Staff
For all general enquiries please visit the Contacts page
Management
Susie Low
Chief Executive Officer
susie@mttheo.org
In 1994, Susie co-founded the Australian branch of Medecins sans frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), an international humanitarian medical relief agency, and spent 6 years traveling to field projects all through the developing world. Susie then worked in Papunya in the Central Desert for two years initially as the World Vision Program Manager, and later with the Council. Susie returned to Sydney for three years to work with the NSW Police Drug Squad as the Aboriginal Substance Misuse Officer, developing policies and programs for a better police response to Aboriginal alcohol and drug-related crime. Susie happily returned to the desert as Manager for Mt Theo Program early in 2005.
Johnny Miller
Traditional Owner and Program Founder
Japangardi is a senior traditional owner for Mt Theo. He worked for years as the Outstation Carer but has now retired and handed over that responsibility to others, although he often visits his country (and dogs) at Mt Theo. As one of the program’s ‘elders’, Japangardi is also very involved in the committee of the Mt Theo program. To read more… click here
Peggy Brown
Program Founder and Cultural Advisor
Peggy is the outstation program founder and continues to work at the outstation and occasionally visit other communities to talk her story. To read more… click here
Brett Badger
Operations Manager
brett@mttheo.org
Brett has previously completed an Arts Degree, Psychology Honours and Masters degree in International/Community Development and is currently undertaking Management education through Adelaide University. Before finding his home in the desert he worked variously in Child Protection and Drug Rehabilitation in Australia and as a Volunteer Aid Worker in Western Kenya. After some holiday youth work in Nyirrpi in May 2004, Brett fell in love with the desert and Warlpiri people. After completing his Masters thesis on petrol sniffing, Brett (Japaljarri) began his Mt Theo work in 2005 in the Jaru Pirrjirdi Project. He quickly moved into the role of Program Counsellor and helped to create the Warra Warra Kanyi Counselling service. Since 2007 he has served as Operations Manager for the program and is honoured to work with and for the Mt Theo team and Warlpiri people.
Thomas Rice
Senior Advisor
Thomas Jangala Rice is a respected elder living in Yuendumu is one of the founders of the Jaru Pirrjirdi Program. Jangala has worked alongside the Coordinators of Jaru Pirrjirdi to teach young people about Warlpiri Law and Culture. With his family’s support, Jangala’s work with Jaru Pirrjirdi has been instrumental in its success.
Ruth Wall
Executive Assistant
admin@mttheo.org
Ruth lived in Yuendumu as a child and now lives here with her husband and daughter. She has also worked with other organisatons in Yuendumu, Willowra and Warburton. She joined WYDAC in 2011.
Warra-Warra Kanyi
Ruth Bignell
Warra-Warra Kanyi Counsellor
Ruth first came to Yuendumu as part of Youth Challenge Australia when she worked with the school kids and provided administration and relief youth work for the youth program. In 2007, Ruth joined the team full time as Community and Youth Worker spending time working with the Youth Program and Mt Theo Outstation. She now works as the Warra-Warra Kanyi Counsellor.
Jean Napanangka Brown
Warra-Warra Kanyi Senior Cultural Advisor
Jean is the WKK Senior Cultural Advisor and has fifteen years of experience in working with at-risk Warlpiri youth at the Mt Theo Outstation, through her role as a Senior Client Carer.
Mt Theo Outstation
Amelia Watson
Outstation Coordinator
Amelia joined the Mt Theo team in 2007 as a Community Youth Worker and became the Outstation Support Coordinator in 2009.
Steven Japanangka Marshall
Assistant Outstation Coordinator
Steven Marshall has been involved with the Mt Theo Program for a number of years. Steven joined the Outstation team as a senior carer in 2007 and after years of hard work Steven was promoted to Assistant Outstation Coordinator in late 2010. Steven enjoys his job and being able to be a good role model for young Warlpiri people. Steven is married with three children.
Paul Japanangka Marshall
Senior Carer
Lindsay Japangardi Williams
Outstation Carer
Grace Williams
Outstation Carer
Jaru Pirrjirdi
Nicola Milverton
Jaru Pirrjirdi and Youth Coordinator
Nicola joined the Program in 2011. She began working as a Youth worker in 1993 in Central Qld, then moved to Alice Springs in 1997, where she lived and worked with young people until 2002. She has also worked in Victoria, in the Drug and Alcohol sector and with homeless people. Now that her kids have grown up, she has moved to Yuendumu to work with the Mt Theo program.
