The Lakefield Care Team

Lakefield Care is the vision of Richard and Kirsten.  Their vision was to create a unique company that is person-centred and which puts clients in control and be the forefront of their own care needs. 

CEO

Kirsten Norris

Kirsten holds a Master of Social Work, Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology), Mental Health First Aid and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), to name just a few. Kirsten has also gained invaluable experience in suicide and crisis support whilst volunteering as a Lifeline Crisis Telephone Support Worker.  She has worked within the Community and Disability Sector since 2012 in various roles, including Support Work.  More recently, Kirsten worked in a Social Work role within an Early Intervention Outreach Families Program that included crisis counselling, practical support and advocacy to vulnerable families with children under the age of 18 years in the Deception Bay, Murrumba Downs, North Lakes and Rothwell regions.  Prior to Lakefield Care, Kirsten worked as a Care Coordinator for a well known NDIS Service Provider.  Kirsten continues to be inspired by a close member of her family who has lived with a disability for most of his life and she continues to support this individual to lead a fulfilling life. Education and self-learning is important to Kirsten and, no doubt, she will continue with formal education well into the future.

Professional training and development

Over the past 8 years, Kirsten has completed various professional development and training including:  

Master of Social Work (Qualifying) 

Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) 

Working collaboratively to address the mental health of people experiencing chronic pain

Establishing Recovery-Oriented (Mental Health) Relationships 

Introduction to the Queensland Human Rights Act 2019 

Understanding & Responding to Controlling & Escalating Behaviours 

Suicide & Grief: Enduring Complex Grief 

eSafety Women 

The Forgotten Known - Attachment Theory in Practice 

Suicide training workshop 

ADHD/ASD: The Game  

Confidentiality and Disclosure Legislation and Law 

Financial Resilience workshop 

The Resilient Brain  

Safeguarding Yourself – Recognising and Responding to Vicarious Trauma 

Australian Indigenous Cultural Awareness & Competency Training 

OnAlert Emergency Procedures Training  

Mental Health First Aid 

Assist (Suicide Prevention Workshop)  

Lifeline Telephone Crisis Support Worker  

The Accidental Counsellor  

DIRECTOR

Richard Borwick

Richard holds a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) and a BA in Business Management. He has 25 years of experience as a Manager and 13 years as a Support Worker. Richard has lived and worked in a number of countries, giving him a broad experience with people and cultures, and an appreciation of the worth of the individual. It was Richard's experience working in a wide variety of support positions that convinced him that the clients deserved more. 

Richard's leadership draws on the experience of the best practice that he has seen within the care industry.  He also sees similarities with his previous career managing and owning restaurants:  for him, the client is always king/queen.  This philosophy, in combination with Social Work practices, are at the core of Lakefield Care.  

CASE MANAGERS

Paul Przibilla

Paul has worked within the Community Services sector for over 23 years, empowering people of all walks of life to live the lives of their choosing.

He found his calling to assist people realize their hopes and dreams by providing them with the resources they need to be their best selves and rise above adversity. 

Paul began working within the Youth and Parent Service, and he has since gained experience in the Youth, Mental Health, Aged care, Disability, and Domestic violence sectors. He has worked alongside people who manage and live with Bipolar, Schizophrenia, ASD, ADD, ADHD, Anorexia, Bulimia, PTSD, Spinal injuries, MS, Parkinson’s, Early onset Dementia/Dementia, Vision Impairment, Diabetes, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, ABI (Acquired Brain Injury) & Intellectual disabilities.

He has been practicing martial arts for over 26 years and studying under his master for 11.

Paul loves working for Lakefield Care as he has found an organisation of likeminded people who believe in a strength-based, person-centred approach. Lakefield Care see you, not your disability.

SUPPORT WORKERS

Our experienced Support Workers come from a wide range of backgrounds and all share one commonality = passion.  We are selective in our recruitment process to ensure we choose individuals who demonstrate humanity and who possess genuine caring natures. They are client-focused and a "can-do" attitude is assured.  In addition, most have lived experience of disability, either through their own lives or through supporting family or friends.    

Here at Lakefield Care, we are happy to arrange a complimentary Meet & Greet so that our participants choose who they would like to support them on an ongoing basis:  Participants are truly in control!  If, at any time a Participant feel they would like a change of Support Worker or if they feel things are not going as well as they should, please talk to us, we actually listen!

Our Support Workers all possess the standard requirements for care work (Working with Children, Police Check, NDIS Worker Orientation Module, First Aid and CPR Certificate etc) and continue to keep updated with industry requirements.  

As the Lakefield Directors have formal qualifications, we understand the importance of continued learning and encourage and support our staff if they wish to pursue further studies within the industry.