Shauna
I’m the new Innovative Employment Network Manager at Valued Lives and started with the team in August this year.
Over the last ten years I’ve worked in Disability Employment (DES) and the NDIS Partner in the Community organisations in Perth, as a Local Area Coordination and in service provision in Bunbury, and with Special Education Schools in Fiji (until Covid happened and they sent us all home!).
I love to travel, go camping and get out into the ocean for a swim – and my goal for the summer is to learn how to surf!
I look forward to coming to work every day with our team of enthusiastic, talented, and energised Business Advisors and every day we do our best to help people reach their employment goals.
I love being out at the Willagee hub and spending time with our microenterprise owners as they create their products, build their businesses, and impact their communities.
I’m very excited to be a part of the Valued Lives Innovative Employment team and can’t wait to meet everyone over the next few months.
Cathy
I am an Innovative Employment Advisor at Valued Lives. I started working with Valued Lives in January 2022.
Before Valued Lives, I was a Hairdresser for 43 years and had my own Salon for 20 years. I also have a certificate 4 in massage Reiki 2 and a lot of knowledge in aromatherapy therapy. I have travelled a lot of Australia and worked in all states except NT and Tasmania. I love learning and embracing new ideas. I am a mother of 4 gorgeous kids – 2 sons and 2 daughters. Three of my kids are Hearing impaired.
I love this job because you can challenge traditional ways of thinking and make a difference to the quality of people’s lives.
Outside of work I love to get out into nature! Camping and exploring, dancing, going to live music and festivals, reading and learning new skills, laughing and having fun with my family and friends, great conversations, and travelling and exploring new places.
Around the office, people know me for being reliable, punctual and hardworking.
Hannah
I am an Innovative Employment Advisor at Valued Lives. I started working with Valued Lives in June 2021.
Before Valued Lives, I studied Community Services. After completing my certificate II, III and IV in Community Services, I become a support worker/business assistant for Valued Lives.
I have an autistic brother and an aunt with an intellectual disability, so I learned to be inclusive from a young age and this has helped me gain valuable insight and perspective.
My favourite part of this job is making opportunities possible for people, meeting new faces and exploring people’s talents and skills.
When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, watching TV shows, listening to my favourite genre of music; Heavy Metal and being creative (painting and knitting).
Around the office, people know me for being the biggest fan of the TV show ‘The Office’ and being bright and positive. I am a hard worker, committed to helping people, and ready to get jump in and get the job done!At Valued Lives I’m an Innovative Employment Advisor and have been with Valued Lives since 2021.
Melinda
I’m an Innovative Employment Advisor at Valued Lives and have been working with Valued Lives since July 2022.
Before Valued Lives, I studied Creative theatre and special effects in 2014, Cert 4 in Small Business management at Sarino Russo in 2014, followed by Transpersonal Art Therapy at Ikon Institute of Australia in 2019. While studying, I was doing makeup for short films and events in Adelaide, SA. Later when I moved to Perth, I was doing hospitality, Support work and volunteering in the community and Police rangers with my children.
I then had my own business as an Art Therapist, and I was able to use my additional skills as a support worker and a business assistant providing one on one support and creating a therapeutic space.
The best part of my job is that I get to help people from all walks of life, finding employment or exploring their talents to create a microenterprise business and build their confidence in marketing in the community. Also, I love how the community are inspired by their work or service.
When I’m not at work, you’ll find me spending time with my family camping, bush walking having BBQ’s, I am passionate about the community, I get into the motorsports at the Kwinana Motorplex every second Wednesday evening with my partner. I love to be spending time with my dogs, Galah, and fishes. I do lots of woodwork and art in my quiet time.
Around the office, people know me for being artistic and putting a smile on people faces!
Ben
I’m an Innovative Employment Advisor at Valued Lives and have been working with Valued Lives since January 2021
Before Valued Lives, I was a support worker and lived in France for two years.
The thing I enjoy most about my job is seeing people connect with their communities and find happiness through things they are passionate about
Outside of work, you’ll find me down the beach or at the record store picking up some new vinyl, I also like to draw and spend time in nature
Around the office, people know me for being approachable, kind and understanding.
Louise
At Valued Lives I’m employed as an Innovative Employment Advisor. I started working with Valued Lives in January 2022.
Prior to working with Valued Lives I worked in the Community Services sector for 30+ years, mainly in mental health and alcohol and other drugs. I have a Psychology Degree and Post Grad Diploma in Social Welfare, as well as a couple of Cert IV’s (Training & Assessment & Frontline Management).
My favourite thing about my job is meeting new people, hearing and learning about their lives, as well as coming up with innovative and/or outrageous ideas. So, the people are my favourite part of the job.
Outside of work, you can find me thinking about work! I have just become a grandmother for the first time to beautiful Emily and I absolutely love animals – cats in particular. I am a part of the Myalup Volunteer Bushfire Brigade and played water polo for New Zealand at the World Cup when I was 15 years old.
Around the office, people know me for asking lots of questions, loving to have a laugh and probably talking too much.
