Community Partners
Keeping us all Connected : Our Community Partners
Our Community Partners incorporate a variety of children and family services stakeholders in Far North Queensland and comprises of a select number of positions within each of the following categories: Adult Education and Training; Early Childhood Education and Care; Early Years of Schooling and Transitions; Family and Community Support; Health and Wellbeing; Supporting Children with Special Rights; and Distinguished Community Members.
Community Partners attend all meetings or send a representative. They are encouraged to share their expertise and collaborate on projects prioritised by the early childhood community.
Our Community Partners incorporate a variety of children and family services stakeholders in Far North Queensland and comprises of a select number of positions within each of the following categories: Adult Education and Training; Early Childhood Education and Care; Early Years of Schooling and Transitions; Family and Community Support; Health and Wellbeing; Supporting Children with Special Rights; and Distinguished Community Members.
Community Partners attend all meetings or send a representative. They are encouraged to share their expertise and collaborate on projects prioritised by the early childhood community.
ADULT EDUCATION AND TRAINING
- Technical and Further Education (TAFE): Melanie Clarke - Business Manager Community and Health /Trainer and Assessor TAFE Qld - Melanie.Clarke@tafe.qld.edu.au
- University or Professional Development: vacant
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
- Kindergarten: Andrew McLean - Early Childhood Education Consultant, C&K - a.mclean@candk.asn.au
- Family Care Day: pending
- Long Day Care: pending
- Outside School Hours Care: Sonia Masak@ccelc.catholic.org.au - Early Childhood Education and Care Manager, Catholic Early Learning and Care - smaszak@ccelc.catholic.org.au
- Department of Education - Early Childhood: pending
- Early Childhood Teachers Association (ECTA) - Lynne Ireland - Teacher Director Boopa Werem Kindergarten - ectacairns@gmail.com
EARLY YEARS OF SCHOOLING AND TRANSITIONS
- State schooling: Liz Stewart-Oliver - Head of Special Education Services - supporting SWD transition to Prep- lstew72@eq.edu.au
- Catholic Education/ Independent Schools: Donna Kitchin (Barlow) - APRE, St Francis Xavier School - dkitchin@cns.catholic.edu.au
- Early Childhood Community Networks: Irene Goodrich Partnerships Facilitator (Early Years) - Department of Education - Early Childhood - irenegoodrich@qed.qld.gov.au
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
- Benevolent Society: Cassy Bishop Manager - Team Leader Child and Family Practitioner - Benevolent Society - Cassy.Bishop@benevolent.org.au
- Mission Australia: Margaret Osmond Program Manger - Communities for Children, Mission Australia - OsmondM@missionaustralia.com.au
- Act for Kids: Michelle Strang - Local Level Alliance Coordinator/ Act for Kids - michelle.strang@actforkids.com.au
- The Smith Family: Donna Kelly (McCulloch ) - Early Years Coordinator (QLD/NT) - Smith Family - donna.mcculloch@thesmithfamily.com.au
- Playgroup: Paula Castle - Area Manager - Playgroup Queensland - PCastle@playgroupqld.com.au
- Wuchopperen Children and Family Centre: Lorna Baker - Manager - Wuchopperen / Children and Family Centre - lbaker@wuchopperen.org.au
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
- Cairns and Hinterland Health Services: Debbie Elder - Senior Social Worker/Clinical Nurse, CYFC Access Unit Cairns Base Hospital - deborah.elder@health.qld.gov.au and Julie Brooker - Child Community Health Nurse julie.brooker2@health.qld.gov.au
- Queensland Health Advanced Aboriginal Health: Maria Smith - maria.smith@qld.gov.au@health.qld.gov.au
- Wuchopperen Health Service: Vacant
- Apunipima Cape York Health Council - Vacant
SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL RIGHTS
- Early Childhood Development Program (ECDP): Jennifer Hamilton - Manager, Early Childhood Development Partners (ECDP) - jhami53@eq.edu.au
- Inclusion Support: Natasha McAlister - Hub Manager Regional and Mt Isa, Inclusion Support Services - natasha.mcalister@iaqld.com.au
- Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI): Michelle Wattridge - Service Area Manager ECEI: National Disability Inclusion Scheme - Early Childhood Early Intervention - michelle.wattridge@ndis.gov.au
DISTINGUISHED COMMUNITY MEMBERS (Honorary Positions)
- Associate Professor Reesa Sorin: Art Therapist/Education Consultant (Former Coordinator, Early Childhood Education, James Cook University). - reesa.sorin@gmail.com
- Aunty Maureen Mossman: Former Boopa Werem Educator, Community Elder, descendent of the Guaggandji people of Yarrabah - Mpmossam@gmail.com
- Will Jones: Former Education Practice Advisor, C&K - will@c&k.asn.au
COMPLIMENTARY APPROACHES TO LEARNING AND WELLBEING
- Neuro Developmental Education: Chris Payard - Integrated Thinking - chris@integratedthinking.com.au