Key Staff
MIFNQ - Corporate Services
Jeremy Audas
Chief Executive Officer
Jeremy worked in various roles in Queensland Government agencies in North Queensland over the last twenty five years. He has managed Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Language programs at TAFE, including volunteer literacy tutors, pre-employment and vocational programs. His role as a principal teacher included providing support to people with learning difficulties and their teachers. As a regional executive officer with the Department of Employment and Training he was responsible for the administration of trainee and apprenticeship training and the accreditation and monitoring of registered training organisations.
Then with Disability Services Queensland Jeremy managed a team of supports facilitators and led the processes around the provision of funding and support to people with disabilities. Following this he managed the licensing and monitoring of child care and day care services in North Queensland. Most recently he supervised the community services funding team at the Department of Communities with responsibility for managing the relationship with many community service organisations.
Outside the workplace Jeremy is involved as a board member of the Townsville Community Legal Service and has an interest in social justice, education and training. In his current role Jeremy advocates for improvements in the community mental health sector. He is also a member of the State Council of the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health Inc.
Deborah Wilson
Corporate Development Manager
Diploma of Management
Cert III IT (Software)
cdm@mifnq.org.au
itsupport@mifnq.org.au
My role at MIFNQ is multi-faceted and diverse working alongside our CEO assisting to develop and maintain our corporate image and policies. This also includes overseeing administration, developing and maintaining our ICT infrastructure and website, and MIFNQ events and functions.
With over 35yrs administration experience, I have a wealth of knowledge and experience in all facets of office administration and information technology. Many of those years have been in PA, tour and event management, marketing and office management roles which also included accounts and HR.
In my downtime I love spending time with my grandchildren and avid Cowboys supporter and folow the V8s (Ford of course). For over 40 years I have played, umpired and coached netball. I have been part of the winning Qld Masters team who took out the 2004 CANA Nationals and the Townsville Masters team who were runners-up in 2010.
Cherrie Krajacic
Corporate Services Manager
accounts@mifnq.org.au
hr@mifnq.org.au
Cherrie took on her challenging position with the Fellowship at a time of unprecedented growth and operational change.
Cherrie brought with her the skills and expertise attained whilst managing her own business for several years and then working within the not-for-profit sector (focusing on Finance and Administration) for over ten years. Her wide reaching role at the Fellowship finds her overseeing the financial and accounting operations of the organisation, including payroll, budgets and grant administration along with managing the diverse area of Human Resources.
Although originally hailing from Melbourne with her husband, and now living in the Burdekin, Cherrie gravitates a little further North with each venture and whilst currently commuting, is planning to relocate to Townsville within the not too distant future.
Robyn Lewis
Community Relations/Fundraising Officer
Growing up in the Salvation Army spent many years as a student and volunteer both in the welfare and Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation centre here in Townsville.
I went onto study music at James Cook University and finishing an Honours degree in 2003. During which was involved in various organisations including the Festival of Chamber Music and Event Management for JCU.
I became involved with the Leukaemia Foundation as a Regional Fundraising Co-ordinator and onto North Queensland Manager. I moved to Account Manager for Southern Cross Media in 2009. I am looking forward to growing the Mental Illness Fellowship North Queensland across the regional area. I am passionate and committed to see this organisation step forward into the future.
MIFNQ - Managers
Barbara Anderson
Counselling & Support Manager
Bachelor of Psychology (Hons)
Cert IV Workplace Training & Assessment
Honours Graduate - James Cook University
Reg. Psychologist - Qld Psychologists Registration Board
Barb has worked for the Fellowship since 2002 on a part-time basis and coordinated the Fellowship's counselling and liaison services until 2005, when she shifted focus to coordinate the Forensic Secure Support Program.
For a number of years, Barbara has been our Community Education and Support Manager which included both the Counselling and Forensic departments. She is a registered Mental Health First Aid Training Instructor for both Adult and Youth programs. In 2009, this department was restructured and whilst Barbara remains as overall Manager, she focuses her attention on Counselling and Support.
Barb is working on her Master of Psychology (Clinical).
Kylie-maree Beller
Rehabilitation Services Manager
Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling
Graduated from New Zealand’s Waikato University, with a Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling. Post-Graduate studies in mental health, addiction and counselling.
