About Gippsland Multicultural Services (GMS)

Chief Executive Officer

As the CEO, Sally is passionate about GMS offering members of our ethnic communities access to services that meet their needs and expectations, in a culturally respectful manner. Having joined GMS in September 2022, Sally has over 25 years experience working across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, most recently in disability service provision and trauma-informed counselling.

Sally brings a person-centred approach to this role and is passionate about understanding each individual’s experience and empowering them to achieve their goals. Sally enjoys connecting with people and is keen to hear from those using the service and our local community.

Diversity Advisor

GMS is the auspice agency for the Gippsland region Diversity Advisor. The Diversity Advisor works with Commonwealth Home Support (CHSP) and Home and Community Care Providers, supporting providers to design and deliver services that are inclusive and respectful to users from a range diverse backgrounds.

This work supports the development of more inclusive services, where barriers to appropriate services are identified and addressed. The Diversity Advisor also facilitates training, provides access to resources, data and planning support to service providers.

Community Engagement Officer

The Community Engagement Officer is responsible for connecting with CALD members of the community to identify their needs and promote the services and role of GMS to both the CALD and wider community. This role also involves coordinating projects and events, facilitating communication and promoting community involvement to enhance GMS’s presence and impact within the community.

Sueying joined GMS in July 2023, bringing her background in education, training and project management. Sueying served as a project officer for a CALD community hospitality training project in 2022, leveraging her experience and connections with both the CALD and wider community in her community engagement role.

Manager Support Services

In her role, Indu manages two primary responsibilities: overseeing our team of Direct Care Workers and Volunteers, which includes recruitment, training, and supervision, and, managing service delivery for In-Home Aged Care, NDIS, and Home and Community Care for young people.

With 17 years of experience in Children’s Services, Vocational Education and Training (VET), Mental health Crisis Support, and NDIS within the not-for-profit, private, and local government sectors, Indu has developed a keen interest in human resources management, regulations, and compliance.

Born in Sri Lanka and having migrated to Australia with her two children, Indu is passionate about sharing her lived experiences to empower the local migrant community, to achieve a happy and high-quality life.

Social Support Co-Ordinator

Amy has been working with our social Support Groups since 2019, firstly as a Program Support Officer and then transitioned into her current Co-ordinator role.

Amy ensures a person-centred Support Plan is developed and regularly reviewed for all clients to meet their needs and goals with a wellness and re-ablement focus. Amy also co-ordinates the staffing, client attendance and activities for our Social Support Groups which are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays here at GMS in our Community Room. We also plan activities at other venues such as a lunch at a local bistro on a regular basis

Services Co-Ordinator

Hello, my name is Julie Ward.
I’m a Service Coordinator here at GMS. I started with GMS as a Direct Care Worker in 2023 before moving into this role and has many years of experience working in the sector.
My role is meeting clients and completing assessments to ascertain what level of support is required.
I then collaborate with the staff rostering team to ensure the best possible support is provided.

Access and Support (CALD) Worker

The Access and Support (CALD) Worker provides support to those from a CALD background who are over 65, or younger with a disability, who need assistance to find the services they need to live independently at home.

The A&S worker helps people who face cultural and linguistic barriers, supporting them to connect to the services they need, and to make informed choices about their care. This position provides great support assisting clients to navigate service systems that may at first seem confusing and complex, to gain the outcomes that best meet their need.

Access and Support (CALD) Worker

Access and Support Worker’s role is all about ensuring everyone can access the services they need. We help eligible individuals facing barriers to CHSP or HACC-PYP services, offering support from start to finish until they have the assistance they require.

We’re here for everyone in Gippsland, including migrants, refugees, and culturally diverse community members. Our personalized support is tailored to those who may feel unsure about accessing services, guiding them through the My Aged Care screening and assessment processes.

Finance & Program Support Officer

Lisa has been with GMS since July 2019 and oversees the Financial aspects of GMS, including Payroll, Superannuation, Invoicing and Debt Collection.

Lisa also provides program support to our Aged Care and disability services, and works alongside Katiya in carrying out the day to day rostering for all our Direct Care Staff, whilst supporting the respite and NDIS services ensuring that service users and clients are well supported.

Reception & Rostering

Katiya’s (Kat) is the friendly voice on the end of the phone, and the welcome smile at our reception.

Kat’s other major responsibility is rostering all of our client appointments which involves matching staff with clients for shifts. A big task requiring Kat to think on her feet and be flexible. She does a great job of meeting the needs of clients whilst balancing availability of staff. Not an easy feat!

Human Resources & Admin Officer

Hina is HR & Admin Officer at GMS. Hina is responsible for supporting the day-to-day activities of the Human Resources department.

She handles task related to your personnel records, data management and recruitment assistance. If she can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact her.

Finance and Marketing

I have been working at GMS since 2023 as a Finance and Marketing Assistant, doing bookkeeping as well as social media and graphic design.

I love playing with colours and photos to create something unique that promotes the great work that we do here at GMS. I also prepare the newsletters and many other publications.

Board Chair

Bosede is a credentialed mental health nurse, resilience coach and guest speaker with passion for aged care and mental health and wellbeing nursing. Bosede joined the Board and became the Chair Person in 2022. Bosede migrated to Australia in 2000 from Nigeria and identifies as part of the Yoruba Ethnic community. Since arriving in Australia, Bosede has been an active community member on a number of committees and completed her nursing studies.

