About Us
OUR BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
West Coast Homecare Board Directors are from our communities who give their time and energy to support West Coast Homecare as a not for profit organisation.
This group of individuals together are ultimately responsible for overseeing the operations and making sure West Coast Homecare is working towards achieving its charitable purpose and meet a set of legal duties and act in the best interest of the organisation.
They also accept responsibility and accountability for the delivery of safe and quality care and services.
The organisation is required to comply with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), Aged Care Quality Standards and NDIS Practice Standards.
Our Board of Management want local people accessing our services to be confident that the organisation is well run and that they can partner in improving the delivery of care and services to consumers are accountable for the delivery of safe and quality care and services.
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Chairperson
Since: 28/04/2021
Committees: Chairperson of the Finance, Risk & Audit Committee
Suitability Skills & Experience: Local, rural communities, board director, nursing, primary health care, chronic disease, aged care and disability support, carer support, management, leadership, risk management.
Profile: Cathy was born and grew up in Tumby Bay, and after nursing in Adelaide, returned to Eyre Peninsula to help run her husband’s family farm at Yeelanna.
She continued to work as an Enrolled Nurse in acute and aged care both at the Tumby Bay & Cummins Hospitals before taking up a position at the Cummins Medical Practice in Primary Health.
Cathy was nominated for the Australian Primary Healthcare Nurse Association board and served a two-year term where she enjoyed the steep learning curve of governance and board responsibilities.
During her career Cathy has cared for people with chronic conditions and developed a strong sense of justice in the delivery of ethical and unbiased care and believes everyone deserves a life of dignity. She has connected many people to services they needed and has been a strong advocate enabling patients in her care to achieve their health goals.
Cathy really missed the board work and is happy to dedicate some of her retirement time to serve on the board of West Coast Homecare that is a local not for profit organisation that delivers care and services to locals, by locals.
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Board Director – Life Member
Since: 17/03/1987
Suitability Skills & Experience: Local, rural communities, board director, finance, aged care and disability support, carer support, home care.
Profile: Sandra has been involved with West Coast Homecare since inception, as a member of the steering committee to source funding for the organisation.
As an active Board Member, she has been aware of every change in all aspects of aged care and any other home care industry matters over the years.
Sandra has life experiences gained firsthand through caring and supporting various family members with dementia, terminal illnesses and caring for her brother in the last six months of his life. Sandra supported and delivered her brother’s palliative care and met his clinical care needs, so she has experienced the value of care and support in a person’s own home.
Sandra believes there will always be care and support services needed, like West Coast Homecare and this drives her commitment to continue as a Board Member.
She respects the services provided and is glad to play a part in this local service provision. Sandra said, it is evident that all WCH staff genuinely care about the clients and the services that they are able to provide to maintain people living in their own homes and communities.
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Board Director
Since: 15/10/2009
Committees: Member of the Clinical Governance Committee
Suitability Skills & Experience: Local, rural communities, carer support, board director, continuity of care, home care, aged care and disability support.
Profile: From an early age Kathy’s core character led her to care for family and friends in times of them requiring her caring support. Kathy then continued to provide caring support as a compassionate, reliable and steadfast adult.
This lived caring experience formed the basis for Kathy’s skills to support her throughout her journey as a qualified hairdresser, offering incidental counselling to both clients and work mates over several years. This included hairdressing and volunteering at Matthew Flinders Nursing Home for 12 years, working with residents and day centre attendees.
Kathy became a fulltime carer for her partner 20 years ago who has lived with chronic pain episodes ever since, limiting his ability to perform individual daily tasks.
She then volunteered for Carers SA supporting young carers, who cared for family or friends who had a medical diagnosis or a mental health diagnosis. She became employed by Carers SA as a permanent part-time Carer Support Worker, for seven years. During this time, she travelled from Port Lincoln to Ceduna, Streaky Bay, Kimba, Cummins, Arno Bay and Tumby Bay to support carers with education, retreats, activities, support groups, one on one and phone support.
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Board Director
Since: 28/08/2024
Profile: Teresita, fondly known as Tess, was born in Manila, Philippines.
In 1980, she embarked on a new chapter in her life by moving to Australia, where she married Kevin. The couple initially settled in Cummins, where they spent 3 years before relocating to Port Lincoln. Tess and Kevin are proud parents of three daughters.
Tess's journey in Australia has been deeply intertwined with her dedication to caregiving. After working for 1 year as a carer, Tess decided to further her skills and knowledge by pursuing a career in nursing, with the aim of providing more holistic care to those in need.
For 16 years Tess worked at Matthew Flinders Home, where she witnessed firsthand the profound impact of aging and disability, both in her professional and personal life. Her experiences have deeply shaped her compassionate approach to caregiving, and her commitment to improving the lives of those she serves.
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Board Director
Since: 23/06/2022
Suitability Skills & Experience: Local, rural communities, allied health, board director, chronic disease, aged care and disability support, management, leadership, finance, accounting, economics, business law, technology, marketing, risk management.
Bachelor of Physiotherapy
Profile: Matt was born & raised on the lower Eyre Peninsula, starting in Cummins before finishing school St Joseph's School in Port Lincoln. Having spent several years working around the EP in different industries before studying Physiotherapy at the University of SA where he met his wife, Courtney.
Beginning his career in Whyalla after graduating working with Country Health SA gaining experience in several different areas of health, including inpatient, outpatient and community care.
Matt has now been practising Physiotherapy for over 12 years & in 2015 realised his goal of opening his own practice, EP Physio Plus which started out in the spare room of his house. Things steadily progressed and turned into what it is now, a multidisciplinary clinic in a world class facility. Working in the community has led Matt to providing care to the aged in the community and in the local aged care facilities.
Outside of work Matt is involved in several local sporting clubs, enjoys spending time with his family and the wonderful outdoors that the Eyre Peninsula has on offer.
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Board Director
Since: 24/06/2020
Committees: Member of the Finance, Risk & Audit and Clinical Governance Committees
Suitability Skills & Experience: Local, rural communities, social worker, board director, hospital board experience, leadership, management, clinical governance, risk management, continuity of care, home care, aged care and disability support, carer support.
Profile: Most of Gerry’s working life has been involved with human services, 20 years in social work followed by 18 years as the Executive Officer with West Coast Homecare during its formative years and into a well-established organisation. Gerry has also served on the Port Lincoln Hospital Board and Port Lincoln High School Board. After several years in retirement Gerry felt the need to give back to the community using his experiences gained working in human services in particular not-for-profit organisations. This led to Gerry joining West Coast Home Care as a Board Director.
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Deputy Chairperson
Since: 22/11/2023
Committees: Member of the Finance, Risk & Audit Committee
Profile: Sara grew up in Cleve and was educated in Adelaide, completing her Bachelor of Business and Finance in the late 80's, going on to a graduate training position with the ANZ bank for 4 years.
In the 90's Sara met and married David Fauser and shifted back to Eyre Peninsula and has two girls. They have lived and worked on their farm near Ungarra and will soon be moving to Port Lincoln.
Sara worked at the Tumby Bay Medical Clinic for 23 years progressing from reception to managing the business of general practice. There was plenty to learn as technology and government regulation infiltrated every aspect of running a private practice. During this time, Sara was also partners in a catering business.
In accepting the board position with WCHC, Sara hopes to bring the perspective of the WCHC consumers, having seen the impacts of aging and disability in her working life and her personal life.
Every month she is learning more and more about the complexities of this sector and hope to make a meaningful contribution as a member of the board.