Toowoomba's Leading Disability Employment Service

Staff

Personnel West follows strict management guidelines in the recruitment, training and retention of quality staff. All staff are employed on the basis of their skills and abilities in placing people with a disability into real jobs within the local community. Our depth of knowledge and understanding of the local business community and the needs of our job seekers, together with our experience in assisting hundreds of job seekers to meet their employment goals, means that we are well placed to assist you to find suitable work.

David Wallis – Manager

Originally from Perth, David has been living in Queensland for 19 years and is a carpenter by trade. David has been working in the Disability industry for approximately 10 years. He came to be involved in the industry through his son, who is profoundly Deaf. Working at Personnel West has shown him how helping people find work can change their quality of life. He enjoys working towards creating a more inclusive community.

David Berrett – Employment Consultant

David has extensive background in working with people with disabilities, having worked as a support worker, registered psychiatric nurse, enrolled nurse in general hospitals, residential care worker in integration settings and a recreational officer in a private psychiatric hospital. David gets a lot of satisfaction from assisting clients maximize their potential and to achieve goals that they never thought possible.

Tracey Akers – Employment Consultant

Tracey has worked in the employment industry since December 2007. She has two brothers with intellectual disabilities and gained further experience while working as a teacher aide for two years. Prior to this she was a stay-at-home mum to her 3 children, and understands how hard it can be looking for work. She is determined to do her very best to find suitable employment for her clients to suit their needs and enrich their lives. “The negative responses we get can be disheartening, but by never giving up we will get you the ‘Yes’ you deserve.”

Margie Chandler-Cross – Employment Consultant

Margie has two daughters, and is herself a child of deaf adults (CODA) which has given her a deep insight into people with disabilities. She is very proud of her parents, who have traveled overseas on many occasions and her father retired after 40 years as a valued employee. Margie has spent most of her life interpreting for her parents and has completed a Diploma of Auslan Interpreting. She has interpreted for Qld Education, Tafe Qld, Mental Health, Medical, Legal, Government Departments and Employment. Her passion is to educate people about people with disabilities, and she finds great satisfaction in seeing clients empowered through employment and training.

Alison Milstein – Employment Consultant

Alison began her career in nursing, and has lived in Toowoomba since 2006. In her last position she spent two years at the Life and Career Centre, where she assisted other personnel with their caseload helping the long term unemployed to re-enter the workforce, some of these being people with disabilities; did administration, reception, bookkeeping, accounting, and was training in counselling. Alison has been an Employment Consultant at Personnel West since September 2008, and enjoys being part of an organisation that delivers on its promises to make a difference in people’s lives and helps them reach their potential through mentoring and encouragement.

Stuart Symonds – Employment Consultant

Stuart has lived in Toowoomba for the past 20 years and is married with 3 children. He has experience in various industries, including around 30 years as a Carpenter and Joiner working on homes, industrial projects, and for a while owning his own small building business. Stuart has been working with people with an intellectual disability for the last 8 years, training clients in furniture manufacture, working in the packaging industry, and in life skills. He is also experienced in implementing QA, Workplace Health and Safety and HACCP. He began as an Employment Consultant at Personnel West in November 2008, and takes pleasure in being part of a team that has a positive impact on many people and helps clients achieve goals that empower them in their everyday lives.

Rick Fletcher – Employment Consultant

Rick is a qualified painter like his father, but initially signed up for the military and did humanitarian service in Somalia. He then became a Unit Duty Officer in juvenile detention centres, spending time with young people, assisting them with schoolwork, establishing programs to teach skills and build fitness, and working with case management. After 10 years running his own painting business, and short period working in Juvenile Justice, he spent 12 months as Regional Manager for Sporting Wheelies. Although he found this rewarding, he wanted to return to a more hands on role. Rick became familiar with the work of Personnel West during his time at Sporting Wheelies and jumped at the chance to join our team in March 2009. He appreciates seeing clients’ growth and increased self confidence as they come to see themselves as important members of the community. He describes PW as a friendly team where despite different backgrounds everyone shares a passion to make a difference.

Samantha Bain – Receptionist

Sam is from Toowoomba originally and became Personnel West’s receptionist in August 2009. She has worked on horse studs, been a jillaroo on a cattle property, and held retail positions with Telstra and Saddleworld, but wanted to try her hand at an admin position. Sam enjoys working with the friendly Personnel West staff and knowing that together they are making a difference.

Sharon Duff – Accountant

Sharon has been working for Personnel West as a part-time accountant, keeping everyone on the straight and narrow, since October 2005. She is originally from Gympie, having gained her Bachelor of Business at USQ and is a CPA. She spends most of her working life at various corporate organisations in Brisbane. Since having her two daughters she has worked part-time for a newsagent in Mackay, irrigation company in Leeton and a property developer in Toowoomba. Her hobbies include tennis, and her Creative Memories business.

Pip Clarkson – Newsletter & Web content

Pip works part time compiling the staff newsletter and keeping website content up to date. She is a mum who has been disabled by chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia since her teens. She enjoys having the opportunity to do a manageable amount of work and appreciates the friendly atmosphere at Personnel West.

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