CareSouth is a not-for-profit public company limited by guarantee. Established in 1994, we remain a not-for-profit community organisation and registered charity – lead by a voluntary Board of Directors. Our Board puts heart into governance. Every day.
EOI – External Auditor
Expressions of Interest are now open at CareSouth for an External Auditor. EOI’s close Tuesday 28th February 2023.
To apply, download more information here – EOI_External Auditor_CareSouth_FINAL
Are you interested in becoming a Board Member with CareSouth? Click here.
Christine Cook
BOARD CHAIRPERSON
Christine Cook has been a member of the Board since 2004. Christine has been a secondary school teacher for over 30 years, spending 27 years at Bomaderry High. She has been the Producer of Bomaderry High School’s Rock Eisteddfod productions since 1995, mentoring over 100 students during rehearsals. Christine is also a member of the Management Committee of the Nowra Show Society. She has a Diploma of Teaching and Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment. She is married with three children and two grandchildren.
Rebecca Keen
BOARD DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON
Rebecca Keen was appointed to the Board in 2012. She has over twenty years of finance and accounting experience and is currently CFO of a large private organisation based in the Illawarra.
Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Wollongong. She is CPA qualified and continues professional development by way of CPA courses and executive development at the University of Technology.
Jim McEwan
FOUNDER AND BOARD DIRECTOR
In 1992 Caresouth founder, Jim McEwan, attended a town meeting regarding the impending closure of the only youth shelter in Nowra. He was shocked to find himself conscripted to the new management committee faced with the task of saving the refuge. About the same time Jim had agreed to help set up Aunties & Uncles within the Shoalhaven. He subsequently orchestrated the amalgamation of the two services resulting in the formation of Shoalcare, later to be called Caresouth. After a couple of years break, Jim has again become part of the CareSouth Board.
Theo Boyle
BOARD DIRECTOR
Raised in Foster Care from age 8 to 15, Theo Boyle joined the CareSouth Board in 2004. He has lived in Nowra since 1969, where he has operated a successful bicycle business since 1980. Mr Boyle lives with his wife have two children.
Nicholas Sims
BOARD DIRECTOR
Nicholas Sims has been a CareSouth Board member since 2007. Formerly a Science teacher, Nicholas has worked for the NSW Department of Education and Training as a School Counsellor for over 15 years. He has been a registered NSW Psychologist working for the Royal Australian Navy Reserves for the past 7 years, in addition to running his private psychology practice. Nicholas has a Bachelor of Science and Graduate Diploma of Education (Science) from the University of Sydney, as well as his Masters of Education, Psychology and Post Graduate Diploma of Psychology from Charles Sturt University.
Tracy Mayo
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
With more than 30 years’ experience working in the Community Services sector, nearly nine of those as a senior leader at CareSouth, Tracy Mayo Mayo is embracing her new role as Executive Officer (Practice) alongside colleague Renee Knight.
Tracy has worked in various roles in the Community Services sector, including disability services, Out-of-Home Care residential services, homelessness and therapeutic counselling services. During her time at CareSouth she has been the Regional Manager of the Southern, Western and ACT regions. Tracy also spearheaded a new role working as the Manager, Practice Improvement and Quality to ensure CareSouth’s frontline workers are skilled in best practice guidelines and training so they can better support families.
At the core of Tracy’s practice is the child, ensuring they are given a voice and a say in their future. Listening and responding to the needs of those around her, whether it’s children and young people, birth parents, carers or staff, is one of the reasons Tracy is so adept at building strong, long-term relationships.
Tracy recognises that the best option for children is
for them to stay with or return to birth families. Where that is not safe there is a need to look at permanent options, such as guardianship or kinship placements with extended family or open adoption for non-Aboriginal children.
Tracy believes that it is in the best interests of a child to be connected to their family, whether it is their mother, their father or their grandmother so that children and young people have a wrap-around support network.
Her ability to understand the broader community sector needs allows her to advocate and bridge the gap between sector demands and community needs, while supporting the CareSouth Leadership team to ensure the best possible outcomes for the individuals, families and communities CareSouth support.
Renee Knight
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
For more than a decade Renee Knight was responsible for managing CareSouth’s finances as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. After a recent stint working for the Aboriginal Medical Service Renee returned to CareSouth, this time at the helm of the organisation as Executive Officer (Business) alongside colleague Tracy Mayo.
Renee brings a wealth of knowledge and business acumen to her new role in leading CareSouth into the next decade of growth and opportunity.
Renee, along with CareSouth’s Corporate Services team, has been instrumental in overseeing the development of the organisation’s new multi-million dollar Head Office and Community Hub in Nowra.
The project has been the main focus of the Corporate Services team, whom Renee oversees, for the past five years, so it was fitting that Renee presided over the official ground-breaking ceremony held last month.
While her job is essentially about numbers, Renee takes great pride in knowing the names of every young person in CareSouth’s programs. This is testament
to her kind, caring nature and her commitment to ensuring the best possible outcome for the families CareSouth supports. Like her co-leader Tracy, Renee is an advocate for giving a voice to young people in the Community Services sector.
She is also passionate about serving the Shoalhaven community, where she grew up and attended the local schools and University. Renee has sat on the committee of the Shoalhaven Business Chamber for the past four years and applied her skills and business acumen to her role as Treasurer for the past three years. She is also a member of Shoalhaven Women in Business, a subcommittee of the Business Chamber designed to inspire, develop and increase networks for women in business and leadership roles.
Renee has a Bachelor Degree in Accounting from the University of Wollongong. Her skills in Financial Operations, Leadership, Financial Management Experience, Managerial Finance, and Budgeting will allow her to lead the implementation and execution of CareSouth’s long-term strategic business plans.
