OUR TEAM
MEET THE TEAM MEMBERS OF ESPERANCE CARE SERVICES
We have a dynamic team of community members who work with all those that come through the door. They are passionate about the work and support that ECS provides the community and without their passion and hard work, the organisation wouldn’t be what it is today.
CHRIS MEYER
CEO
Chris has lived in the Esperance region for 53 years, 33 of those as a farmer in the Condingup region. In 1996, he was one of the group who established Esperance Care Services. He has a long history of community involvement. He has owned and managed several successful businesses before coming back to Esperance Care Services and taking on a management role in 2006. Chris is a pastor with Australian Christian Churches and pastors the local church. He has worked on short term mission trips to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia traveling to rural areas in these countries, and this has greatly broadened his experience in working with the poor and disadvantaged.
The passion for and dedication to the community Chris has was honoured on Australia Day 2014 when he was awarded Citizen of the Year for the Esperance Region.
Chris is a strong communicator, particularly to those who, for whatever reason, are struggling to cope with day to day life. His heart is for the poor, not only physical but also spiritual – and to show them the way to hope for the future, especially in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
SUE MEYER
SERVICES MANAGER
After being involved with Esperance Care Services in various roles since its inception in 1996, Sue came back in a more formal capacity in 2011. At this time, she was involved with preparing documentation necessary for incorporation and the organisation becoming incorporated in our own right. From here, Sue focused her attention on preparing a grant submission to Lotterywest to enable us to purchase our own building. This happened in 2015.
Sue has a background in nursing, mental health, advocacy, training and community connection / building. She holds a Statement of Attainment – Recognise and Respond Appropriately to Domestic & Family Violence (CHCHFC301A), Diploma in Community Services / Mental Health, Diploma in Christian Counselling and has completed her Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid.
Sue is passionate about advocacy and mental health and has completed her Trauma Puzzle Facilitation Training in 2019 and along with Meredith Waters, co-wrote the successful ReJener8 training program which still attracts a waiting list. Sue is a board member for the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) and is currently on the District Health Advocacy Council for Esperance District Hospital. Sue travelled to Africa in 2017 for outreach for two weeks with her husband Chris.
In 2019, Sue was nominated as the Shire of Esperance Citizen of the Year.
VERONICA LAVARS
EMERGENCY RELIEF OFFICER
Veronica (or Click as everyone knows her) has lived in Esperance with her husband for over 40 years. They have four daughters and six grandchildren.
Click has been very active in the local community, serving on both the BOICO Board of Management and the Esperance Senior High School Parents & Friends for more than 10 years. She has also spent many years in various roles supporting a number of local sporting groups.
Click worked for over 30 years for the Department of Child Protection or Children’s Services. This has provided her (and ECS) with invaluable experience and skills, gathered while working with children and families enduring situations of hardship, and much stress and anxiety.
She has an immense capacity to listen, to care, to support and to assist individuals and families seeking help. ECS is very blessed to have her working in our team.
JOZIE GOODFIELD
VOLUNTEER MANAGER / EMERGENCY RELIEF OFFICER
Jozie volunteered for a few months at ECS when she first moved to Esperance 6 years ago. She became part of the ECS team again in 2021. She plays an integral role in organising all volunteer positions at ECS and caring for the 50 valuable volunteers that come to help.
Jozie also assists people who come into ECS for emergency relief. She’s known by all as a warm, friendly face who’ll always make time to lend a listening ear.
With the expansion of Esperance Care Services, Jozie feels extremely blessed to be on staff and able to be part of an organisation that has such a positive impact in the Esperance Community and further afield.
Jozie is a mother of 2 grownup boys and enjoys being Nanna to 2 beautiful grandchildren.
ANDREA KENNEALLY
ADVOCACY / SUPPORT WORKER
Andrea and her husband Mark have three married children and six grandchildren. She is a qualified physiotherapist who has worked in Adelaide and Perth before they came to live in Esperance in the last couple of years.
Her work experience covers a range of settings including private practice, residential aged care, hospital, and community health. She has worked in a range of multidisciplinary teams in programs around hospital discharge, vocational rehabilitation, mental health recovery and support, street doctor, drug and alcohol counselling and rehabilitation, and NDIS plan facilitation.
At ECS she supports the Emergency Relief officer in providing emergency Relief assistance as well as providing advocacy and support to individuals and families in need. Andrea believes ECS is an outstandingly unique organisation, providing much needed inclusive, enduring and caring support to individuals and families doing it tough in the Esperance community.
JENNY POTAE
BOOKKEEPER
Jenny arrived in Esperance after driving from Central Coast of NSW in 1989 where she met her husband and together raised their children. Having worked in various industries, Jenny discovered that the Esperance community rallies together in time of need to support and love each other.
In September of 2014 Jenny was fortunate enough to secure the position of bookkeeper at ECS and has watched the organisation grow and expand.
Jenny says her job has been both rewarding and challenging – “no day is ever the same as the previous. The Esperance Care Services family have embraced me and my family and I am grateful for the opportunity to help serve the community through my role.” Jenny loves gardening, camping and adventure holidays. On the top of the list is spending time with her family and especially her grandchildren.
Jenny is known for her catch cry – “do you have a purchase order for that?”