Our team

Chief Executive Officer

Daniel Payne

Manager Operations

Janice Chan

Support Team

Lucinda Bain | Communications Manager
Sonia Bonadio | Family Support Manager
Debby Fraumano | Adult Support Manager
Helen More | Club 21 / Volunteer Coordinator
Madison King | MyTime Coordinator
Elizabeth McGarry | NDIS & Me Project Coordinator
Shelley McCarthy | My Time Coordinator & Events

Education Support Service

Jan Alexander | Education Consultant

Judi Greenslade | Education Consultant
Paula Kilgallon | Education Consultant

Ro O’Dwyer | Education Consultant

Operations and Communications

Mara Wookey | Finance
Stephanie Papaleo | Voice In Brief National Editor / Reception / Administration
Anna Cook | Reception / Administration
Leonie White | Grants

About our team

Learn a bit more about some of our staff here.

Daniel Payne | Chief Executive Officer
Commencing in the role May 2019, Dan will be known to many of our DSV community as he, with his wife Corina and children Holly, Abby and Tyson have been active members since 2010. Between 2016-19, Dan was a member of the DSV board and helped ensure that the voice of our members was consistently front of mind in all our decision-making. For the past 14 years, Dan has worked within the Financial Services Industry in a variety of roles which provided valuable and extensive experience in leadership, program management and business performance. Dan brings a great balance of advocacy, empathy, understanding of our sector, commercial focus and positive energy. Dan is motivated by creating empowerment through opportunity and is privileged to serve members of DSV and their communities.

Janice Chan | Manager Operations
Janice has a long history in the disability sector having spent the past fifteen years at the Association for Children with a Disability where she managed the education and training department. Janice’s oldest son, Lincoln, is a young man with Down syndrome, so she has experienced a similar journey to many of our members.

Lucinda Bain | Training & Information Manager
Lucy has worked in the disability and community development sectors for over fifteen years. Growing up with a sister who has Down syndrome developed her strong belief systems and passion to work towards a society that values true inclusion, equity and opportunities for all individuals. She previously worked at DSV as Adult Support Coordinator in 2006 and 2007. After continuing on to work at organisations such as YMCA Victoria, the Epilepsy Foundation, EACH, and Deakin University, she has once again found her niche at Down Syndrome Victoria. 

Sonia Bonadio | Family Support Coordinator / Training & Information Manager
Sonia is a social worker and a parent of a child with Down syndrome and has worked with services in the disability sector, mental health, maternity services, protective services and early intervention services.  In 2016 Sonia worked as a MyTime group facilitator for DSV and thoroughly enjoyed her time facilitating the group, providing her with a great opportunity to gain understanding and knowledge in many areas relating to families who have or who are caring for children who have Down syndrome.

Debby Fraumano | Adult Support Manager
Debby is a social worker with a long history in the disability field. She started out in direct services, and then worked with the Association for Children with a Disability (ACD) for a few years after her second child was born with a disability. Following that with a stint in case management she then returned to ACD as the Coordinator of ACD Educate with a focus on assisting parents in preparing for the NDIS. Debby firmly believes in never being afraid to try new things and make some mistakes on the way. It’s all part of life and learning.

Helen More | Club 21 / Volunteer Coordinator

Jan Alexander | Education Consultant
Jan has extensive teaching experience in primary schools both in metropolitan and regional areas. For the past eight years Jan has lectured in Teacher Education at La Trobe University. Her study and work in schools has been very focused on inclusive learning strategies. Jan has worked closely with teachers and support staff in developing classroom programs which enable all students to reach their potential. Jan joined the Education Support Team as a regional educational consultant in January 2016 and is looking forward to sharing her experience working with teachers, students and parents in regional schools across Victoria.

Shelly McCarthy | Events Coordinator
Shelley previously worked at DSV during the years of 2013-2015 in Administration and as Event & Volunteer Coordinator. In January 2019 she re-joined us as Events Coordinator and is simultaneously undertaking a Master of Social Work at the University of Melbourne. This post graduate study building on her Bachelor of Health Sciences majoring in Health Promotion and Human Services, as well as subjects in disability. During her few years away she worked in community development in East Africa, including with an organisation for people with disability in Ethiopia. Shelley continues to develop a new organisation with a local in Ethiopia which aims to raise awareness of disability through dance and works towards full inclusion.
Shelley loves organising our Family Fun Day and StepUP events. She invites anyone who has talents to share at one of our events, to apply by sending through an email to Shelleym@dsav.asn.au.

Judi Greenslade | Education Consultant
Judi has taught in primary schools for thirty-six years in both regional and metropolitan areas. She then spent eight years lecturing and tutoring in education at La Trobe University. She has a particular interest and passion in the areas of literacy, numeracy and social skills development and has worked with staff and students to enhance work done in these areas and to help ensure students reach their full potential. Judi joined the Education Support Team as a regional education consultant in May 2018 and is looking forward to sharing her knowledge and experience with students, teachers and parents in regional schools across Victoria.

Paula Kilgallon | Education Consultant
Paula is an experienced teacher who has worked in primary schools in both Australia and overseas. She also has experience teaching socially disadvantaged children with Berry Street. Paula has post graduate qualifications in Psychology, having completed a Graduate Diploma in Psychology and a Graduate Diploma in Professional Psychology with Monash University. Paula joined the Education Support Team in January 2019, and is committed to helping students achieve their goals.

Ro O’Dwyer | Education Consultant

Ro has extensive teaching experience in primary schools in both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. A passion for Literacy and supporting students to become readers led her to train as a Reading Recovery teacher and work in this and other Literacy Support roles. Ro completed graduate studies in Special Education and joined DSV as an education consultant in 2019. She has enjoyed sharing her knowledge and experience with teachers, students and parents in metropolitan schools.

Stephanie Papaleo | Personal Assistant to CEO / Voice In Brief National Editor / Reception / Administration
Stephanie has been working at DSV for over 21 years and is a valued member of the team. She really likes working at DSV in her current role, and spending time with a lovely group of people. She has also worked at the Guardianship Administration Board, as a volunteer at Ecumenical Migration Centre (EMC), and the Brotherhood Of St. Laurence. She has a degree in Certificate 3: Business Administration.

Anna Cook | Reception / Administration
Anna has worked in various administrative positions in the education and child care industries before coming to DSV in June 2017. She has done volunteer work in Poland and helped with the refugee crisis in Greece. She came to DSV because she wanted to be part of an organisation that was working towards positive change.

Leonie White | Grants
Leonie has an education background, and has worked within the disability sector for the past 15 years, not long after the birth of her third child who has Down syndrome.  Prior to joining DSV in 2012, Leonie coordinated the MyTime program for Playgroup Victoria where she passionately supported families of children with disability.  Leonie has been DSV’s grant writer since 2014 and uses her lived experience and knowledge of Down syndrome to acquire much needed funds for the organisation.