Our People
Staff Team
Fiona Endacott has recently been appointed to the position of CEO (25 March 2019). Fiona was our Senior Advocate and has been working with CF&KC–SA since November 2017.
Fiona has a Bachelor of Social Work, a Double Advanced Diploma in Management and Human Resources, a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration and is currently completing her MBA. Her work history is also impressive - having come to CF&KC-SA after a long stint working in mental health, most recently as Manager: Operations for Skylight Mental Health.
Fiona has already made her mark on our organisation – having worked on our winning tender, achieved our quality accreditation and (since July) established and managed our very committed advocacy team. She is a mother of two and deeply committed to the wellbeing of children and Carers.
Liz has an extensive background working across education, youth justice and community services sectors in leadership and program management roles. With a Bachelor of Social Science (Social Welfare), a Diploma of Youth Work and a Graduate Certificate in Restorative Practices she is committed to ensuring all people have the care and support to live safe and well. Liz has been using her advocacy skills most recently within the Adelaide Youth Court assisting young people, parents and carers to access services and resources for successful engagement in education and learning. Liz has experience facilitating support groups, delivering workshops and coordinating community engagement initiatives – she is passionate about building positive relationships and is excited to be serving the Foster and Kinship Carer community through the Senior Advocate role.
Hailey joined CF&KC-SA in July 2018 as our Foster Care Advocate. Hailey is a dedicated and passionate social worker with tertiary qualifications in social work and social planning. Hailey draws on experience from working in residential care, along with experience supporting families at risk within the Department for Education. Hailey is a proactive social worker that prides herself on early intervention and building relationships. She has dedicated her career to supporting families and children at risk. Hailey is a mother of two children and plays an active role in supporting local community via Kindy Governing Council and regularly volunteers at the local primary school. Hailey is excited to be applying her knowledge and skills to supporting and advocating for Foster Carers.
Dion joined CF&KC-SA in April 2019 as a Carer Advocate, specifically supporting Kinship Carers. Dion holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree and is currently completing a Diploma of Counselling in addition to a Training and Educator certificate. Dion has experience working in Emergency and Residential care as a youth worker, with children under the Guardianship of the Minister. Dion’s recent role was within a registered training organisation assisting in writing and auditing diploma and certificate levels of community services.
Dion is excited to incorporate the knowledge and experience from past employment, the desire to continue learning, understanding and a natural sense of rapport building to make a positive impact for Carers and co-workers.
Tandanya joined CF&KC-SA in April 2019 as a Carer Advocate, supporting Foster & Kinship Carers within her role. Tandanya holds a Masters of Social Work and a Bachelor of Social Sciences with experience working within a Kinship Care support team and with Anangu Youth in Education. Her time working with Kinship Carers gave Tandanya a valuable insight into the experience of carers and the profound challenges that they face. As a result she has developed a strong passion to work alongside Carers to make a positive difference in their lives.
Tandanya is excited to be working in a fulfilling role with a driven and passionate team that supports and advocates for the rights of Foster and Kinship Carers.
Natalie joined CF&KC-SA in December 2016 as the Administrative Officer and since July 2018, has been enjoying her new role as the Administration and Events Coordinator.
Natalie is experienced working in key administrative roles in health, research and University sectors and also event management, including key organiser of the International Conference on Community Health Research in 2009. A mother of two, she is an enthusiastic and active member of school Governing Council and Parents & Friends Committee. Natalie enjoys interacting with families and the community and is excited to apply her skills and knowledge to her role with CF&KC-SA.
Board
Megan Hender is a lawyer by training. She worked as a solicitor, a university lecturer and a senior manager in an international law firm before opening her own management consulting business in 2002 – focusing on strategy, risk and communication. She has recently completed two in house roles: as interim General Manager of Johnston Withers Lawyers (a progressive mid-tier law firm based in Adelaide) and as Legal Manager at Peregrine Corporation (South Australia’s largest private employer). She has also recently completed two terms (2010- 2018) as an elected member of the Adelaide City Council including 18 months as Deputy Lord Mayor.
