Welcome to two new Consumer Engagement Coordinators

The Consumer Engagement team has welcomed two new team members – Courtney Kirkwood and Debbie Perry.

Courtney is the Consumer Engagement Coordinator for South Australia as well as Research and is based in Adelaide, working four days a week.

She is about to complete a Master of Social Work at Flinders University and brings her experience in therapeutic communities and community development to the role.

Courtney joins us from Baptist Care SA where she was employed in various roles at the Tumbelin Farm Program, a residential youth rehab in the Adelaide Hills. 

This included Case Manager and Adventure Therapy Practitioner, measuring the success through seeing many young men and women make significant changes in their drug and alcohol use as well as other areas of their lives. 

Courtney lives in the southern suburbs of Adelaide with her eight-year-old son William and keeps busy with friends and family, being involved in community groups, and especially enjoys getting away for extended kayaking or camping trips. 

Debbie has the dual role of Consumer Engagement Coordinator for ACT and Community Development Officer for the Dementia-Friendly Communities program. 

She is based in Canberra, working four days a week alongside Consumer Engagement Coordinator Elena Sutcliffe. 

Debbie joins the team from the Dementia Australia Client Services team where she has worked for the past two years as a support worker, running groups and flexi respite programs, and supporting carers and families.

She previously had a long career with Telstra in the areas of customer service and business management supporting government contracts, primarily the Department of Defence and chose a career change after her own personal experience with a family member living with dementia. 

Debbie is married and has two adult children and lives on a 12-acre property in Wamboin where she loves spending time with her dog, llamas and chickens. Her other love is spending time with family and friends and travelling in Australia and overseas.

A warm welcome to Courtney and Debbie.