About Us

Leadership Team

Our experienced Leadership Team demonstrate a strong commitment and passion for the social services sector.

They work tirelessly to support our organisation, its staff and volunteers to maintain a consistently high standard of service.

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Leadership Team Members

Kate Venables Executive Director Kate Venables Executive Director Kate has spent the last 20 years working in the social services sector across Central QLD and the Darling Downs and South West Queensland. Working with teams who provide services to families and individuals needing support, refugees and migrants, our first nation peoples and separated parents. Kate is aware of the many vulnerabilities and complexities of our varied communities across SW Qld as well as the enormous resilience they are able to develop.
She really enjoys people and has a wonderfully diverse staffing body who are working towards the same vision – making work a fabulous place to be! More recently stepping into the role of President of the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce, Kate feels an enormous sense of privilege in advocating, influencing and connecting for and with the business community in the Darling Downs.
Married to Cam, and mother of three adult children (27, 23 and 21 – two girls and a lad), Kate is also committed to family and her local church community at St Barts, and squeezes in a bit of exercise, some baking and reading in her down time.


Zoe Locke Deputy Director Zoe Locke Deputy Director Zoe has extensive experience in a diverse number of roles within the child protection and family law NFP sectors. She is a qualified Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, a Nationally Accredited Mediator and Child Consultant and most recently a graduate from Australian Institute of Company Directors.

With a career primarily in people-centric organisations, Zoe brings a rounded approach into the corporate leadership team through her passion for service innovation and seeking positive outcomes for individuals, families and our wider communities.
Stuart Hall People and Culture Team Leader Stuart Hall People and Culture Team Leader Stuart has worked extensively in the community sector with children, disability support, mental health and crisis intervention. His particular strength is in handling conflict and managing trauma. He works with parents who have separated and are in high conflict over access to their children through the Parenting orders program.

Stuart once read a wonderful life changing quote: Don’t be normal. Be an example. This quote sums up his motivation to actively empower people to make sustainable changes in their lives.



Stewart Horton TRAMS Settlement Coordinator Stewart Horton TRAMS Settlement Coordinator Stewart Horton has worked in the Migrant and Refugee space for over fifteen years and has had a long association with TRAMS during this time. Stewart brings significant qualifications, experience and expertise to the role of Settlement Coordinator.
Stewart was previously a teacher in the State and Catholic schools sectors, as well as an ESL Education Advisor for Catholic Schools in the Toowoomba diocese. Most recently he worked as a manager and educator in the English language faculty at TAFE QLD South West.
Stewart has also worked overseas in Sudan and Turkey and brings passion, care and commitment to the team at CatholicCare TRAMS.
Stacey McCarthy Yumbin Co-Ordinator Stacey McCarthy Yumbin Co-Ordinator Stacey has extensive experience as CatholicCare's Yumbin Coordinator and previously as the Coordinator for Murri Court. Her passion lies with providing support to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community through our justice system.

Stacey volunteers with CatholicCare's WHADDUP program, providing support and supervision to all the youth who attend, reinforcing healthy lifestyle choices and deterring youth from risk taking behaviours.
Leah Millward Children & Youth Team Leader Leah Millward Children & Youth Team Leader Leah is a qualified Social Worker and DDP Practitioner. She has 26 years' experience working with children and families in the Government, NFP, child protection, child development, and child and youth mental health contexts. Leah is currently the co-lead and founder of the Australia DDP Steering Committee and is engaged with several advisory committees focused on enhancing practice and development in the human services industry. 
Leah is highly passionate about ensuring quality services are available to support vulnerable families and individuals and that staff are supported well to ensure the quality is sustainable. She brings with her a vast knowledge of systemic practice, organisational development and training which is coupled with extensive knowledge of complex trauma, attachment, grief and loss, family therapy and narrative approaches.
Sonia Brown Acting FRC Team Leader Sonia Brown Acting FRC Team Leader As an experienced family lawyer, mediator, FDRP and child protection advocate, Sonia currently leads the innovative team of mediators at CatholicCare Toowoomba. The FRC team are pioneering new ways of delivering affordable, multidisciplinary, collaborative solutions for separated families and other individuals troubled by conflict.
Gayle Lancaster South West Queensland Senior Coordinator Gayle Lancaster South West Queensland Senior Coordinator Gayle has been working within the social services sector in
South West Queensland for over 10 years and has a passion for rural and remote
people and their communities. Gayle is a country lady, born and bred in SWQ on
a cattle and cotton property and has extensive knowledge around the trials,
tribulations and success of living in Rural Queensland.
Gayle brings with her a vast knowledge of the rural
industries, community knowledge and has a passion for working with community
through service innovation and sustainability.
Melanie Mullen Administration Coordinator Melanie Mullen Administration Coordinator Melanie joined CatholicCare in the Administration team in 2019 and recently stepped up into the Administration Coordinator's role in 2021. She brings a wealth of knowledge in facilities management, client relations and administration within a number of sectors including aged care.

Melanie is tasked with the overall responsibility to oversee the coordination of a broad range of operations and programs, that allow our organisation to operate efficiently.

Melanie is warm, approachable and has a passion for people and empowerment. She and her team of understanding and kind administration officers are truly dedicated to helping and encouraging families and individuals that come through our organisation.
Anson Fam Senior ICT Coordinator Anson Fam Senior ICT Coordinator Anson has experience in providing high level IT services across various sectors. He holds his Master of Information Technology (Professional).

Anson first started his IT career within the educational sector. After that, he became a System Engineer for 6 years. Now, Anson is the senior coordinator for the CatholicCare ICT team. His extensive knowledge and experience make him a valuable asset.

Through the use of technology, Anson has made CatholicCare’s services more accessible. He has streamlined the IT processes to improve the online experience for CatholicCare staff and customers.

Our Advisory Council