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| Management Committee |
Advocating for the fundamental needs, rights and lives and protection
of the most vulnerable people with disability in Queensland
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| Robert McRae |
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Position: |
President |
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Profile: |
* Solicitor
* Former President of Downs Syndrome Association of Queensland 3 years
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| Byron Albury |
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Position: |
Vice-President |
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Profile: |
I am an indigenous male with a disability which I believe gives me a unique perspective on fighting for the rights of not only indigenous people but also other marginalised and disadvantaged people. I became a member of Queensland Advocacy Inc. in the year 2000. My disability type is Cerebral Palsy Spastic Quadriplegia. My childhood years were spent in an institution setting in Brisbane. My family came from Rockhampton but has lived in the Cherbourg Community fro over 20 years.
I am a team player, well spoken, loyal, passionate and determined in my beliefs to maintain and defend the fundamental needs of people with disability in Queensland. I have been an active volunteer member and team leader of Club Rainbow formally Radio Lollypop at the Royal Childrens Hospital at Herston since 1994.
I have recently undertaken and completed the 3-day Social Role Valorisation (SRV) training with Peter Millier, senior trainer. This training has assisted me along the way to deepen my understanding of the bigger picture of social and systems advocacy. I also intend to undertake P.A.S.S.I.N.G. in October this year.
Since I was 22 years old I have been passionate about advocacy from a grass roots understanding. My experiences range from working closely with people with disability, families and senior management of many community organisations.
I am currently the Chair of the Client Consultative Committee with the Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland and have been for the past five and a half years.
If a conflict should arise between my involvement with the Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland and the QAI committee I will deal with it in an appropriate manner.
The experiences I have gained throughout my life will assist me to contribute to furthering QAIs mission statement, values and beliefs.
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| Michael Duggan |
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Position: |
Secretary |
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Profile: |
Degree in Social Science
Diploma of Community Welfare
Counselling course with the Institute of Pastoral Care.
I am the inaugural President / Chairperson of QAI, holding that role for five consecutive years. I stood down to apply for a paid position with QAI, which I subsequent held for two years until its funding was cut. After having another years break I was elected back on to the Management Committee, the last three years in the role of Secretary.
I am actively and passionately immersed in the disability movement and have a significant involvement in a number of community-based, not-for-profit organizations. For instance, along with my involvement with QAI, I am currently Chairperson of Community Resource Unit (CRU), Chairperson of Queensland Disability Housing Coalition (QDHC), Treasurer of Lifestyle Options (LOI), Treasurer of Queenslanders with Disabilities (QDN) and Member of a number of Reference Groups.
With the Australian Communication Exchange (ACE) I played a vital role in the establishment of a nation-wide Speech-to-Speech Relay Service for people with speech and communication difficulties. I am one of the inaugural Directors (and the first with a speech impairment) of ACE, serving in that role for three years, before stepping down to apply for my current paid position of National Consultant [Communication Difficulties] as well as being a member of ACEs Advisory and Policy Team.
I am committed to promoting positive values for people with disabilities and to reversing societal prejudices and structures that are counter-productive to such people achieving their rightful place in society. I am a constant campaigner for a just and fully inclusive society.
I truly believe that advocacy is a powerful tool to bring about positive change for those of us who are marginalised, including of course people with disabilities.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, spending time with friends and eating out. I like all sport, but mainly cricket and rugby league. I like all music, in particular Pop and Jazz.
PEACE!!
Mike Duggan
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| Meriel Stanger |
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Position: |
Treasurer |
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Profile: |
In March 1995, an event occurred that changed my life forever. As a result of a fall from a horse, I acquired a brain injury. I was 35 years old and had two daughters aged seven and twelve at the time of the accident. I spent three and half months in a coma and a year in hospital all together. I am now a spastic quadriplegic and partially blind in one eye.
I now live at home with my two daughters. I am a member on the Board of Management at Qualtime Association Inc (a day respite centre for physically and intellectually young people) as the Consumer Representative. Im also involved with a new group of people who are endeavouring to make life better for some of the long-term residents at the Jacana ABI Centre.
Im in the process of writing a book about my accident and journey of recovery called Permission To Shine
I feel I have some first hand experience in this field, although I have much to learn. Im willing to become as knowledgeable as I can about disabilities.
Before moving to Queensland in 1992, I had an interior design business in Perth for ten years. A field I would like to follow is making homes disabled friendly without it looking like a disabled circus!
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| Victoria McLennan |
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Position: |
Committee Member |
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| Julie McStay |
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Position: |
Management Committee Member |
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Profile: |
Julie McStay provides commercial advice to public, private and not for profit clients in the Health and Aged Care sector. She was admitted as a solicitor in Queensland in 1994. The primary focus of her practice for the last 12 years has been in the area of health law.
As a member of the Health and Aged Care practice of BDW, Julie provides commercial and transactional advice to a wide range of clients including hospitals, aged care providers and disability service providers.
Julie is currently on secondment to Retirement Care Australia, a company with multiple co-located residential aged care and independent living unit facilities throughout Australia and is acting in the position of Legal Counsel for that organisation.
She also has significant experience in guardianship law and has advised clients on many different guardianship issues involving children, elderly people and people with intellectual disability. Julie has a particular interest in the area of capacity, consent and guardianship and is currently completing post graduate study on this topic.
Julie currently holds management committee positions in the following organisations:
Queensland Advocacy Incorporated;
Mater Health Services Human Research Ethics Committee: and
The Medico-Legal Society of Queensland.
Julie is currently completing a Masters of Law at QUT with a major in health.
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| Madonna Nicoll |
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Position: |
Management Committee Member |
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Profile: |
Bachelor of Human Service (Honours)
I am a person with a physical disability who has experienced many aspects of the human service industry. I was raised by my Grandparents here in Brisbane but spent some time in an institutional setting. Later, I strongly advocated living in my own home with support.
My early interest in disability issues was fostered when I worked at a disability awareness unit at Craigslea State School, where I was Assistant Co-ordinator. This experience led me to explore disability as an academic endeavour. After completing an undergraduate degree in human services I maintained my links with the disability community by taking a management committee position with Speaking Up For You. I have gained an even greater appreciation over the past four years of the complex nature of preserving the human rights of people with a disability and am passionate about ensuring the rights of people with a disability.
My interest in human rights led to a curiosity about intellectual disability and decision-making and what happens in a human service environment. As a consequence I recently completed an honours thesis exploring decision-making for people with an intellectual disability. I believe that people must have input into their own life to achieve what they want from life.
I have attended many workshops and conferences as a way of increasing my knowledge and gaining perspectives of other people with a disability. I am committed, willing and strongly promote the ideals of advocacy as a means of achieving justice and improving the lives of people with a disability. As well as my management committee role for QAI, I am Vice President of Speaking Up For You.
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| Karen Williams |
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Position: |
Committee Member |
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