Staff

Executive Manager, Deborah Banks took over the day to day management of this women’s refuge in June 2009. Over the past twenty years, Deborah has developed a wealth of experience in management and project implementation through her general management and operations management roles in a variety of industries including law, entertainment and fashion. Deborah is a Justice of the Peace of NSW and is completing a Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Counselling).

Melanie Joyce is our Dual Diagnosis Drug and Alcohol and Mental Health Case Worker. Melanie joined our team in January 2011 after gaining extensive experience working in a residential drug and alcohol service for five and a half years. The community sector is Melanie’s second career after more than twenty years in hospitality. Melanie holds a Certificate IV in Drug and Alcohol and a Post Graduate Diploma in Social Health (Macquarie University).

Erin Thommeny joined the Lou’s Place team in November 2011 as our Community Service Worker. She is in her final year at the Australian College of Applied Psychology, completing a Bachelor of Applied Social Science. She has a particular interest in social justice issues and crisis & trauma counselling/management. Her interest in community service arose after travels to East Africa & Central America. Erin is currently undergoing in-house training to become a Case Worker at Lou’s Place.