Committee Profiles

Liz Kelly, President

My partner Stephen and I have two children and we live in the inner eastern region of Melbourne. Claire is 9 and enjoys playing basket ball and dancing. She also enjoys attending a siblings group once a month. Claire has always accepted Connor as he is, and as any older sister, she can give as little or as much attention to her younger brother, as suits her. Connor is 7, he was born with cerebral palsy and has severe multiple disabilities. Connor has a charming personality that exudes confidence despite his difficulties.

He enjoys life, especially live music, swimming, skiing and anything that involves being social. Connor currently attends a combination of a specialist and mainstream school setting, and inclusion in the community is our long term goal. I am constantly frustrated by the stories of social isolation and human rights challenges that face people with disability and their carers. I joined the Association’s Committee to try and have some input in to changing the bureaucratic rules and inflexibility of the service system and to prompt individual choice based on the Charter of Human Rights.

I have worked within a diversity of settings, initially in finance then in HR and currently have my own HR consulting business which specialises in resolving workplace conflict. I am also a current member of the Disability Services Board. I believe that Australia should introduce and support a system based on the principle that the people with disabilities and their families are the best at defining their need for support, and that they should have control over the funds that will purchase that support.

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Alan Blackwood, Vice President

Our eldest child William was born premature and spent most of his first years in and out of hospital. William has an autism spectrum disorder and needs assistance with his diet and daily activities. William has been through early intervention, various therapy and integration programs and is now in high school. He has a great love of the Internet and music, and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Tom Waits and others of the sixties and seventies. I have spent most of my working life in the disability field, having worked for Yooralla, Headway, the TAC and as the public policy manager at the MS Society. My partner also works in the disability sector in recreation. I hope to be able to put this experience to good use with the committee to promote the issues we face as families in the world of government policy.

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Diana Morris, Treasurer

Having worked for almost 10 years as a Chartered Accountant, I understand the need to continually maintain and improve financial procedures to ensure they are robust and up to date. Since joining as Treasurer, I have been excited by the passion and energy shown by all members of the Committee of Management to make this Association bigger and better in every sense.

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Lisa Thomas, Secretary

I have two fantastic children, Sarah and Bryn, and an equally fantastic partner. Bryn has an autism spectrum disorder and high needs. He has a wicked sense of humour, loves computer games and is a Western Bulldogs fan. Bryn's sister Sarah is fantastic with her brother and is a very supportive older sister. As a community development worker I have worked in Neighbourhood Houses, lectured to students and worked on social research projects, including a project about the needs of people who juggle paid employment with caring responsibilities. I have a particular interest in bringing about systemic change and educating the community about the needs and experiences of families of children with a disability.

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Cara Scott

My husband and I have three children, Lucy, James and Oliver. James has severe cerebral palsy, epilepsy, is non-verbal and has spent a lot of time at the Royal Children's Hospital. James loves school and enjoys the company of his family and friends. Lucy adores her brothers and attends two sibling programs which she thoroughly enjoys, and Oliver loves being a part of all the busy activities of his brother and sister. I have a business background and have mainly worked in admin and finance. James has taught me many things about life which I hope to put to good use, and help make a difference for families with a child with a disability. I have a particular interest in the Royal Children's Hospital and in making sure the new one is family and disability friendly.

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John McKenna

I have tackled and overcome mobility difficulties since I was born with a condition known as Arthrogryposis (try saying that backwards), anyway this has stood me in good stead for the type of I work I am doing in the 'disability' space. I lead a rich independent life with my wife Robyn and have three kids and six grandchildren. My personal drive revolves around eliminating fear and promoting awareness and understanding of disability. I have worked in the areas of rehabilitation equipment, telecommunications and website accessibility. I have currently gone out into the world of consulting and set up 'Better Access Consulting'. In addition to being on the Association's committee, I am an active member of various boards and advisory panels where I contribute my unique personal and business perspectives on disability.

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Anna Molony

My husband and I have two boys John and Charles. John goes to a mainstream primary school and has the support of an aide. Despite his intellectual and physical disabilities, he has thrived at school with wonderful friends and teachers. He very much enjoys all the sporting programs at school, especially AFL football. Outside of school, both John and Charles are involved in our local football, tennis and basketball clubs. I am passionate about children with disabilities and their families been integrated with and supported by their local communities. I feel very strongly about ensuring the continued success of the Association and joined the committee in September 2008. I have a background in marketing and hope to progress the Association’s plans to increase its reach and public profile. This would include growth in our financial support from both the government and private sector. This will ensure our work to support our member families will continue long into the future.

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Jenny Salgo

Many of you might remember me from over the years as part of the Parent Support Team at the Association. Currently I am the co-ordinator of the Parent Support Network located in the eastern region of Melbourne. I am passionate about parent support and over the years have seen the benefits of parents connecting and supporting each other. Being a member of the Association’s committee allows me to maintain my connection to this wonderful organisation. I can also contribute in a meaningful way to future directions to ensure that the Association continues to meet the ever changing needs of families of children with a disability. On a personal level, I am the parent of two gorgeous boys. My oldest son, Chris, was born with a rare genetic disorder attached to a very negative long term prognosis. He is soon to turn 24 and we have started the process of building on his independent living skills with the ultimate goal of him living and working in his local community. For a long time I thought it was an impossible dream. Now it’s becoming a reality with my son actively participating in this exciting process.

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