This edition of CRUcial Times focuses on the theme of “Investing in the future – what one person can do”.
This edition contains the following articles:
EDITORIAL
Investing in the future – what one person can do
Margaret Rodgers
Values based leadership: Staying true to what really matters
Danielle Mason has worked in various roles in the disability sector, including as a support worker, team leader and coordinator after completing studies in Psychology. Her current role with CRU is focused on sustaining the work of the organisation into the future.
Danielle is particularly interested in the role of workers and services in the lives of people with a disability and uses Social Role Valorisation (SRV) theory to inform her thinking on how to be respectful and helpful.
Outside of paid work Danielle is a mum to her young daughter and is a committee member of Values in Action Association. Danielle explored the need for values based leadership and reflected on the challenge of putting that idea in to practice.
Reflection on Right Relationships
Narissa Niesler (née Wilson) is a leader, designer, manager and someone who is passionately focused and committed to inclusive communities for people with disabilities. For the past decade professionally, Narissa has led highly productive teams within the IT sector and founded a small web and graphic design business.
Narissa is based on the Sunshine Coast, has recently married and is a passionate foodie. She advocates and manages her own supports and services which she has been self-managing since 2009. Narissa spoke about the concept of right relationship and drew from her experiences of managing her own team of support and the lessons she has learned.
Whose needs are being served: The benefits of bureaucratic shielding
Fletcher Tame has worked in community services for over twenty years; around half that time in management roles. His work in the disability sector began in 2010 and shortly after he attended an Optimal individual service design (OISD) course, facilitated by Michael Kendrick & CRU.
Fletcher strives to find, make and improve ways of using systems to support people, instead of the other way around. Fletcher spoke of how, as a manager within a large human service, he applies the notion of bureaucratic shielding to his day to day work. Fletcher is a director on CRU’s board.
The alliances and networks of collective leadership
Bianca Gamble is a mother of three children. She is determined to create a full and valued life for her 8-year-old son Liam, who has Down syndrome. She believes in the power of Family Leadership and works to influence others to pursue an inclusive life for their family member. Her current focus is advocacy for all children’s right to an Inclusive Education.
Bianca has a background in Psychology and Human Services, is an active member of CRU’s Disability Leadership Project and the QLD Collective for Inclusive Education (QCIE). Bianca discussed the importance of building networks and having allies when in engaging in change.
What one person can and cannot do
Michael Kendrick - In 30 years of visiting Queensland, Dr Michael Kendrick has become well known for his many contributions to improving the lives of people with disability. He is best known for his workshops, writing and teaching, as well as working with service providers, academics and government through evaluations, training and engaging in discussions.
Michael continues to be a close associate of CRU and uses his extensive networks to connect us with allies both locally, nationally and internationally. At the event, Michael reminded us that our individual actions do matter and when we work together we can achieve great things.