The Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria is responsible for setting the standards for registration of disability workers and accreditation of approved programs of study.
The Board was appointed in August 2023 by the Governor-in-Council on the recommendation of the Minister.
The Board comprises the following members:
Melanie Eagle - Chairperson
Melanie’s professional life spans population health, social policy, women’s policy, equal opportunity, future city strategic planning, and work as a solicitor.
Melanie has extensive Board experience and recently retired as CEO of LiverWELL. She was inaugural Chair of Respect Victoria and served on the Board of Hepatitis Australia for a decade. She has served on the Board of Alfred Health for over seven years and was recently appointed to the Boards of St Vincent’s Institute for Medical Research as well as the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust. Melanie’s other roles have included: being a member of the Victorian Disability Advisory Council, the Steering Committee of the Chronic Illness Alliance, the Board of the Epilepsy Foundation, and earlier as Mayor of St Kilda Council.
Melanie has qualifications in law, arts and social work, and international development and is a graduate of the Institute of Company Directors. She lives with epilepsy.
Christian Astourian
Christian is a program manager for the Diversity and Disability program at the Migrant Resource Centre North West and he fluently speaks 4 languages. He has served to progress the recognition of the rights of persons with disability at the local, state, national and international levels.
Christian participated at a UN Disability Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, representing the disability movement. In 2006, he was a candidate in the Victorian State Election raising awareness on disability rights. He was President of the Cerebral Palsy Support Network for 5 years, Board Member of Scope Australia for 9 years, member of the Disability Advisory Committee for the City of Melbourne for 5 years, Vice Chairperson of Arts Access Victoria for 5 years, member of the Disability Reference Group for the Victorian Human Rights Commission for 6 years, board member and Chairperson of the Disability Committee for the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia for 4 years and on the board of the Victorian government Disability Service Commission for 15 years. Christian was also on the Merri-Bek Council Disability Advisory Committee for 3 years and chairperson of the Customer Insight Committee and member of the Disability Royal Commission advisory committee within Scope Australia for 3 years.
He is currently on the Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria and the Victorian government Community Advisory Council focusing specifically on the NDIS.
Martin Checketts
Martin is a company director, investor, founder, and adviser.
Formerly a senior partner with national law firm Mills Oakley, Martin has a portfolio of business interests and non-executive board roles in sectors including professional services, financial services, technology, disability services, and specialist accommodation.
Martin is the primary carer for his adult son Noah, who has autism and an intellectual disability. He is passionate about the professionalisation, reform, and commercialisation of disability services.
Maryanne Diamond AO
Maryanne has lived with disability all her life. She is currently a board member of the NDIA and serving on other disability related boards.
She has been employed in the information technology industry, the disability sector, and in government. She has extensive experience leading organisations in Australia, including being Executive Officer of Blind Citizens Australia, and inaugural CEO of the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO). At the international level, Ms Diamond was President of the World Blind Union from 2008-2012, and Chair of The International Disability Alliance from 2014-2016.
In 2014, Ms Diamond was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her distinguished service to people who are blind or have low vision, and her international leadership roles and advocacy for best practice employment opportunities.
Elizabeth March
Liz focused her career on building, developing, managing and leading health and community service organisations that make a difference for people living with disability or disadvantage.
Liz held the position of CEO for Access Australia Group Ltd and previously, Castlemaine & District Community Health; with executive positions held in Out of Home Care, Family Support and Homelessness services.
Committed to compliance and exceptional customer services, Liz has a dedicated interest in standards of care; she is a Board Director with Bendigo and Central Victorian United Friendly Societies, a member of the Clinical Governance Committee and Chair of People and Culture Committee.
Liz held an advisory position on the Doxa School Board for 8 years, was a community representative on the Loddon Mallee Permanent Care and Adoption Panel and served a term on the City of Greater Bendigo Disability Inclusion Advisory Committee. Liz has high-level understanding of corporate governance and holds a Bachelors' degree with demonstrated excellence in leading organisations, steering culture and shaping change for better outcomes.
Professor Keith McVilly
Keith is Professor of Disability & Inclusion at the University of Melbourne. He is a Clinical Psychologist who for the past 30+ years has worked with people experiencing multiple and complex disabling circumstances, including people with disability involved in the criminal justice system.
Much of Keith’s research takes place in applied settings in close partnership with people with disabilities, their families and support services. He has a particular interest in supporting the education and professional development of the allied health and direct support workforce supporting people with disabilities.
Keith’s teaching activities include the areas of community inclusion, inclusive policy development, professional ethics, and behaviour support.
Kelly Schulz
Kelly is the Managing Director of Knowable.Me, driving value creation and providing data and insights into the needs and preferences of people with disabilities.
Throughout her career, Kelly has held senior corporate roles in Accessibility & Inclusion, Customer Experience, and Brand & Communications. Her blend of strategic thinking and human-centred design methodologies mirrors the synergy of an orchestra conductor, aligning disparate groups to influence positive momentum and drive growth.
Kelly holds board roles in disability service provision and is a member of the Technology, Innovation & Value Creation Committee of Swinburne University. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Kelly identifies as “blind, with just enough vision to be dangerous” and is ably assisted by her guide dog, Velvet.
Geoff Southwell
Geoff is CEO of Victorian disability advocacy agency Leadership Plus. He has many years of executive experience in information technology, operations and finance consulting and governance with small business, government and international enterprises, as well as board experience in not for profit organisations.
He has been treasurer and chair of Express Media, and treasurer of Leadership Plus and the Mental Health Legal Centre, and is on the board and treasurer of the Disability Advocacy Network Australia.
Geoff has a BSc and MBA and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Jessica Sullivan
Jessica is a sole trader in the disability sector, working primarily as a lived-experience coach supporting neurodivergent children.
A former Royal Australian Navy Officer and Emergency Services Operations Manager, Jessica has extensive experience in strategy, leadership and community engagement. She has held roles on domestic and international working groups, community based not-for-profits and Government advisory committees. Her professional background includes lived-experience advocacy in the mental health sector and governance positions within the National Disability Insurance Agency. Jessica has qualifications in Business, Emergency Management, Governance and Disability, and is a graduate of the Institute of Community Directors Australia.
Patrick Wilsmore
Patrick is the Chief Strategy & Growth Officer at Able Australia and has had numerous C-Suite executive roles in the not for profit, corporate and commercial sectors. He has extensive experience on corporate, community and not for profit boards along with being a director of privately owned companies. The Consummate Professional with a strong values-focused leadership style.
Patrick has strong dedication to advocate for sector transformation and social policy reform whilst ensuring that our social impact is measured by an outcome-based framework and empowering all people.
He aims to ensure the customer voice is heard whilst ensuring we preserve and safeguard the human rights of First Nations people and people with a disability.