LOCAL charity ac. care has announced Shane Maddocks will take the reins from previous CEO Robert Foggo, who retired after 25 years at the helm.
Appointed to the role last month, Mr Maddocks said a desire to reconnect with the region and work with country people had prompted him to apply.
“For the last seven years I have worked with Red Cross as the national leader for community development,” Mr Maddocks told The Border Watch.
“I was based in Adelaide but working across every state and territory, so I’m used to lots of travel but I was missing the stronger connection to my communities.
“I decided around six months ago I wanted to reconnect with the people I had worked with in South Australia.”
Born in Renmark, Mr Maddocks has since lived in Adelaide, Murray Bridge and Port Augusta.
“I was born in Renmark and lived there until I was 10 before moving to Adelaide, then lived in Murray Bridge for three years when I was working for a bank,” he said.
“I returned to Adelaide to complete my social work degree and then lived in Port Augusta for six years, so I’ve been in and out of the country for many years and I’m really happy to be back in the country.”
Mr Maddocks has 27 years experience in social work and has previously contributed to policy and legislation reform in the family services sector.
“I started out as a social worker in what was then the Department of Community Welfare, working in child protection and foster care and did a fair bit of work in juvenile justice,” he said.
“I then moved into early childhood education and care within the education department and I also spent five years helping to implement a nurse home visiting program for families who needed extra support.”
Mr Maddocks said he had both personal and professional connections to the region through his wife’s upbringing in Naracoorte and his previous State Government roles.
“When this job came up I thought it just ticked all the boxes,” he said.
“I saw it as an opportunity to work in communities that I know, that I feel strongly connected to and the organisations values just aligned with my personal and professional values.
“I am passionate about social justice and local people supporting local people really resonates with me – ac. care is a highly respected organisation.”
As CEO of the regional organisation Mr Maddocks will work from ac.care’s main offices in Mount Gambier, Berri and Murray Bridge.
“I will be a part time resident of all three cities and spread my time across each of the regions,” he said.
“There are some really amazing local staff that are doing the important work and working with our clients – I see myself as supporting them as best I can, sometimes that will be attending meetings in Adelaide and advocating for funding or working with government or policy makers.”
He said his immediate focus would be understanding the welfare agency’s ongoing work and getting to know the management team, staff, volunteers, stakeholders and community.
“It will be a steep learning curve for a while – I need to understand how the organisation works before making any grand plans,” Mr Maddocks said.
“I believe it is vitally importance to have a strong, rural-based organisation representing the people who live here and advocating for them to be able to access the community services they need.
Mr Maddocks said he was passionate about supporting young country people to reach their potential and excited to reconnect with South Australian communities after five years working at a national level.
“I will certainly focus on early intervention prevention, keeping kids safe in their own home and helping families grow strong,” he said.
“I think I have something I can contribute and I’m so excited to be here.”
