NEW leadership appointments have made at Mallee District Aboriginal Services and a temporary executive has been brought in to oversee a management restructure in the sudden absence of chief executive Jacki Turfrey.
Bendigo District Aboriginal Corporation executive Dallas Widdicombe has accepted a three-month appointment as interim deputy chief executive at MDAS and will “effectively oversee the establishment of the new executive team”, according to a statement released on behalf of interim chair Vicki Clark.
Ms Turfrey went on unplanned and indefinite personal leave early this month, at a time when the peak body for Aboriginal community services in the Mallee was beginning a management restructure. At the time, MDAS was advertising to fill 10 senior positions, including four directorships.
In the MDAS statement, Ms Clark announced three appointments to the executive team as that restructure continued.
“Our recruitment drive is … focused on putting together a strong and passionate senior executive team, but we were pleased the process identified successful candidates already within our organisation,” she said.
“Darlene Thomas is our new director of people, culture and inclusion and is a perfect fit for the role, with recent experience as the deputy CEO and skills in strategy, recruitment, people management and cultural safety. Her ongoing and strong connection to MDAS and community will be important to us going forward.
“In addition, Mason Peter, the manager of family violence, has been appointed as the acting director of family and community services.”
Senior manager Dr David Lowe has accepted a role with the MDAS transition leadership group, as the interim executive director of corporate services.
Ms Clark said Mr Widdicombe’s appointment would help “see us through this important time”.
“He is a people person, an incredible communicator and a community-focused Aboriginal leader,” she said.
“That will be so important for us going forward, because we are committed to bringing our communities, staff and stakeholders with us on this journey.
“We are looking to strengthen our networks and partnerships with our stakeholders, staff and mobs, and Dallas is someone who has focused on building strong relationships throughout his career.”
As a Mallee service, MDAS covers the Swan Hill and Kerang regions and Ms Clark said Mr Widdicombe would work from both the Mildura and Swan Hill offices.
Dr Lowe would also spend part of his week working from Mildura, and part from Swan Hill, to “lead the corporate services team as well as focusing on the service and infrastructure requirements of Swan Hill”.
Ms Clark said an interim executive team would allow an efficient transition to the permanent executive team as appointments continued.
“It means our MDAS service teams can be confident in refocusing on community needs while the national recruitment process continues to find the best team to lead us forward.”
