Meet The Team
M&A Support Services is an independent provider of Support Coordination & Recovery Coaching, meaning our sole purpose is supporting you to live the life you choose. We help you build your confidence to guide your own supports, so you are in control of your destiny.
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Our team of experienced Support Coordinators & Recovery Coaches can walk you through not only understanding your plan but helping you to manage what supports your budget can purchase.
Annalisa
Hi, I’m Annalisa one of your Client Experience / Support Coordinators here at M&A Support Services.
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I am married with two adult children and two gorgeous fur babies, Camden a 9 year old German Shepard and Fletcher, a 4 year old Cavoodle who love to keep me busy.
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My parents migrated to Australia from Italy when they were 13 (Mum) and 27 (Dad) in the hope of finding a better life and I was brought up with strong Italian values such as having a family-first outlook on life, a hard work ethic and of course cooking which I still love to do today. In my spare time I also love to do yoga and spend lots of time with my family – I think holidays are pretty great too! My favourite cuisine is Japanese and my favourite holiday to date has been India. Something that not many people know about me is that I had the opportunity to meet President Clinton, an experience that I will remember forever!
My career began working within the Automotive industry which I found wasn’t for me so I soon moved on to Banking and Finance, but I found it hard to lend out money that I knew would be too difficult for people to repay. I then spent time working within the Hospitality industry which I loved however I found that I was missing out on spending quality time with my family after my children were born. I happened to fall into the Not-for-Profit sector, working within aged care and disability services and it was here that I truly found my passion so naturally once the NDIS arrived in Melbourne’s West, the rest was history!
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My motto in life is to live and love like today is your last day and I’m passionate about advocating for those less fortunate than myself. I believe that all people who want to work should be able to work including those with disability and this is something that I would love to leave as a legacy. No matter how much or little a person has, we are all able, we all have dreams and we all deserve the right to contribute to the community. Disability is not a barrier, ignorance is.
Annalisa
Shane
Hi my name is Shane and I am a Support Coordinator here at M&A Support Services.
I am married with 2 teenage children. 19 and 14. My wife also has a dog, Harlo who is also part of our family.
My background is Australian/ Italian and I am the eldest of 7.
In my spare time, when I’m not in the kitchen cooking, or outdoors, enjoying the sounds of nature, I love all different sports and yes, I am a Hawthorn tragic, plus I like to spend my time in front of a canvas, where I am a self taught portrait painter, having painted for the Archibald Prize on multiple occasions. Painting is a passion of mine. I enjoy nothing more than to head to an art gallery or exhibition any chance I get. I have had big dreams of travelling and on my honeymoon , I had the opportunity to fulfil a dream of mine and spend 10 days in Japan, experiencing the sights and culture, the peace and humanity.
Growing up living with a disability taught me that hard work, understanding and compassion is important and representing your beliefs is always worthwhile, no matter the reason.
My professional background has been in disability and as of recent, I spent 4 years as a Senior Planner with the NDIS, where I developed an increased understanding of disability rights and how we can support each other to live amazing lives. Prior to this, I was working closely with People with a Disability as an Employment consultant and as a Life Coach, where I achieved many wonderful things and seeing others grow and thrive, is what motivates me.I truly believe that understanding, passion and support are important when working with others, respect and hard work underpin everything that I achieve in life, and that’s what I bring to M&A support services.
Shane
Skye
Hi My name is Skye and I’m Operations Manager at M & A Support Services.
I’m married with 2 young kids, 7 and 9 who are extremely active and very noisy. I also have a 13 year old groodle who is our 1st baby, she is lovingly referred to as the grumpy old lady when we are out for walks.
I too Love to cook, I especially enjoy planning and creating my kid’s birthday cakes. I feel it’s a prerequisite to love Japanese food to be a member of this team fortunately I do and make some mean gyoza according to my son. Travel is always on the agenda with some of my favourite places visited being, Japan, Cuba and Disneyland.
I began my career as a Volunteer, working in a recreation department supporting individuals with an Intellectual Disability. From there I commenced my paid employment in the Disability Sector as a support worker in residential services. I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to work in London as a support worker for 12 months I again had the opportunity several years later to visit an organization in Canada for a month. Over the years I have managed various services ranging from residential services, a Planning Team, Case Managers, Support Coordinators and a Day Service. More recently I had the opportunity to lead the inception of NDIS services for an organisation and support its growth and management.
I’m passionate about working in the Disability Sector and have been around for many changes. Most importantly I like to see the growth in people around me and find it’s the little things to you that might mean the world to someone else.
Skye
Trisha
My name is Trisha, and I am a Support Coordinator at M&A Support Services.
I live in the Northern suburbs of Melbourne and have done so all my life. I love the multiculturalism here. I have a 21-year-old son who is very handy around the house as he is quite tall. I live with my son and his partner. We have two cranky, vintage dogs and a lazy cat and we love them all to bits, when they behave!
I am interested in the paranormal – the real ghost hunting stuff, not the fictional shows. I enjoy cleaning and hate cooking. My favourite food is Malaysian. I am not keen on Sports or Politics. My preferred season is Winter for sure and I enjoy spending down time alone playing silly games on my iPad. But I also love catching up with family and friends.
I recently travelled to Ireland for the first time. This is where my parents and extended family are from, and I visited their hometown of Portglenone. I would dearly love to go back one day as it was so beautiful and green. Imagine having an ancient castle ruin in your main street! We just don’t have that here..
