Training the community
Deb McLachlan
I’M the chair of the board at the moment. I’ve been a board member previously for two years prior to that and my interest is in learning about governance and the role of the board directors, and looking for local people who are keen to be involved.
My background is community development. I was a community development officer with Gladstone Shire Council and then I moved to Toowoomba in 2000 and was working with USQ as a regional liaison officer, then I was managing student equity at UQ and then I was a program manager for Centacare and now I’m a community development officer with Alzheimer’s Australia.
I just love working with the community and looking at what are the local needs and working with people who are passionate about bringing change into the community.
What do I like about Toowoomba? At the moment I love the weather. I love the parks, I love the people, and it has all the facilities of a major city.
Amy Seekamp
MY background is actually in hospitality as a chef, so a few years ago I went to university and did a Bachelor of Science and had a few jobs in different sorts of areas and always came back to hospitality, which then led me to training apprentice chefs.
Since I’ve been at CEDAR Centre I’ve delved into training for front of house and basic skill sets for people entering the workforce for hospitality.
We deal with a lot of people here who have barriers to learning. It’s not only just the training it’s the supports to get through the training as well.
Do I miss working as a chef? No, not at all. I’ve got a couple of other businesses on the side but if I can stay away from the kitchen I’m quite happy.
What do I like about Toowoomba? I guess the hospitality industry in Toowoomba has grown in the past three and a half years and become more modern and funky and on trend now, which is really fun from a training perspective.
Anna Nicholls
I’M the CEO at the CEDAR Centre and I’ve always been involved with education and working with the community type roles.
I believe strongly in giving everyone an opportunity and that personal growth does happen through education, and that everyone deserves a chance.
So for over 20 years I’ve been working either in training or not-for-profit organisations and what I like about CEDAR Centre is that it combines both.
In a nutshell, the CEDAR Centre provides training for all members of our community and probably specialises in those who have got barriers or never thought they could do it.
It is very fulfilling work and when you see the confidence in students lift to that next level and the smile on their faces, it’s wonderful.
I grew up (in Toowoomba), I left for about 20 years and came back about five years ago.
I do like how Toowoomba is developing at the moment and there is a sense of community here, that people do work in together, and I think that’s becoming stronger now.
Annika Britcher
I ONLY moved here in March last year, from Dalby, for me to have more opportunities.
I’m studying a cert III in community services and I really want to get into helping youth with mental health issues, because I have personal experience with that and I just want to give them the opportunity to know there’s more to life than the dark places.
I’ve been studying since June last year.
BEST employment put me in contact with the CEDAR Centre. It’s been really good working here. Everyone’s really lovely and accepting.
And there’s been a lot of opportunities for volunteering in the community, because they’ve got such a good network with the community and different organisations, you can really get your foot in the door anywhere because they know everyone.