KATHRYN BURKE
Kathryn has knowledge and skills drawn from almost 30 years of training experience, education, community participation and life experience. She also has training and experience in frontline management and project management.
Starting out in the primary and tertiary sectors of education, Kathryn then chose to specialise in the VET sector working within learning and development for multiple Emergency Services including NSW State Emergency Service, Fire and Rescue NSW and NSW Rural Fire Service. She has also worked as a paramedic for NSW Ambulance.
Her ability to quickly assess and comprehend a new situation, and her relaxed but effective communication ability makes Kathryn an ideal candidate for a wide variety of training and consulting projects, especially in the Public Safety Sector. Kathryn has worked with volunteers, staff, managers, team leaders, consultants and contractors. She has worked effectively with people from the public, private, and education sectors.
With extensive experience as a presenter and facilitator, Kathryn uses a blend of active, co-operative and experiential learning strategies to engage participants and ensure retention of new ideas. As a developer, Kathryn has written a variety of training resources and supporting documentation, to be used by both full time and volunteer trainers/assessors. She has extensive experience in writing for both field based emergency service skill sets and incident management team roles, including the development and implementation of multiagency programs.
As a lifelong learner, Kathryn has been committed to both informal learning and formal qualifications. Her most recent education qualifications include a Graduate Certificate in Professional Education and Training, and a Diploma of Vocational Education and Training, ensuring she can support delivery of the TAE training package.
Kathryn also believes in the sharing of knowledge and supporting others to develop. She has mentored numerous trainers and assessors to help with both design and delivery skills. She has also presented at Australian and International Conferences.
Kathryn’s specific area of expertise include:
- Reviews of training systems and processes
- Bespoke training design
- Development and compliance of nationally accredited training
- Development of e-learning and blended delivery solutions
- Development and evaluation of exercises
Kathryn is currently a volunteer with the Country Fire Service, works with Ambulance Victoria as an Ambulance Community Officer and is a volunteer with West Gippsland Healthcare Group, supporting their learning and development team and their Consumer and Volunteer Engagement Manager.
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TONY PINELLI
Tony is an energetic emergency management leader, who is passionate about developing individuals and groups to support their communities during times of disaster. With 30 years experience working with emergency service organisations in WA, NSW, NT and VIC, Tony has a well rounded understanding of Emergency Management principles and practice in the Australian context.
Tony holds numerous qualifications within the Public Safety sector as well as his Certificate IV in TAE. To support his extensive practical experience he has also completed qualifications in project management, an Advanced Diploma Public Safety (Emergency Management) and a Masters in Business Administration.
Tony has been involved with the training and development of volunteers, L&D professionals and managers for close to 30 years. He is well known for his high level facilitation and mentoring skills, as well as his passionate delivery style. He is a sought after presenter for facilitation skills for new trainers. His ability to question and probe helps ensure that a clear understanding is gained of what an organisation requires from their training.
As a developer, Tony has written a variety of training resources and supporting documentation for local, regional and state levels for both public and private sector organisations.
More recently Tony has supported organisations in the review and implementation of their emergency management plans, applying best practice principles in a way that meets the capability of the individual organisation and its people, and helps to develop the capability of organisations in the EM space.
Tony’s specific area of expertise include:
- Bespoke training design
- Development of nationally accredited training
- Facilitation of meetings and training events
- Mentoring and coaching of individuals or teams
- Development and evaluation of emergency management plans and exercises
Tony is a current volunteer with the Country Fire Service.
JAMES BURKE
James is a Operations and Security Specialist with more than a decade’s experience in the Australian Defence Sector. He has international experience in Security Operations as well as roles in recruitment and training within the Defence Sector.
James has lead instructional staff and been responsible for the development, delivery and quality review of training for international deployments of personnel. This included updating training to ensure material and methodology was current and appropriate for job roles, using both the nationally recognised Public Safety and Defence Training Packages. He has also developed and delivered training for overseas security forces, using his strong problem solving and liaison skill sets to overcome barriers of language, culture and politics.
His qualifications in Security and Risk Management, Management, Government Investigations, Workplace Health and Safety, Emergency Management and training support his practical experience.
James is a current volunteer with the SES and is involved with veteran activities in Victoria.
JENNIFER HUME
Jenn brings to the team her experience of more than 20 years working with volunteer communities in Australia and overseas in the Pacific Islands and South Korea.
Jenn has over 10 years experience working in the emergency side of healthcare, when she started working for Ambulance Victoria as an Ambulance Community Officer. Since then she has supported other officers in the Branch Team Leader role, responsible for training, development and mentoring of a diverse community based group. She participates in a range of emergency focused exercises and training. She also represents at the Regional and State Forum Committees for AV emergency responders and advocates for better education packages that resonate with community volunteers.
Through extensive time working in the field, including through the worst of the COVID-19 Pandemic and in a response area that includes a range of environments such as alpine, dense forest, rural and urban communities, Jenn has developed excellent relationships with Police, CFA, SES and DEECA. Jenn believes these personal connections and the building of understanding and communication between agencies is crucial to best support our communities.
Jenn has also been involved in a range of community engagement programs, promoting understanding and empowerment for local communities. She is a great promoter of the “Call Push Shock” program and the GoodSAM initiative.
With a love for people, Jenn has a clear, friendly communication style and this reflects over to the style of training she leads. With a flair for scenario based training, over the last five years Jenn has also enjoyed assisting Monash University health students with their skills and case based assessments, through role playing a range of patients and clients.
Her qualifications include a Diploma in Paramedical Science and other qualifications in workplace health and safety.
Jenn supports the team through:
- Training compliance activities
- Development and review of training resources
- Emergency management research
- Facilitation of professional development workshops
- Development and evaluation of exercises
