We promote and uphold the rights, needs and interests of people with intellectual disability.
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Do you need assistance? Contact the Side By Side Advocacy team today.
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How Individual Advocacy helps
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Browse through a selection of impact stories to see how individual advocacy has assisted people with disability.
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Resources
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That road ahead.
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Our Team
Which department would you like to see?
This is an introductory paragraph detailing what Side By Side Advocacy’s board members are responsible for, what they have achieved and their day-to-day responsibilities.
Chairperson
Michelle Donelly
Michelle is one of the founding members of Citizen Advocacy Ryde Hunter’s Hill (before the organisation became Side By Side Advocacy) and has been actively involved in the organisation for over thirty years. Michelle is committed to people with disability being included as valued members of the community as demonstrated by her roles as a foundation board member of Family Advocacy, her former role as a Board member NSW CID and her role as a Citizen Advocate. She has an academic, professional and personal commitment to educating people about disability. Michelle is Adjunct Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at Southern Cross University. She has also been Chief Investigator for multiple successful research grants.
Vice Chairperson
Ben Pilipowski
Ben has been passionate about addressing societal inequality and injustice since he was in his early teens. He has a degree in social work and has experience as a youth worker and in the aged care and mental health sectors. Ben became a member of Side By Side Advocacy before he joined the organisation’s Board. As a member, Ben co-designed and co-presented at workshops on behalf of Side By Side Advocacy. Ben enjoys being able to share and use his own stories as a person with an intellectual disability to help others to be more confident and to grow as self-advocates. Ben’s interests include bush walks, playing summer sports, creative writing, and speaking up about topics such as disability and mental health. Ben joined the Side By Side Advocacy Board in July 2023.
Secretary
Faz Hares
Faz is a proven stakeholder engagement expert, who builds and maintains seamless collaborations. In her professional life, Faz has enjoyed a dynamic seven-year background in talent acquisition. Faz navigates the entire recruitment lifecycle across agency and internal recruitment settings. Her strategic recruitment prowess is highlighted by successful strategies attracting top-tier talent, showcasing a nuanced understanding of diverse industry needs. In a parallel narrative, Faz’s journey took a profound turn during a pivotal placement for her human services degree, sparking a deeper connection to the field. Drawn by inspiration, she joined Side By Side Advocacy’s Board after a transformative five-week placement, committing to making a difference for people with disabilities facing daily barriers.
Treasurer
Toni Ng
With over 15 years of experience across the not-for-profit sector, property and real estate, financial services, and the energy sector, Toni is a member of the Chartered Accountant ANZ with an extensive range of corporate and commercial skills. These include reporting, budgeting and forecasting, business partnering, commercial insight and people management. Toni grew up in Epping and Eastwood and is passionate about volunteering her time to the local communities and assisting the community in the capacity of a Justice of the Peace. Toni was elected to the Board in 2022.
Board Member
Coralie Jensen
Secretary
Ruth Perram
Ruth has a background in psychology and education. She retired in 2013 after a twenty-two year career as a high school teacher. Ruth has a strong sense of community and speaks up and out on various issues when she feels that justice is not being served. She is the mother of three adult daughters, and the proud grandmother to three granddaughters. Ruth loves travel and lives in Eastwood with her husband. Ruth was elected to the Board in 2013 and became secretary in 2014.
Member
James Joseph
Joining the board in 2024, James has a clinical background in the realm of mental health with a dedication for advocacy. James has provided group facilitation, case management and psychotherapy in health, clinics and justice settings. James brings to the board, intrinsic understandings of the various barriers that individuals with disabilities can experience such as access to services, social isolation and stigma. James has professional experience working in the disability sector, as well as family who live with a disability. James’ interest comes from passion and wanting to make steps toward diversity and inclusivity.Â
Member
Belinda Henry
Belinda has a professional background in law, practising as a lawyer primarily in employment, anti-discrimination and work health and safety law. Belinda brings to the Board a particular interest and experience addressing the challenges faced by people with a disability in accessing advocacy, the justice system, transport and other government services and equal opportunity in employment. Belinda’s particular interest is in ensuring people with a disability are heard in the justice system and working for systemic improvements to legal and policy frameworks, service delivery for people living with disability and, crucially, reliable funding for disability issues and services.
Belinda is committed to promoting equal treatment, eliminating discrimination and working in a team to take tangible steps to address the marginalisation faced by people living with a disability.
Member
Stephen MacDonald
Steve is originally from the UK and has lived and worked in Australia since 2004. He has twenty years’ experience in various IT roles, including technical support, training and project management. Steve’s association with Side By Side Advocacy began in February 2008, when he answered a request for pro bono IT support. Steve first joined the Board in 2014. From 2014 -2017, Steve served as vice chairperson. Steve left Sydney in 2017 so did not renominate. Now settled back in Sydney, Steve re-joined the Board in May 2020. Steve is the devoted father of a daughter who attends primary school.
Executive Officer
Kim Roots
Executive Officer
Kim joined Side By Side Advocacy in July 2020. She brings a wealth of experience in not for profit, commercial and government contexts. This includes a long history in the advocacy sector, leadership development and as a lawyer. Kim has been a member of numerous advisory groups, has contributed to sector journals, participated on Boards and has provided feedback to government about matters that impact on the lives of people with disability. Kim has extensive experience in co-design of projects and resources. Kim believes that good communities are made up of all people and that advocacy can play a critical role in exposing abuse and neglect and in ensuring that people with disability have access to the ordinary good things in life.
