OUR TEAM
Chief Executive Officer
Brett Thompson
Brett has a Bachelor of Education and has worked at executive levels since 1998. His work across private, government and not-for-profit sectors has provided him with an extensive range of experiences to bring to QHVSG. After a successful twenty-year career in secondary education, Brett made the shift to the not-for-profit sector. This change was inspired after undertaking nine years of voluntary work as an ambulance officer in a small community, where Brett found a great sense of personal satisfaction in being able to help people in crisis. During his time in that voluntary role, Brett saw the impact of homicide on individuals, families, and an entire community. Brett has worked on government legislative review committees, ministerial forums, the Queensland Parole Board and has successfully advocated for systemic and legislative changes on local, state and national levels. Brett was appointed as CEO of QHVSG in May 2017, where he is proud to be able to serve.
- Brett loves sport of all kinds and travelling.
- Brett's family are obsessed with their beloved Beagle, Dewi (who is also beloved by our office team).
Peer & Community Volunteer Manager
Sandra Cookland
Sandra joined the QHVSG team to fulfil the Peer and Community Volunteer Manager role, looking after all of our members and volunteers by ensuring they are connected and cared for. Sandra strongly believes in the ethos of peer support and its ability to provide a safe place for guidance from those who have been through the same experience. Sandra has an extensive career spanning health care, social care, training and education; she provides a holistic practice framework based on her values of integrity, inclusivity and compassion.
- In her spare time, she enjoys meeting up with friends, playing golf and knitting (She’s creates beautifully knitted plushies).
- She loves animals and volunteers with Labrador Rescue as a foster carer (She even adopted one dog, Enzo, as a permanent companion).
Family Support Coordinator
Sarah Bryant
Sarah has been working at QHVSG as a Family Support Coordinator since April 2022 and prior to this position, she worked in roles focusing on disability support and domestic violence support. Before joining our full-time team, Sarah used to volunteer for the organisation since January 2018. Over the years at QHVSG, Sarah admits to always admiring the work by everyone on the team, and she truly believes in the incredible value of supporting our members. Sarah is an incredibly dedicated individual, and she always devotes her caring nature to the members she supports.
- Her favourite past-times include attending theatre productions and musicals, visiting escape rooms and playing board games.
- Outside of work, she loves to soak up spending quality time with close friends.
Family Support Coordinator
Doy Clark
Doy has been a part of the QHVSG team for many years now, he is one of our Family Support Coordinators that provides around the clock care to our members. Doy previously worked with the Carer Gateway program, giving back to this community space by providing support to carers. Doy enjoys hearing the stories of people’s positive experiences about how community programs and not-for-profit companies can improve the lives of the people they support. Doy is compassionate and caring in every encounter and always goes above and beyond for the members he supports.
- Fun fact: Before studying Psychology, he wanted to join the RAAF (Now he enjoys flying radio control planes on weekends).
- He enjoys hanging out with family and friends in his spare time.
Family Support Coordinator
Ali Gray
Ali joined the QHVSG team in July 2023 as a Family Support Coordinator and in her role, she provides emotional and practical support to members. In her previous roles, Ali gained incredible experience in various agencies, including in child safety, corrections, and restorative justice. Ali brings wisdom and a warm presence to the organisation, especially when it comes to connecting with those she supports. Ali’s experience working in corrections has given her a unique perspective of the criminal justice system which she is able to offer to our members, as well as our team.
- Her biggest love is for her family; she loves spending weekends with her husband checking out new cafes.
- She adores her two fur babies (Pepper and Snow) and has four pet ducks that keep her on her toes.
Family Support Coordinator
Kimberly Jackson
Kimberly joined the team at QHVSG in March 2024 and is based in Cairns where she works as one of our Family Support Coordinators. Kimberly is a kind and generous person who is passionate about working within a therapeutic space to provide meaningful support to members, helping them navigate their own unique journeys. Kimberly’s career has been shaped by a strong foundation in the criminal justice system where she has worked extensively with both adults and youth. Her experience extends to working as a Specialist Behavioural Practitioner, as well as working in a support role with survivors of sexual assault, where she offered advocacy and care.
- She is the Commanding Officer of a Navy Cadet unit in Cairns where she leads and empowers young people.
- In her spare time, she loves travelling and exploring new cities where she can embrace diverse experiences.
Family Support Coordinator
CAROL NORTH
Carol started with the QHVSG team in April 2024; she joined us all the way from the UK and is now our resident Family Support Coordinator in Townsville. Carol is a kind, encouraging and generous person and brings to the team her exceptional experience working in similar spaces within homicide victims’ support, where she worked in a management role. Carol is incredibly appreciative to be providing specialised support to families and individuals through a holistic approach.
- Since moving to Townsville, Carol has most enjoyed spending time with her husband on their regular beach walks.
- She is an animal lover and has two beautiful labradors.
Court Support Coordinator
Sandra Scobie
Sandra has been at QHVSG since October 2022 and is our team’s Court Support Coordinator. Sandra has worked within the criminal justice system for over 20 years in various roles; however, for almost half of that time she has been supporting primary victims of violent crime through the court process. Sandra is likely the bubbliest person you will ever meet, she always has a smile on her face and she will be sure to make you feel cared for. Sandra’s kind and calming personality is always a comforting presence in court as she’s supporting our members during such challenging times in their lives.
- In her downtime, she enjoys watching movies, catching up with friends and family, as well as going to the theatre and seeing live music.
- She is one of our team’s animal lovers and has two very cheeky cats called Suzi and Floyd.
Business Support Officer
Tiarna Millar
Following almost a year of supporting QHVSG as a community volunteer, Tiarna joined the team in October 2024 to fill the role of the Business Support Officer, where she liaises with the team as the administrative officer, while also assisting with event planning and coordinating business projects. Tiarna’s background consists of graduating University with a degree in architecture, as well as consisting of 5 years of experience in the construction industry where she gained skills in design, business development and client management.
- In her spare time, you can find Tiarna catching up with loved ones at family lunches or scoping out local cafés with her husband.
- She enjoys travelling, beach trips, gym and reading.
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