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DASA Board of Directors 2008/2009
President: Mary Prunty
Vice-President: Naomi Asling
Public Officer: Jonathon Pilbrow
Secretary: Vacant
Treasurer: Shirley Baker
Ordinary member: Maureen Durbridge
Ordinary member: Marg McAlavey
Shirley Baker
Hi I’m Shirley Baker.
I have been in welfare for over ten years since departing from a Primary teaching background mingled with being a stay at home mum to my family of three. I have enjoyed all my social welfare experience in the rural setting, and predominantly, but not exclusively, homelessness service delivery. My interests have changed since moving to Alice Springs mid 2007. I now enjoy going bush and appreciating this beautiful country, I only swim for leisure now but swim more frequently. I lost sewing, cooking and craft somewhere along life’s journey.
I have pets back in Victoria; if anyone needs a donkey or two, give them my number.
I participate in The Salvation Army church life, and won’t bore anyone with my qualifications. My best asset is willingness to learn and give the left field a try.
My husband is also a social welfare worker here in Alice.
Maureen Durbridge
(Ordinary Committee member of DASA Committee)
I”ve lived in Alice Springs since May 1997, after 14 years in Darwin. I have had a family background of alcoholism problems which led me to seek help in Al-Anon Family Groups for family and friends of Alcoholics in 1972. I have remained a member of Al-Anon since then and have learned how to have a healthy life and share with others similarly affected by alcoholism. Having known at first hand how affected people can be led me to work with Juvenile Justice in Darwin and ASYASS in Alice Springs. Knowing also how one can learn to take control of one’s own life I became a DASA Committee member several years ago and remain on the Committee. I believe anyone with recovery has a responsibility to help others to find a healthy way of life and believe organisations like DASA can do this. I am also a member of the Alice Springs Women’s Shelter Committee and the Access Advisory Committee to the Town Council for the same reasons.
Margaret McAlavey
Hi All,
My name is Margaret McAlavey and I am currently employed by Central Australia Mental Health Service as manager of the Mental Health Unit which is located on the ground floor of Alice Springs hospital.
Since arriving in Alice some 41/2 years ago it became apparent to me that a lot of clients diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder also had a secondary diagnosis of substance abuse. Also a lot of the clients who are brought to ED via the police and/or night patrol usually present because of a crisis which is invariably in the context of alcohol or gunga intoxication.
As a result of the high comorbidity of mental illness and substance abuse I am keen to work closly with NGO Drug and Alcohol services.
Mary Prunty
 (president of DASA Committee)
I've lived in Alice Springs for nearly 18 years and involved in the alcohol and other drugs line of work all that time. I have a diploma of teaching, am a trained counselor with a certificate 4 in alcohol and other drugs. For my first four years I worked with the NT government alcohol and other drugs agency, mainly doing "bush work", working in Indigenous remote communities. I worked at Holyoake as a volunteer and then as a paid staff member from 1994 (a non government community organisation that works with all members of the family and individuals affected by alcohol or other drugs, whether they are users or being affected by another's use).
My involvement with DASA goes back all those years too. Through both the Government and involvement with Holyoake we always worked closely together in the community, cross referring clients and supporting each other's ventures. An indigenous committee member asked me to join the committee in 2002 and since then I've served as an ordinary member, secretary and then president in 2006. I've seen DASA grow from a small organisation with the focus mainly on the sobering up shelter to the larger organisation of today with the additions of individual counseling, a detox- rehabilitation 20 bed facility, community education and training and an outreach program.
Jonathan Pilbrow
Jonathan Pilbrow works as the Central Australian Policy Officer for the Northern Territory Council of Social Service (NTCOSS), having begun in March 2004, when it was a joint position with NT Shelter (until August 2008). Prior to this, Jonathan had 12 years experience as a Social Worker in the Health and Community Services Sector, in 3 States and Territories, with experience in Child Protection, Community Health and Hospital settings. Jonathan spent the first 5 years upon arrival in Alice Springs (1999) as the Social Worker with Renal Services.
Jonathan has an active involvement in a range of community and junior sporting activities, coaching football and cricket, being involved in the Salvation Army’s cross cultural work, and he and his family are also involved in fostercare. Jonathan also has an interest in learning Aboriginal language(s). Jonathan has been a member of the DASA Committee for over 6 years.
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