Enid Gallagher
Cultural Mentor
Outreach
Rusty Stewart
Outreach Coordinator
Originally from Northern Ireland, Rusty is a photojournalist and videographer with many years news and current affairs experience working for national and international news agencies. More recently he has focused on Community Cultural Development work within Australia for NGO’s, often with Indigenous communities. Employers have included the Fred Hollows Foundation, The Torch Project, ICRC, and Amnesty International among others. Over the last five years he has led documentary film and stills projects to deliver outcomes with the Yolngu and Jawoyn communities of Arnhem Land, the Barkindji communities of Northwest Victoria the Gunditjmara communities of Southwest Victoria, and the Ngaanyatjarra Communities in the western deserts of Australia. Rusty joined WYDAC as Youth Worker in Willowra in 2010 and Outreach Coordinator in 2011.
Bob Cullen
Wett Training Coordinator
Bob joined the Mt Theo program in January 2012. He holds a Diploma in Hospitality Management and has worked in Hospitality for over 30 years across NSW and QLD managing various businesses and training staff and managers in areas of employment from cleaning, catering and management. In the last few years he has been training within TAFE QLD, in hospitality, ESL, LLN and with Indigenous students to improve their skills. Bob is working with Warlpiri people in Lajamanu, Willowra, Nyirrpi and Yuendumu.
Lajamanu
Steve Patrick
Cultural Supervisor
David Carlson
Youth Worker
Nikki Kuper
Youth Worker
Ralphie Dixon
Casual Youth Worker
Nyirrpi
Lance Turner
Cultural Supervisor
Gregwyn Gibson
Bianca Turner
Casual Youth Workers
Willowra
Teddy Long
Cultural Mentor
Audrey Kitson
Cultural Mentor
Julie Kitson
Cultural Mentor
Nat Sargeant
Youth Worker
Jarrod Mahoney
Youth Worker
Azariah Robertson
Casual Youth Worker
Yuendumu
Megan Bell
Senior Youth Worker
Megan joined the WYDAC team in late 2011. She began her journey working in the Whitsundays with backpackers on Maxi yachts, and loved working in the outdoors so much she begun her Diploma of Outdoor recreation, in which she received the ‘International Women’s Day’ scholarship. She specialised in facilitation and program management for Youth at Risk, which reminded her of a passion fueled from her adolescence. This led her onto a Double Diploma of Youth work.
Paul Stephenson
Community Youth Worker
Administration
Grainne Kerr
Administration Officer
Grainne comes from the West of Ireland, and travelled to Australia in 2008 for a year but loved it so much she stayed. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History from University College Dublin and is currently studying accountancy. Grainne first came to Central Australia in 2009 and worked on a nearby cattle station before joining WYDAC in December 2011.
Geraldine Napurrurla Dixon
Receptionist and Administration Assistant
Housing and Infrastructure
Luke Radcliffe
Housing and Infrastructure Coordinator
Ryan Woods
Housing and Infrastructure Officer
Swimming Pool
Rick Berry
Pool Manager
Rick’s passion for aquatics started with swim coaching at Scotch College Melbourne, which he did for 20 years. During this time he became a trainer and assessor for Life Saving Victoria with the Portsea Surf Life Saving. Towards the end of this period Rick managed a Learn to Swim School for 6 years and coached at various swim clubs. His Bachelor of Business saw Rick operating businesses from sport to photography. From this he went on and completed a Masters in Physical Education, and Graduate Diplomas in Sport Science and Applied Learning, after which he taught at Worawa Aboriginal College. Having taught young people from Yuendumu at Worawa, Rick decided to work for Mt Theo commencing in Oct 2010.
Mechanics Worksop
Warrick Ellis
Workshop Manager
Anthony Jampijinpa Egan
3rd year Apprentice
Nic Cartledge
2nd year Apprentice
Others
Anna Cadden
WETT Project Worker
Anna worked as Video Coordinator for Warlpiri Media Association (now PAW Media and Communications) from 2003-2008. She now works as a freelance Video Trainer in remote communities throughout Central Australia.
Liam worked for the Mt Theo Program from 1995-99. He then worked for Warlukurlangu Artists and Warlpiri Media on various projects. He now provides relief, research and project work for Mt Theo.
Craig san Roque
Consultant Psychologist
Dave Hodgkin
Consultant
Past Staff and Volunteers
Over the years many people have joined us in the fight to stop petrol sniffing in the Warlpiri community.
We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Mt Theo country for their generosity and ongoing support.
Two of the founders of the Mt Theo Program and one of the Jaru Pirrjirdi Program have passed away and we cannot print their names here but acknowledge their commitment in those early days.
Peggy Brown (OAM) has been the cornerstone of the program from the beginning and is still working with us.
Johnny Miller (OAM), Traditional Owner for the Mt Theo country, has also been there from the beginning and is still working.