Megan has a strong interest in corporate governance. She has served on the board of a number of organisations including the Festival of Arts, the Adelaide Central Market Authority, the Adelaide Convention Centre, the (then) Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market (which she was instrumental in establishing) and the Palliative Care Council of South Australia (where she served as Deputy Chair),
She current sit on the Board of Johnston Withers Lawyers, on the Advisory Board of SA Leaders and chairs two not for profits: our organisation and The GOGO Foundation.
She is a member of, and former presenter for, the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
She is the wife of a busy barrister and the proud mother of two adults sons.
Donna has been a Board Member since 2005 and has also been involved on the International Foster Care Organisation (IFCO) Board since 2011 where she currently holds the position of Vice President. Donna and her husband have been foster parents since 2003 and do all types of care from emergency to long term care. She believes that her passion is to see better outcomes for children in care and leaving care, and a better system for all parties involved.
"My husband and I have been foster carers since 2003. Since then we have had over 100 children share our home – some for only a few days, others will be with us for a lifetime. Currently, I am Vice Chairperson of CF&KC – SA. Prior to this, I held the position of Treasurer for 4 years. I also enjoy being involved in CF&KC-SA events and that enable Carers and Children/Young People to enjoy life-enriching experiences. These have included such varying things as National Conferences through to taking children camping amongst African animals. For the past several years, I have been involved in bringing together all parties of the care team to consider ways to benefit children in care. I am passionate about seeing best outcomes for young people and respect given to the people who love, nurture, heal and care for these children."
Hastings joined the CFC-SA Board in July 2017 as Treasurer and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and a holder of a Master of Science degree in Accounting and Finance.
He has worked in senior finance management positions for over 20 years until 2016 when he opened his own financial consultancy firm.
Hastings serves on the boards of several organisations including Treasurer for Assembly of God Paradise Inc; Influencers Conferences Pty Ltd and Chaplaincy SA.
Hastings is an African man from the country of Malawi and speaks Chewa.
He has had previous experience caring for his 3 grandchildren as a kinship carer.
Kate joined the board in 2015 and is a long term carer based in the southern suburbs. She has been a foster parent since 2011 and is immensely proud to have achieved OPG status.
Kate graduated from York University in 1998 with an honours degree in Economic & Social History. Realising that this wasn’t actually going to get her a job, she went on to study Marketing and has worked in this area ever since. Kate has previously been involved with setting up many of the online communications for CF&KC-SA.
Kate is passionate about the work that CF&KC-SA has done and continues to do. Through her personal experience, she is acutely aware that foster parents need to have ‘a voice’ within the system in order for best interests of the child to always be put first.
Terry joined the CF&KC-SA Board in August 2017 and brings media and communication expertise along with a close knowledge of carer issues.
Terry Plane has worked in all areas of media, as well as government, unions and the corporate sector. He’s been Network Director of News & Current Affairs for a major television network, press secretary to the Premier, and Communications Director at the Department for Child Protection. He works now as a media consultant.
Some years ago Terry and his partner cared for a baby who’d been removed from his mother and have remained involved as the boy’s respite carers.
Kelly is a current Kinship carer and has been so since 2015. She has always been involved in business taking on various roles in family business since she was very young. Upon graduating from university with degrees in both Business and Marketing, she pursued a career in Valuations practicing at senior management level for a number of years. Kelly has since moved to her own business with her husband, providing services to the poultry industry with a large staff and busy lifestyle. With four children in the family, Kelly engages in a busy and fulfilling life. She joined the board of CF&KC-SA in November 2017 after being an active member throughout 2017. After seeing first hand the effects on children in out of home care, Kelly has become very passionate about promoting change in the system to enable better outcomes for all involved.
Jan Stevens joined the CF&KC-SA Board in January 2019.
Sara McLean joined the CF&KC-SA Board in January 2019.
“I offer my gratitude and respect to the dedicated Carer community it is our privilege to serve” (Megan Hender, Board Chairperson)