Gymea Community Aid & Information Service Inc (GCAIS) was established in 1975 by a passionate group of local residents. We are now an incorporated not-for-profit association based in Gymea which provides services across the Sutherland Shire and into St George.
We have a small paid staff and dedicated volunteer team, overseen by a volunteer Management Committee elected from among our members.
GCAIS receives funding from a range of local, state and commonwealth government agencies and relies heavily on community support to fund and run our services.
Management Committee
Gymea Community Aid & Information Service (GCAIS) is overseen by a volunteer Management Committee, elected from our membership base in line with our constitution.
President
Marcio Salgado
Marcio has extensive experience in Marketing and Trade in the FMCG sector, throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas. He has held such positions as Trade Marketing Director for the Americas region as well as being a Board Member in an Australian company. Most recently has been working on various consulting projects. Marcio has been a committee member for GCAIS over the past 12 months and has been leading the Living Well Locally initiative. He is well positioned to take our organisation in a direction that promotes sustainability and continued support to our Community.
Vice President
Lisa Conyers
Lisa is a social worker and has been a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers for 25 years. Lisa has a Bachelor of Social Work and a Masters of Counselling and worked in the community sector for 15 years. Lisa currently teaches full-time in the Community Services section with Sydney Institute of TAFE, based at the Loftus campus.
Secretary
Wendy Ducasse
Throughout her career, Wendy has held a number of roles as Personal Assistant to executives of large public companies with duties including preparation and distribution of material to Board members and assisting Directors where required.
For the 10 years prior to her retirement, Wendy was secretary to the General Manager of a travel industry company during which time she undertook TAFE study in travel and tourism and, training and development.
Wendy has volunteered for the Australian Red Cross and the Wollongong Branch of the Cancer Council where her duties included updating the computerised contact lists. Currently, Wendy is also secretary to her local Probus Club.
Treasurer
Peter Malhotra
Peter is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) with a Master of Accountancy. He has over a decade of senior executive experience working for large multinationals as well as mid-sized companies. Peter has extensive experience in strategic, operational and tactical financial expertise in the Hospitality, Age care and not for profit sectors.
Committee Members
Kaye Herald
Kaye has held various not for profit board memberships and is currently a Director of LGK Management Pty Ltd which trades as Flexi Display Systems. She brings a keen focus on business building having worked from 2005 – 2014 as Managing Director for RICS, responsible for Oceania and Asia Pacific. She has worked as a CEO in the Professional Services Industry since 1999 prior to which she held various General Management roles in the Logistics industry sector.
Our Team
General
Manager
Joanne Cracknell
Community
Connections Manager
Rita Napolitano
Settlement & Multicultural
Services Manager
Jenny Grey
Corporate
Services
Group
Katrina Vavdinos
Mona Chui
Mission & Objectives
Our Vision
To be a dynamic community force in bringing self-reliance, dignity and well-being to people’s lives.
Our Mission
At Gymea Community Aid and Information Service (GCAIS), we are uniquely positioned to build the aspirations of individuals and families to achieve inclusiveness, independence and participation in the community while recognising diversity and desire for well-being.
Our long standing presence in Sutherland Shire draws on both staff and volunteers to provide information and associated support services to the general community, our ageing members and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Through social groups, planned programs and activities, we strengthen and promote individual’s self-determination, enriching the broader community.
Strategic Plan
2018–2023
People
& Culture
Maximise and leverage the skills and capabilities of GCAIS to provide valued services and programs to our community
Funding
& Growth
Developing business programs across all GCAIS services to investigate new opportunities for sponsorships, funding, grants and donations. Identifying potential partnerships to grow our services. Leveraging GCAIS’s brand to increase range, quality and service delivery areas to allow GCAIS to compete in a rapidly changing environment.
Research
& Analysis
Identifying and engaging formal and informal research partners in order to align with the Vision and Mission statements of the Organisation
Programs
Review and realign programs and services to the GCAIS Vision and Mission statements and produce a relevant, well researched and structurally sound offering to our customers
Infrastructure
Consolidating and streamlining back office functions, reporting and IT resources to meet governance requirements and better manage relationships with our stakeholders.