Andrew Stojanovski (OAM… better known as ‘Yakajirri’ in Yuendumu) started the program with Peggy’s family and worked for over ten years to successfully eradicate petrol sniffing in Yuendumu. Andrew’s wife Vesna supported the program from the beginning. They now live with their two children in NSW.
Alan Dickson, Perry Johnson, Rex Forrest and Dorothy Forrest all worked for years at Mt Theo Outstation and we are indebted to them for their dedication and contribution to the ongoing success of the Outstation Program.
Enid Gallagher joined the committee in 2004 and also served for periods as Chairperson and has attended several conferences on behalf of the program.
Michael Morgan first worked as a teacher at Mt Theo before becoming the Manager and setting up the Mt Theo – Yuendumu Substance Misuse Aboriginal Corporation. He is now a youth worker in Tasmania.
Karissa Preuss first volunteered for Mt Theo in 1998 and then worked for the Yuendumu Youth Program in 2001. As a result of this experience, Karissa worked with young people and the Mt Theo management committee to create Jaru Pirrjirdi in early 2002, which she co-ordinated till 2005. She also managed the Mt Theo Program in 2004.
Robbie Walit worked for the Mt Theo program in 2000-2001 and served as MYSMAC Treasurer for a number of years.
Django Nou worked as a youth worker on the program in 2000-2001.
Otto Sims and Maxine Spencer both served as chair people for a number of years.
Eddie and Lottie Robertson and Francis Kelly were also strong supporters of the program in the early days.
Louise Sullivan worked as a youth worker on the Mt Theo and Youth Programs over several years.
Lizzie Napaljarri worked as an Administrative Assistant in 2006.
Ubik Freeman worked with the Mt Theo program as Outstation Coordinator from 2004 – 2006.
Mick Campion worked as Outstation Coordinator and Cameron Churchill as Youth Worker in 2006.
Louis Watson for his work as Outstation Support Worker and Yuendumu Men’s Night Patrol.
Natalie O’Connor for her work as a Youth and Project Worker in 2005-2007 and her ongoing commitment to remote dance workshops.
Alison Gillies, who worked as Youth Program Coordinator in Willowra 2004-2007.
Sherman Spencer joined the program as a Jaru Pirrjirdi Mentor in 2007 before becoming a Warra-Warra Kanyi male youth mentor.
Micah Wenitong, of the Kabi Kabi Peoples of SE QLD, worked as the WETT Youth & Media Project and Outreach Coordinator in 2008.
‘MG’ Michael Wayne worked as a Mt Theo Project Worker and was one of the most active leaders in the Jaru Pirrjirdi Mentoring program.
Dave Hodgkin has provided relief work over the years.
Kyle Jarvie and Amy Hardy worked pioneering youth programs at Willowra and Lajamanu.
David and Rachel Waugh worked in Willowra and Todd Shilton and Hannah Morrison in Yuendumu and Nyirrpi.
Kate Webb worked a Youth and Relief Worker in Yuendumu in 2008.
Riley Oldfield worked as Cultural Mentor from 2004-2010. Riley and his wife Enid travelled to attend the ‘Healing Our Spirits Worldwide’ conference in 2006 in Canada as a representative of the program.
Ali Satour and Cecily Blakman worked as Youth Worker in Nyirrpi and Yuendumu 2009-2010.
Darren Talbot and Emma Stubbs worked as Pool Manager and Office Assistant in 2009-2010.
Jodi Hunt worked as a Youth Worker in Nyirrpi in 2010.
Drew Anderson worked as Senior Youth Worker in Yuendumu 2010-2011.
Sue Lovett worked as Outreach Coordinator 2009-2011.
Sherman Jungarrayi Spencer worked as Warra-Warra Kanyi Male Youth Mentor for several years.
Tali Low joined the Mt Theo team in 2005 and worked for several years as a Youth Worker before becoming Jaru Pirrjirdi Coordinator until mid-2011.
Michael and Penny Rohrlach worked in the Mechanics Workshop 2009-2011.
Mikaela Davis, Bianca Evans, Chris Rollit, Tom Gadsden and Renie Anderson worked as Youth Workers in 2010-2011.
Sebastian Hall (Youth Worker) and Rene Madeddu (Admin) worked for WYDAC in 2011.
Alex Cadden worked with Mt Theo 2008-2011 as Executive Assistant.
Aaron Jakamarra Bradshaw joined the WWK team in 2010, mentoring young men experiencing mental health difficulties. Aaron moved with his family to Halls Creek in early 2012 and now works with a local health service there; his commitment and talent for mental health work is very much appreciated and missed.
And all the Youth Challenge Australia volunteers… Thank you for supporting us!