About

COVID19

At Leadership Plus we continue to provide our full range of disability advocacy services but we have made changes to how we operate in response to the COVID19 Coronavirus.

The team is working remotely but all incoming calls to Leadership Plus are going to voicemail and messages are retrieved twice daily and passed on. Our normal intake process remains in place with intake workers returning calls on Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:30 – 12:30. It may take up to two intake shifts for us to return a call.

Should you have any questions you can call the office and leave a message, or send an email admin@leadershipplus.com

If you have an intake enquiry, please email

intake@leadershipplus.com

Wishing you all the very best in these trying times.

Our History

Since 1985 we’ve worked to foster active citizenship in marginalised people by partnering with organisations and communities to embrace diversity.

Leadership Plus was formed with the merger of Headway Inc, an advocacy group specialising in issues and supports for people with acquired brain injury (ABI) and Action for Community Living (ACL), an advocacy group with a history of working on individual and systemic issues associated with people around daily support needs.

Collaboration and partnerships

We work collaboratively with communities, business, government and not for profit partners, in cost-effective and best-practice approaches.

We work closely with the Rights Information and Advocacy Centre supporting clients and the disability community

Leadership Plus is grateful for the probono legal assistance provided by Hall & Wilcox

Our Board

Leadership Plus is supported and overseen by a qualified and diverse volunteer board.

Fiona Curry – Chair

Fiona is a commercially astute, consultative finance leader with experience across international, corporate, property and not for profit sectors. Fiona cares about equity and has held board roles in education, disability, supporting asylum seekers and has also worked in aged care.

Professor Christine Bigby – Vice Chair

Christine is the Director of the Living with Disability Research Centre at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. She has a long track record of working in partnership with disability support organisations investigating the effectiveness of practice, social programs and policies that aim to support the social inclusion of adults and older people with intellectual disabilities. Since 2009 has led a longitudinal study investigating the organisation of staff support, and quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities living in group homes and leads a major program of research on the practice of supported decision making. She has significant experience in conducting inclusive research with people with intellectual disabilities and has published key articles on inclusive methods. Bigby is a member of the College of Experts of the Australian Research Council and has published 9 books, 42 book chapters, 166 journal articles and numerous research reports.

Sirisha Pinnali – Treasurer

Sirisha is a leader and expert in Strategy, Finance, Business Consulting, Risk and Audit, focussing on helping businesses bring out the best in their organisations. She has held senior business roles around the globe, in industries including Resources, Shipping, Health, Media, Technology, Property and Banking & Financial Services. She works with strategy delivery, change management and leadership. Sirisha has a degree in Commerce (Finance & Economics) is a Chartered Accountant with ICAANZ (Australia & New Zealand), AICPA (USA) and ICAI (India) and has an internationally Accredited Diploma in Coaching.

Ritika Soni – Secretary

Ritika is a vocational training professional with extensive experience from coordination & management to training in Australian Vocational Education Training (VET) sector. During her career, Ritika has been exposed to domestic and international students. She embraces diversity and has helped students to achieve their career goals. Ritika is passionate and committed to helping people in need.

Robbert Roos – Board Member

A board member since 2012, and previous chair, Robbert is a qualified lawyer experienced in mental health law. He previously worked at Tandem (a peak mental health organisation) where he has helped set-up an advocacy service, and is currently a lawyer with Victorian Legal Aid. Robbert has worked as a Judges’ Associate at the County Court of Victoria in both the criminal and civil jurisdiction. He is passionate and committed to supporting people that experience disadvantage due to a disability.

Satu Aho – Board Member

Satu brings to the Board knowledge of NDIS strategy and leadership alongside advocacy in CALD communities. Satu has experience from all three sectors (public, private and community) and she is a qualified lawyer.

Ashleigh Pinto – Board Member

Ashleigh is a lawyer with expertise in the National Disability Insurance Scheme. She recognises the vital role advocacy can play in working with people with disability to navigate the Scheme and realise their rights.

Donations and Bequests

The work we do is vital to protecting the rights of people with disability. If you’ve been helped by what we do, know somebody who has or just value inclusion and protecting human rights, consider a donation or bequest.