Disability in New Zealand

You are here: Disability in NZ > About Disability Services > Structure of Disability Services

Structure of the Disability Support Services Group

The Disability Support Services Group is part of the Health and Disability National Services Directorate, within the Ministry of Health, which is headed by Deputy Director-General Geraldine Woods.

Who’s who

Icon link to disability services organisational chart.

View organisational chart for Disability Services

Supporting the Group

Anne O’Connell is the Group Manager, Disability Support Services. Anne is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction to the Disability Support Services Group and overseeing the allocation of funding provided for disability support services from the Vote: Health budget. Anne is also a member of the Directorate Leadership Team.

Rachel Daysh is the Senior Advisor Complex Support. Rachel provides advice and support to the Disability Support Services Group on complex packages of support for individuals and is part of the Senior Management Team.

Jon Gaupset is the team manager of the Community Living Team. This team is responsible for managing contracts and service development for residential services, rehabilitation and high and complex services.

Marsha Marshall is the team manager of the Family and Community Support Team. This team is responsible for managing contracts and service development for home & community support services, family/whanau services, respite services, carer support, child development services, behavioural support services, individualised funding, day services, foster care, and the Autism Spectrum Disorder development programme.

Mark Powell is the team manager of the Service Access Team. This team is responsible for managing contracts and service development for Needs Assessment & Service Coordination Services, Disability Information & Advisory Services and Environmental Support Services.

Alison Hearn is the team manager of the Group and Contracting Support Team. This team oversees the group contracting process, internal operations and standards for the group and project management.

Alison Hearn is the interim team manager of the Strategy and Sector Support Team. This team manages workforce development and provides support and advice to internal and external networks around disability support services for disabled Pacific people and their families.

The group is supported by:

The Chief Advisor Disability – Lester Mundell. Lester is part of the Directorate Leadership Team and provides expert advice on issues affecting the disability sector and disabled people from a legislative and strategic viewpoint. He also manages the administration of the Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation) Act, 2003. Lester is a member of the Directorate Leadership Team.

The Manager Special Projects Disability (interim) – Trish Davis. Trish assists with significant projects such as allocating funding for long-term support services for people with chronic health conditions.

The Group Manager Quality – Rhondda King. Rhondda is part of the Directorate Leadership Team and is responsible for overseeing the quality audit programme and developing and maintaining standards for quality outcomes for all our services.

The Strategic Advisor Maori and Equity – Roger Jolley. Roger is from the Business Strategy Group and is part of the Directorate Leadership Team. He is responsible for developing and coordinating integrated strategies to achieve equity and improving Maori health outcomes.

Page last updated: 21 April 2009

Website feedback
We welcome your feedback on this website.