Steve Edwards
Founder – Chairman (provisionary) – Chief Executive
Mr Stephen Edwards has been working in the community services industry for over 15 years, beginning as a support worker proving direct care before beginning the journey toward founding Nganana in 2004 as a client services officer with Paraquad SA. After a number of years in the government, Steve left Disability SA / DCSI, to concurrently support two new organisations with service development and strategic organisational management over six years, from start-up to successful establishment as recognised industry providers. Steve was one of the first practitioners to develop support structures and advocate for specialist forensic disability service types in South Australia. Likewise specifically cultural service types have been developed and introduced into the disability sector.
Steve has a passion for systemic best practice, including the development of process-driven initiatives that incorporate accountability, drive quality, and achieve identified outcomes.
Steve has an undergraduate degree in sport and recreation, a diploma of community services, and is currently studying a Master of Social Work and Master of International and Community Development.
Michelle Williams
Founder – Treasurer – Operations Manager
Michelle started in Community Services in 1994 teaching social skills to children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She started her career from the ground up as a Client Support Worker in supported accommodation with adults with disabilities and children under the care of the minister. She has worked on a pilot program funded by the government between Families SA and Disability SA on the Families Reunification Program for mothers with disabilities. Michelle then started in management where she spent over 20 years coordinating and managing services, including day options, in home services for people with spinal injury, and supported accommodation services for children and adults with disabilities and complex mental health concerns.
During this time Michelle developed an interest in rural and remote placement and explored employment opportunities within SA Health in case management for the elderly in rural mid west of SA. She moved to the NT and lived on a remote Island of the coast of Darwin managing nine Shire programs across five Indigenous Communities within Arnhem land, these included; Indigenous Employment, Environmental Programs, School Nutrition, and Home and Community Care for Aboriginal Elders and people with disabilities.
For the past 10 years Michelle has travelled across Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands and has built relations with a variety of agencies and harvested a familiarity with local people living on the lands. This experience has championed her desire to co-found Nganana Inc. in an endeavour to advocate and provide quality, respectful, and appropriate cultural services to people living in remote Aboriginal Communities, in particular people with psychosocial, physical and intellectual disabilities and the elderly. Michelle has developed a strong belief that by building capacity through meaningful engagement we can change people’s behaviour, this has lead to her current study, a Bachelor in Arts Psychotherapy.
Wayne Newchurch
Board Member – Cultural Consultant
Mr Wayne Newchurch has a passion for supporting disadvantaged people across South Australia. He has exampled culturally respectful service delivery within his community across three decades. “Uncle” Wayne has earned credibility across South Australia’s government and non-government service providers, as a respected Elder within the Aboriginal community, and an innovative and professional practitioner supporting in particular young men living with psychosocial disability and in need of mentoring and advocacy.
Wayne brings to Nganana Inc. his considerable networks from within the Aboriginal community, and from within the community services sector in general. He has worked within many different areas of government including Child Protection, Department of Corrections, Disability SA, Exceptional Needs, Mental Health, and Forensic Mental Health.
Wayne has extensive experience, built remarkable knowledge and developed specific skills supporting individuals with complex psychosocial support needs; in particular mentoring, program design and delivery, and Aboriginal Elder support. This is in addition to Wayne’s professional qualification and experience as a personal trainer.
Wayne is currently operating as Nganana’a professional cultural consultant guiding the organisation and supporting external human service providers.
