Community Advisory Group

Deb has worked with individuals, teams, and organisations for more than twenty years to help them see more possibilities and build on their strengths to create new ways that solve old problems.

Deb founded Deb Rae Solutions in 2012 to follow her passion for supporting staff to understand themselves and others in a whole new way and achieve more than they thought was possible. She loves learning and endlessly reads, listens to podcasts, and practices very poor Spanish.

Karin has observed and advocated for better services for rural and remote communities to receive equitable access to health and other services for over 30 years. As a policy lead representing women from rural and remote Qld, Karin is committed to continue to engage with those from diverse backgrounds with varied lived experiences as consumers of health services and evaluate how delivery can be improved.

Through various Community Service groups, Not for Profits, Karin continues to engage with different levels of Govt to bring focus on the delivery of health service for those disadvantaged by social isolation, poor housing security and general accessibility barriers.

Now living on Atherton Tablelands, this work has highlighted the real challenges of access for those living with various co morbidities, mental health challenges, disability and from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

Karin looks forward to working NQPHN to inform, support and encourage service providers to consider outpost areas where safety and trust can be built upon. Karin hopes by having a better understanding of health needs it will lead to appropriate and timely responses in times of crisis and before situations lead to hospital admission.

John moved to the Burdekin Shire in 1986, where he purchased a pizza shop with his wife, Lisa. He completed his nursing training at Townsville Hospital as part of the final cohort to undertake the hospital-based nursing program.

After graduating, John worked at Ayr District Hospital before joining the Queensland Ambulance Service as a paramedic, a role he held for the next 20 years. During this time, he also served in the Army Reserve as a Registered Nurse, achieving the rank of Captain. Committed to lifelong learning, John completed a Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) through Southern Cross University and later a Master of Health Science, majoring in Health Promotion, through Queensland University of Technology.

In 2013, John experienced a life-changing stroke while exercising at the gym. This marked the beginning of a three-year journey of recovery and rehabilitation, ultimately leading to his medical retirement as a paramedic. The experience gave him a unique perspective on the healthcare system from the patient’s side. Over the years, he has also navigated several other health challenges, including an appendectomy, kidney stones and a left total knee reconstruction.

In 2016, John returned to nursing in a part-time and casual capacity. Four years later, he successfully stood for election to the Burdekin Shire Council. He is now serving his second four-year term as a councillor while continuing his nursing work, primarily undertaking patient transfers between Ayr Hospital and Townsville University Hospital. John considers himself fortunate to combine caring for patients with serving and supporting his local community.

John’s greatest achievement is his family. He and Lisa have three adult children living in the Burdekin, along with their partners, and are proud grandparents to six grandchildren.

His areas of interest include health, youth, ageing populations, business, sport, arts and culture. John is honoured to serve on the NQPHN Community Advisory Group and looks forward to contributing his professional experience, community knowledge and passion for improving health outcomes across the region.

Outside of his professional and community commitments, John values family connections and remains actively engaged in the Burdekin community he has called home for four decades.

He is the youngest of six boys and is proud of his Torres Strait Islander heritage. His father, Clowry Jack Kennell, was from Ugar (Stephen Island), while his mother, Mary Kennell (née Pitt), was an Erubam-le, or person from Erub (Darnley Island). Both islands are located in the eastern Torres Strait and are part of the Meriam Mir language nation.

John has dedicated more than 33 years to Queensland Health. His career began in April 1993 in Roma, South West Queensland, where he worked as a part-time Community and Hospital Liaison Officer. He shared the role with Gunggari Elder Aunty Lynette Nixon from Mitchell, delivering culturally safe and gender-appropriate services guided by Primary Health Care principles. Together, they focused on strengthening community engagement and improving access to healthcare services. John considers Aunty Lynette his first cultural mentor in health and remains grateful for her enduring friendship and guidance.

After completing a Diploma of Primary Health Care in Toowoomba, John returned to Mackay in 1997 and commenced work as a Hospital Liaison Officer. In 2000, he was appointed Senior Health Worker with Mackay Hospital and Health Service, a role he continues to hold today.

John has been a passionate advocate for cultural capability within the health sector. Working alongside Uncle Ron Archer, the State-wide Coordinator of the Cultural Awareness Program (CAP), he trained and co-facilitated cultural capability workshops throughout the Mackay region. By 2001, he had taken on additional responsibility for coordinating CAP facilitators and workshops. Over the next 17 years, John delivered CAP training and train-the-trainer programs across Queensland’s Northern Zone, including Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and Thursday Island, helping build culturally responsive healthcare practices across the region.

The diversity, strength and traditions of John’s Torres Strait Islander family and community continue to inspire him. He particularly values the spirit of “good passin’” and the strong customary practices that connect people across generations. A practising Christian, John attends St Ambrose Anglican Church, where he was baptised and confirmed and previously served as an altar boy.

Outside of work, John enjoys singing and playing guitar for personal enjoyment. He has also been an active lawn bowls competitor since 2008 and continues to work towards improving his performance and grading. Together with his life partner, Scherell, he enjoys completing crosswords and exploring Queensland and Australia through road trips, creating lasting memories along the way.

