Ricky Esterquest Email & Phone Number

Townsville City, Qld, Au

Townsville, Australia

Statement of Purpose- Our MissionTo discover talented individuals with a disability and connect and mobilise the assets, skills, and passions of communities and businesses to develop active, valued, and meaningful roles in welcoming communities. Impact ModelEmployment and Training: Pathways (When an individual from a marginalised background receives specialised support from a social enterprise to transition into external employment or further study’._Impact as of October… Show more Statement of Purpose- Our MissionTo discover talented individuals with a disability and connect and mobilise the assets, skills, and passions of communities and businesses to develop active, valued, and meaningful roles in welcoming communities. Impact ModelEmployment and Training: Pathways (When an individual from a marginalised background receives specialised support from a social enterprise to transition into external employment or further study’._Impact as of October 2023Total headcount of beneficiaries assisted into employment with an external employer12Total headcount of beneficiaries (above) who remained in external employment after three months (or first periodic check-in). 10Total estimate of wages paid to of beneficiaries (above) by external employer to date:$150,000Total headcount of beneficiaries transitioned to further study6Were most beneficiaries placed into part-time/full-time/casual placements?All are part time or casual. Most people we work alongside aren’t seeking full time work straight away and will take some time to increase to that per their preferences. But work is stable, ongoing, long term focused.Total direct supports costs for beneficiaries, including super for support staff wagesTotal: $210,000.00Plus: Pro Bono $45,000.00CONNECT WITH US:Website: www.towardsbetter.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TowardsBetterCo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/towardsbetterco/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/37535138 Podcast: https://www.towardsbetter.com.au/news/towards-better-podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@towardsbetter Show less

Townsville, Queensland, Australia

Townsville, Queensland, Australia

Regional Activators will help unlock opportunities for SE on the ground in key regional areas and promote direct engagement with potential industry partners• Identify and assist quantification of social enterprises and industry forum participants in the regional area to add to current data base. Were able to map and connect with 150+ social enterprises, businesses and government and non government organisations in the Townsville Region.• Facilitate at least *two regional hub… Show more Regional Activators will help unlock opportunities for SE on the ground in key regional areas and promote direct engagement with potential industry partners• Identify and assist quantification of social enterprises and industry forum participants in the regional area to add to current data base. Were able to map and connect with 150+ social enterprises, businesses and government and non government organisations in the Townsville Region.• Facilitate at least *two regional hub activation workshops, identifying areas of most need to prepare social enterprises to meet industry linkage opportunities. Created and facilitated two regional activation workshops and one industry forum with approximately 100 attendees between them. Show less

Townsville, Queensland, Australia

Team member for a formal service evaluation of an Individualised home and community living service in North QLD led by Senior SRV Trainer Jane Sherwin from Sherwin Consulting.The Team conducted a service evaluation based on Social Role Valorisation (SRV) and PASSING with a Model Coherency Analysis. PASSING is a tool for analysing service quality of any human service according to how well it implements Social Role Valorisation Theory. Model Coherency Analysis, while a complex theme from… Show more Team member for a formal service evaluation of an Individualised home and community living service in North QLD led by Senior SRV Trainer Jane Sherwin from Sherwin Consulting.The Team conducted a service evaluation based on Social Role Valorisation (SRV) and PASSING with a Model Coherency Analysis. PASSING is a tool for analysing service quality of any human service according to how well it implements Social Role Valorisation Theory. Model Coherency Analysis, while a complex theme from SRV, can be up simply as the right servers should be using the right materials, methods, and language, in the right settings, in order to do the right thing for the right recipients, who are grouped in the right way” (Wolfensberger, 1998, 116).Following the evaluation, the data was analysed using the Social Role Valorisation (SRV) tool called Passing and a theme from SRV called ‘model coherency analysis’. The analysis was strengthened by also using insights from Community development, Michael Kendrick’s work on ‘’right relationship’ and effective staff development.The service then received an extremely comprehensive, two part summary including 15+ recommendations that could be implemented if they were dedicated to changemaking efforts. Show less

Townsville, Australia

- Support 30+ individuals to craft a vision for the future and understand and access supports within the NDIS to bring their vision to life. - Build the competencies of individuals and families to learn how to co-design their supports, manage their funding budgets, and find the right supports to meet their goals. - Maintain thorough case notes, individual support plans, and personal profiles and ensure this information was transparent and co-created with the individual and their support… Show more - Support 30+ individuals to craft a vision for the future and understand and access supports within the NDIS to bring their vision to life. - Build the competencies of individuals and families to learn how to co-design their supports, manage their funding budgets, and find the right supports to meet their goals. - Maintain thorough case notes, individual support plans, and personal profiles and ensure this information was transparent and co-created with the individual and their support network. Show less