Now a registered nurse with almost 20 years experience across a range of health fields, Bosede is currently working as a Director of Nursing and Mental Health Clinical Nurse Educator and has previous extensive experience in leadership and management roles. Bosede recently completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course - Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors.

In her spare time, Bosede teaches her native language "Yoruba" to young people and is a prominent member of Yoruba Heritage and Cultural Association of Victoria. Bosede also has a passion for embracing diversity in the workplace and in the community and strives to advocate for them in a non-judgemental manner. Bosede was a recipient of a Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll award in 2022 for her contribution to the multicultural community. Bosede is also one of the 2023 Melbourne University social equity institutes community research fellow cohort. Her project topic: “connecting African Youths with Elder - positive change through storytelling".

Vice Chair

Previously employed as the Diversity Advisor at GMS, Jackie then joined GMS as a Board member and was elected as Vice Chair in November 2022.

Jackie has lived in Australia all of her life, a descendent of grandparents who migrated from the UK and Ireland. Jackie has extensive experience (over 25 years) in both clinical and leadership roles in Victorian Public Health Services, Community Health settings and the Not-for-Profit sector. Currently the Quality and Risk Manager at South Gippsland Hospital, Jackie has a strong commitment to social justice, and inclusive, high quality and safe service provision.

Jackie is an Occupational Therapist, with Post Graduate qualifications in Quality Management, and Health Service Management (Aged Care). In 2023, Jackie completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course - Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors.

Many of Jackie’s professional roles have involved connecting with CALD communities to facilitate and promote culturally appropriate and inclusive services.

Treasurer

Kenna joined the Board in 2022 and was elected as Treasurer in November 2023.
Kenna was born in Australia and has Scottish and English heritage.

Kenna, now retired, is an Occupational Therapist and worked in that field for over 25 years before moving into State Government at DHS. In this role, Kenna was the Program Advisor for GMS for 12 years so has a very good understanding of the organisation and the funding structures it operates within, in particular Aged Care and Home and Community Care Program for Young People.

Kenna is now an active community member, including volunteering at Warragul Regional College Breakfast Club and attends and Active Ageing exercise group twice weekly as well as being an enthusiastic gardener.
Kenna has completed Governance foundations for not-for-profit through the Institute of Company Directors.

Secretary

René was appointed as Secretary in 2019.
René was born in Austria and arrived in Australia in 1971. René has been actively involved in the multicultural space for a number of decades including GMC, GMS and as Treasurer and representative for Gippsland on the Board of the Ethnic Community Council of Victoria. He also was for a number of years Secretary and acting Chair of GECC. He is a member of Multicultural Arts Victoria and was Chair of the Arts and Communication Multicultural Council for Regional Victoria. René has been a signatory to the Victorian Multicultural Commission Community Accord.
René holds an overseas Diploma of Business and is the Founder and Director of an IT and Business Consultancy company established over 30 years ago. He is a journalist member of the MEAA.
René volunteers his time as a business mentor with SBMS and now for over 25 years as Orbost Regional Health volunteer. He strongly believes in Gippsland being a successful, harmonious and multicultural community.
René is an artist and, in the past has been an executive director of feastonart gallery. He enjoys helping people, photography, woodworking and a lifetime of involvement in IT.
René is a fellow and member of the Institute of Community Directors Australia.

Board Member

Ambreen joined the Board in June 2023. Ambreen is originally from Pakistan.
Ambreen is a Mental Health Counsellor, a member of the ACA - Australian Counselling Association. ACA is Australia’s largest single registration peak body for Counsellors and Psychotherapists.
Ambreen has completed Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors course at the AICD - Australian Institute of Company Directors. Ambreen has had experience working with multicultural communities, and participates in supporting local community groups.
In her spare time, Ambreen participates in self care, canoeing, and walking.

Board Member

Remi migrated to Australia in 2005 from Canada. Originally residing in Sydney where she lived for a few months, before coming to Gippsland. Remi joined the GMS Board in June 2023.
Remi’s ethnic background is Nigerian and is the current President of the Nigerian Society of Victoria and the Chair of the Council of Nigerian presidents in Australia. Remi has collaborated with the Victorian Multicultural Commission on many occasions and is a Regional Advisory Committee member. She is also a member of the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria and African Day Australia.
In her professional life, Remi was a secondary and tertiary teacher for 15 years in various countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Canada and Australia. Remi is a psychotherapist and an educator in private practice.
Remi has completed Governance foundations for not-for-profit through the Institute of Company Directors

Board Member

Dolores is of Irish heritage and migrated to Australia from Ireland in 1988 with her husband and two children. Dolores joined the Board in September 2023.
Dolores is a mental health clinician by profession and completed her mental health nurse training in Ireland and worked there for approximately 10 years. On coming to Australia, she continued to work in the mental health field for the past 35 years including most recently in a regional management position at Latrobe Regional Hospital. In this profession, Dolores has worked with people from various ethnic backgrounds.
Dolores has completed Governance foundations for not-for-profit through the Institute of Company Directors.