Citizen Advocacy Coordinator
Lil Paterson
Citizen Advocacy Coordinator
Lil Paterson began at Side By Side Advocacy in March 2024. Their professional experience spans the arts, education and not-for-profit sectors. This broad background has enabled Lil to establish strong, diverse networks. Whilst working in the disability education sector and collaborating with people with intellectual disability, Lil has gained a deep understanding of accessible communication and co-design. Lil is also a self-advocate and filmmaker. They are passionate about developing projects that centre the voices of people with disability and the LGBTQIA+ community. Their work has been selected for Australian and international film festivals. Lil holds a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney and a filmmaking diploma from the Australian Film Television and Radio School.
Inclusive Governance Project Officer
Jeff Lai
Peer Trainer
Jeff is a self-advocate who has held roles on advisory groups, as a workshop presenter and as a co-designer of resources. Jeff believes everyone should be treated equally. He speaks up about issues that matter.
Inclusive Governance Project Officer
David Briggs
Advocate
David is a dedicated advocate with over 10 years of experience in the advocacy sector. He has actively contributed to systemic change, working tirelessly to ensure that the voices of people with disability are heard and respected. David has been an integral part of various government advisory groups and committees, including the NSW Disability Inclusion Act Implementation Committee and his local Council’s Disability Access Committee. David has also: played a crucial role in supporting individuals with intellectual to be members of the NDIA Intellectual Independent Advisory Council’s Intellectual Disability Reference Group; lobbied ministers and members of parliament (including the Prime Minister); been part of campaigns that led to major policy changes in the NDIS. He has supported people with intellectual disability to safely share their stories with the media and supported people to give evidence to the Disability Royal Commission and Parliamentary Inquiries. With a strong passion for the human rights of people with intellectual disability and a commitment to trauma-informed practice, David brings invaluable experience in navigating complex systems and driving meaningful change. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science (Social Welfare) and a postgraduate degree in Social Policy and Human Services.
Inclusive Governance Project Officer
Bernadette Curryer
Research Officer
Bernadette has been involved with disability issues for many years, as a parent and worker in the disability advocacy sector. Her passion for research, particularly about intellectual disability, led her to undertake and complete a doctorate exploring self-determination of people with intellectual disability within family relationships. As an affiliate of the Centre for Research Policy and Practice (The University of Sydney) and vice president of the Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability (ASID), Bernadette strongly believes in the need for research to inform practice. She hopes that the Inclusive Governance Project will make it possible for more people with intellectual disability to have a real say in the decision-making of community organisations.
Senior Advocate
Preeti Thadani
Senior Advocate
Preeti has an extensive work background in alternate dispute resolution. She completed her Master in Dispute Resolution from the University of Technology Sydney in 2007. Preeti joined the Board of Management at Side By Side Advocacy in 2015 and became aware of the important work of the organisation. After resigning from the Board, Preeti commenced work in the Individual Advocacy team in March 2017. She is passionate about the protection and promotion of human rights and is committed to giving people with disability a ‘fair go’. Preeti has developed strong networks including in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. She is a certified Workplace Trainer and shares her advocacy expertise with a wide range of groups including people with disability, the families and friends of people with disability, NGOs, schools and with people pursuing studies at TAFE.
Senior Advocate
Cathy Milne
Senior Advocate
Cathy joined Side By Side Advocacy in 2018 as part of the Individual Advocacy team. Cathy has been a passionate advocate in both a personal and professional capacity for people with disability, degenerative neurological conditions, and mental health issues for more than 20 years. Cathy has been working with people to navigate the NDIS and its complex intersections with health, education, housing, justice and aged care systems since the scheme’s inception. During the last 10 years Cathy’s advocacy has been particularly focused on working with people who grew up in institutionalised settings and people who communicate informally. Cathy draws on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and the principles of trauma informed practice to support people who communicate informally to assert their right to make decisions about their own lives. In addition to individual advocacy, Cathy has led multidisciplinary teams delivering information and referral, intensive family support and early intervention services. Cathy has a Masters in Bioethics from The University of Sydney and has contributed to published research projects, systemic advocacy projects and the development of multilingual resources and evidence-based consumer health publications.
Peer Mentor – Parramatta Leadership Group
Shu Hua Chan
Peer Mentor
Shu Hua is passionate about speaking up and sharing the stories of people with intellectual disability. She believes that people with intellectual disability can make important contributions when they have the opportunity and the support they need. Â Shu Hua also believes it is vital to hear from people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in the disability space. Shua Hua has held positions on Boards (including as Chair), has shared her insights with politicians, has extensive co-design experience and is a long time self-advocate and campaigner for the rights of people with intellectual disability.
Accounts Officer
Kay Jones
Finance Officer
Kay joined Side By Side Advocacy in December 2021. She has a Masters in Business Administration and is a Certified Practicing Accountant. For over 30 years she has worked in and/or managed finance departments in various small to medium-sized organisations, including 8 years in the higher education sector and 15 years in commercial industry. She is keen to use her skills and experience to provide support to the organization as it provides support to its community.
Chris Faber-Morris
Board Support and Co-design Projects
Chris is an experienced teacher and community facilitator and has spent all her working life working for and alongside people with a disability.
She has facilitated conversations, meetings, information sessions, workshops, formal and accredited training and has adapted resources and tools to suit. She has facilitated the codesign of training materials and resources. Chris engages audiences by being respectful of everyone and their diversity. Chris has a Master of Arts, a Diploma of Education, a Diploma of Disability and an Advanced Diploma of Community Management.