Our Board and Executive Team

Sue is currently the President of the Board.  She has a Bachelor of Business (Multidisciplinary), a Master of Professional Education and Training, is an Associate Member of the Association of Medical Secretaries.  She was the Office Manager for the Clinical Director of Mental Health at Latrobe Regional Hospital for 14 years and the Student Support Officer at Monash University for 10 years, supporting both Off Campus and Open Learning students.  She is a Member and Secretary of the Drouin Probus Club. Sue was invited to join the Board and did so after researching the organisation and finding that its philosophy and values were a good fit with her own interest in disability. Sue’s business and administrative background in mental health, management of general hospital and Government departments brings excellent communication skills and a solution focus to the Board.

Deidre was part of the Steering Committee that established Moe Life Skills in 1986 and has served on the Board since. She has held positions of President and Treasurer and served on a range of sub committees. Deidre has a Bachelor of Art in Education, a Graduate Diploma of Special Education and is a Trained Teacher of children with disabilities. She taught at Traralgon Special Development School (TSDS) for 17 years and in Primary Schools for 10 years, developing an understanding of teaching and learning, curriculum, and policy development. Deidre has a strong commitment, over many years, to supporting families, improving outcomes for people with disability and advocating for their right to be treated with dignity and to be accepted citizens in their communities.

Dr Tanja Bohl has trained as a Dermatologist (Skin Specialist) and has a practice located in Newborough. Tanja firmly believes in passing on her knowledge and skills and has taught via the Gippsland School of Rural Health. As a clinician, Tanja has received several awards and honours for her work, and she maintains a strong interest in educating women about their own health. Tanja has been a member of the Board of Management since 2010.Tanja brings a wealth of knowledge to the Board.

Jason is a Board Member and Treasurer.  He has spent 32 years in the Banking Industry.  He says, “Uni wasn’t for me, so I worked my way from the ground up into my current role as District Manager – ANZ Melbourne CBD”.

He is an active volunteer with Vinnies Melbourne, supporting people who are experiencing homelessness.  He has received multiple awards for Collaboration, Customer Care and Performance. He is also involved in local sporting clubs’ committees and has a Life Membership in a local sporting club for many years of coaching young people.

“I have a strong sense of when injustices are being applied in our community and equally believe that every person has potential to be unlocked. I also expect to be able to leverage my finance networks to the betterment of the Organisation”.

Jason says he has been incredibly fortunate in his career and wants to give back to those who are most vulnerable.

Jason brings a range of skills and expertise including, banking, customer care, and performance to the Board.

My name is Lindsay King and I have just recently joined the Board of Life Skills Victoria. I am now retired after working for 9 years as an electrician and 45 years as an Ambulance officer, 34 years of which I was a paramedic. Concurrently with this I was a volunteer ambulance officer for 29 years.

As well as my qualifications as a Paramedic, I also have Bachelor of Teaching in adult education and an Associate Diploma in Occupational Health and safety.

As such I have experience in management, committees (including ambulance, two school councils, scouts, woodworking and Probus), Occupational Health and Safety, training and clinical skills, and experience in communicating and working with all levels of the community.

During my time as an ambulance officer, I have had many dealings with people who have a disability, I have seen prejudices against them and I feel that that is wrong.

I feel that inclusion is very beneficial and I would like to work towards this and try to improve their quality of life.

With my experience in the above areas, I feel that I can contribute to this by being on the Board of Life Skills Victoria.

Bev comes to the Board of Management with a background in education and a strong commitment to social justice. Bev’s career as an educator spanned several decades and encompassed a range of roles. Throughout the early years of her career, Bev worked as a classroom teacher in Government and non-Government schools in Victoria, the NT and in the UK. After completing further studies, including a Graduate Diploma of Special Education, she was seconded to work as a consultant and advisor in Special Education, Curriculum and Welfare at the Education Departments Gippsland Regional Headquarters.

“During my time at the Regional Office, I was privileged to work alongside dedicated and inspirational members of the Regional Integration Committee. This experience has motivated me and underpins my philosophy that every member of society should have the opportunity to reach his or her potential, should be treated with respect and should have the right to lead a dignified life.”

In more recent years, following her retirement from the position of Principle, Yarragon Primary School, Bev has continued to enjoy the shared experience of teaching and learning through involvement with U3A Baw Baw and Community Radio 3BBR.

Larissa works as a researcher for Federation University on the Community Wellbeing Stream of the Hazelwood Health Study and is currently assisting in the development of a community wellbeing barometer.

She previously worked at the Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault on a peer-led rights-based program promoting respectful relationships for adults with cognitive disability. Inspired by her colleagues, this experience sparked her interest in self-advocacy for people with disability.

Larissa has also worked: in public libraries, delivering programs and events to promote life-long learning and social connection; at Berry Street in youth mentoring programs, case management, and public policy and practice development; and at Monash University as a sessional academic in media and communications studies.

Larissa holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and PhD in Communications, both obtained at Monash University, and a Graduate Certificate in Social and Community Services obtained at Federation University.

As a proud member of a neurodiverse family, Larissa was motivated to join the board due to her passion for work that contributes to building happy, safe and supportive communities who respect and embrace diversity.

Carole started her career with Moe Life Skills Community Centre in 2007 and has guided the organisation through those years to its new identity Life Skills Victoria Inc (LSV Inc). She has worked in a range of community-based services for over 25 years. Her work has included: planning and developing a range of residential and day placement options for people with disability, coordinating the development and delivery of adult education programs within the Social and Community Services sector, in aged, disability and youth/child. Carole has also been involved in curriculum development and teaching postgraduate and undergraduate education programs to students in medicine, nursing, and health sciences. Carole has provided consultancy to community-based disability services in the review of existing services and to help determine opportunities for improvement and the development of operational plans.

Carole has also completed a: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the School of Rural Health, Monash University.  Her research explored how changes in service provision have influenced and shaped the lives of people with an intellectual disability and their families in the Latrobe Valley.