top of page
Tropical Leaves

Executive and Senior Leadership

FSA Health & Wellbeing is one of six service streams within our governing organisation Family Services Australia. The executive and senior leadership group listed here ensure delivery of our organisational goals.

Gary Jackson

Managing Director & Company Secretary

GJ-CEO-Co-Sec.jpg

Enjoying 28years as a C-Level Executive, Company Secretary, Director & Chairman.  Gary has held offices of CEO & Chairman, an Executive Director of Health, Disability & Employment Services Group Advisory Boards, Chair of Clinical Governance Committees & Expert Industry Advisory Panels.

Gary has chaired Group Finance, Audit & Risk Committees and been a Management Committee Member & Treasurer of an International Charity. Gary has had 17 recent years in NFP NGO Human Services incl. Intl Development, Health, Disability, Medical Research, Mental Health, Allied Health, Child Protection, Child Safety, Education, Employment, Disability, Housing, Community & Professional Services.

Brett Fahey

Operations Director

BF-150x150.jpg

Brett holds a Cert IV in Training and Assessment, Bachelor of Social Science (Social Welfare), Cert IV Frontline Management and Master of Business Administration (MBA).  Brett is passionate about selfless service for others and well aligned to FSA’s values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Empowerment (CARE) with Integrity and Positivity.

With over 20 years progressive leadership experience in community services, Brett has enjoyed 15 years work with Greenacres Disability Services and more recently 10 years with Mission Australia, joining FSA as a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT).

Rebecca Hardy

Finance Manager, Corporate Services

Bec-Hardy-150x150.jpg

With over 20years experience, Bec holds a BBus., MPA and is a qualified CPA professional with an extensive range of management and operational skills that have been successfully applied in branded international and domestic organisations of significant scale.

Bec has enjoyed senior finance roles with staff and systems development experiences not limited to local government, Socrates Distributors, Marriott, Accor Asia Pacific, Emirates, International Hotels Group and Best Western Australia.

With a career ambition to support community service needs for children, young people, adults and families Bec joins FSA  at an exciting time of scale and growth.

Joe Vidakovic

Information Technology Manager

Joe-Vidakovic.jpg

Joe joins FSA with over 20 years industry experience, continuous leadership and education in various roles within the private, government and non-for-profit sectors, providing a wealth of knowledge and innovation.

Holding a foundation Master of Information Technology Management, Cert IV in Training and Assessment, Train The Trainer, Microsoft SCCM and an Advanced Diploma in Business (Information Technology), Joe has pursued further education in Microsoft Azure, Managing O365, and as a PRINCE2 Practitioner.

Stevie-Rae Kirkland

Clinical Lead, Chair of Central Triage
FSA Health & Wellbeing

SRK.webp

Stevie is a registered psychologist, educational and development psychology registrar and board approved clinical supervisor. Stevie has provided psychological support to the Illawarra community for the last decade, and has been working in management for the past 6 years, with a focus on clinical oversight and service delivery.

Stevie’s natural therapeutic style is relaxed, conversational and authentic, acknowledging that the person seeking support is the expert of their own experience. Stevie’s approach prioritises safety and trust in the therapeutic relationship and strives to help people feel seen and heard through genuine connection. Stevie is an approved handler for our facility dog, Cooper, and is trained to utilise Cooper within her therapy sessions.

Stevie’s areas of interest include using a neuroaffirming lens to support neurodiverse populations (particularly female and atypical presentations of autism); supporting those who have a history of trauma, attachment disruption and/or adverse life experiences; supervising and supporting the development of provisional and early career psychologists; and supporting those with anxiety presentations. While Stevie adapts and combines different approaches to suit the needs of each individual, her preferred modalities include Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Schema Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy and Canine-assisted Psychotherapy.

Mathew Aquilina

Service Manager, Relief Chair of Central Triage

FSA Health & Wellbeing

113945848_673290359933633_13529346938312.webp

Mathew is a Registered Psychologist and board-approved clinical supervisor. Mathew has a keen interest in the support of fathers and the area of men’s mental health. He also enjoys supervision of provisional psychologists and other mental health professionals.

 

Mathew is passionate about providing families and expecting parents with evidence-informed information to assist the transition to parenthood. He is an accredited Becoming Us Facilitator, and Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator. With a background in child and family psychology, Mathew has worked from an attachment-informed lens for the duration of his clinical career. He values the important role that attachment and bonding play in developing psychological wellbeing and positive relational experiences, and this informs his therapeutic style and practice.

 

Mathew takes an integrative approach to his practice, with experience in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic therapy, and EMDR. He has a warm and conversational style and a strengths-based view of those he supports, working to build capacity and increase insight rather than focus on deficit or disorder.

 

Mathew has completed intensive training with the Perinatal Training Centre and is engaged in ongoing clinical supervision in perinatal mental health, to ensure the best care to his clients.

Tonia Towpich

Practice Leader,
Intensive Family Preservation

TT-150x150.jpg

Holding a Bachelor of Social Work and Diploma of Community Services, Tonia joins FSA with 15 years’ experience in the community service sector. Tonia has worked in the area’s of early intervention/child protection, homelessness services and specialist domestic violence services for various organisations in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. Tonia is passionate about supporting her team to utilise the strengths of families to overcome adversity and hardship. Tonia’s favourite thing about being a leader is celebrating the achievements of clients and she is inspired by her team’s passion for their work.

