Vicki joined Yumba-Meta as Housing Manager in January 2021, bringing with her a strong background in public sector housing through her 20-year career with the Department of Housing.

From 2009, Vicki took a lead role in delivering the Townsville social housing component of the federal government’s $42 billion Nation Building Economic Stimulus Package, which covered social housing, education, roads and safety, and energy saving initiatives.

This project involved Vicki managing and delivering the stimulus package for close to 400 community housing and public housing properties, for the Townsville Housing Service Centre for Department of Housing.

From 2016 to 2020, Vicki was the housing representative on the multi-agency Townsville Stronger Communities Action Group, a coordinated response to the issue of youth crime in Townsville.

As Housing Manager, Vicki’s priority is ensuring people have the opportunity, knowledge and supports they need, to sustain their tenancy.

Karen is an experienced administrator, having worked in high-level administration roles in various sectors including higher education, local government, not-for-profit organisations and private enterprise.

During her 22-year career at James Cook University, Karen spent five years with the Division of Tropical Health and Medicine and 17 years delivering executive support to three different Vice-Chancellors. She worked closely with the Indigenous Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor on various projects including the Reconciliation Statement launches on JCU’s campuses and study centres.

Karen has also delivered executive support to the Uniting Church (Shalom College) Board, Principal and management team, and worked as a project officer for Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council.

Joining Yumba-Meta Limited in 2020, Karen delivers executive support to the CEO and executive team. Her commitment to efficient, streamlined work systems and attention to detail makes her a valuable asset.

Karen is also a Justice of the Peace (Qualified), and has volunteered with Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Stockland Social Good Initiative.

Born in Sri Lanka, Dushy migrated to Australia over 30 years ago, living in Sydney and Darwin before landing in Townsville as her chosen home. A Registered Justice of the Peace, Dushy first qualified as a Management Accountant from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (London), before completing a Graduate Certificate in Housing Management and Policy from Swinburne University Melbourne in 2009.

Dushy further expanded her professional credentials when she became a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2015.

Her suite of achievements was recognised when she was awarded the 2019 Telstra Business Women’s Awards – Queensland for Purpose
and Social Enterprise, culminating in Dushy winning the equivalent National 2019 Telstra Australian Business Women’s Awards. By the time Dushy joined Yumba-Meta Limited in 1995, she’d held a diverse range of senior Corporate Accounting roles in both Sri Lanka and Australia.

She has worked in the housing and homelessness sector for over 24 years, and has seen her actively contributing to the Townsville Public intoxication task force, along with the Queensland Standards and Accreditation Council for five years.

With such extensive sector experience, Dushy has joined a number of advisory councils, along with being regularly called upon to inform policy formulation and program implementation relating to housing, homelessness, domestic and family violence, youth engagement, systems reforms for women incarcerated, and the Specialist Disability Housing Sector.

She is an active member of the North Queensland Hindu Community, tutors Indigenous boys at the Cowboys House, takes part in group blood donations and clean up Australia days, and in the past has volunteered at the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre and with Meals on Wheels.

Born in England, Karen held various Senior Nursing positions in the UK, before gaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science, majoring in Criminology and Anthropology, from James Cook University.

Karen joined Yumba-Meta Limited in 2008, starting her journey as a case manager for the Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Diversion Program and moving on as Manager of Reverend Charles Harris Diversionary Centre. After managing several Yumba-Meta programs, Karen is now serving as the Yumba-Meta Limited Operations and Service Delivery Manager.

With extensive experience working within the Homeless and Domestic and Family Violence sector, Karen continues to manage numerous programs as a proactive member of the Yumba-Meta team, assisting some of Townsville most marginalised community members to make positive, lasting changes.

Anil brings the flair of the seasoned globe-trotter to Yumba-Meta Limited, being born in India, and then working in both the Middle East and Ireland, before finally settling in Australia.

While Anil holds a diploma in hospitality management, he found himself in the disability services, clocking-up considerable experience in the sector before joining Yumba-Meta in 2012. Starting-off as a support worker, Anil’s skills were soon noticed by his managers, quickly propelling him up the ranks to the point of being offered the role of Case Manager in 2014, before taking on the role as Dale Parker Place Manager in 2016.

A proud member of the Yumba-Meta Limited senior management team, Anil has said, “I’ve seen people who come to us from living in the park without having any other motivations, to address their issues, develop living skills, and go on to have a sense of self-worth and a purpose for future.”

“Seeing good things happening for a person who never had those opportunities is very rewarding. I’m proud to play a part in that.”

Brenda is a strong Aboriginal woman, being a proud Mitakoodi descendent from Cloncurry on her mother’s side, while on her father’s side, she hails from the Gangalidda people of the Far North Gulf Country.

With a diploma in community services, Brenda has clocked-up over 25 years of experience in the public service at both Federal and State levels, and up to 5 years of experience in the non-government sector.

She commenced employment with Yumba-Meta Limited as the Housing Manager in October 2015 before advancing in November 2018 to manage the Flora House Women Shelter.

During her time at Yumba-Meta Limited Brenda has been instrumental in achieving great outcomes for Yumba-Meta Limited and her clients.

Born in China, Changyi Liu moved from Singapore to Townsville in 2005 in pursuit of an education at James Cook University (JCU). During his time at JCU, he completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, majoring in Human Resource Management, and if that weren’t enough, went on to gain a Master’s Degree in Professional Accounting.

As a qualified Chartered Accountant with 10 years’ experience in accounting, taxation, auditing and finance, Changyi is also a member of the Australian Institute of Chartered Accountants, boasting extensive experience with one of north’s largest accounting firms.

Changyi joined the executive team as Yumba-Meta Limited’s Finance Manager in 2015, and during that time, reveals that his personal perspective of his work in finance has taken on a whole new meaning.

“Working at Yumba-Meta, you see things you don’t see in everyday life. Yumba-Meta provides support to vulnerable people in the community with everything from general support to long-term housing. You cannot put a price on that.”

Roslyn’s mother was a proud Gunggandji woman from Yarrabah in Far North Queensland, though she herself hails from the small North West Queensland town of Richmond.

On this background, Roslyn was well equipped to head to Townsville in 2006 to take-up work as a Coordinator for Indigenous Youth from Rural & Remote areas of Queensland.

Roslyn went on to join Yumba-Meta Limited in 2012 as an on-call Casual Care Worker at the Reverend Charles Harris Diversionary, before moving into a permanent Care Worker role.

Soon after, she became a Case Manager for the Breaking the Cycle Program and also the Dale Parker Place Supported Accommodation Program. It wasn’t long before Roslyn was offered the position of Coordinator of the Reverend Charles Harris Diversionary Centre in 2018, which sees her working with a diverse client group.

She feels that if she has helped one person achieve their dream through her work at Yumba-Meta, then it makes her job worthwhile.