Our Management

Doreen Stoves
Chief Executive Officer

Commenced at Doncare: Mid-2001

Experience: Doreen worked for the Department of Human Services for 25 years before coming to Doncare; she held Management positions in several Human Services Programs including Child Protection, Accommodation and Support Services, Intellectual Disability Services, Aged Care Services, Child Care Services as well as being involved in the management of Institutions. Doreen is also a Clinical Family Therapist who works with individuals and Families; she has a particular interest in Domestic/Family Violence and is a strong advocate for quality service provision to the most vulnerable. In the time she has been at Doncare. Doreen has worked at developing strong links and partnerships with the service system in Manningham and developing programs that meet the needs of the Local Community.
 

Commenced at Doncare: October 2001

Experience: Carmel is a registered psychologist, member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) & APS College of Counselling Psychologists. Carmel has worked as both a therapist and as a case manager with children, adolescents and families at risk, with individuals, couples and parents. She has a special interest in recovery from trauma and critical incident stress, and in the impact of family violence. She loves her role at Doncare, supporting clients and staff, and working with her team of experienced therapists, case workers, and volunteers.
 

Helen Mackenzie
Manager, Social Support Program

Commenced at Doncare: January 2010

Experience: Helen studied and attained her degree in Human Services at Monash University and comes to Doncare with extensive experience. Helen has worked in social and welfare roles for 11 years and for the past 16 years held management positions within large Retirement Villages, thus giving her insight and understanding of retirees and senior citizens. Helen strongly believes that everyone deserves the best possible quality of life and that positive social interaction plays a large part in making this achievable.

Helen was born and brought up in Manningham and is proud to work for Doncare and give back to this community.
 

Barbara Zeller
Manager, Information and Emergency Relief

Commenced at Doncare: March 2011

Experience: Barbara Zeller has more than 30 years experience in the human services field including senior management roles with the Department of Human Services and Anglicare and has managed and trained hundreds of staff and volunteers throughout her career. Barbara’s career span also included time with the Brotherhood of St Laurence in Housing and Homelessness, Hastings Information and Support in Volunteer Coordination, Department of Justice Queensland as a Community Visitor advocating for vulnerable and at risk people with disabilities and mental health issues in residential care and Council on the Ageing Queensland as Coordinator of Peer Education in a national program for seniors.

Emergency Management training with the Department of Human Services and training as a Critical Incident and Stress Management Debriefer equipped her to volunteer for the Red Cross in the recent Queensland floods.

She has qualifications and experience in the fields of Youth Work, Information and Emergency Relief, Volunteer Management, Critical Incident Stress Management, Mental Health, Disability and Aged Care and is also a qualified trainer.

Marilyn Steele
Manager, Business Operations

Commenced at Doncare: June 2008

Experience: Marilyn has a wealth of business knowledge and considerable experience in the retail sector, having managed pet shops in the Manningham/Whitehorse areas for 8 years, since moving to Australia in 2000.  Prior to that Marilyn was the Registrar of Motor Vehicle Dealers for New Zealand for 18 years, where she had sole responsibility for managing a semi judicial authority.  She was also a member of a volunteer organisation who were concerned with welfare services in respect of inmates in the prison system where she had formerly been employed as a Prison Officer.  Marilyn is a Justice of the Peace of New Zealand and is also a past Director and Trustee of the Motor Trade Finances Superannuation Fund. At Doncare she manages 5 Opportunity shops - 3 in Manningham and 2 in Whitehorse and is striving to develop a broader role for Doncare as a Volunteer Resource Centre.
 

Helen Anson
Office Manager

Commenced at Doncare: March 2005

Experience: Helen holds a Bachelor of Business (Marketing), Graduate Diploma of Business (Marketing) and a Certificate IV Workplace Assessment and Training. Helen joined Doncare in March 2005 with a background in marketing, office and database administration and IT. Helen oversees the general running of the office, manages all databases and looks after IT issues.
 

Kerrie McMahon                                                                        Finance Manager

Commenced at Doncare : December 2010

Experience:

After many years in the corporate sector Kerrie transferred her financial and management skills to the not for profit sector, a move that she has not regretted.

Kerrie is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) and has worked extensively in the not for profit sector including roles with Trust for Nature (Victoria), Pines Learning (formerly Donvale Living and Learning Centre), Learning Difficulties Australia, The Sunrise Foundation  and more recently Prahran Malvern Community Housing and SIDS and Kids (Victoria).

Kerrie is delighted that she will be able to utilize this experience in a vibrant and caring organization that is dedicated to serving the community.