Our People

Our people are central to who we are and what we do.

 

  Our people are our:

  • Employees
  • Board of Governance
  • Volunteers

Silky Oaks is known for recruiting highly capable, agile and compassionate workers who stay with the organisation for many years. This gives our stakeholders confidence that Silky Oaks is responsive, trustworthy and reliable. By supporting and empowering our people to do their best work together for others, we continue to grow a vibrant and effective organisation. 

Meet our Executive Team

Silky Oaks CEO, Russell Hamlet, leads a team of passionate leaders and professionals that deliver genuine outcomes for children, young people and families in the community. Together with the Board, Executive and Management teams, Russell’s desire is to create new opportunities for Silky Oaks that will bring lasting change for generations to come.

Russell Hamlet


Russell Hamlet
Chief Executive Officer

Bruce Harvey
Operations Manager

Christine Stewart

Christine Stewart 
Acting Residential Program Manager

Flavia De Oliviera

Flavia De Oliviera
Childcare Centre Director

Maria Brown

Maria Brown
Finance Manager

Core Team Member Terri Bradley

Terri Bradley
Community Programs Manager

Meet our
Management Team

Our Management Team is made up of a group of passionate professionals who lead teams in their specialist areas, while maintaining active client contact. This extraordinary group of people support the Executive Team in delivering genuine outcomes in their respective programs.

Colin Moore
Acting Residential 
Operations Manager

Kaelyn Tsaples

Kaelyn Tsaples
Therapeutic Support Worker,
Team Leader Inspire Outreach

Sarah Dolan

Sarah Dolan
Opportunity Shop Coordinator

Shane Weatherall
Redlands Cottage 
House Manager

 

Timothy Clark

Bay Cottage

House Manager

Meet our
Board Members

Our Board of Directors are a diverse group of community and professional leaders with expertise in a wide range of areas, including training, advocacy, health, education, finance, information and communications technologies and business management. The Board meets monthly, together with the CEO, to create vision, develop strategy, consider proposals and recommendations, and ratify these as appropriate.

Board Chairman Jonathan Darnell

Jonathan Darnell
Chairman

Deputy Board Chairman Jonathan Dass

Jonathan Dass
Deputy Chairman

Board Treasurer Ron Lawrence

Ron Lawrence
Treasurer

Board Director Thiago Oliveira

Thiago Oliveira
Secretary

Board DirectorAllan Grant

Allan Grant
Director

“As we celebrate our 80th year of operation, our desire is to ensure the trajectory of Silky Oaks is one that provides hope for a brighter tomorrow to the people and communities in whom we serve.”

Allan Grant
Board Director Leda Barnett

Leda Barnett
Director

Board Secretary Janice Johnson

Janice Johnson
Director

“Silky Oaks is intentional about every decision made, from the small to the large. As a Board, we are thankful for all of our workers and volunteers and the impact they have on the lives that they touch.”

Janice Johnson
Board Director Daniel Raffell

Daniel Raffell
Director

“Through our workers’ ‘love in action,’ clients experience, perhaps for some for the first time, what healthy relationships are. They are treated with dignity, respect and are able to trust again, which provides the building blocks for being able to move forward and find new hope.”

Daniel Raffell

Our Volunteers

Our volunteers are an integral part of the Silky Oaks team and we are fortunate enough to have over 45 volunteers involved with us. Silky Oaks is committed to providing opportunities to serve the local community through a variety of areas including:

  • Opp Shop
  • Childcare Centre
  • Maintenance

Please note that volunteers may be required to obtain a Blue Card before they can actively assist. For general expressions of interest, please contact Silky Oaks on (07) 3906 8888 or click here for more information.

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