OUR PURPOSE

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• Peter Westoby is currently a community development practitioner at Hummingbird House, a consultant with Community Praxis Co-op, a custodian of the Camellia Centre for Reflective Practice and Honorary Associate Professor at Deakin University, and a visiting Professor with the Centre for Development Support, University of Free State, South Africa. Peter’s experience includes over 30 years of development practice work in South Africa, Uganda, Nepal, PNG, the Philippines, Vanuatu and Australia. He is also the author of 15 books and over 50 professional journal articles. 

 

• Phil Dodds has been working in and around the youth sector since 1994. Phil has a Social Work degree and has worked in crisis/long term accommodation, outreach and has worked with young people involved in the criminal justice system for the last 20 years. Phil’s current work involves supporting young people and their families who have a mother in prison or at risk of imprisonment.

 

• Jen Kaighin is a lecturer in Social Work and Human Services in the Faculty of Health. School of Public Health and Social Work, QUT. Jen came to academia following almost 20 years as a youth work practitioner in Brisbane, Darwin and Victoria. Jen’s teaching reflects the years of practice wisdom and the lessons learned from the young people she engaged with. Jen’s passion for teaching lies in building learning environments that encourage and celebrate diversity, critical reflection, challenge, and growth. Jen’s research interests include queer theory, education and practice; youth work practice; and young people’s rights.

 

• Neta-Rie Mabo is a proud Meriam, Munbarra and South Sea Islander woman. Neta-Rie is the State Youth Programs Manager at Sisters Inside and has over 10 years' experience working with girls affected by criminalisation and imprisonment. Neta-Rie is an accomplished visual artist and coordinates the Sisters Inside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Programs in the community and in youth prisons in Queensland as a successful decarceration strategy.

 

• Siyavash Doostkhah is the Director of Youth Affairs Network of Queensland (YANQ). Siyavash has over 30 years experience in the Queensland Youth Sector. He has worked with young people in various settings including crisis shelters, Detention Centres and in low socio-economic communities. Siyavash oversaw the delivery of Cetificate IV and Diploma of Youth Work in remote parts of Queensland. He gives guest lectures on youth work and youth advocacy on a regular basis at various TAFEs and Universities.

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• Keiran Rowley is a Regional Manager for IFYS ltd on the Gold Coast. Keiran has over 10 years' experience in the out of home care / youth work sector. Keiran's primary focus has been on building resilient, effective and compassionate youth worker teams in innovative programs across south east. As youth empowerment expert Josh Shipp says "Every kid is one caring adult away from being a success story", and it is from this as a shared belief, that Keiran has maintained a focus on creating teams of 'caring adults' to support our youth.

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• Emma Craik is the Regional Manager SE QLD for IFYS Ltd, Emma's current service stream is Out Of Home Care, where she is passionate about working with young people under the protection of Child Safety and tackling the very real issues they face. Emma has worked in the Community Service Sector for over 20 years and has experience working with young offenders, young carers and families requiring intensive support.

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• Leah Cranston works in the Youth Justice area as a Restorative Justice Convenor which aims to divert young people away from the criminal justice system by bringing together victims and young people in order to build empathy, understand impacts, take responsibility and repair harm. Leah also has experience in community youth work and within the Education system.

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• I’easha Trugian work with Real Support Services providing outreach services and in-home support to young people in critical situations. I’easha assists young people to learn the skills they will need for their futures such as cooking, budgeting, finding healthy alternatives for coping strategies, and ensuring their basic needs are met safely and positively.  I’easha started work in disability services and thought something was missing, she then moved to residential care and that was much closer to what she wanted to be doing, since then she has moved to outreach services.

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• Elie McMenamin has been passionately pursing the uplift of young people to reach their full potential at Churches of Christ for the past two years. Throughout her time with Churches she have been both a Case Manager and Youth Worker caring for children in residential care.

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