As retirement approaches, John looks forward to spending more time with loved ones, travelling and pursuing his many interests. One thing that will never change is his love of traditional Torres Strait Islander food. His favourite meal, or ki-ki, is fish and rice, particularly coconut curry mackerel (sabi-sabi dabor), pumpkin rice, sop-sop (vegetables cooked in coconut milk), and a slice or two of banana leaf damper, which he describes as mutta nice.

He worked in remote, isolated Indigenous communities as an officer in charge, incident commander, cross-cultural liaison officer, and held a plainclothes investigator position. He holds a certificate of commendation (operational) for ‘Dedication, professionalism, and compassion’ in carrying out duty in the field. His work in Indigenous and police relations was mentioned in State Parliament and judged worthy of inclusion in the National Australian film and sound archive. He is a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust fellow; his fellowship report influenced mental health service delivery for the State. He writes and has been published in books and magazines in Australia, America, and England. He is currently a project officer and performs disaster management reserve duties with the State Government Community Recovery.

Holding a Certificate IV in Aged Care, she has dedicated her career to supporting people from diverse backgrounds while helping individuals and families connect with the services they need.

As an Aboriginal woman with strong cultural knowledge and deep connections to Country, Tumubra is passionate about improving health equity, strengthening community voices, and ensuring lived experience informs decision-making.

Her work extends beyond direct care into community engagement, cultural education, environmental advocacy, and preserving Aboriginal language and knowledge for future generations.

Tumubra believes that strong communities are built through genuine collaboration, respect, and culturally informed approaches to health and wellbeing. She is committed to contributing practical insight, advocating for equitable access to healthcare across regional and remote Queensland, and helping shape services that reflect the needs and aspirations of the communities they serve.

With over 30 years’ experience in the disability and community sector, Natasha is deeply committed to ensuring people with disability, their families, and carers are heard, valued, and supported. Her work is grounded in strong relationships and a practical, person-centred approach to achieving meaningful outcomes.

Natasha is highly engaged in the Cairns community and broader sector, actively contributing to initiatives that strengthen participant voice and carer connection. She leads community-focused programs such as ARC’s Participant Voice Representative Group, regular carer events and forums, and an annual participant and carer conference. Natasha is also a member of the NQPHN Community Advisory Group and works closely with regional networks to support more inclusive, community-informed approaches to health and disability services.

She is widely recognised for her longstanding connection with families and carers, particularly older parent carers, and for her commitment to supporting people to navigate complex systems with dignity and respect.

Most of her work experience has been within the health industry and as a member of committees and working groups. This background means Jean brings a wealth of community knowledge and experience to the advisory group.

Jean was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease two years ago and is the Support Group Coordinator for her local support group run by Parkinson’s Queensland. Jean remains active and enjoys researching new therapies and learning everything she can about Parkinson’s Disease. This gives Jean a unique perspective personally, and when representing the community, where she is deeply invested in the future of her local community and regional areas.

As a qualified interpreter and translator, Sibbo has helped bridge communication gaps between communities and essential services, ensuring that language is never a barrier to justice, healthcare, education, or social participation. His passion for empowering others extends beyond his professional work through mentoring, public speaking, and community engagement.

As the Managing Director of Umoja Lifestyle Support, he leads initiatives that promote inclusion, independence, and equitable access to disability and community services. Drawing on his lived experience, a member of CALD community, and professional expertise, Sibbo is passionate about supporting refugees, migrants, and people with disabilities. He is a strong advocate for combining innovation with genuine human connection, believing that technology and compassion together can create more inclusive communities and lasting social impact.

She is married and has three adult children and ten grandchildren. Elizabeth is of Australian South Sea Islander and Scottish descent.

Her career began in administration, taxation and financial planning before transitioning to the community care sector. For the past 25 years, she has served as Manager of Yamadi Community Aged Care Service, which provides in-home support to eligible people wishing to remain independent in their own homes. While the service has a strong focus on supporting Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Australian South Sea Islander communities, care is provided to all people based on need.

Elizabeth is passionate about improving health outcomes across the community. She is particularly interested in ensuring families and individuals who may not qualify for concessions or Health Care Cards can still access affordable healthcare, including medications and medical appointments. Through her role, she works closely with clients and regularly monitors changes in their health and wellbeing.

She has also been a longstanding advocate for the Australian South Sea Islander community, supporting programs and initiatives that address the significant health challenges experienced by this population. Elizabeth has worked to raise awareness of the need for greater investment and support, recognising that Australian South Sea Islanders often experience health outcomes similar to those of First Nations peoples but have historically received limited funding for dedicated health programs.

Elizabeth is excited to be part of the Community Reference Group and hopes to make a meaningful contribution through her experience, knowledge and community connections.

Outside of work, she enjoys reading, cooking, gardening, spending time with family, and travelling and camping in her caravan. She also has a passion for collecting vintage China, linens, and other treasured antiques.