Louisa Backus
Louisa is a Speech Pathologist with over 10 years clinical experience in a variety of acute and community settings in both rural and metropolitan areas. Louisa commenced work as a Speech Pathologist at the Division in Emerald  in 2005. She has experience in working with both adults and children with communication and swallowing difficulties however, her particular interest is working with children who have speech sound disorders. Louisa is the Allied Health Team Leader for the Emerald Office.
Email: louisa.backus@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Emerald

Valarie Tye or Aunty Vallie as known to most in the Woorabinda community started with the Division in 2008. Val was born and raised in Woorabinda, and enjoys working within the community. Val has previously worked for Qld Health for 28 years, and has completed a Certificate 3 and 4 in Primary Health Care in that time. Val has 5 boys and her hobbies are reading and gardening. Val enjoys working for the Division and hopes that her passion for health will pass through the community to help promote importance of health, prevent illness and keep the community strong and healthy.
Email: valarie.tye@cqrdgp.com.au 
Location: Woorabinda
 

Loretta Miller started working with the Division in Woorabinda as a Family Support Worker in September 2010. Loretta is 39 years old and has lived in Woorabinda all her life, Loretta has 8 children, 7 girls and 1 boy who all keep her very busy. Loretta has worked in the Health sector before where she worked for Qld Health for eight years. Loretta has completed a Certificate 3 in Primary Health Care. Loretta enjoys working with the Department to better the Wellbeing and Health outcomes for the people in the Woorabinda community. Loretta’s hobbies are spending family time with her children, watching movies and reading.
Email: loretta.miller@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Woorabinda

Bronwyn Smith started working with the Division in March 2011 at Woorabinda as a Family Health Support Worker. Bronwyn is 25 years old and has lived in the Woorabinda community all her life.  Bronwyn has a Certificate 2 in Business Administration, and is also currently studying a Certificate 3 in Information Technology. Bronwyn enjoys working with the Division to try and improve health awareness within the community. Bronwyn’s interests are listening to music and playing sports.
Email:
Location: Woorabinda

Bernadette Barry
Email:
Location: Woorabinda

Darceil Richards joined the Division in April 2008 to help develop an Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Service (ATODS). Darceil is currently completing all ATODS clinical work. She previously was employed for a district health board in New Zealand as an alcohol and drug counsellor and has personal experience of the impact of substance misuse. Darceil has a blended family, she has three boys aged 32, 25, and 20; and 5 grandchildren aged 19 – 3 yrs. Darceil moved to Australia in March 2008 and currently has no plans to move back to New Zealand. She enjoys reading, gardening and family time.  
Email: Darceil.Richards@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Emerald
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Bridget Corr
Email: bridget.corr@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Biloela
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Jenny Onions is a registered nurse, endorsed midwife & credentialed diabetic educator. Jenny started work with the division, part time, as a diabetes educator in January 2005 & is based in Emerald. For 4 years prior to this Jenny's services (as a diabetes educator) were contracted through Ozcare Nursing Service, where she worked as a registered nurse for 15 years. Jenny is committed in her role & endeavours to assist GP's and their patients with diabetes to understand & manage their chronic condition & promote optimal health status in the long term.
Email: Jenny.Onions@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Emerald  
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Natalie Dunk-Andrews lives at Theodore and works at the Medical Centre as a Registered Nurse. She is a Diabetes Educator, with a particular interest in Peripheral Neuropathy, Blood Glucose Monitoring and Complimentary therapies. Natalie is also involved with Theodore Diabetes Support Group.  Natalie operates Diabetes clinics for the Division in Theodore and Moura (once a month) and Wowan and Baralaba (once every two months). Natalie worked in Renal Dialysis for 3 yrs in Toowoomba along with Mental Health, Surgical and Rural Nursing; she has also worked as a Clinical Nurse in Crows Nest before moving to Theodore. At the local aged care facility Natalie provided education and clinical support to the 90 staff employed there, whilst providing clinical care to 90 residents as well.  Natalie completed her Graduate Diploma in Health Sciences - Diabetes Education through Curtin in 2006, and is now enrolled in CQU doing her Masters in Clinical Practice - specialising in General Practice. Natalie is married with two children.
Email: natalie.dunk-andrews@cqrdgp.com.au or dunkandrews2@bigpond.com
Location: Theodore
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Lyne Cossins
Email: via admin@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Biloela
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Mitchel King recently completed a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of the Sunshine Coast.  Mitchel is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian and Accredited Nutritionist with the Dietitians Association of Australia.  He is also a qualified Exercise Scientist having obtained a Bachelor of Science (Sport & Exercise Science) from the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2003.  Mitchel’s background includes experience as a hospitality worker at Australia Zoo, a sports officer at Griffith University sports centres and a Project Manager at Health By Design; a corporate health company based in Brisbane.  Mitchel is also a keen sportsman having played rugby league at a regional and state competition level, as well as numerous other sports at a local level including touch football, netball and athletics.
Email: mitch.king@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Biloela
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Chris Leung graduated from University of Wollongong with Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2008. Chris is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian and member of Dietitians Association of Australia. Prior to working with the CQRDGP, he was involved in a research project on promoting lifestyle risk factor management in general practice through Divisions of General Practice in NSW.
Chris came to Australia in 2006 and likes the environment and lifestyle here which is quite different from Hong Kong.
Email: chris.leung@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Emerald
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Nicole (Nikki) Upton.  Nikki started with the Division in March 2009 as the Local Co-ordinator for the Rolleston and Springsure districts.  She was born, raised and still currently resides in the small township of Rolleston situated in the Central Highlands. Nikki currently works at the Springsure Hospital as a Registered Nurse and Cardiac Nurse and has recently taken on the position of Clinic Nurse in Rolleston and Senior Practice Nurse in Springsure which is an extension of her Local Co-ordinator position for the Division.  She is currently in the process of helping set up the nurse clinic position which is not only a dream of hers but one for the whole Rolleston community.  She is married with two small children which at times she finds challenging with work as there are no child care facilities within Rolleston or Springsure which means juggling her work hours around her husband’s time off.  Nikki graduated with her registration in 2004 and has undertaken further postgraduate studies with nursing and gained an advanced degree in rural and remote nursing in 2007.  She enjoys continuous study and wishes to in the future, obtain her midwifery and child health endorsement.
Email: nikki.upton@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Rolleston and Springsure
 

