moving to a Senior Manager role with The Benevolent Society in 2005.
Michael has previously been a Board Member of the Children's Welfare Association of Victoria, now known as The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare Inc. and is a current Board Member of the Child and Family Welfare Association of Australia Inc (CAFWAA).
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Liz Colahan
Liz has been in her current role as Manager, Out of Home Care, Far North Queensland, Families Plus Division, Lifeline Community Care since June 2001. However over this time the delegations and responsibilities have changed as Lifeline has grown as an Agency. Predominantly services are based around General and Specialist Foster Care funded under Child Safety. There are five services.
Liz's work history is very much around Child Protection and working in and alongside Child Safety. Her first real role was under an outreach child protection service in remote South West Queensland in 1995. Alternative Care is Liz's passion; finding models of care that truly do provide a safe therapeutic environment for children and young people and just how complex that can be. Having grown up on a property she struggled with any population over the size of Cairns so she is also committed to working in rural and remote areas and thus enjoys working in the Far North Queensland Zone. Liz has recently joined the PeakCare Board stating 'I am very excited by the opportunity to play a more active role within Peakcare and to continue to highlight the needs of rural and remote areas'.
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PeakCare Staff
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Gail Slocombe
Executive Director
0437 726 192
gslocombe@peakcare.com.au
Gail has been with PeakCare since August 2006. She worked with Relationships Australia Queensland in a senior role and has experience with TAFE, University, immigration and child protection. Gail is committed to ensuring quality services within the human services and promoting research to ensure that children and families receive excellent support from the government, the community and their families.
Gail has a background in social work, teaching, management and policy development. She enjoys workplace coaching and believes that improved industry standards can develop better services for children and young people. Gail was born and educated in England and travelled to Australia with her husband in the mid-1970s. She has studied for her Masters in Social Work at Queensland University, her teaching studies took her to Griffith University and with her management studies she was engaged with the Australian Institute of Management.
Her first job in Queensland was with the (then) Department of Children's Services where she was part of the inaugural Child Protection Unit. Some of Gail.s passions are social justice and the protection of vulnerable people within society, so her role in PeakCare will tap into her energy for this. Gail is also a member of AASW.
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Fiona McColl
Training & Development Manager
Fiona is a recent arrival to both Australia and the PeakCare care team and comes to us from Canada. Prior to her arrival here, she spent three and a half years working in the UK and has also worked in The United States. She has worked extensively in both the government and community sectors both as a clinical practitioner and child protection social worker as well as undertaking work in the areas of program and policy development, government and NGO consultation and research and training. She has substantial experience in the area of addictions, family violence and working in partnership with First Nations (aboriginal and indigenous) and multicultural children and families.
Fiona started her career working in a residential program for 'hard to place' youth. She then went forward and worked extensively with women and children's programs whilst undertaking a dual degree in Psychology/Sociology. She went on to complete certifications in addictions assessment and treatment, family systems counseling and completed her certification with honors, as a Clinical Therapist. She later returned to University and undertook a Social Work degree, graduating with distinction.
Some of the many wonderful projects she has been involved with include; working in community collaboration to open and operate a women's center; working with street involved/entrenched youth, working with youth in the Youth Justice Corrections system, working with a family violence project and working in both rural and urban child protection as a front line social worker/supervisor in the United Kingdom. She has sat on a variety of community boards and contributed research and consultancy to many government and NGO projects. She is passionate about community development and social justice and is very keen to contribute to the development of the child protection sector in Queensland.
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Tim Johnston
Principal Planning & Partnership Officer
0418 730 570
tjohnston@peakcare.com.au
Tim is the Principal Planning and Partnership Officer for the community sector and is auspiced by Peakcare on behalf of the child protection peak bodies. He has been in this role since February 2006.
Tim is a Scot who immigrated with his family to Australia in 2000. He has an Honours degree in Social Policy in the Social Sciences from the University of Sussex and has worked in the National Health system as a coordinator for an out of hours service then as a Coordination Officer with the Housing Department of Brighton and Hove Council, where he coordinated responses to the needs of residents in sheltered housing, the out of hours homeless line and the local child protection register.
Since coming to Australia he has worked for Carers Queensland the peak body for unpaid carers. He has worked across a number of program areas, including as a Community Development Officer advocating for and helping to create supports and networks for carers in the West Moreton region and in Brisbane North and as the Young Carer Coordinator for Queensland. He has a broad depth of experience working collaboratively with other peaks and departments and is using that knowledge to help the sector to work closer together to achieve better outcomes for children and young people and their families who are at risk of entering the child protection system.
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Karen O'Connell
Policy & Research Manager
0409 766 976
koconnell@peakcare.com.au
Karen recently started at PeakCare in February, 2007. Prior to this Karen worked with a national community counselling agency for six years holding several positions that spanned both clinical as well as operational arenas. In 2005 Karen conducted a project for the national body researching, developing and disseminating the national perspective on rural, regional and remote issues and services. Karen also has an extensive background in training, education and auditing, and was part of a unit responsible for the implementation of changes to the child protection legislation in the NSW Department of Education in 2000.
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Loretta O'Brien
Office Manager
admin@peakcare.com.au
Loretta has a varied background having commenced her career as a fashion designer, then trained as a sound recordist and moved into television and film production for several years. Loretta wrote, produced and directed several short films, winning many international and Australian awards. She has also worked in several arts organisations in office, event and project management. Loretta has travelled extensively throughout Africa, South-East Asia, Central America, Europe and the USA. She has always been driven by a desire to help and assist others, which has brought her to PeakCare.
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Kahli Roberts
Receptionist/Support Officer
Kahli has worked as the front person for small companies for the last three years and really enjoys doing that role. Joining the PeakCare team is a great opportunity for Kahli to do her part for the community and the young people of Queensland and it has also given her a chance to learn the many different sectors and what they provide for the community of young people.
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Vision
Children and young people are safe and secure and have a strong sense
of cultural identity and belonging in within their family and community.
Mission
PeakCare promotes excellence in delivery of non-government services
for children and young people and the support of their families.
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