Brett is originally from Victoria and now lives on the Sunshine Coast with his lovely wife Ngwee and three beautiful children Brandon, Jake and Talia.  

Brett comes to Seed Foundation Australia with over 18 years experience in community services and development, in the areas of Sport and Recreation, Health and Fitness, Youth, and Primary Health within Local Government, not for profit and private sector organisations across Queensland and the Northern Territory. 

Brett's most recent role was Acting General Manager with North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health on the Sunshine Coast. Prior to that, Brett spent four years with East Arnhem Regional Council in the Northern Territory and nine years with the Australian Football League. 

Brett is passionate about seeing people achieve their full potential and "closing the gap", particularly in the areas of health and education.

Rick Phineasa is of Torres Strait Islander heritage. His mother is from Murray Island in the eastern Torres Straits and my father is from Mabuiag (Jervis) Island in the western Torres Straits. Rick was raised in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait community of Bamaga in the Northern Peninsula Area in Cape York. 

Rick has worked in the area of empowering Indigenous youths and families for the past 26 years. He is passionate about “closing the gap” of Cultural understanding in our society and assisting individuals and families to get the best of what they can out of life. Rick has worked for the Federal Government, State Government, private and Non for Profit, Education and Training sector, in various capacities. 

Rick enjoys doing voluntary work in his community, especially with empowering and motivating indigenous people and preserving language and culture. Rick has joined the Seed team as a Stakeholder Engagement Manager in 2018t o open opportunities for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait ISlander students to pursue a career in health and social services.

Based in our Warana office. Ian is a Sunshine Coast local, born in Nambour and lives in Coolum Beach. A husband, a father of five and a grandfather of seven. 

Ian has previous experience working in Group Training and 30+ years within the construction industries. He has also run his own businesses and developed his own (world first) garden tool, that he manufactures out of Kunda Park here on the Sunny Coast. 

Ian has found his way back to Group Training and is looking forward to the challenges ahead.

De’arne French (nee Lenoy) is of Aboriginal and South Sea Islander descent and a Traditional Owner of ‘Birri’ Country around the Collinsville area. 

De’arne has worked within education in North Queensland for over 20 years. De’arne is passionate about working with Indigenous students and families in achieving a positive or educational outcome.

De’arne has joined the Seed team as an Engagement Manager to provide wrap around support service to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students looking to pursue a career in health or social services.

Jahla Neliman is a young Torres Strait Islander woman and is a descendant of the Komet, Zagreb and Wagadagam Tribe. Jahla has both Eastern and Western connections to the Torres Strait Islands. 

She lived in Brisbane after her schooling then moved over to Yulara where she worked as a Receptionist at Ayers Rock Resort then eventually moved back home to Townsville with her son. 

She has been with Seed Foundation for almost a year completing her Certificate III in Business Administration.

Leilani is a young Australian and Maori woman, born in Byron Bay, NSW but has lived on the Sunshine Coast since a young girl.

From graduating year 12 at Maroochydore State high school in 2016, Leilani was unsure on which path she wanted to take for her future. Trying to find her interests in life and trying out different jobs from hospitality to retail, Leilani found herself enjoying work as a receptionist / float attendant at a health and wellbeing centre, The Float Space Maroochydore. Helping to make a positive impact on people’s lives and seeing people be the happiest version of themselves has always been a passion for Leilani. After 3 years of working in reception, she decided she was ready to progress her future / career and then went on to secure her Business Administration Traineeship with CnG Employment while working Full time for Seed Foundation Australia in March 2022.

“It has been such a good, positive change and has been very motivating for me towards my future opportunities in life” says Leilani.

Leilani loves spending her spare time outdoors in nature or at the gym, as well as spending quality time with her friends and family.

Tamara Hussey is a young Aboriginal and Maori woman and is a descendant of the Warrgamay and Ngati Kahungunu people. Tamara is from a small rural community of Hughenden and now lives in Townsville.

Tamara attended and graduated high school at St Margaret Mary’s College, Townsville (Indigenous Captain). Upon graduating in 2017, Tamara secured a Business Administration Traineeship with Connect ‘n’ Grow with recently joining the Seed Foundation Australia Team in 2022. 

As a current James Cook University student completing her Bachelor of Nursing Science degree, Tamara is passionate about becoming a Registered Nurse and in return aims to be an active educator, an advocate and a promoter of disease awareness, good health practices, a supporter of strong family values within the Nursing workforce and her community. Tamara aims to implement the delivery of health education into the communities and become part of the solution by empowering others to do the same. To “Close the Gap”.

Born and Raised in Western Sydney, NSW, Brooke now resides on the Sunshine Coast. Brooke identifies as Aboriginal from both the Darkinyung and Dharug Tribes that reside within the Region of the Blue Mountains, NSW. 

Graduating Year 12, Brooke then went onto completing a Business Administration Certificate whilst in Full Time Employment for 3 years within the Recruitment and Labour Hire Industry as a Employment Consultant in the Blue Collar Sector. Brookes' current experience has been working as a Employment Consultant for the last 12+ Months in government and Indigenous Sectors. 

Brooke really enjoys going to the beach, reading books, watching/listening to murder documentaries/podcasts, starting new hobbies before she finishes the last ones, shopping and cooking. Brooke joined the Seed Team Early December 2021. She is passionate about working with and assisting young Indigenous students in achieving a pathway plan for their future and setting them on the best path to a fulfilling future. Brooke is also passionate about utilising further education to assist them in achieving a clear indication of Future Employment within the Education and Health Industries.

Brooke goes by the fewing quotes:

"Learn from your mistakes"

"Treat People how you would like to be treated"

"Stay Positive, Work Hard and make it happen"

My name is Zac Seden, and I am the new Pathways Support Officer based in Mackay. I am a proud indigenous man local to Mackay with ties to Erub & Mer in the Torres Strait and the Ghungalu people in Central Queensland.

Although I come from a predominantly mining background it’s helping the community is where my passion is. My grandmother is my motivation for what she has done for this community and I will carry on her legacy by helping out our indigenous youth, our next generation by empowering them to become Proud, Strong and Succesful.

I am looking forward to my new position and using my skills and experience to help further educate the next generation in education, employment and life.

I'm thrilled to connect with the local community, especially with the youth. As someone who grew up in a rural area near the Worrabinda settlement, I have a deep passion for fostering and developing indigenous youth. 

With my background in training, education, and administration, I'm excited to share my life, work, and travel experiences to instill the importance of traditional ways in today's youth. 

It's crucial to keep Australian first nations cultural values strong and empowered. By building respect and a strong attitude, we can make a difference while striving to build a better world around us, all while protecting the land on which we all live. 

Let's make a positive impact together!