OUR BOARD/STAFF

The Cooinda Board of Management is responsible for the governance of the organisation.

It is made up of family members or carers, professionals and community members with a range of skills who contribute greatly to the mission and the ongoing stability and growth of Cooinda.

Our board meets monthly to review program reports, our financial position, to monitor risk and quality and make strategic decisions that guide the future direction of Cooinda.

The Risk and Finance Committee is a Board subcommittee that meets monthly and delegated Board members join the monthly Cooinda Quality meeting.

Our Board regularly reviews the Cooinda strategic plan and risk register to ensure strong and competent leadership and to address the changing needs of the organisation.

Board Members

Elizabeth Clarke AM

Elizabeth is the current President and joined the Cooinda Board in 2021. Elizabeth has substantial experience working with Government and the local community, primarily focusing on governance, integrity, finance and senior management. Elizabeth has also been a Director of Terang Mortlake Health Service for seven years. Elizabeth is currently Deputy Chair of the Victorian Racing Integrity Board and Chair of the Integrity Education Program Steering Committee. Cooinda has long been a very significant organisation within her family involvement in the community.

Jillian O’Connor

Jillian joined the Board in 2019 as a family member, having a son who attends Cooinda day programs and short term accommodation. Jillian lives on a farm at Scotts Creek and is actively involved in the local community. Jillian joined the Board to be a voice on behalf of other parents, to ensure that the strategic direction for Cooinda always aligns to the purpose and future needs of people with a disability in our community.

Kate Justin

Kate is the granddaughter of two of our Life Governors, Alan and Beryl Harvey. She joined the board in 2021 and brings with her experience in administration in the Health sector. Kate currently works at Terang & Mortlake Health Service as the Policy and Document Control Coordinator. Within this role Kate is responsible for ensuring all current health service policies and documents are reviewed in a timely manner, including the coordination of new policies and documents to be presented to the appropriate meetings in preparation for Health Service accreditation reviews. Kate values her opportunity to contribute as a member of the Cooinda Board of Directors as she understands that Cooinda is an integral part of our local community.

Kate values her opportunity to contribute as a member of the Cooinda Board of Directors as she understands that Cooinda is an integral part of our local community.

Marg Dillon

Marg has completed her second year on the Cooinda board and fills our third family member position. Marg has studied early childhood education, and now shares her passion and expertise by working with Are-able, where she supports and empowers individuals to become early childhood educators in this growing field. Alongside her professional journey, she and her husband Wayne raised their seven children in the small, close-knit community of Kolora. Balancing family life with her commitment to helping others, Marg brings a wealth of real-life experience to her role, grounded in years of nurturing both her own family and those she supports through her work. One of her sons has now moved into Independent Living at Cooinda, which further reflecting the family’s strong connection to inclusion, education, and community life.

Kristy Crawley

Kristy Crawley is a Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) worker at Kirrae Health Services, where she supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members with practical, person-centered care. She brings both professional insight and lived experience to her role, with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals and families navigating support systems.

Alongside her work, Kristy is studying to become an Aboriginal Health Practitioner. She works full-time while balancing her studies and active involvement in the Terang community.

As a parent of a child who receives support coordination and 1:1 social support through Cooinda, Kristy’s passion for disability inclusion, advocacy, and improving access to quality services for families is both personal and genuine.

Kristy is proud to serve on the Cooinda board, where she is committed to supporting inclusive, person-led approaches to disability support and strengthening opportunities for community participation.

Rebecca Dridan

Rebecca rejoined the board in 2025 after a brief stint in early 2024 as a family member representative. Her son has been attending Cooinda since the beginning of 2023. Rebecca has experience in management and governance in the Non For-Profit sector, and a desire to ensure the continued growth and development of Cooinda.

Debra Pickering

Deb has been in nursing all her working life in many different and exciting areas, currently job sharing the Unit Manager role at Mt View in Terang. Retirement is not too far away. Deb has two daughters aged 31 and 23 and is very proud of their achievements. Deb lives with her partner, John on a small 5 acre property with 20 sheep, lambs and a cat.

Deb recognises the importance of volunteering having worked with many volunteers over the years and understands the valuable role they play. Joining the Cooinda Board is Deb’s way of giving back to the community she know lives in.

Elly O’Keeffe

Elly joined the board in 2025, having returned to the local area from Brisbane in recent years to work as the Quality & Risk Manager at Terang & Mortlake Health Service, after 8 years working in the private not-for-profit healthcare sector. In this role she facilitates and coordinates the clinical governance, continuous quality improvement and risk management processes throughout the organisation, while supporting ongoing compliance with both the NSQHS (National Safety & Quality in Healthcare Services) Standards and Aged Care Quality Standards across all service streams. She is grateful for the opportunity to support Cooinda in its integral role within our local community and in the lives of those it serves.

Maree Beasley

Maree joined the board in 2025 and has a long history supporting Cooinda in her role as an accountant with Silvan Ridge Business Advisers. Maree has taken on the position of Treasurer and her knowledge of Cooinda finances and our overall values and goals will be very beneficial in supporting the Board and Executive to improve our procedures and reporting practices.

Maree is married with four children and other than studying in Melbourne for five years, has lived in the local Terang and District community her entire life. Maree is involved with the Kolora Noorat Football Netball Club and was recently awarded with a Life Membership for supporting the club as a player, treasurer, team manager as well as various other voluntary roles. She also holds positions on the Mercy Regional College Building, Planning and Finance Committee and the Terang & District Netball Association.