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COUNCIL
The BUSHkids Council is an equal partner in and contributor to the growth and change in our organisation. Over
the past year Council members have not only had strategic input but have also provided hands-on involvement
across many aspects of the organisation. Here is a brief profile of each Council member, and a summary in the
table below of their attendance at Council meetings.
The bullets adjacent to each name below indicate the number of projects
worked on or events attended in addition to the regular Council meetings during calendar year 2016 (one large bullet = 10 commitments).
Dr Neil Bartels
(Chair)
A medical practitioner with a keen interest in
children’s health issues, Neil holds a Master’s degree
in Law with a great interest in the equity of access
to health services for more remote or disadvantaged children,
particularly those with behavioural, learning or social disadvantage.
Dr Bartels provides valuable medical and legal experience and intense
support in the direction of the organisation.
Ms Gloria Ryan
(Deputy Chair)
Gloria is legally trained and is a very enthusiastic
contributer to all aspects of our contracting
matters, supporting BUSHkids with legal advice as
well as comprehensively advising on our Policies and Procedures.
Through the changes to the organisation’s branding she assisted
greatly with the registration of the BUSHkids trademark. She was
elected as Deputy Chair in December 2014 and in 2016 has been
bringing her skills to bear in a number of key review areas.
Ms Allison McLean
(Hon.Treasurer)
Allison brings her vast accounting knowledge with
many years in the areas of business advice, accounting
and taxation to support the role of our Accountant.
Growing up on a farm which was worked by generations of her
family she feels an affinity for families in rural and remote areas.
Allison was originally involved with the Redcliffe Centre through
community groups, organising games nights and activities, and
outings for children who had been brought in for treatment.
Mr David Ham
OAM
(Member)
David worked for Education Queensland all his adult
life, first as a teacher, then principal and inspector,
and finally as the Director of Human Resources.
As a young teacher and principal in outback Queensland he was
very impressed by the care given to children by our organisation.
David has given us a great deal of invaluable voluntary assistance with
the creation of our Policies & Procedures in the areas of Governance,
Human Resources and Finance, Admin and Health & Safety and
continues to volunteer his time on further projects.
Mrs Karolyn Harcourt
(Member – resigned July 2016)
Karolyn grew up and attended school in Toowoomba.
Her background in speech pathology prompted
her to use her clinical knowledge to assist
in the management of BUSHkids. She has worked primarily
with children, both in Education Queensland and Queensland
Health and her own private speech pathology practice, with a
strong belief in good quality health service for country children.
Mrs Gail Huggins
(Member)
Gail is a Speech Pathologist who has extensive clinical
and administrative experience gained from working
in government and non-government organisations
throughout Australia. Her commitment, based on the knowledge
and service planning experience that early intervention for children
at developmental risk is vital insurance against long-term
disadvantage, has always been to provide equity of access to well-
resourced, evidence-based service such as ours.
Mr Julian Martin
(Member)
After growing up in the Bush, Julian has a high regard
for what BUSHkids is contributing to the children of
rural and regional Queensland. He has more than
20 years’ experience in the information systems industry and a
background of providing business-enabling solutions to organisations.
Julian supports us greatly in all areas of our ICT needs and has been
a valued adviser for the transformation of our ICT systems across
the organisation.
Ms Carolyn Searle
(Member)
Having grown up in Mackay, Carolyn understands
how the needs of children and families in regional
areas are often overlooked and how in many areas
BUSHkids provides the only health service of its type. Carolyn has
worked in the accounting and legal professions before founding
Career Path, a recruitment agency, and has provided appreciated
valuable recruitment advice for our organisation. Carolyn has helped
increase the profile of BUSHkids amongst the community, ensuring
our valuable services offered reach the children most in need.
2016 Council
4 Feb
17 Mar
28 Apr
9 Jun
21 Jul
1 Sep
13 Oct
24 Nov*
6 Dec*
Dr N Bartels
Attended Attended Attended Attended Attended Attended Attended
Apology
Attending
Ms G Ryan
Attended Attended Attended Attended Attended Attended Attended
Attending Attending
Ms A McLean
Attended Attended Attended Attended Attended Attended Attended
Attending Attending
Mr D Ham
Apology
Apology
Attended Attended Attended Attended Attended
Attending Attending
Mrs K Harcourt
Apology
Apology
Attended Attended
Resigned
Mrs G Huggins
Attended Attended
Apology
Attended
Apology
Attended Attended
Attending Attending
Mr J Martin
Attended Attended Attended Attended Attended Attended Attended
Attending Attending
Ms C Searle
Attended Attended Attended
Apology
Attended Attended Attended
Attending
Apology
*Note: these meetings scheduled after the print deadline for this report; attendance notes are declared intentions based on advice received from members.