Fiona Murphy

Practice Leader,
Domestic & Family Violence

TPL.jpg

With over 10 years with FSA, Fiona previously enjoyed a career in supporting community service organisations including Community Health, Darcy House, Cringila HACC Centre and Citylife Community Initiatives.

Fiona has coordinated a local community kitchen for over 10years and also worked in community development programs in Vietnam.  Fiona has been a part of the FSA team Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) service stream and the Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) Program since its inception in 2010.

Fiona is passionate about making a difference in the local community and assisting the disadvantaged to reach their potential.

Suzi Francis

A/G Practice Leader
Early Intervention

Suzi.jpg

Suzi is focused on supporting vulnerable families, especially working alongside her Team to ensure the best outcome for the families and children we are privileged to work with.

Suzi has worked as a Human Resources Specialist however felt that her qualities as a compassionate and caring person were more suited to a career in Community Services.  She obtained her Diploma in Community Services and commenced with Family Services Illawarra in 2010.

Her new role co-ordinates family referrals to ensure families receive practical support, case management and access to specialised help. This compliments her extensive experience with facilitating parenting programs to ensure parents and carers build positive and stronger relationships with their children.

She is currently studying a Bachelor of Social Science, majoring in Behavioral Studies & values learning to enhance her personal development and leadership.

Craig Bloxsome

Aboriginal Community Engagement Coordinator

craigb.jpg

Craig joined Family Services through its Intensive Family Preservation (IFP) Program in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region.  At Family Services, Craig has been a selfless team first leader, applying his skills as a registered Circle of Security Parent Educator, The Sanctuary Model Trauma and Attachment Trainer.

Craig has completed FaCS Mandatory Reporting Training and Structured Decision Making; ACWA Effective Casework and Management, Accidental Counsellor and Workplace Health and Safety Training; ACCYO Safeguarding Children Training; UNSW Indigenous Pre Law Program and Anglicare Leadership 101 experience.

Craig has enjoyed further Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in Functional Behaviour Analysis Training, Domestic Violence Assessment and Victims Services Training, together with that as a Suicide Prevention Intervention Strategies Facilitator in regional primary schools.

In a human services career spanning 27years Craig has supported Aboriginal Community Engagement as a respected community contributor and is a Deadly Award’s, Triple Finalist 2010-2012 Health Worker of the Year.

Craig’s community service work has included that of House Manager of Respite Accommodation and Aboriginal Foster Care on the South Coast NSW; Senior Youth Worker, Barnardos; FaCS Case Worker; South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation; Therapeutic Residential Care Leader, Anglicare Tasmania; Brighter Futures Team Leader, CareSouth and he was an Aboriginal Specialist for NSW Housing.

Brooke Askew

Coordinator & Workplace Wellbeing Lead
Child, Youth & Family Support

Brooke-Pic-150x150.jpg

Brooke has enjoyed an 18+ year career in the Child and Family sector, with 7 of those years being a part of the FSA team.

Brooke’s passion for Wellness and Self Care has always been at the forefront of her work with both her clients and staff, which lead her to design, develop and facilitate the in-house staff Workplace Wellbeing Program which was rolled out in 2019.

Brooke holds a Bachelors degree in Social Science (Behavioural Science) and Early Childhood Education and an Adv Dip in Counselling which underpins her more recent role as Coordinator Early Intervention (Child Youth and Family Service) supporting staff across three FSA sites; Shellharbour, Nowra and Ulladulla.

Brooke’s leadership style has a strong focus on staff wellbeing, balance, debriefing and reflection, which ties in seamlessly with the Workplace Wellbeing Program which she continues to play an active role in.

With extensive experience as a Family Support Worker, a Group Facilitator, an Educator and a Mother, Brooke knows all too well the importance of taking care of yourself in order to be able to care for others. She believes that working alongside vulnerable families in the community to support sustainable change for children is a privilege and one that requires heart, reflection and empathy; it is for this reason that at any given chance you will find Brooke swimming in the ocean, running for “fun”, playing with her children or grabbing coffee with her friends.

Jodie McLerie

Practice Leader

Employment Services

JM.jpg

With over 15 years in the Employment Services industry, Jodie brings to FSA her experience and knowledge in developing and leading performance driven individuals and teams.  Jodie holds Diploma’s in Leadership and Management, Community and Human Services and Certifications in Frontline Management, Community Services and Business.

With a passion for the Human Services Sector, Jodie works from a values-and strengths-based approach to ensure that the service develops and fosters quality relationships in the communities in which we operate.

As Practice Leader of our Workforce Australia Enhanced Services contract, Jodie will utilise her wealth of experience and knowledge to deliver strong practice and high performance within FSA’s Employment Service Stream.

Kezia Tennant

Practice Leader

Disability Employment Services

Kezia-Tennant.jpg

Kezia commenced with FSA in July 2018 bringing 13 years’ experience within the disability employment and human services sector. Through collaborative partnership with AfterCare, Kezia has been the lead specialist in Delivering PHaMs Employment Programs, supporting people throughout the greater Ipswich and Goodna areas to overcome mental health concerns, address non-vocational barriers and improve social and economic participation through re-entry into the workforce.

During her time as a Community Support Consultant and Regional Manager at FSA, Kezia has provided valuable leadership to our growing DES team and specialist community engagement that has enabled the delivery of Individual Placement Support, achieving whole of life outcomes for our DES clients and building strong relationships with local employers and community stakeholders.

As FSA’s Program Lead, Kezia will continue her work within the community identifying areas of need within our four Employment Service Areas and strategise how best FSA can provide assistance and relief to those in need.

bottom of page