Governance

Multiple Sclerosis Australia is the auspice agency for AEAA. Previously Disability Justice Advocacy undertook this role.

General Members meetings are held quarterly and usually held at Nerve Centre, Blackburn. All visitors and members are warmly invited to attend.

From August 2010 the AEAA became an Incorporated Association. The AEAA Constitution is included here (attach).

The AEAA Executive Committee meets monthly and is elected at the AGM.

Current AEAA Executive Committee members:

Cath Williams (Chair)

Manager Yooralla's Information & Assistive Technology Services, including the Independent Living Centre and ComTEC. Cath is an Occupational Therapist and has worked in community psychiatry, community aged care and rehabilitation, and for the past 15 years in assistive technology as a clinician and manager.

Bob Thornton (Deputy Chair)

Bob has been a paraplegic for 46 years, and has worked in the disability area for 26 years mostly in the Continence field.

Trevor Carroll (Treasurer)

Trevor has had a lifelong interest in disability having completed a Masters Degree in Intellectual Disability at the University of Tasmania and is currently the Executive Officer at Disability Justice Advocacy managing a team of advocates providing individual advocacy support to people with high physical support needs. Prior to this, Trevor trained workers for the Disability and Community Welfare sectors as a TAFE educator and Workplace Assessor.

Willa Longmuir (Secretary)

Senior Project Worker, Melbourne Citymission. Previously in various management roles in the Victorian Department of Human Services (DHS) Children, Youth & Family Services and Disability Services

Maurice Gleeson (Ordinary Member)

Maurice has worked in the social welfare sector for nearly 30 years. Maurice has also worked in policy and advocacy, and been a member of numerous disability advisory committees' at all three levels of government. Maurice is also currently a member of the executive committee of Blind Sports Victoria, and is an experienced user of Aids and Equipment services.

Margaret Stevens (Ordinary Member)

Margaret has previous experience as a board/chair/member with 6 groups in policy development and strategic planning. Currently is a member of two boards and active member of five other groups. Margaret is an experienced user of Aids and Equipment services.

Valerie Watchorn (Ordinary Member)

Valerie is currently a lecturer in occupational therapy at Deakin University. Prior to this Valerie has worked as an occupational therapy clinician and educator in disability and community health settings.

Jo Whitehouse (Ordinary Member)

Jo is Community Team Manager for MS Australia, SE Victoria, managing therapy and allied health staff who provide a direct service to people with MS. Jo is a qualified Occupational therapist and has had extensive experience in disability, health and social housing sectors both overseas and in Australia.