Sarah Piercey graduated from Charles Sturt University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Occupational Therapy). Following this she spent three years in Ballarat, Victoria working across a variety of acute and sub-acute caseloads. In February 2005 Sarah commenced work with the CQRDGP and provides Occupational Therapy services to Emerald and surrounding areas. Her caseload includes inpatient, outpatient/community and residential clients across the life span and within a broad range of areas.
E-mail: Sarah.Piercey@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Emerald
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Megan Wallace started with the Division in January 2012 as an Occupational Therapist based in Biloela. Megan was raised in Charters Towers before completing Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at The University of Queensland in 2009. Megan was previously employed by Queensland Health based at Gayndah Community Health involving an outreach generalist caseload. Megan enjoys the autonomy and diversity of being a rural therapist and is passionate about providing health care services to rural communities. Megan’s professional interests involve vascular/oedema and lymphoedema management, aged care and paediatrics. Megan’s personal interests involve outdoor activities – camping, trail walking and I enjoy swimming, cycling, jogging, yoga, gym and touch football.
Email: megan.wallace@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Biloela
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Ross Lewis
Email: via admin@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Bargara
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Kristy Ryan joined the team at the Division in March 2008.  Kristy completed her university studies in 2003 with a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) degree before working with young people in local high school settings, whilst employed by a welfare organisation.  More recently, Kristy worked in private practice, providing psychological services to individuals of all ages.
Email: Kristy.Ryan@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Emerald
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Chiara Catalani Intern Psychologist joined the team at CQRDGP in April 2010. Chiara completed her studies at Central Queensland University in Rockhampton with a Bachelor of Psychology in 2009 and is currently undertaking a two year internship with the Psychologists Board of Queensland.   Chiara is an intern psychologist at the division and works in conjunction with rural GPs to provide psychological services. Chiara grew up and was schooled  in Rosebud which is based in the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. She has been a proud Queenslander for 4 years …and counting!
Email: chiara.catalani@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Emerald
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Troy Holland Psychologist started with the Division in March 2011. Troy was born and raised in Rockhampton and has been working as a psychologist with children, adults and families for ten years.  He has a particular interest in the different ways people and cultures explain well-being, meaning and existence.  Troy lives part-time in Woorabinda and part-time in Rockhampton with his partner Debbie and he has two step-children and two dogs.  He loves spending time with family (including the dogs) and friends, writing stories and playing touch football.
Email: troy.holland@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Woorabinda
 