Townsville, Australia

- Led a team of Lead Practitioners across North Queensland who were most responsible for personal outcomes planning and individualised service design with the people who chose to use UC services.- Collaborated in innovative ways with the UC Service Coordinator to deliver services that are relevant and potent in meeting the needs of individuals. - Created systems and processes to execute service agreements, monitor NDIS budgets, educate individuals and families and adequately conduct… Show more - Led a team of Lead Practitioners across North Queensland who were most responsible for personal outcomes planning and individualised service design with the people who chose to use UC services.- Collaborated in innovative ways with the UC Service Coordinator to deliver services that are relevant and potent in meeting the needs of individuals. - Created systems and processes to execute service agreements, monitor NDIS budgets, educate individuals and families and adequately conduct rostering and administrative tasks. - Designed recruitment and interview strategies which led to the hire of a new Lead Practitioner for Townsville & Mt. Isa areas.- Built the capacity of Lead Practitioners, admin staff, individuals and families through education, training, and providing resources.- Reduced the outstanding debt to the organization by at least 50% through quality checks of NDIS Plans and Service Agreements, Billing documents, and portal claim records. Show less

- Lead, support and develop over 20 Supported Living Facilitators especially guiding them on actively co designing solutions with individuals and families and using innovative community development approaches.- Building relationships with individuals and families to ensure we were working collaboratively, building capacity and working in culturally respectful ways.- Created and implemented innovative ways to recruit staff which focused more on the values, culture, and practice framework… Show more - Lead, support and develop over 20 Supported Living Facilitators especially guiding them on actively co designing solutions with individuals and families and using innovative community development approaches.- Building relationships with individuals and families to ensure we were working collaboratively, building capacity and working in culturally respectful ways.- Created and implemented innovative ways to recruit staff which focused more on the values, culture, and practice framework of the organisations. - Delivered ongoing bespoke training to 20+ staff using Asset Based Community Development (ABCD), Social Role Valorisation, and Circle Way practices as well as integrating the UCC Better Futures Practice Framework. This resulted in high staff retention and learning outcomes. - Develop and maintain networks and relationships both internally and externally. - Develop and monitor the budget for the programs in collaboration with other leadership position. Show less

- To provide guidance and leadership in the development of contemporary best practice and service design within the NEW regional network.- Individualised practice leadership to ensure consistent delivery of contemporary best practice and quality outcomes for individuals, families and communities across the NQ regional network.- Created, and implemented processes to evaluate quality of practice that supports and strengthens those being served by UCC to move towards inclusive… Show more - To provide guidance and leadership in the development of contemporary best practice and service design within the NEW regional network.- Individualised practice leadership to ensure consistent delivery of contemporary best practice and quality outcomes for individuals, families and communities across the NQ regional network.- Created, and implemented processes to evaluate quality of practice that supports and strengthens those being served by UCC to move towards inclusive lifestyles.- Delivered staff training and professional education programs in Asset Based Community Development and contemporary practice frameworks, in conjunction with the learning and development team.- Developed innovative and alternative service offerings in response to local demand within the scope of UntingCare Disability Service Model.- To resourced, guided and trained team members of the regional network to support high quality outcomes for people with disabilities, their families and communities.- Collaborated with individuals, families, and support staff to co-design support solutions that lead to social and economic participation.- Expanded a network of relationships with key stakeholders and other relevant government and community-based agencies to promote and enhance practice in conjunction with operational management teams within each regional disability support network. Show less

“To help build better communities, through the inclusion of people with a disability”- Successfully “got to know” the individuals with a disability over time by becoming familiar with their unique daily life circumstances, aspirations, gifts, talents, and contributions.- Helped identify, promote, and celebrate those opportunities or experiences where such individual assets could be valued and called upon.- Developed a deep understanding of “community” and the opportunities… Show more “To help build better communities, through the inclusion of people with a disability”- Successfully “got to know” the individuals with a disability over time by becoming familiar with their unique daily life circumstances, aspirations, gifts, talents, and contributions.- Helped identify, promote, and celebrate those opportunities or experiences where such individual assets could be valued and called upon.- Developed a deep understanding of “community” and the opportunities available for successful community inclusion to occur.- In partnership with relevant stakeholders identified the “best” opportunities to match the individual's daily life circumstances, aspirations, gifts, talents, and contributions of the individual concerned and where that can be of value.- Successfully facilitated partnerships between the individual with a disability and their defined community of interest which over time will be free of Human Service dependency.- Identified and developed positive interdependent relationships between the individual with a disability and their defined community of interest. - Assisted in the development of interdependent relationships by leading through “the inviting in of others” whilst also “stepping back” when appropriate.- Assisted and support both the individual with a disability and their defined community of interest only to the level required, thereby reducing service dependency.- Identified and maximize those opportunities where the Community Development Worker withdraws in a planned and highly conscious manner.- Be part of a planned and conscious community development strategy alongside other staff aimed at enhancing the level of confidence and competence of others in community inclusion.- Developed and implemented relevant strategies that would further enhance the level of confidence and competence of Human Service staff and the wider community in the welcoming and supportive of individuals with a disability in the wider community. Show less

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Therapeutic Recreation

Activities and Societies: Alternative Spring Break, Students Today Leaders Forever, Club Alternative Breaks, Parks and Recreation Society.

Cert Iv Training & Assessing