Who We Are

Carrie Akhurst

Director of Operations

The breadth of Carrie’s expertise has come from working with  more than 30 organisations in the aged care and NDIS sector.. As diverse as small independent aged care services to large regional councils.

As a consultant, Carrie understand that most organisations know what challenges they face and that  a one-size-fits-all solution is not ideal.  That is why Carrie creates tailored operational solutions to help identify ways to overcome the challenges for each workplace and to support each organisation through the challenge of change.. Carrie’s passion for delivering optimal care extends to collaborating with TAFE, universities and private Registered Training Organisations to develop and deliver appropriate training for aged care workers and coordinators.

Donna Cross

General Manager

Originally from Alice Springs and now living in Regional North East Victoria, Donna is inspired by the diversity, strengths, and challenges, as well as the opportunities and benefits of rural, regional and remote communities.

With 25+ years of experience working with primary health, aged care, disability services, and Indigenous organisations, Donna understands what makes organisations run well, what makes good policy and what will work in operational contexts.

Donna was a representative on the Commonwealth Technical Advisory Group (TAG), providing key input as an advocate and industry expert for the rural and remote sector to the reform of the Aged Care Quality Standards and sought out by the Quality Agency to assist with guidance material.

Donna’s passion and expertise is in developing functional policy and systems, understanding what makes an organisation and its people tick and finding workable solutions.

Craig Cross

Craig has extensive management experience in the aged care and disability sectors. Managing a rural community care service for the last ten years, he has a current understanding of the processes and requirements in operating an aged care service on a day-to-day basis.

Craig also previously worked in the Central Australian Office of the Department of Health and Ageing for five years, holding senior positions including Regional Manager. He has worked with remote services regarding program planning and delivery and provided consultation, coordination and policy advice to services, departments and other agencies.

Christabelle Baranay

Christabelle has a passion for supporting individuals living with dementia.

As well as her work with CDCS, Christabelle has her own consulting and training business that focuses on helping family carers and paid staff to understand the individual person (Know Me Well) and respond appropriately to their needs.

As a creative, Christabelle helps carers to learn communication techniques and engagement strategies that help to minimise frustration for all.

Sue Miller

Sue has more than 20 years of administration and office management experience. She is the person who keeps our team and projects running to schedule and managing logistics.

She is also instrumental in ensuring the quality of our resources through her coordination of our specialist graphics team.

Maggie Duncan

Maggie has first-hand experience of living and working in the remote indigenous communities of Australia, having spent most of her childhood growing up “out bush,” before going on to work for a brief time in an indigenous school.

Her first hand experience with indigenous communities is brought to bear as our communications coordinator.

Carole Stone

Carole is a qualified chartered accountant who is experienced in organisation management and financial administration.

Carole specialises in Aged Care financial management and has advised both residential and community based Aged Care and Disability Service Providers with the aim of improving financial practices, compliance and viability.

Jane Gosche

Jane is a Registered Nurse and her experience in aged care spans more than 30 years. It is her unwavering opinion that aged care is the best nursing specialty to work in! She has continuously strived to make a genuine difference in aged care nursing for the clients, their families, and the staff caring for them.

Jane is passionate about providing quality care for our elders, and upholding their dignity and independence is very important to her. She is humbled by the families who entrust them to our care and does her utmost to give their elderly loved ones the level of care their own family would give.

Rene Gates

Rene is an experienced Director and Aged Care Program Manager with a sound understanding of the aged care and disability sectors, having held roles that included direct care work through to management oversight of the aged and disability programs in the Northern Territory.

She has a solid and applied understanding of the challenges that come with operating remote aged care programs and in supporting the needs of older First Nations and CALD people.