Kylie-maree worked for a number of years within the Prisons in New Zealand, setting up drug and alcohol treatment programs as well as counselling forensic clients.
Kylie-maree has also worked extensively in the disability sector, child protection and is a Senior Clinician. Kylie-maree began at the Fellowship in 2009 and her focus is driving the Mental Health Respite Program for carers.
Glenda Blackwell
Well Ways Manager
Psychology Degree (Honours)
Post Grad Cert in Clinical Psychology
Grad Cert in Education (Tertiary Teaching)
Cert IV in Assessment and Training
Glenda is currently enrolled in a PhD in Psychology. She has tutored and lectured at James Cook University. In her younger years she was a medical laboratory technician. She never really took the lab coat off with a main interest in research. However, change to an interest in supporting people led her to work on a Queensland Government project developing and delivering education to Allied Health staff in Community Rehabilitation.
She has also worked in a psychological capacity at The Counsellors and at the Townsville Correctional facility. Currently she enjoys her role as Program Manager for Well Ways (Townsville, Cairns, Mackay), a program for the families and carers of people with mental illness. This program was recognised in the 2009 Mental Health Week Awards with a Silver Award for Family Education and Support. She has also completed a Certificate in Evangelism and in her "spare" time supports the homeless and needy. Leisure activities include reading, travelling and playing keyboards in a gospel band.
Philippa Harris
Qld Manager Education & Training
RPN
Commissioner of Declarations
Cert IV Workplace Training & Assessment
Philippa is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse with over 30 years experience working in acute, rehabilitation and community mental health settings in both the United Kingdom and Australia.
She is the Fellowship’s Education and Training Manager and has many years experience developing and providing innovative mental health programs for individuals, families and the community across North Queensland.
Philippa is currently a trainer for ‘Well Ways building a future’; Well Ways Duo’ and Mental Illness Education Australia (Qld) and a Master Presenter for Adult, Youth and E-Learning Mental Health First Aid programs.
Adrianne Hicks
Mental Health Carers Support Hub Co-Ordinator
Well Ways Snr Project Officer - Cairns
Bachelor of Social Work
Adrianne Hicks is a carer of a son who has lived with schizophrenia for the past 12 years. Adrianne is a social worker and counselor who has had a long association with MIFNQ and has worked full time for the past 2 years in the role of Well Ways Coordinator and Mental Health Carer Support Hub.
Adrianne and her team are working towards developing strong links between Carers Families and Friends of the mentally ill and the Cairns & Hinterland Mental Health Service and ATODS (Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs) with the support of all the mental health NGOs in the mental health district.
Adrianne specializes in offering information and emotional support to Mental Health Carers and was recognized for her service in 2008 at the Qld Mental Health Week Achievement Awards.
She is a carer representative for Qld Mental Health Clinical Collaborative, the Northern Area (Cairns & Hinterland Mental Health Service) Carer Representative, member for Cairns on the Qld Mental Health Executive and part of the Cairns Carer Consumer Advisory Forum.
Sandi Winner
Manager MIFNQ Mackay
Well Ways Project Officer - Mackay
Bachelor of Social Work
Mackay@mifnq.org.au
ww-mky@mifnq.org.au
Sandi has a Bachelor of Social Work from James Cook University. She has over twelve years experience in the social services sector including working in tenancy law advocacy, homelessness, disabilities and mental health.
Sandi is committed to reducing the stigma around mental illness and to promoting the rights of both consumer and their carers who experience mental illness in their lives.
MIFNQ - Senior Service Staff
Linda Bishop
Acting Day to Day Living Project Officer - Mackay
d2dl-mky@mifnq.org.au
Barbara Forman
Rehabilitation Assistant - Townsville
BForman@mifnq.org.au
Sally Thain
Day to Day Living Project Officer - Townsville
d2dl-tsv@mifnq.org.au
Lyn Tyson
Counsellor
Master of Social Work | Bachelor of Social Work | MIFNQ President 2001 – 2006
counsellor@mifnq.org.au
Margaret Ward
Day to Day Living Project Officer - Mackay
d2dl-mky@mifnq.org.au
