Rachel Simpson Email & Phone Number

Belrose, Nsw, Au

Responsible for:I drive strategic initiatives to enhance student and volunteer engagement across the organisation. My role focuses on creating impactful experiences for these groups while aligning with our mission to support individuals with cerebral palsy and their communities.Key Achievements include: Enhanced Engagement and Investment: Increased investment and engagement for student and volunteer programs, raising retention and satisfaction levels. Successfully implemented a HRIS for students and volunteers, fostering engagement and deeper alignment to the mission and vision of CPA Supervisor Support: Established resources that empower supervisors to better manage student placements and volunteer roles.Strategic Business Partnering: Collaborated with internal teams to ensure alignment between student/volunteer contributions and service delivery goals.Educational Partnerships: Built strong partnerships with educational institutions, ensuring valuable placements that support career progression and meet workforce needs.Key Initiative: Lived Experience Engagement Framework (LEEF)Most recently, I collaborated to develop the Lived Experience Engagement Framework (LEEF), which establishes a framework to embed the voices of lived experience people within CPA to actively contribute to our organisation. LEEF ensures that the perspectives of those with cerebral palsy are woven into the fabric of our activities and partnerships, making these voices a fundamental part of our organisational approach.OutcomesThese efforts have positioned students, volunteers, and individuals with lived experience as core contributors, enriching our organisation with diverse insights and supporting workforce and strategic needs. Through these initiatives, I strive to create an inclusive, purpose-driven environment that delivers value across our organisation.

Manly, New South Wales, Australia

Transformation opportunity to redesign and implement new model of volunteer management including systems, processes, recruitment, training and ongoing support. Responsible for:Overall management of 130 volunteers including recruitment, onboarding, training and supervision.Internal stakeholder engagement to ensure maximum volunteer retention, performance and manage expectations within a health care setting and for crisis support in the home. Key achievements include:End to end project management of new Volunteer Management Software system to support recruitment, rostering and engagement of volunteers.As current convener of the SCHN’s Volunteer Managers Network designed and implemented compliance processes to ensure consistency and governance safeguards across the Hospital network. Developed a flexible model of service delivery during COVID-19 lockdowns, offering virtual social, emotional and practical support to children and families in their home and the continued engagement of volunteers. Increased the diversity and capability of the volunteer pool to better support patient and family experience. Extended education and mentoring opportunities to online platforms to maximise learning.End to end project management of the only paediatric biography project in NSW, “The Story Project”. Project managed from consultation and development phase to the ongoing recruitment, training and support of volunteer biographers.

The Management Committee of Palliative Care New South Wales (PCNSW) contributes to the governance and strategic planning of PCNSW and its work, to ensure that all people with a life limiting illness and their families are supported to live, die and grieve well. Responsble for: Strategic direction and goverance of PCNSW to support Health and Not for Profit sectors to deliver quality palliative care.Key achievements: Contibuted to development of 3 year Strategic Plan based on overall long and short term goals and priorities to meet the needs of its constituency.Provided a diversity perspective at a strategic level to include the volunteer and CALD experience.

Sydney, Australia

Project to develop an evaluation framework to measure the impact of grassroots advocacy work on the Global Fund Replenishment Campaign and to propose recommendations for future improvements in advocacy work.Key achievements:Designed and implemented the evaluation framework within a short time frame, delivering recommendations for future advocacy interventions including a review of the Code of Conduct and proposal for future development.

Sydney, Australia

Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) is Australia's largest non-profit autism specific service provider for people on the autism spectrum. Our specialised, evidence informed schools program is the largest in the world, with additional services that include information and advice, diagnostic assessments, behaviour support, parent and family support, and adult programs. As Manager of Choose and Connect NSW, my role was responsible for service development and delivery across the whole of NSW, within centre and community based settings. I led a team of circa 80 staff (Service Leaders, Team Coordinators and Front Line staff) required to develop and diversify offerings through collaborative working within Aspect to expand service delivery for 130 clients, through building relationships with Government and other organisations to promote the interests of people with autism and their families, as well as driving a person-centred and family-focused approach so services address the needs of those using the services and promote community inclusion. I have led several projects including:~ A restructure of the leadership team to ensure capacity to successfully deliver a significant service change, that resulted in a 10% increase in new business.~ Rebuilding relationships across a key division to ensure collaboration and referrals that resulted in new business and new project opportunities to grow the business in other geographic areas.~ Successfully managed to reduce reliance on Agency staffing to $0 within 6 months. ~ Implemented a cultural change in working practice that resulted is an internal recognition of staff professional development, increased retention of staff and a more engaged workforce.~ Partnership development with corporate organisations to create new business opportunities within the wider community. Previous roles in Aspect:January 2014 - February 2015, Individualisation CoordinatorJuly 2012 – December 2013, Coordinator

Glasgow, United Kingdom

The Scottish Refugee Council (SRC) is a registered charity that provides advice and services to asylum seekers and refugees. My role was responsible for working in partnership with emerging refugee led organisations, assisting them to develop their organisational capacity, financially and operationally. I have facilitated and developed community based integration networks, driving forward anti racist and social initiatives, one project I successfully delivered trained volunteers to challenge racist attitudes in their local community to approx. 20 local primary schools, it has since has been rolled out Glasgow wide and has been recognised as reducing racism and improving integration in local communities.I led a number of successful projects that initiated sector-wide change in practice, such as planning and delivering a major consultation initiative on community integration within a multi lingual setting that is now recognised as an example of best practice in the UK.I supported the establishment of the Scottish Refugee Policy Forum, the first representative refugee led policy organisation, through organisational development, training and support to committee members. The organisation is now seen as the leading representative refugee organisation in Scotland and regularly makes policy and practice recommendations, engages with UK Border Agency and the Scottish Government and is consulted by agencies wanting to ensure their services meet refugee needs.In November 2011 I emigrated to Australia.

Glasgow, United Kingdom

An independent partner organisation of Scottish Refugee Council (SRC) with its own governing body. In my role I successfully recruited, managed and supported a team of 25 volunteers to provide emotional and practical support to approximately 100 Immigration detainees, to systematically raise concerns and advocate for change in Immigration detention practice.

Glasgow, United Kingdom

Compaq was founded in 1982, it developed, sold, and supported computers and related products and services. As Account Manager I worked as part of a sales team, managed and developed relationships with customers within the Education sector.

Post Graduate Degree, Community Development

Bachelor’S Degree, Geography