“It is impossible to put an exact figure on the ‘true value’ obtained from having these talented individuals engaged at The Settlement, it is pretty clear however, via the current activities, that the social capital far outweighs the financial burden placed on the service.” – Nettie Marie, manager (July 2014 - December 2015)
The Settlement has a core group of eight individuals rostered on a regular basis to carry out the day-to-day functions. The Settlement’s 12 member volunteer Board of Directors add critical governance, organisational, fundraising and ethics guidance. In addition The Settlement relies on a group of volunteer workers and engages with consultants for strategic, accounting and legal advice
The Settlement People
Staff
Kristina Touma - Manager
Children's After-school Care Team Rose O'Connor
Paniora Nukunuku
Aiyana Tranter Alex Gonda Richard Nguyen
Clare Peterson - Youth Programs and Caseworker
Gloria Donohue - Muralappi Program Coordinator
Travis Robinson - Youth Development Worker
Phoebe Ferguson - Senior Youth Programs Worker
Co Nguyen - Administration Coordinator
Jane Devine - Finance
Accountanting Services - Purpose Accounting
The Settlement Board
John Alexander - TreasurerJohn is a local resident who began his working life training to be a management accountant, successfully completing the foundation stages at the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. He has used and developed these skills across various roles. He has been involved with the Settlement since 2004, becoming Treasurer in 2013.
Thom Calma - Deputy Co-Chair
Thom currently works for Family Resource and Network Support (FRANS), a disability support NGO based in Croydon. The organisation offers service to individuals who have a disability and their families in the Inner West area of Sydney. He currently manages a team who are involved in programs such as after school care, school holiday care, camps, community activities and independence building. Thom is a local Darlington resident who originates from Darwin, NT and is a proud member of the Kungarakan people. He joined the board in November of 2012 as he enjoys the community engagement, advocating for the rights of individuals (especially those with a disability) and challenging and creative thinking.
Liz Crosby - Board member
Liz Crosby is a Darlington resident who served as press secretary on the Friends of the Settlement Committee during the upheaval of 2005. An AFTRS graduate, Liz was a member of the Sydney Community Television board 1991-3, and the Darlinghurst Area Rental Tenancy Housing Co-operative (DART) 1996 and 1998-9. Liz joined the board in 2007; her aim is to support staff and residents.
Tiffany McComsey - Chair
Tiffany completed her PhD in Social Anthropology at the University of Manchester. She examined Aboriginal community development practices in Redfern from 2005 to 2007. In 2011 she was engaged by the Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation to assist with their strategic plan. Tiffany has lived in Australia since 2004. Since 2005 she has been involved with organisations and campaigns such as the state and national Sorry Day Committees and the NSW Justice Reinvestment for Aboriginal Young People Campaign. Tiffany joined the Board in 2011.
Warren Roberts - Board member
Warren is from the Bundjalung and Thunghutti Nations of the north coast . He is a community organiser for the Sydney Alliance, and founder of the Black Alliance. He works with Indigenous members and community organisations supporting them to come together and work on issues of concern, for the betterment of society. Warren believes that by building relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people through an honest dialogue, we can build the foundations of change for all Australians. He joined the board in October 2013.
Kathy Rushton - Board member, Sydney University representative
Kathy lectures in the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney and is also enrolled as a PhD student. She has worked as a literacy consultant, ESL and classroom teacher with DET and other educational institutions. Her commitment to social justice and multiculturalism fostered her interest in the development of literacy. Her interests include all aspects of language and literacy development especially with Indigenous students and students learning English. She has researched the teaching of reading in middle years and is researching the significance of text in the teaching of reading, with a focus on Indigenous communities. Kathy had an extensive connection with the Settlement during the 1990s and her involvement with the community has continued since that time.
Emma Tseris - Secretary
Emma is a lecturer in Social Work and Policy Studies at the University of Sydney. Her research interests include mental health and the safety and wellbeing of young people. She is also involved in teaching social work students during their field education placements
Zed Tintor - Board member
Zed has twenty five years’ experience working in the not for profit community service sector, specialising in homelessness, housing, trauma informed care and change management. She is an experienced practitioner in strategic, operational and human resource management. Since 2014, she has provided consultancy services in the following areas of expertise: · development of business and strategic plans · policy development and analysis · service model implementation and evaluation · training development and delivery · partnership development · project management.
Zed is a contract trainer for the Australian College of Applied Psychology, and NSW Centre for Training in Social Housing and is an assessor for Quality Improvement Performance (QIP). She has an undergraduate degree in Sociology and Social Policy, Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She is a current member of the Australian Institute of Management, an associate of the Housing Action Network and sits on the Board for The Settlement.