Victorian Disability Advisory Council (VDAC)

Council Members

 

Front row, left to right

Dr Rhonda Galbally (Chair), the Hon. Lisa Neville MP, Minister for Community Services, Stuart Ewin

Middle Row, left to right

Lesley Hall, Tricia Malowney, Kathleen Brasher, Kirsten Deane, Karleen Plunkett

Back Row, left to right

Jody Saxton, David Brant, Milly Parker, Stephen Dabkowski, Vrinda Edan, Alan Robertson, Phil Harper

Dr Rhonda Galbally AO (Chair)

Rhonda has focused her life's work on making a difference for a more equitable society. Rhonda's dynamic leadership in creating new solutions for organisations and communities is consolidated by her vast experience in social policy and health development. Rhonda is currently the CEO of the first Australian social investment company, Our Community. She is currently on a number of Boards including being the Chair of the Royal Women's Hospital and the Australian Football League Foundation. She is the Patron of Orygen - the Youth Mental Health Centre and the Sustainable Living Foundation.

Previously, Rhonda established the Australian International Health Institute (Faculty of Medicine, University of Melbourne). In that role she initiated the Asia Pacific hub at the University of Melbourne for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Child Vaccination Program. Rhonda began the ground breaking Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) and was its CEO for ten years. Prior to that Rhonda was the founding CEO of the Australian Commission for the Future.

Mr David Brant

David works for a variety of organisations to promote the abilities of all members of local communities. He provides equity strategies to third sector organisations to assist efficient and effective service provision.

David is a member of the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) Board. Other committees on which David serves include the City of Yarra Disability Action Committee and the VCOSS Public Transport Committee. David was the City of Yarra citizen of the year for 2006. He has also been awarded the Rotary club of Australia’s Victorian division 2006 ‘Shine On’ award.

Prior to be losing most of his sight in 1999, David was a secondary school teacher. Aside from 30 years in the classroom his greatest achievement was the role he played in reopening Fitzroy High School in 2003. David was president of the activist group ‘Friends of Fitzroy High’ and an active member of the interim school council that supervised the five million dollar refit of the site.

Ms Kathleen Brasher

Kathleen has extensive experience in the health and public policy sector. She is currently working as an academic researching community wellbeing and mental health. Her qualifications include a PhD in the sociology of health and illness and a Bachelor of Applied Science (Nursing). She is the parent of an adult with disabilities.

Mr Stephen Dabkowski

Stephen has a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University and is currently employed as the Director of Blue Dot Media he is also a senior writer for The Age. He is the President Elect of the Aurora School for Deaf and Blind Children.

Ms Kirsten Deane

Kirsten is the mother of Sophie, seven, who has Down Syndrome, Noah who is five and Zoe who is nine months. Kirsten has researched the experience of people with an intellectual disability in the criminal justice system and has a continuous interest in the areas of criminal justice, education, genetics and parent support.

Kirsten is working on her PhD examining social attitudes towards intellectual disability. Kirsten is currently the President of Down Syndrome Victoria and as a former journalist, is actively involved in promoting positive representations of people with a disability in the media.

Ms Vrinda Edan

Vrinda has been employed in a number of areas, including the health industry prior to her involvement with the consumer perspective movement. She has undertaken tertiary studies at undergraduate and post graduate level. Vrinda has been employed in the mental health consumer movement for over 10 years and been involved in local, state and national committees and projects.

Vrinda is passionate about helping Mental Health Workers to understand the impact that service use has on the person, particularly in providing opportunities for the clinician to hear about the consumer experience in person. Vrinda currently works at Southern Health as Director of Consumer and Carer Relations in the Mental Health Program. Vrinda has a partner of 18 years, two wonderful children, and loves to go on weekend quilting retreats with her local quilting group.

Mr Stuart Ewin

Stuart is a lawyer now working for a litigation funding company. Before beginning his law degree, Stuart worked at Melbourne Water for 11 years. He is a keen sportsperson, having played wheelchair basketball in three Paralympic Games: Seoul, Barcelona and Atlanta, winning a gold medal in Atlanta. Stuart has a strong interest in social justice issues, and particularly issues of disability access. He lives in Melbourne with his wife and son.

