Our board

Michael works as a personal carer in disability services providing support to clients. Michael is passionate about community and has been involved in community organisations and charitable concerns in the greater Inala area for over 30 years. Michael is currently involved in a number of local organisations including the Scouts, the Inala Lions club and the South West First Aid group

Jim has 15 years’ experience in the not for profit sector working in organisations supporting young people with disability. He offers experience in Governance, Family and Community Engagement, Business Development, Marketing and Communications and Fundraising. Jim completed a Graduate Certificate in Philanthropic and Not for Profit Studies at QUT in 2015 and is currently the Regional Fundraising Officer at Hear and Say.

Jim enjoys working with young people because he believes that everyone should be afforded opportunities to fulfil their potential, regardless of issues such as disadvantage or disability. As a community fundraiser he recognises the strong sense of community that exists in Inala and sees opportunities to foster the creativity and passion of the community to the benefit of the young people in our service.

Kerrie is an experienced teacher with over 15 years in the education sector. She has worked in Inala for 10 years and low socioeconomic areas for most of her career. A part of her role as a teacher is connecting with the community to ensure that the needs of the child are met. This may include making connections with mental health, social welfare groups and other groups which may provide access to food, clothing and other resources needed for school. Kerrie has extensive experience working with families from diverse backgrounds including refugees, Indigenous families and those who have English as an additional language or dialect.

Brett has a strong interest in helping others and volunteers at a soup kitchen as well as with his work with IYS. He holds a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) and completed a justice minor as a part of his studies. Brett is also an avid photographer, spending his free time exploring Australia to take photos of natural and urban environments. Brett brings a unique perspective to the board, having experienced life as a young person in the 21st Century. 

Matthew was appointed in 2008 as the inaugural Director of the Queensland Health’s Deadly Ears Program. This program addresses the fact that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have the world’s highest rates of middle ear disease and associated conductive hearing loss. He manages a large multi-disciplinary team that delivers primary health, allied health and ENT clinical and surgical services across Queensland’s remote Indigenous communities. Matthew is dedicated to making a positive difference, and hence places a strong focus at work on outcome-based service delivery.

Kylie has been a police officer in the Inala and Acacia Ridge area for 27 years. During this time she has managed the Inala PCYC for 8 years, been on the Inala Lions committee for 12 years, managed and run the Algester Blue Light Discos for 18 years and been heavily involved in dozens of school, community group and government agency groups. She is passionately interested in protecting the community, in particular our young people and vulnerable persons suffering domestic violence and mental health issues. Kylie also has experience and interest in running outdoor education activities and participates in basketball clinics for young people.

Rachel has been working in youth work and out of home care services for young people for over 15 years. This experience has come from roles in residential care, advocacy for young people in out of home care, and therapeutic work. Rachel acknowledges the strength and resilience of all young people and has worked with those who have experienced homelessness, family breakdown, domestic violence and/ or being in foster care. Rachel admires the diversity that is seen in both the community of Inala and Inala Youth Service. It is this richness of diversity, compassion and strength based frameworks that she also endeavours to teach students in her current role at TAFE South West in Youth Work and Community Service qualifications.