Arthritis NSW | Our Staff

Arthritis NSW

Living Well with Arthritis

Staff

On this page: Education Team | Support Team

At left, Van Peters Cottage, Arthritis NSW in Parramatta.

	Karen Filocamo - Chief Executive of Arthritis NSW Karen joined Arthritis NSW as our new CEO in 2008 and has a long management career in the health and disability sectors. Karen is establishing a clear strategic direction for Arthritis NSW in areas such as education and information, fundraising, membership, branch support and marketing. She is enjoying being back in the not for profit sector and finds working with our branch network to be particularly rewarding.
	Education Team:
	Dianne Spragg - Education and Members Services Manager
	Nadine Garland - Arthritis and Youth Education Services Manager Nadine’s primary responsibility at Arthritis NSW is to coordinate the children’s program. She has vast personal experience of what it is like to live with arthritis, having been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when she was 19. Nadine is a registered nurse with a Certificate IV in workplace training and previous telephone counselling experience. She enjoys being able to travel and meet so many other inspirational people.
	Liz McPhee - Phone Adviser Liz is a registered nurse with more than 7 years' experience in providing health related phone advice. She is available between 10am and 2pm weekdays to discuss any questions and concerns that people diagnosed with arthritis or osteoporosis and their carers may have. Liz also coordinates the Sydney Fibromyalgia Support Group. She enjoys being able to help a wide variety of people cope with their diagnosis and recommended treatments as well as the impacts arthritis and osteoporosis can have on their lives.
	Jacqui Louth - Arthritis Educator Jacqui’s main duties include providing phone advice on arthritis, fund raising activities, promoting Challenging Arthritis, doing community talks and seminars and finding information on the latest arthritis research and news. Jacqui is a registered nurse with 28 years' experience as a Theatre Nurse in orthopaedic surgery and has a Masters of Public Health degree. She also has experience as a clinical educator and in sales.
	Carol Barnes - Education Advisor Carol has been working part time for Arthritis NSW since 2000 in a variety of roles and has been involved in the Education Committee since the 1980s. Currently her focus is the development of a new chronic disease self management program. Her background is as a registered nurse and she has a Masters degree focusing on adult learning. She is in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
	Janine Dawson - Osteoporosis Educator Janine is responsible for providing information to the public and health professionals regarding the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Janine produces a regular newsletter for members of Osteoporosis NSW and conducts seminars and talks for the general community, workplaces, and health professionals. Janine works on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. She has a science degree and a professional background in marketing pharmaceuticals. Janine most enjoys being able to get out into the community and meeting a large variety of people concerned about osteoporosis.
	Dianne Housego - Office Assistant Dianne is the office assistant and is responsible for organising Arthritis Self Management courses throughout NSW and coordinating the leaders for these. She loves working for Arthritis NSW as she finds it very rewarding to be able to help other people with arthritis. Dianne is in the office on Wednesdays and Fridays.
	Aruni Ratnayake - Education Advisor Aruni has a medical background and is an Arthritis Educator working on the National Arthritis Multicultural Initiative project. This project aims to bring Arthritis awareness to the Chinese and Greek community in the St George area. Prior to this, Aruni was a member of the Board of Directors at Arthritis NSW as the Branches Chairperson she represented nearly 50 branches and support groups in NSW.
	Helen Sinclair Helen is a physiotherapist with many years' experience working in hospitals. Her special interest was in orthopaedics where she treated people following surgery for joint replacements, fractures and other trauma. She joined Arthritis NSW in 2003 and works part time as an education consultant, conducting education sessions for community groups in both Arthritis and Osteoporosis. Her other interests include netball, photography, cross-stitch and gardening.
	Eloise Buggy - Senior Project Officer: Moving On Eloise works primarily as a project officer, co-ordinating a new chronic disease self-management program that has been developed by Arthritis NSW. The program aims to help people with any form of chronic condition by challenging unhealthy behaviours and attitudes as well as providing the knowledge and skills needed to create positive changes in their lives. She has a Masters of Public Health degree and enjoys the opportunity to help make a difference to those living with chronic conditions, including arthritis.
	Support Team
	Caroline Stern - Branches Liaison Officer Caroline’s primary role is to provide information and assistance to all of the Arthritis NSW affiliated branches and support groups. Caroline has over 20 years' experience as a teacher and has also done volunteer work in a large community organisation for more than 30 years. Her main reason for undertaking this role is to promote the benefits of being a volunteer. Caroline is in the office Tuesday to Thursday from 8.30 am to 4pm.
	Tina Bertsos - Reception/Information Officer Tina is the new Arthritis NSW receptionist. Tina is the most likely person to speak to if you ring the office. When not answering the phones, Tina is busy entering data to keep track of our statistics, sends out all the requested information and takes care of all the day-to-day activities essential to keeping the office operating smoothly.
	Dorothy Johnson - Accountant Dorothy has 50 years' experience in accountancy and her belief in the benefit of charitable organisations and giving back to the community was a big factor in her desire to work for Arthritis NSW. Dorothy is normally in the Arthritis NSW office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
	Melissa Denham - Membership/Hydrotherapy Melissa has been the Arthritis NSW receptionist for the past 4 years and has recently gone into the Membership Officer position. Melissa new role will focuses on the processing of memberships and donations, membership enquiries and database administration. Melissa also coordinates the Warm Water Exercise classes run by Arthritis NSW.
	Clarissa Becus - Personal Assistant Clarissa is the personal assistant to the CEO. Her main duties include typing letters, minutes, memorandums, reports, and other documents for Karen as well as assisting with the enquiries and answering the phone. She is also the coordinator for the Kidsflix program in NSW.
	Leanne Way - Publications Officer Having been diagnosed with (juvenile) rheumatoid arthritis when she 8, Leanne helped start the NSW Young Adults with Arthritis (NSW YAWA) group in early 2002 and is now employed as the Publications Officer. Leanne’s primary responsibilities are to research and write articles for Arthritis News and Stiff Kidz Biz (Arthritis NSW’s magazine for children with arthritis) and assist with all other forms of written information produced by the Foundation. Leanne is in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30am to 4pm.