Rebekah Burns commenced work for the Division in April 2008 in the position of a generalist Social Worker. For the past 4 years, Rebekah has worked on the Sunshine Coast (Coastal & Hinterland regions) supporting individuals, couples and families through varying roles including Counselling, Court Support, Advocacy, Community Development and Groupwork. Rebekah’s core experience has centred in the area’s of Family Relationships Counselling & Education/Skills Training (Early Intervention Service), as well as, Domestic and Family Violence. Rebekah’s loves include her son, family/friends, supporting others & reducing barriers, chocolate and all things musical.
Email: Rebekah.Burns@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Emerald
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Johnny Atman Johnny Atman has commenced work with the Division as a Social Worker. With a background in Mental Health, Family and Marriage counselling, Individual Counselling, he has completed a Bachelor of Social Sciences - Human Services; a Bachelor of Social Work; a Masters of Social Sciences – Counselling and is currently studying a Graduate Diploma in Buddhist Psychotherapy, intending also to study a Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis and Psychotherapy.
Johnny has practiced in Community Health Settings, Hospital Settings and has worked for NGO’s as well; he has worked with multicultural clients as well as indigenous people, having worked in Port Keats (Wadeye) and Bathurst Island, as well as outreaching to halls Creek. His previous employment took him to Western Australia where he worked as a Mental Health Clinician with the Division of General Practice’s where he enjoyed the relationships he built with the local GP’s as well as the challenges of remote work. He is a dedicated professional with a clear commitment to his service area in assisting and empowering people towards a life of happiness, fulfilment and relationship.
Email: johnny.atman@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Biloela
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Lynette Noble commenced work with the Division in July 2011 in the position of generalist Social Worker.  Lynette is a graduate of The University of the Sunshine Coast where she completed her Bachelor of Social Work.  Lynette has an interest in mental health, sexual assault and group work and has gained experience in these areas through working in the hospital system.  Lynette loves her grandsons, camping and live music.  She is passionate about all things creative including drawing and painting and enjoys supporting others and helping reduce barriers.
Email: lynette.noble@cqrdgp.com.au 
Location: Emerald Office
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Louisa Backus graduated from the University of Queensland with a degree in Speech Pathology in 2000. Since that time Louisa has worked in a variety of acute and community settings that encompassed both paediatric and adult caseloads. After graduating Louisa gained experience in metropolitan hospitals in both Brisbane and Sydney before travelling to work in the United Kingdom. On her return to Australia in January 2005, Louisa commenced employment with CQRDGP and continues to provide paediatric and adult Speech Pathology services to Emerald and the surrounding area. Louisa is also the Allied Health Team Leader for the Emerald Office.
Email: Louisa.Backus@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Emerald  
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Megan Williams commenced employment with CQRDGP in August 2011 to provide paediatric and adult Speech Pathology services to Biloela and the surrounding areas. Megan graduated with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology from the University of Queensland in 2011. Having grown up in a regional town, Megan was eager to return to Central Queensland to begin her career in Speech Pathology. Megan has experience working with both adults and children with communication and swallowing difficulties however; her particular interest is working with children who have special needs. Megan looks forward to increasing her clinical knowledge working with both adults and children in the Biloela and surrounding communities..
Email: megan.williams@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Biloela
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Samantha Hendren commenced employment with CQRDGP at the end of February 2011 to provide Speech Pathology services to Emerald and the surrounding area. Samantha graduated from The University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology in December 2010. After living and studying in Brisbane, Samantha took her first full-time Speech Pathology position in Emerald to gain experience working with a range of communication and swallowing disorders. Samantha also looks forward to expanding on her skills learned throughout her studies and working with the adults and children in the Emerald community.
Email:  samantha.hendren@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Emerald
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Angela Jensen
Email: via admin@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Mt Perry
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Amanda Heit
Email: via admin@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Biloela
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Kathryn Devine
Kathryn joined the CQRDGP in July 2009, as the Allied Health Assistant in Emerald. This was a new position created to provide support and assistance to members of the Allied Health Team. Kathryn has a background in nursing, and worked for Qld Health and Blue Care for a number of years. After taking time out to spend with her family, this is Kathryn’s first venture back into the workforce for some years, and she is looking forward to the challenge.
Email: kathryn.devine@cqrdgp.com.au
Location: Emerald