STAFF

Our Staff

Southern Staff

Mary Blake

Founder and Executive Officer

mary@fosteringhope.net.au

Mary Blake

Mary is the founder and Executive Officer of Fostering Hope. Mary came to Fostering Hope after working in the community research and policy after studying community development and international law. She combines this experience with the lived experience of being a foster and respite carer. Mary and her boys attend C3 Church in South Hobart. The rest of Mary’s time is spent being a mum to five active boys and involved in their communities.

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Ellie Firth

Mentoring
Coordinator

ellie@fosteringhope.net.au

Ellie Firth

Ellie is our Mentoring Coordinator, overseeing our Mentoring Program; this includes training all our volunteer mentors and working with our mentoring team to screen, match and provide ongoing support for mentors for kids growing up in Out of Home Care. She is a professional mentor and mentor trainer with Deeply Formed, she also co-teaches the Graduate Certificate of Christian Mentoring at Sydney Missionary and Bible College (SMBC). Ellie attends St Mark’s Bellerive Anglican Church. Outside of her mentoring roles Ellie loves to read and spending time with good friends.

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Kylie Henderson

Administration
Officer

kylie@fosteringhope.net.au

Kylie Henderson

Kylie is our Administration Officer. She is based in Hobart and her role is to support the state-wide team with onboarding new staff and volunteers, helping with safety and compliance and website and social media management. Kylie works with us part-time and has a background in finance and payroll management. She also works as Accounts Manager for Citywide Baptist Church. Kylie currently attends Hobart Baptist Church where her husband is the pastor. Kylie is a mum with two boys, both of whom are on the autism spectrum. She is passionate about inclusion and neurodiversity advocacy.

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Postion Vacant

foster and kinship carer chaplain

hello@fosteringhope.net.au

Coming Soon

Northern Staff

Bec de Jong

Northern
Coordinator

bec@fosteringhope.net.au

Bec de Jong

Bec is the Northern Coordinator for Fostering Hope, her two roles are to engage with the Christian community about the work of Fostering Hope and to pastorally and practically support foster, kinship, and informal carers in Launceston. She has spent much of her career in the legal industry, Christian education and in both State and Federal Politics. Bec and her husband have two ragdoll felines who use what little energy they have to eat and leave their fur everywhere. She enjoys planning and hosting events, playing and watching sports and attends the Southern Presbyterian Church in Launceston.

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Anthea Maynard

Northern Mentoring Officer

anthea@fosteringhope.net.au

Anthea Maynard

Anthea is our Northern Mentor Officer, her role is to facilitate our Mentoring Program in the north of the state, providing carers with an extra level of support as they care for kids in care. Anthea has a diverse background in health and intergenerational faith formation. Along with her Fostering Hope work she works part time as the Team Leader of Launceston City Baptist and as the Program Officer for Food Plants International. She lives in a rural village with her husband and two adult daughters and loves to walk alongside people and support them to live out their faith in transformative, practical ways.

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Position Vacant

Statewide Mentoring Officer

mentoring@fosteringhope.net.au

Statewide Mentoring Officer

Would you like to join our team? We are currently recruiting for our new Statewide Mentoring Officer role!

With Natalia changing roles soon and Anthea leaving us, the new Mentoring Officer will work alongside Ellie by supporting mentors and mentoring relationships across the state.

If you would like to apply, please email your cv and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria in the Position Description to ellie@fosteringhope.net.au.

If you have questions about the role feel free to reach out to Ellie.

Applications close Friday 29 May.

Position Description

North West Staff

Bec de Jong (acting)

Northwest
Coordinator

bec@fosteringhope.net.au

Position Vacant

Bec is currently acting in this role until we fill the position.

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Natalia Ross

Northwest Mentoring Officer

natalia@fosteringhope.net.au

Natalia Ross

Natalia is our Northwest Mentor Officer, her role is to facilitate our Mentoring Program in the north west of the state, providing carers with an extra level of support as they care for kids in care.Natalia comes from a diverse background supporting children in learning how to learn, she has worked in the Department of Education, Christian education and early intervention services. Natalia finds genuine love for making others feel seen, valued, and supported. Outside of work, together with her husband, Natalia is a mum to four children, one of whom has special needs, she spends time with friends and enjoys walking her dog. Natalia attends Burnie Lifehouse Church.

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Board Members

John Morse – Chair – chair@fosteringhope.net.au
Mark Patmore – Treasurer – finance@fosteringhope.net.au
Esme Clarke
David Miklos
Dorothy Roberts
Maddy Svoboda
Sandy Whight