My career history comprises of some Corrections / Justice work while I was at University and straight after that. A friend of mine was working in the disability sector, and I thought I would give it a go. That was over 37 years ago. I have worked as a Support Worker / Direct Care Worker, Outreach Worker teaching skills to people with disabilities, Case Manager, Advanced Case Manager, Family Outreach Worker, Team Leader and Support Coordinator. I have worked for both Government and Non-Government organisations.
I have seen so many changes and much growth along the way, from working for participants to working with them, from the closure of Kew Cottages and Janefield to where we are now with a myriad of accommodation options, from paper files to online files (am I showing my age yet??). Being in the field so long means I am passionate about what I do and love meeting new people and am humbled hearing their stories. I do not think this field is suited to anyone who does not have the time to listen to the stories of others and ensure, through the work Support Coordinators do, that they are truly heard, appreciated and supported. I am also working with a really vibrant and enthusiastic team and look forward to immersing myself in this role.
Trisha
Branka
Hi my name is Branka I work for M&A Support Services as a Support Coordinator.
I am married with two daughters who are 19 and 9 years old. I love them dearly and enjoy being their outlandish mum! I also have a dog named “Dwayne” yes after the “Rock Dwayne Johnson” who is 5 years old. He is 50kilos and loves to sit on my lap to cuddle.
I enjoy driving, shopping, cleaning, watching movies and visiting my family and friends. I love to eat food, I enjoy watching cooking shows however I cannot cook, I’m lucky to have a husband and daughters that can cook! LOL
I started my career back when I was 14years old, I worked at Safeway as a “Checkout Chick” and eventually became the Store Manager at the ripe age of 20. Whilst working at Safeway I completed a Secretarial course and found a job with Insurance Brokers. I worked there for 20 years doing a variety of roles such as receptionist, administration, PA and finally finished up their as a Site Manager. I eventually left and found a job working for a Non for-Profit Public Housing provider as a Real Estate Assistant.
At the youthful age of 40 I gave birth to my daughter and left the Real Estate industry to stay home with my newborn. Eventually it was time to go back out into the work force, so I found a job working for a Disability Employment Service as the PA to the CEO. I thoroughly enjoyed this role however an opportunity arised within the same company to join the Disability Team as a Support Coordinator.
I soon realised that being a Support Coordinator was my passion!
I have been a Support Coordinator for the past 4 years now and I have thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to change people’s lives.
Branka
Mia
Hi, I’m Mia & I’m the Administrative Assistant here at M&A Support Services!
​I have one angel fur baby named Zara & she is just the best! She is very much the cheeky one of the family!
I am currently studying to be a school teacher & when I’m not working for M&A Support Services, I am a Learning Support Officer at a local primary school. I love watching the students grow into the best version of themselves.
I have however, worked many years in admin & am very excited to be apart of the M&A team!
I was born here in Australia, however all 4 grandparents were born over in Italy!
A big perk of this is that I have been very lucky growing up & learnt to appreciate & love the art of food & cooking!
Italian has to be my absolute favourite cuisine. I definitely could eat pasta all day, every day! I love cooking Italian food for my friends & family.
Mia
Em
Hi, I’m Em and I’m a support Coordinator here at M&A Support Services!
I don’t have kids, but I have fur babies. My 13-year-old tuxedo boy, Felix. I adopted him when he was a kitten; he is a majestic little prince, who suffers from social anxiety and is diabetic. This means he needs two insulin injections a day. Felix loves to lay in the sun and sleep on my pillow.
Then, there’s little Possum. She is also 13-years-old, and a little grey ball of fluff. Possum came to me later in life when I was palliative fostering her son. She has a kink in her tail, a heart condition and had to have a few teeth removed. She is now my gorgeous little dribbler! She loves to yell at me and let me know she’s hungry (even though I’m sure I fed her already!).
I’m currently studying forensic science and criminology, along with a few short courses that are disability specific. I completed my certificate lll in individual support and worked at an aged care facility in the dementia and palliative sections. I loved this and expanded my work into 1:1 disability support, then furthered my education with certificate IV in disability.
I loved Support work and spending time with participants! I then took on a role of support coordinator and I’ve been able to learn so much more about how NDIS works and how to best support people in getting the most out of their plans and achieving their goals.
I love learning about the people I work with and supporting them in upholding their choice, control and independence in their lives.
I didn’t see myself working in this role, but now I can’t see myself doing anything else!
Em
Peta
Hi, I’m Peta and I work for M&A Support Services as a Support Coordinator.
I love spending time with family and friends, cooking (various cuisines), being outdoors, the beach and simply making memories. I have a 4-year-old Cavoodle named Ruben who everyone says they want to be in their next lives – yes, he’s spoilt and I’m ok with that!
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I have 10+ years’ experience in the family and community services sector/s, undertaking various roles, all of those I feel have led me back into the disability space. I am passionate about supporting others to achieve their goals, love to share my knowledge with others and empower individuals, and their families, to reach the best outcomes based on their unique circumstances. I am creative in the ways I work and pride myself on being an extremely strong advocate and resourceful individual. I look forward to getting to know you all, supporting your journey’s, hearing your stories and learning new things from yourself and those around you.
Peta
Pina
Hi My name is Pina and I work with M & A Support Services.
A little bit about myself. I am married, I have 4 children and 3 grandchildren, and they are my world.
I went back to studying when I was in my mid 30s and I haven’t stopped studying. I recently finished completing a course in Holistic Trauma and Abuse Counselling Meditation Therapies and am looking forward to continue with more studying. I have been working with clients with meditation for a little over 2 years now and I love what a difference it has made to their lives.
I enjoy exercising, walking, meditation, and I love cooking and entertaining for my family and friends.
I am looking forward to this new journey where I know I will help many people on a day to day bases.
Pina
