Organisational Details
Peter Callaghan – Chief Excecutive Officer
The Community Employment Options Inc group is a community business dedicated to equal access to employment for job seekers who experience barriers. The Group operates from 12 sites in Central Queensland and Wide Bay.
Peter has nearly 30 years experience in the community services sector assisting disadvantaged job seekers participate in employment. He has assisted in commencing many innovative, community-based organisations in Queensland.
Peter is motivated by an interest in ensuring that people who experience disadvantage are included in our community and enjoy the same rights and responsibilities as all Australian citizens.
Peters qualifications are Ad Dip Community Services (Disability), Diploma Business (Front Line Management), AIMM, AHRIM
In addition, he is –
- Board member – National Disability Services (NDS) Ltd
- Chair of National Disability Services Limited Queensland Divisional Committee
- Chair of the Commerce Queensland Regional Council
- Member of the Policy Council, Commerce Queensland
- Member of the Education, Employment and Training Policy Committee, Commerce Queensland
- Chair of the CQ Christian College
- Member of reference group - Institute for Sustainable Regional Development (ISRD)
Jeannine Harrington – Business Partnership and Development Manager
Most recently Jeannine has been working in the media industry, television and radio, for several years gaining extensive experience as a Sales Account Manager with a commitment to excellent customer service, adding value for clients and building long term business relationships.
Previous work experience has allowed Jeannine the opportunity to develop a broad range of skills and knowledge across many different industries including Sales and Marketing, Management, Workplace Health and Safety, Finance, Administration and Hospitality.
Jeannine has a strong interest and commitment to equity and social justice issues.
Sue Callaghan – Contract Performance Manager
Sue commenced relief work in administration at Community Employment Options Inc in April 1992 when there were a total of 5 staff members, and the rest as they say, is history!
Sue’s background is varied - Medical Receptionist on Wickham Terrace, Market Research Jnr Executive in London, Nurses’ Aide, qualified Dental Nurse, Senior Administration at a Local Government Shire Office, and Electorate Secretary for a Qld Senator. Sue is also an Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Office Professionals.
With the organisation’s growth, Sue has moved with the changes, eventually heading up the new Corporate section which began in early 1999.
Patricia Bovingdon – Corporate Services Manager
Patricia originally commenced with CEO in 1994, as a part time administrative assistant with the JPET (Youthtrek) pilot project. When the pilot project ended in 1995 she secured a position with the corporate office as the Regional Manager’s Assistant. In 1996, Patricia moved to Brisbane and Sunshine coast where she lived and worked across a range of industries, including administration officer for two community mental health projects.
Always passionate about the work that CEO does, Patricia served on the CEO Board for five years as Board Secretary after returning to Rockhampton in 2001, resigning in 2006 due to study commitments. After working for CQU for five years within the Research Department of the Faculty of Business and Law, Patricia returned to CEO in March, 2008 as the Corporate Services Manager.
Patricia is passionate about issues concerning disadvantaged groups and has a number of published research papers across the disability, employment, workplace bullying and feminists fields, including a best paper awarded in Dublin, 2006 discussing inequality and discrimination for women in distance education.
Patricia’s special study and research interest is organisational behaviour in the workplace, particularly for disadvantaged groups. She is currently enrolled in the MPhil Program with Monash University, submitting for upgrade to PhD in January, 2009. Patricia’s topic is “Stackable Negative Affect and Critical Negative Affect: Stories from Disadvantaged Jobseekers.”
Anne Wendt – Employment Services Manager
Anne has extensive experience working with disadvantaged Job seekers. Anne commenced employment with Community Employment Options Inc in February 2000 as an Employment Consultant at Hervey Bay. In 2004 Anne accepted the position of Site Manager of the Hervey Bay Office and in 2008 became Employment Services Manager. Anne has always had a passion to encourage and support people with disabilities gain sustainable employment and is committed to assisting the most disadvantaged people by linking them into the community to enable them to achieve their dreams and goals.
CEO Board of Directors
Rod Hill – President
Rod has been involved with CEO since the planning days to attract Commonwealth funding to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities and hence was elected to the first Board of the then Competitive Employment, Training and Placement funded community Organisation know as Employment Options For People With Disabilities. Rod has been on the Board ever since and has been President of the Board for more years than he can remember.
Vice President - Vacant
Danielle Helbers – Secretary
Danielle Helbers is a qualified primary teacher and Developmental Educator.
