Meet The Team

Aaron Whipps

Program Manager, Becoming a Worker

Aaron has worked in Community Services across multiple roles including peer worker, trainer, support worker and management. He has a deep knowledge of the NDIS industry and disability as a whole.

Aaron has delivered SLES and FAKAJ programs with great success. He understands challenges faced by Participants and Providers and is empathetic to the needs of Employer

Always do the best you can, encourage other and show people that you really care.”

Team Role

Aaron oversees the development, implementation and maintenance of the Becoming a Worker Learning Management System.

Click here if you would like to learn more about the technical side of Becoming a Worker, have questions about content or general feedback on what could be added to or deleted from future versions of Becoming a Worker LMS.

Chris Gandy

Executive Officer, The Essential Foundation

Chris has over 35 years not for profit experience as a CEO, Senior Executive and Board Member. Commencing in the disability sector, he has been involved in guiding services in the mental health, homelessness, out of home care, child protection and employment services areas.

He was an inaugural director of Illawarra Vocational Services Inc. which has evolved into The Essential Foundation. The Foundation’s Mission is to be an incubator that collaborates with like-minded community-based partners to develop, commercialise, grow and invest in new approaches to positively change the lives of people facing difficult circumstances.

Becoming a Worker is the first initiative to be supported by The Essential Foundation and Chris is proud and delighted to be involved in a new approach to assist people with a disability secure and keep a real job.

If an organisation wants to improve outcomes, it needs to continually improve the way it does things.”

Team Role

Chris has overall responsibility for the roll-out and operation of Becoming a Worker. Contact Chris here to discuss partnership opportunities with Becoming a Worker and other Essential Foundation initiatives.

Ian Scarborough

Finance Manager, The Essential Foundation

Ian is a highly experienced Certified Practicing Accountant specialising in the Education, Construction and Not-For-Profit Sectors.

Ian is employed by Giuntabell Pty Ltd and contracted to The Essential Foundation to manage our Finance and Administration Functions

Be happy no matter what life throws at you, there is always someone worse off than you.”

Team Role

Ian provides finance, risk management and strategic support to ensure we make the best financial decisions. Click here for account queries and finance related matters.

Tracy Hughes

Customer Experience Manager, Becoming a Worker

Tracy has over 16 year’s experience working in the education and employment industries, specialising in assisting young people transition from school to the workplace.

Tracy has been a foster parent to a young person living with a disability. She has managed the delivery of SLES and FAKAJ programs and is very familiar with the nuances involved with young people with a disability securing employment.

There’s always a way.”

Team Role

Tracy is responsible for ensuring Participant’s, Provider’s and Parents/Carers have all the information necessary to determine whether Becoming a Worker is right for them

Click here to learn more about how Becoming a Worker can help people fulfil their employment goals.