Dedicated Staff
Kim Brennand
Manager of Workforce Development Services
Kim started at Directions as an Employment Coordinator in the Midland office 7 years ago, following many years working in the retail hardware industry.
It has been Kim's experience as an employer that has guided him into this line of work, where he enjoys having a direct and positive effect on young people's lives through career development and training.
Most recently he has been appointed as Manager of Workforce Development Services, which encompasses the Workforce Development and Group Training business units in our offices across the company. In this role Kim is keen to develop opportunities across all regions which will have a positive effect on the people we work with and the communities as a whole.
Kim holds qualifications in Retail Management, Training and Assessment and in OHS.
Paull Brown
Employment Coordinator (Moora office)
Having lived and worked in the country for most of his life as a Panel Beater, Paull seized the opportunity to work for Directions where he has the chance to help people in the trades.
After leaving school with a Year 10 graduation and entering a trade, Paull feels the trades industry can provide fantastic opportunities for young students to strive in their selected careers.
Alicia Turner
Employment Coordinator, Career Development Officer (Narrogin office)
Alicia has been employed by Directions since Jan 2009 and is the Employment Coordinator for the Narrogin and surrounding areas. Alicia joined Directions after working as a Participation Coordinator for Department of Education for several years and also worked at CY O’Connor Tafe.
Servicing town such as Lake Grace, Boddington, Beverley, Katanning, Kondinin and everywhere in between, Alicia has most of the South West covered. The Narrogin area caters for apprentices and trainees in all areas from Plant Mechanics to Business Administration.
The Narrogin office is also a Workforce Development Centre and is available for all issues relating to careers either for individuals or assessing training needs for businesses and their staff.
General services such as resumes, career advice, Profit from Experience Funding, job applications and much more are delivered to clients in the area free of charge.
Ashleigh Wharfe
Training Coordinator (Midland office)
Ashleigh commenced working at Directions in December 2009. Her role includes speaking to potential apprentices and trainees to ensure they are ready for an apprenticeship and giving them preparation techniques. She also ensures the administrative side of things is running smoothly and assists in training staff.
Ashleigh has worked in a range of industries which assists her in introducing others in their careers and gives them insight to what it involves. Ashleigh says she enjoys this side of work by giving information to people to motivate them but, at the same time, will only help as much as the person helps themselves!
Outside of work Ashleigh is studying and enjoys music, food, travel and fun.
Colin Mac
Senior Employment Coordinator (Northam, Merredin and Narrogin areas)
After a previous radio career spanning 23 years, Colin is now the longest serving member of the Directions team with 12 years service with the company. He says his greatest satisfaction is seeing a large number of completed apprentices who have gone on to become excellent tradesmen (and women) and have become small business owners in their own right.
Over the 12 years Colin has signed up literally hundreds of apprentices, trainees and school based trainees throughout the Wheatbelt and as far afield as Kalgoorlie. He enjoys the changes he has seen over the years as the company has expanded and looks forward to assisting old and new clients skill the next generation of West Australians.
Robyn Blanchett
Employment Coordinator (Midland office)
Seeing the social and emotional benefits that good employment gives to young people encouraged Robyn to leave her advertising and marketing career 2 years ago and take up the role of Directions Employment Coordinator. This diverse role allows Robyn to help people of all ages into a career they love with a focus on training for the future.
Robyn manages a case load of 60 trainees and apprentices as well as co-ordinating the new Workplace Learning program for year 11 students, marketing Directions services to new clients and is studying for her Certificate 4 in Career Development.
Judy McAuley
Training Coordinator (Northam and Cunderdin)
Judy commenced as Group Training Support Officer with Directions in September 2010. She has since taken the role as a part time Employment Consultant in conjunction with the Support Officer role.
Judy has a background in working in the apprenticeship area, having worked for several years for CARTS and ApprenticeCentre, formerly the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Support Network.
Jane Donaldson
Employment and Training Officer
Jane has previously worked in the soft furnishing industry for 17 years with 15 of those spent operating her own business.
After recently selling her business, she decided to try something new and started making enquiries. With a passion for wanting to assist small businesses in some way and a desire to complete some training, Jane contacted Directions in Kalgoorlie and the opportunity arose for her to take up employment in the training side of the organisation.
Jane is undertaking her Certificate IV in Training and Assessing which will enable her to train and assess for her role at Directions.
John Kerr
Employment Coordinator, Merredin
John commenced with Directions in 2009. His present role is Employment Coordinator based in Merredin but he also services surrounding areas such as Narembeen, Bruce Rock and Southern Cross.
John is particularly keen to get young people linked to local businesses through an apprenticeship or traineeship.
John has an extensive background in small business and many years experience as a senior manager with the Commonwealth Government.
