Queensland BMC

President

Ellen Beaumont

Ellen Beaumont is a New Graduate and qualified with a Bachelor of Social Work with Honours at Griffith University. Ellen completed a dissertation on the National Disability Insurance Scheme and went to Townsville for her final placement to experience Queensland's first NDIS region. Ellen has since commenced employment in this field of work. Other areas of interest include ethics and social media, community development and research. Ellen encourages peers to become involved in the AASW Student and New Graduate Network, as she was a foundation member of this group and is proud of the development, growth and sustainability of this network.

Vice President

Paloma Cesare

Paloma graduated from James Cook University with a Bachelor of Social Work in 1996. Paloma has worked as a social worker in Australia, England and Canada. During her career she has worked in child protection, aged are, youth justice, sexual assault, mental health and drug and alcohol fields in government and non-government organisations. Paloma has been a lecturer at Central Queensland University Australia since 2009.

Paloma is committed to the social work profession and has been an active AASW member. She has been involved in writing parliamentary submissions for the AASW; is an accreditation panel member for the national branch; is part of the national Education and Standards Committee; has been a member of the state-wide clinical mental health practice group; and promoted social work activities in Central Queensland to develop and strengthen social work connection and collaboration. Paloma feels strongly about membership that is inclusive of regional social work and is proud to be able to provide this representation.

Members

Marcela Moreno

Marcela Moreno Ramirez is originally from Bogota Colombia. She completed a Bachelor of Social Work at the Australian Catholic University in 2011 and a Bachelor of Social Work at Fundacion Universitary Monserrate in Bogota, Colombia in 1998. She is a Community Development Worker – Volunteering at the Romero Centre. She has been working with people from refugee and asylum seeking backgrounds for the past 3 years. She has knowledge and experience working in different fields such as human resources, case management and refugees.

Caitlyn Waterton

Caitlyn Waterton commenced an Indigenous cadetship in 2009 and through that gained experience at Child Safety, Adoptions Qld and NGO sectors. Caitlyn graduated from Queensland University of Technology in 2011 as a Social Worker and has been working as a caseworker at Caboolture Youth Justice since then. Caitlyn is a descendent of the Gubbi Gubbi people and is passionate about working with Indigenous young people who are highly over represented in her current employment Youth Justice. Caitlyn is currently working on ART (Aggression replacement training) within her office a project that targets young people’s anger.

Candice Butler

Candice is a Senior Practice Leader for Queensland Aboringinal & Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP) and commenced in her role in September 2015. Candice has strong family connections to Yarrabah in North Queensland. Before commencing her role at QATSICPP, Candice previously worked with the Department of Children and Families in Alice Springs as a Senior Case Manager and Team Leader. Candice’s commitment to children and families stemmed from her cadetship with Centrelink in 2002-04, which paved the way for successful frontline service delivery; robust knowledge pertaining to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children; and a vast knowledge base of best practice in the Child Protection sector.

Candice has obtained a Bachelor of Social Work as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Primary Education, which has added value to her already stellar professional career and skills. From Candice’s background and expertise in the Child Protection sector, she has developed a strong commitment to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are strong and supported through their developing years. Furthermore, in her current role of Senior Practice Leader, Candice is seeking to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child protection workers to excel in best practice and quality case management.

Bridget Power

Hello! My name is Bridget and I am a New Graduate - qualified with a BSW from QUT (2017). Throughout my studies, I cultivated knowledge and interest in human rights and development agendas, humanitarian disasters, complex trauma, and death work in clinical practice. This was complimented by practicums in international community development/rehabilitation, and critical care/trauma in tertiary hospital settings. I recognise the unique opportunity for social workers to lead in engaging local, national, and global structures to bring about positive change, and am passionate about inspiring our emerging practitioners in the space of social policy and advocacy. Over the last three years, I have been actively involved in developing QUT’s SWAHPS program, and leading QUT’s Social Work & Human Services Society, and hope to continue working with these (and other) university groups to strengthen student alliances with the AASW.

Rebecca Olling

Rebecca is a senior social worker for Queensland Health, currently working at the Queensland Eating Disorder Service (QuEDS) working with adolescents and adults. Prior to moving into community treatment Rebecca worked as a social worker on the inpatient mental health unit at The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) also working as a Discharge Facilitator supporting consumers after discharge. Rebecca is part of the Dialectical Behaviour Therapy group at RBWH and has completed her Intensive Training through the Seattle based Behavioural Tech. Rebecca has an interest in systemic family therapy, currently completing her Masters in Mental Health (Family Therapy) at The University of Queensland. Rebecca has experience working in community organisations, non-government organisations, child protection, emergency medicine and mental health. Rebecca has a passion for social justice and would like to contribute to the continued development of the social work profession with like-minded social workers in the AASW branch committee.

Yasmin Dunn

Yasmin graduated from UQ with a Master of Social Work Studies (qualifying) in 2014 and is an Accredited Member of the AASW. Yasmin has practice experience in both non-government and government organisations, in the areas of homelessness, mental health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, youth justice, and domestic violence. Yasmin has been working as a social worker in the income support field for the past two years and is strongly interested in the areas of advocacy, financial inclusion, family and domestic violence, policy and research, governance, and the professional identity of social workers.

Yasmin has been a member of the UQ Social Work and Human Services Student Association (SWHSSA) and the AASW QLD Branch’s Student and New Graduate Network Steering Committee (SNGN). Yasmin is currently the President of the Social Work and Human Services Alumni (SWAHS), a member of the AASW QLD Branch’s Continuing Professional Development sub-committee, and a member of two community financial literacy groups. Yasmin enjoys playing an active role in supporting other social workers through committees and groups, and undertaking opportunities to further develop her networking and leadership skills.

Ben McKenzie

Ben is currently with the Homeless Health Outreach team of Gold Coast Health as his paid role. Ben is a co-convenor of the First Nations Vitality practice group, on the leadership committee of the Gold Coast Practice group and co-founded the online Australian Social Work Changemakers group.

Ben's cultural background is Anglo-Celtic and he grew up in Kallangur near the confluence of the Pine Rivers on Turrbal land. I’m discipline proud and understand the importance of communication with members in an inclusive branch. Please feel free to contact me – timberbenjamin@gmail.com

Sawnu (Sunny) Taynaing

Birtejinder Singh

Siobhan Delgado

Queensland Branch Sub Committees

The Queensland Branch sub committees provide a means to assist the Branch Management Committee (BMC) in the development and execution of key governance responsibilities. The sub-committees’ purpose and functions support and align with key AASW documents including National and Branch Strategic Plans, the Code of Ethics, Practice Standards, the Reconciliation Action Plan, The Constitution and the By-Laws. The sub-committees are supported by, and work with, the Branch Manager in meeting its purpose and functions.

The sub committees have specific areas of focus:

• Continuing Professional Development
• Social Policy
• Reconciliation Action Plan
• Practice and Special Interest Groups
• Membership

The terms of references provide further detail on the key purpose and functions of each of the sub committees.