David Bruce Pearce OAM JP BA
David started his career as an Administrative Assistant for Cerebral Palsy Tasmania, before joining its Board, which set in motion a career marked by leadership.
For 17 years, David was a serving Alderman on the Glenorchy City Council, representing the people of the Municipality and the Council on various external and internal committees.
He was the Consumer Representative on a Steering Committee established by National Disability Services (Tasmania) working with the then Minister for Disability Services, The Honourable Cassy O’Connor, to successfully negotiate the introduction of the first stage of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
David is a long-standing member of the City of Glenorchy Lions Club, where he has served as both President and Vice President. Is also a Fellow of the Tasmanian Lions Foundation.
David is also a graduate from the University of Tasmania, with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Political Science and History.
Not only is David a Recipient of the Order of Australia Medal. He has also received many Local, State, and National Awards. These Include the 1990 Glenorchy City Council Citizen of the Year Award, the 1998 Tasmanian Human Rights Award, Rotary International’s “Shine On Award”, as well as Cerebral Palsy Australia’s “Distinguished Service Medal”.
Currently David operates his own business “Open Door Consultancies.”
David has been on the Advocacy Tasmania Board for over 30 years, and says “it is an honour and privilege to be involved with an organisation that believes in and promotes the human rights, responsibilities and empowerment of clients”.
Nick Baily
Over the course of Nick’s career, he has attained many qualifications that he puts to use in his leadership and work in a voluntary capacity.
He is a Leaders for Tomorrow graduate, and also has a Certificate IV in Business, a Certificate IV in Governance, and has completed the Sustainable Leadership Programme.
Nick’s work on sub-committees and representation of people with disability has been recognised with Life Membership by the Brain Injury Association of Tasmania.
He worked for over 10 years in voluntary representation for Headway Rebuilding Lives leading to Life Membership.
On the Steering Committee for Disability Voices Tasmania, Nick developed three Strategic Plans over three years.
Nick has addressed over 10,000 year 10 students through the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness program.
As Deputy Chair of the Premier’s Disability Advisory Council for 4 years, he helped develop many Strategic Plans, and held regular meetings with the Justice Department to develop Disability Inclusion and Action Plans.
Nick has been on the Advocacy Tasmania Board for over 15 years. He has contributed as Secretary to the Board of Management meetings in Executive Risk Management, and has helped develop Strategic Plans.
Nick’s work has been acknowledged with Life Membership of Advocacy Tasmania for his 15 years of extraordinary volunteer service.
Michael Bonsey
Michael is deputy president of the Advocacy Tasmania Board and has had involvement with the Board for many years, including serving as the Treasurer.
Over that time, he has contributed to and witnessed a great deal of positive change, particularly in the media and systemic advocacy space. By his own admission Michael has a strong affinity for Advocacy Tasmania’s work and is proud of his contribution to the direction in which the organisation is headed today.
Michael has over 25 years’ experience in the IT industry and currently holds the position of IT Operations Manager at Spirit Super, a position he has held for the past 12 years.
Outside of his work and Board responsibilities Michael enjoys playing golf and going to the beach, and trying to get back to see his wife’s family as often as possible in the UK, which he describes it as a ‘magical place’.
Michael and his wife have a daughter and live in Seven Mile Beach.
Patrick Eadington
Patrick started his certificate 3 in community work in 2000 to be involved in the disability sector at the board level.
In Adelaide he was on the Community Accommodation Respite at Agency board for almost 3 years. And he was also involved in the Consumers Representatives for almost 3 years before he returned to Hobart. He volunteered at the Disability Employment Service through Anglicare and within two years was asked to make a presentation through Anglicare. Instead of merely talking for two hours, Patrick decided to write about his personal experience and journey as a person with a disability and the social, mental and physical barriers that he has experienced throughout my life. His personal journey echoes that of hundreds of other people with disabilities and demonstrates the social struggle and mental barriers that people with a disability face almost daily. He stayed with the DES for 13 years.
A love of art saw Patrick get involved with ArtsACTION which was activating opportunities for creative people in the arts.
In 2011 he was appointed to the Premier’s disability advisory council, while in 2013 he joined Li-Ve Tasmania Person Centred Policy Review Committee where he shaped the Person Centred Policy for the whole of the service. In 2013 Patrick joined the Advocacy Tasmania board and loves the love the fact that he is able to help shape the way the organisation is run and operated.
Cassandra Long
Cassandra studied Science and Herbal Medicine and attained a Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Biology. Then just over 20 years ago, she moved to Tasmania and attained qualifications in Community Services, Disability, Diversional Therapy, Mental Health and Management Diplomas.
The next eight years were occupied with managing the Burnie Community House, 2IC at Multicap and working with new mums at Child Health Association.
In 2009, Cassandra developed a program alongside police, called Kommunity Kids at the Burnie Community House. This is an after school and weekend program developed to reduce youth waywardness and still runs successfully today.
In 2009, Cassandra accepted a position as co-ordinator of a state-wide Anglicare program called Tazkids working with children whose parents have a diagnosed mental health illness. She developed a program over the next ten years that covered the state with full and part time workers, 40 volunteers and offered TAFE student placements. The program continues to this day.
She cherishes a letter received from Kensington Palace (Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) commending the program’s work and the development of her free downloadable program Gr8MYnds.
Cassandra has given public lectures on understanding mental health and has volunteered her time and expertise to numerous causes and organisations. But she particularly enjoys being on the board of Advocacy Tasmania because speaking truth to power and continuing to have the privilege of helping others stand up for their rights is what she values most.
Cassandra has retired and spends time traveling overseas with her husband and enjoying a leisurely life of reading, water aerobics and spending time with friends and her crazy cat Felix.
Zita Mitchell
Zita is filling a short term board vacancy and she is very much appreciated by the whole organisation for doing so.