Emma Bennett - Planning Facilitator

Email: emma@parent2parentqld.org.au| Mobile: 0403 019 166

My name is Emma Bennett and I have the pleasure of being the Brisbane Family Facilitator for Parent to Parent Qld.

I live in Taringa in a cottage about 7km outside of Brisbane, our house is on a hill and has a lovely view from the study window where I spend
much of my time! I live with my partner Richard, our daughter Amy and 2 dogs! We are lucky enough that our house is high set so we have converted half of the space downstairs into a bed sit living arrangement for her so she can be semi – independent; it suits us all very well!

Before I joined P2P I worked in a lot of different organisations but almost always in positions where I was assisting people to have more control and say over their lives. I have a very strong interest and love of training and facilitation especially if it leads to people gaining more skills and knowledge of the tools that will help them. I also have very strong social justice principles and believe in the rights of all people to have as full and happy a life in their communities as possible.

 

 

 

Pearl Rahme - Planning Facilitator

Email: pearl@parent2parentqld.org.au | Mobile: 0468 313 870

Hi my name is Pearl, I was born in South Africa and have been living in Gladstone, Australia since 2007. I have been blessed with three great men in my life, my husband and two sons. Because my youngest has Down Syndrome, I have always been interested in gathering relevant information and learning skills that help toward achieving desired outcomes.

 

My journey with Parent to Parent started as a parent, then a volunteer and today I work with a great and supportive team in Gladstone.  It is rewarding knowing that in different ways, we all contribute to helping other families also reach their goals.

 

 

Wendy Chandler - Planning Facilitator

Email: wendy@parent2parentqld.org.au| Mobile: 0417 787 646

Hi my name is Wendy Chandler and I live in the Gold Coast Hinterland in a little village called Springbrook. I live with my husband Leo and my three beautiful children Daniel , Ellen and Liam in a beautiful rain forest setting.

My favourite things to do in life is to sit on the beach alone and contemplate what is happening in the world as well as having regular sessions with my mountain girlfriends where we have a few drinks and lots of laughter. What really tops it off for me is being able to sing and dance at the top of my lungs when I am home on my own.

I came across Parent to Parent whilst attending a support group on the coast at the time my son started Special School and I was at a low point where I didn't know what to do next. I attended the Communication and Supporting Skills course and was then invited to do the Train the Trainer in the course and the rest you might say is history.

I have been part of Parent to Parent since 2001 and have gained heaps of personal confidence and skills and I am doing things I never thought I would ever do.

My passion within Parent to Parent is helping families and people with disabilities develop good plans that see them as valued members of their communities. I love planning with families as it gives them opportunities to see the positives of their family member and learn ways of building on these.

I have seen some wonderful outcomes for people. One young man joined a mainstream chess group through some planning lead by Parent to Parent. Changes for my own son where the school he attends have been able to change his classroom environment/ curriculum to meet his needs to embracing the use of Person Centred Planning Tools for other members of the school community.

So thank you P2P for all the support and skill enhancement I have received over the years and for having the faith and confidence in me to help others have better lives.

---

 

 

Belinda McAuliffe - Planning Facilitator

Email: belinda@parent2parentqld.org.au| Mobile: 0401 768 040

Hi my name is Belinda McAuliffe and I live in Gympie, about 2 hours north of Brisbane.  I am a Planning Coordinator, based in Yandina/Gympie and have been with Parent to Parent since 2000.  10 long years…No just kidding, fantastic years with opportunities to do things and meet people that I would never have imagined 14 years ago when Caitlin was born and our lives changed forever.  Speaking of, I have 4 wonderful children Seann, Shannon, Caitlin and Liam who keep me very busy and often entertained.  We enjoy travelling, just spending time together, movies, reading, tennis and working in the yard- ok that one might just be me!

My time with Parent to Parent (fondly known as P2P) has enabled me to plan the supports for my family, and Caitlin in particular so that we can enjoy time together and /or doing things independently from each other.

As a Planning Coordinator I am able to work with people with a disability, their families, friends and supporters (who may have professional support roles) in varied locations and am often challenged to my utmost creative abilities.  I especially like planning with people using graphic facilitation tools and gain much satisfaction seeing a large blank piece of paper become covered with words and pictures describing a person’s gifts and abilities and their positive, possible future.

---

 

 

Jacqueline Alves - Planning Facilitator

Email: jackie@parent2parentqld.org.au| Mobile: 0418 799 764

Hi, I’m Jacqueline Alves, but you can call me Jackie.

My skills come from a creative background working in the graphic design industry for 28 years, I decided as I was getting older that I wanted to put my creative skills to improve peoples lives in a community context.

Whilst teaching design I had the privilege of working with some students who had special needs and could see the pleasure and confidence it gave them learning news skills and expressing themselves in a creative way. I created a program using design and art for wellbeing. I wanted to give people an opportunity to learn creative skills and experience the joys of creative expression and all the health benefits that go with that. I have since worked with many young people who have a disability or caring for people with illness or disability. I am very excited to be part of such a wonderful organisation and hope that in some way, creative or not that I can help people find ways to fulfil their dreams and goals and experience the diversity and quality of life that we all deserve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steven Paull - Planning Facilitator

Email: steven@parent2parentqld.org.au| Mobile: 0427 987 654

I have been involved in a number of community, employment, educational and Government projects in my region and maintain personal contact with a number of key personnel. I am well known in the Disability and Community sector, as well as by educational bodies such as schools, TAFE, University and Training Organisations, Sporting Clubs and Associations, and Government departments.

In 2009 I was honoured to be awarded the Darling Downs Volunteer of the Year Award for my involvement in developing youth sport and I remain active in promoting equal opportunities for the disadvantaged in the community.

 

 

 

 

 

Lindsay Knorr - Toowoomba Regional Manager

Email: lindsay@parent2parentqld.org.au | Mobile: 0439 449 548

I am Lindsay Knorr the Regional Office Manager for Toowoomba. I have been part of the Parent to Parent team since 2009. I originally started doing some fiIing for a couple of hours a week and never left. This would have to be the most fulfilling position I have ever held. Since then I have had the opportunity to attend many training events including Person Centred Thinking (P.C.T.) and Communication and Supporting skills (C.A.S.S.) I now regulary assist in arranging and planning these events from the Toowoomba Office.

I have a great family of three grown up children, five grandchildren and two foster children that I love very much. As a hobby I like creating things out of wood.