General News
16 December, 2023
WRAD honours dedicated staff
WRAD Health’s chairperson Helen Taylor has been recognised for her 25-year commitment to the organisation.
During the organisation’s recent annual meeting, secretary Robert Coffey presented Helen with a framed certificate to recognise her milestone.
“Helen has given 25 years of outstanding service and dedication,” Mr Coffey said.
“Helen was hand-picked by John McGrath to join the Board and, along with Glenys Phillpot, has provided an important bridge between the first 13 years of the organisation and the newer committee members.
“It speaks volumes for WRAD to have her continuity of compassion and leadership. WRAD works very hard at doing the best it can and by and large it succeeds, and a lot of that is due to the guidance of Helen.”
Helen has been a member of the committee of management while WRAD has been based at Timor Street, Fairy Street and now Merri Street.
She has been chairperson since 2006.
“We are lucky to be on a committee when she does so much work and provides such excellent leadership,” Mr Coffey said.
Helen describes her time with WRAD Health as a great honour.
“From humble beginnings in Timor Street, we have grown into a health centre in Merri Street which provides a large range of health services to our community,” she said.
“I hope that we will be able to establish the Lookout Residential Rehabilitation Centre in Warrnambool in the near future to provide the missing piece in addiction treatment in south west Victoria.”
The awards continued for the team at WRAD, with AOD clinician Hayley Elliott recently presented with WRAD Health’s first Dawn Bermingham award.
The new award is a team recognition award decided by the staff of WRAD Health to recognise a fellow staff member who excels in their commitment and dedication and holds the WRAD Health values of compassion, respect, accountability, collaboration and integrity.
Hayley is an AOD counsellor, Rough Sleeper MDT clinician, SAP coordinator and Project Connect program clinician.
Her nominees praised her constant dedication to AOD and outreach work, describing Hayley as an outstanding ambassador for WRAD Health.
“Hayley encompasses WRAD Health’s values on a daily basis, constantly carrying a full case load but always willing to support any other task,” one nominee said.
“Hayley is a go-to member of the team and has forged new ground in working with homeless and vulnerable people,” another added.
Hayley thanked the committee of management and the WRAD Health management and team for their support.
“The whole WRAD team is like a family and we all work really well together,” she said.
Dawn Bermingham was WRAD Health’s longest serving employee and was with the organisation since 1986 before retiring earlier this year.
She stepped down from her full-time work as officer manager in 2020 but later returned and continued to work one day per week, as a part-time personal assistant supporting former CEO Geoff Soma and helping new staff.