Ms Lesley Hall

Lesley has worked for a number of disability advocacy organisations, including the Disability Resource Centre, Reinforce and Action for Community Living (ACL). She has been a board member of ACL and Victorian Women With Disabilities Network. She is presently working as an Arts & Cultural Development Officer at the City of Darebin where she promotes artistic opportunities for people with disabilities. She is a member of the Art of Difference 2009 Steering Committee and on the Board of Arts Access. She currently represents VDAC on the Department of Human Services Industry Advisory Group.

Mr Phil Harper

Phil has a long history of involvement in advocacy for Deaf people and people with disabilities dating back to the International Year of Disabled Persons in 1981, where he was a member of the State Committee. Awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 1983, he was a founding member of the Victorian Council of Deaf People (VCOD) and the Australian Association of the Deaf (AAD). He was awarded life membership to AAD in 2006 and is also a member of the World Federation of the Deaf’s Expert Panel on Technology. He has been a strong advocate in access to telecommunications, with involvement in many government and non-government committees over the years. He’s currently employed at the Australian Communication Exchange and was recently elected to the Deaf Sports Australia Board. Phil has just submitted his doctorate dissertation at Deakin University.

Ms Patricia Malowney (Tricia)

Tricia contracted polio as a four-month-old baby and used callipers until she was 16. At age 36, she developed post polio syndrome, was forced to retire from a middle management position with Victoria Police and uses a range of mobility aids to get around. She is the Chair of the Victorian Women With Disabilities Network (VWDN) and has roles on a range of committees. These include: President of the Disability Services Board, Co-Chair of the Disability Reference Group for the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, and community representative on the Road Based Public Transport Advisory Council.

Tricia is also a member of the Royal Women's Hospital Community Advisory Committee and their primary care and population health committees and the VWDN representative on the Statewide Advisory Council to reduce Family Violence.

Tricia's interest is in improving services for women with a disability. She would like to contribute her knowledge, experience and networks in this area. She also has an interest in building the capacity of people with a disability to get more involved in community participation strategies.

Ms Milly Parker

After growing up with people with disabilities, at twenty one years of age, Milly became a person with a disability herself. Involved in a car accident, she was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. She spent a year in rehabilitation and five years in the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) system as a claimant. It took many years before she was able to fully come to terms with how her brain injury had affected her life.

Five years ago, she created a home - based dog treat business, called Happy Yappers. Happy Yappers has since won many awards, is stocked nationally and exports to several countries including the UK, NZ & Asia.

Milly is kept busy on various boards and committees such as Hobson's Bay City Council's Disability Advisory Committee, BRAINLINK Woman of Achievement Committee and is also a public speaker. She is a passionate supporter of the removal of Young People from Nursing Homes and the need for a National Catastrophic Insurance scheme. She is a very proud Ambassador for 2008 International Day of People with a Disability.

Ms Karleen Plunkett

Prior to a 'sea-change' Karleen worked as a Community Development worker at Western Region Disability Network, Women's Health West and Yooralla Society during a ten year period. Currently Karleen is the Disability Service Officer at Latrobe City Council in Gippsland. Her primary role is to work in partnership with members of Latrobe City staff to develop and implement the Councils Disability Action Plan. Karleen is also involved with other networks such as the Victorian Women With Disabilities Network, Gippsland Linking Local Action Network and is a member of the Taskforce to reduce sexual assault.

Mr Alan Robertson

Alan has worked as a self-advocate for over ten years, and is now a Project Worker for the Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability Inc (VALID).

Alan has an interest in deinstitutionalisation and works at Kew Residential Services informing residents of the redevelopment, Standards for Disability Services and the introduction of the Disability Act 2006.

Ms Jody Saxton

Jody is a proud Deaf Gurangi / Badjala woman from South East Queensland. Now living and working from the regional city of Shepparton, Jody is a descendent and survivor of the stolen generation, working to improve the quality of life and communication for Deaf Indigenous people. As a consultant in her own business ‘Deaf Indigenous Community Consultancy’, she continues her work to advocate and train services on how work can be culturally appropriate and effective. Jody’s background is in hospitality, education and welfare. Jody has over 20 years experience on boards, committees and groups. Jody is passionate about embracing diversity, and wishes to continue her work with the Council to improve access for all women, with and without disabilities, including women of Indigenous background.