Who We Are
How we Make a Difference
We believe that our elderly are entitled to quality care. This is a fundamental right, no matter who the person is, their cultural background, their circumstances, or where they live.
We aim to make a difference by supporting service providers to deliver quality care. Our resources and tools help you meet compliance. We seek to create solutions that embed efficiency and productivity into aged care service delivery.
Over a 20 year period, CDCS has specialised in supporting CALD, remote, rural and regional communities. When we create resources, we observe, consult, gather feedback, and tailor, so you and your team are happy with the result.
Essentially, we co-create.
Meet The Team
Donna Cross
General Manager
Carrie Akhurst
Director of Operations
Sue Miller
Jo Forrest
Dianne Jones
Maggie Duncan
Carole
Our Artist – Blaise Dehon
Blaise is the creator of our unique, customised graphics and storyboards. These hand drawn pictures allow us to overcome language barriers to better meet the cultural requirements of our clients. Our storyboards are a solution that is not dependent on the limited use of personal photos. The pictures created by Blaise are used extensively in our client materials, such as client and staff handbooks and brochures.
Blaise is also a talented and in-demand cartoonist.
Associates & Partners
Health Outcomes International
Enmark
Umbrella Solutions
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.
As a member of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing – Technical Advisory Group, Donna has contributed to the development of the new Aged Care Standards that will shape the Aged Care sector in Australia for the next decade.
Dianne Jones
Dianne has spent many years working hands-on in the aged care industry and brings a wealth of knowledge to our team.
Jo Forrest
Jo has over fifteen years of experience in the aged care industry with first–hand knowledge as an assistant in nursing (AIN), and as a supervisor within a dementia unit.
As an aged care trainer and resource developer Jo has worked extensively with students from both residential facilities and the community sectors.
Jo is in high demand developing accredited training resources that meet the needs of the target audience.
Jo has a passion for mentoring and training care staff with a focus on manual handling to ensure safe working conditions and in improving the quality of life for people in care.
Sue Miller
She has more than 20 years of administration and office management experience. Sue 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
Carole is a new addition to our team.