Canefields Clubhouse - Staff Profiles

Jennifer has been the Executive Director of Canefields Clubhouse Beenleigh Inc for the past 9 years.

In 2000 Jennifer was approached by a group of mental health consumers and professionals and asked to pioneer a rehabilitation program for people with mental illness following the Clubhouse model of psychosocial rehabilitation. Canefields Clubhouse Beenleigh Inc. is now almost 10 years old and funded by both State and Federal Governments and the first Non Government mental health service in the Logan/Beenleigh community. She is particularly interested in the recovery and consumer focused Clubhouse model of service delivery for individuals with a psychiatric disability and has worked for 15 years with mental health consumers using a recovery framework.

Previous to joining the clubhouse model Jennifer pioneered and coordinated Community Care Beenleigh Districts Inc. This organisation offers the community a government funded counselling and community support and network services.

Past member of the Integrated Skills Development Network for the Gold Coast/Redland Region, working with a team to identify the training needs of services fund by the Department of Communities.

Past member of the Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Homelessness for two years, consulting to Senator Kay Patterson and the Department of Families and Community Services on initiatives to address homelessness and the supported accommodation assistance program and strategic policy directions and priorities for that program.

Past sitting member of the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Learning Inaugural Advisory Committee with Dr Aaron Groves , the Director of mental Health.

Current member of Learning Material Advisory Group – Queensland Centre for Mental Health Learning.

Jennifer has extensive experience in the area of financial management and organisational management, counselling and community development.

Mary has a bachelor degree of education, majoring in psychology and social services, a diploma of community services and a diploma of business studies. Upon graduating from The University of Auckland Mary became a registered teacher through the New Zealand Teachers Council. She spent 5 years teaching in main stream schools in Whangarei New Zealand. During this time she became involved in supporting young adults with barriers to learning including, drugs and alcohol, mental health and disabilities for New Zealand Child Youth and Families Services where she worked for 8 years. Mary then commenced employment with I.D.E.A services Northland-Specialist Services Mental Health working with Adults with a diagnosed mental illness to overcome barriers to life skills, employment and education.

Mary and her family re-located to Australia in early 2008 and in November of that year she began working at Canefields Clubhouse. She generously shares her vast knowledge and skills. Mary is the staff responsible for the Employment and Education unit and enjoys working with the fantastic team of members and staff of the Clubhouse. She has a friendly and enthusiastic attitude, enjoys meeting new people, loves a challenge and likes that every day is different.

After Graduating from high school Hannah studied a Diploma of Community Services at Southbank Institute of Technology. During her course she was offered a job after doing work experience at Canefields Clubhouse. Hannah has now worked at the Clubhouse for three years. Her positivity is a great contribution to Canefields. She runs and is responsible for the Megaspace (Administration) unit here at Canefields. She thoroughly enjoys what she does as there is always something new to learn, and people to meet. Also the satisfaction she gets from her work, she believes the clubhouse model is a great concept and she has made lifelong friends.

After graduating from grade 12 at Redlands College, Sarah decided to pursue a hospitality career and studied at Griffith University on the Gold Coast for 4 years full time. In November 2007, Sarah graduated with a Bachelor of Hotel Management majoring in Restaurant and Catering Management, and a Bachelor of Business majoring in Marketing. Sarah gained her first job out of university in February 2008 at the Brisbane Riverview Hotel as their Sales and Marketing Coordinator where she was employed for just over a year.

Sarah decided on an industry change and obtained a job at Canefields Clubhouse and is now studying a Certificate IV in Mental Health Work externally. Sarah is responsible for the Events Unit, which coordinates all of Clubhouse’s events such as the 2010 Australasian Conference, the Art Show, Fundraising events etc. Sarah loves working at Canefields as she finds it a rewarding role to support people in the community living with mental illness to rebuild their lives.

My name is Sarah Shoobridge, or Sarah 2 if you would like, and I am the staff member for the Catering Unit at Canefields Clubhouse.

I'm 27 years old with a beautiful little girl who is about to turn 3. I have lived in the Beenleigh area for the past 20 years, but have also been to far off places in-between. Some would call me a 'Jill of all trades, master of none' as I have had a variety of employment, from jillaroo to Disability Support Worker, yet I believe I am most happy in a job when I am surrounded by people, for there is always something to learn.

I enjoy all the weird and wonderful things in this world, I sing and dance around, and some (well most) think me a little loud, but next time you come to the Clubhouse come and say "hi" (and try the food! hehe jks). Until then...

Kerri has been supporting members at Canefields Clubhouse create and paint for the last 4 years. With her own father teaching her the skills of art Kerri is well equipped with patience and guidance to help members with all different experiences with art, and is passionate about the path in which they wish to take in expressing there creativity. With kindness and willingness to teach anyone the skills of art Kerri is a keen teacher with vast knowledge of the arts, keeping members enthusiastic about art and taking new roads to discover and experience.

Thanks to the support and guidance from Kerri our last 4 art shows have been a huge success and with our members becoming more artistic and learning new skills our art shows get more and more exciting and spectacular each year.