Leadership Team

The Leadership Team at CHIRP Community Health

Dianne Couch – Chief Executive Officer

Dianne is an experienced Senior Executive who has lead and managed services and projects in the health care sector for many years. She has worked as an Executive leader in different community health services and held senior leadership roles in the hospital sector in acute, rehabilitation, aged and ambulatory care settings. She has also been the Executive Officer of a primary care partnership. Dianne has a strong commitment to the social model of health and social justice working with and in communities to achieve outcomes. This includes a focus on access, health and well being, service delivery, continuum of care and equity for people. Dianne is also interested in service redesign and leading change that ensures that services and programs are regularly evaluated with clients and the community to ensure services are effective, efficient and adequately meet the communities’ needs.

Michael McMahon –Housing, Family Services & Quality Manager

Michael has a long history working in and delivering programs designed to support disadvantaged individuals and families. Positive outcomes in these areas are a result of his leading roles in Community Development projects, research and evaluation initiatives and Shire-wide volunteer coordination. Michael’s previous client case-management and assessment is informed by his strengths-based social work background and social justice framework. His current position as Manager of Castlemaine Housing Service and Mt Alexander Family Services utilises his expertise and passions. Managing CHIRP Community Health’s Quality Improvement provides a refreshing challenge and recent achievements include being part of a team successful in gaining DHHS Quality Accreditation and an outstanding result in the Victorian Healthcare Experience Survey, while successful Rainbow Tick Accreditation is just around the corner. Being part of the CHIRP Community Health’s management team is a rewarding position which encourages his commitment to positive structural change while remaining closely connected to the Mount Alexander Shire community.

Deb McCarthy – Allied Health & Well being Team Manager

Deb McCarthy is the manager of the large Well-Being, Allied Health & Promotion teams. Deb has more than 35 years’ experience working in the community services sector in different fields which includes early childhood, family violence, family dispute resolution and child protection. Throughout Deb’s career, she has gained extensive experience with managing services that provide value to the community as well as supporting staff and colleagues to ensure they succeed in their role. Deb’s has a strong commitment to social justice and values a holistic approach to health & well being.

Linley Crum – Human Resource Coordinator

Linley is the HR Coordinator and Team Leader of Administration, Reception and Finance team at CHIRP Community Health. She oversees HR processes, finance, payroll, facilities, OH & S, incident reporting, and statistical data reporting to funding bodies. Linley has successfully implemented a number of new systems to support the organisation and its many functions, and in particular was instrumental in the introduction of a new payroll system, client management system and incident reporting system

Linley has previously worked in the banking industry where she gained valuable experience in finance, accounting and customer service practices and early childhood education where she gained leadership skills, ability to relate well with children and their parents to foster their development educationally and socially.

She has lived locally for many years, has strong community values and commitment to advocacy, that she brings to her position at CHIRP Community Health.