During her honours she conducted research on the experiences of Vietnamese-Australian families who have a child with a disability. Danielle’s doctoral research explored variables associated with poor performance for students who had obtained very low reading test scores.
Professionally, Danielle has worked and been part of the disability field for many years and secured her first job in Disability Services in 1988 working largely (though not exclusively) with clients (and their families) who have high support needs, multiple disabilities and/or who exhibit severe behavioural challenges.
In her first paid job in the field in 1988, Danielle worked for an Institutional Accommodation Service where children and young people were the client group. These clients moved out into 'regular' homes in suburbia and Danielle continued to work in that context for a period.
Danielle’s experience widened with a transition into Post-School Options and Work Experience Support for people with a Mild Intellectual Disability who had left school or were leaving school, followed by further change to a Vocational and Recreational Day Options and Community Access Programme for people with Autism, Intellectual Disability and high support needs.
In 1997/98, Danielle worked on a project for the Education Department of South Australia, exploring Best Practice in Transition Programmes for Senior Students. Danielle was also the Director of a Child Care centre with a number of children with developmental delays and behavioural challenges.
Danielle is currently the Senior Education Officer (student services) for Education Queensland.
Ian Coombe – Treasurer
Ian is a chartered accountant in public practice at CP O’Shea & Co, Rockhampton. He has been an owner or partner of the business since 1991.
Ian became treasurer of Community Employment Options Inc. in about 1999. Prior to this Ian was involved with our organisation as auditor.
Des Quinn – General Member
Des Quinn is the General Manager of Keppel Community Care. Des has worked for 20 years in areas related to supporting disadvantaged individuals and groups. He has a broad interest in sector development in community aged care and disability services sector. In particular, he has an interest in raising the professional profile of the sector.
Des joined the Community Employment Options Board in December 2005 with a vision to learn from and contribute to the organisation.
Julie Cleary – General Member
Passionate about the pursuit of human excellence and driven by her need to overcome the debilitating affects of dyslexia, Julie has been an avid student and teacher of personal development for the past 30 years.
In 1976 Julie authored, developed and coordinated a ground-breaking life skills program to complement the formal learning of students with moderate intellectual disability. The program was such a success the Department Education duplicated the program in 4 other ‘special’ schools.
Julie has owned and operated several businesses but her heart was always in the human potential field with her unfailing belief it is everyone’s birthright to be fulfilled and happy in life regardless of their ‘history’ or current ‘station in life’. Julie has authored and facilitated personal Development workshops nationally & internationally and continues to pass on vital information designed to enhance the human condition through workshop Programs and Personal Coaching.
In 2003 and through her development of processes, Julie eliminated her dyslexia and entered a formal classroom for the first time in 40 years to attain qualifications to support her vast experience and knowledge of human potential development. Julie is passionate about lifelong learning and was nominated as Central Highlands Outstanding Adult Learner 2004.
Coming out of retirement to truly fulfill her lifelong ambitions Julie continues to study and develop processes to increase personal effectiveness & professional performance drawing from some of the most exciting scientific research into the human brain/mind, of our time. Teaching people how to tap into their smarter thinking regions of their mind, along with championing people with disability to live meaningful lives - is what still drives her today!
Julie lives in Emerald on the Central Highlands QLD, is family oriented with 5 Grandchildren and her community involvement includes; Past President Emerald Ladies Welfare Association and current Member Zonta Club International.
Phil West – General Member/Client Representative
After being the Maryborough Client Representative for several years, Phil was initially asked to become a member of an Advisory Group Consumer Community Employment Options Inc. which was initially formed to provide constructive feedback to the Board. Phil was appointed to and has been a General Member and the Client Representative on the Board of Management for several years.
Phil was originally a client of the Maryborough office, which was initially involved with his rehabilitation after an automobile accident in 1998. He had worked in the Public Sector in various managerial roles prior to him having to cease full time work. His interest and experience with Quality Assurance has proved beneficial as he has participated in internal audits when he and the General Manager visit each of the centres to conduct Client Meetings.
He currently holds an executive position in the Maisie Kaufmann Learning Centre in Maryborough. The Maisie Kaufmann Learning Centre is a registered Training Organisation and specialises in teaching Numeracy, Literacy and General Living Skills to adults with disabilities. Phil has worked closely with the Maryborough and Hervey Bay offices of Community Employment Options Inc. in joint initiatives that involve common clients.
Phil initially joined the Community Employment Options Board with some trepidation. He now considers that becoming an active member of its Board, was one of the better things he has done.
