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.”

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. Rick also enjoys playing bass in blues band Hopney Moffett who released their first album in 2009.

James McKay – Job Search Placement Officer

James’s role includes working with school leavers in their transition from highschool to employment. James was an Employment Consultant at Personnel West, but left to become a Youth Worker for the Council and a part time Teachers Aide for a Special Ed class in Crows Nest. He is continuing as an aide as well as spending 3 days a week at Personnel West. Prior to working for Personnel West, James spent 2 years as an Employment Consultant for a disability employment agency in Bathurst, and before this worked with an indigenous employment program in Bourke. In his spare time James is a boxing and wrestling coach, plays country music, and performs Aussie hiphop which he is hoping to record soon. James says, “My goal is to be as famous as Rick one day.”

Toni Spence – Workplace Support Officer

Toni’s primary role is to provide on the job support or training in clients’ place of employment, after they have found work. Toni formerly spent 2 years at Personnel West as an Employment Consultant, but left for a position as a Support Worker. She became a Team Leader at Blue Care aged care in the Respite Centre. After 18 months there she wanted to return to employment services, as she found the most rewarding part of her work is to see people in employment or training and the development this provides. “I enjoy seeing people in employment, it is what adds the most value to people’s lives. It’s great to see clients achieving their goals.” Toni has been back at Personnel West since September 2009.

Christy Walters – Employment Consultant

Before she came to Personnel West in 2010, Christy spent over 3 years working in mainstream employment agencies Max, Job Find, and most recently as a Job Search Trainer at Job Network. Christy says that while some aspects of her job are the same as before, working in disability services requires more focus on the different needs of each individual. She likes Personnel West as she has a smaller caseload and can spend more time getting to know each client. Christy is from Charleville originally and moved to Toowoomba in 2007. She has a little boy who is 17 months old.

Linda Thomas – Administration/Personal Assistant

Linda started at Personnel West in 2010. She has mainly worked as a bookkeeper dealing with accounts and payroll, but wanted to change to an admin position for more people-oriented work. She’s originally from country NSW, moving to Toowoomba in 2007, and is married with 2 grown up children. Linda appreciates Personnel West’s exceptionally supportive atmosphere and friendly people.

Angela Craigen – Casual Administration Assistant

Photo coming soon!

Like our manager Dave Wallis, Angela is originally from Perth, but has been living in Toowoomba for around 22 years. Angela began at Personnel West in 2010. She is married with one daughter, and is making a gradual return to work, due to having Fibromyalgia. Angela previously worked in admin and bookkeeping. She enjoys being part of a caring team who are looking out for the interests of people with disabilities.

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 writing 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 but is now recovering. She enjoys having the opportunity to do a manageable amount of work and appreciates the friendly atmosphere at Personnel West.

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