As an experienced people person, Nettie loves connecting with everyone she meets. Nettie firmly believes in the simple philosophy of “listen first, act second,” and this approach creates an improved workplace atmosphere where employees feel comfortable expressing themselves without assumptions, feeling seen and heard, leading to more thoughtful decisions and positive outcomes for all.
Nettie thrives on challenges and problem solving. In her role, no two days are the same. This is something that keeps her energised, engaged, and continually rewarded. This is a key highlight of what drew her to CPSN initially. We are always continuing to evolve, while staying true to our purpose and organisational values.
One of her key strengths is improving our organisational processes so the team can work smarter and more efficiently. She also enjoys developing people focused frameworks that support growth, clarity, and collaboration.
What motivates you in the work that you do?
Knowing that I’m contributing to something that makes a real difference in people’s lives. Supporting the teams that support individuals living with disability and their families means I get to see the impact of choice, independence and inclusion every day.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to know that even small actions can help someone feel empowered and valued.”
What do you think the sector still gets wrong - or overlooks, when it comes to supporting people with a disability?
I think one of the biggest things the sector still gets wrong is focusing too heavily on the disability itself, rather than the person. Too often supports are designed around compliance, funding, or ticking boxes instead of starting with what truly matters to the individual which are their goals, their lifestyle and their choice and control.
Nettie also feels that another area that is overlooked within the industry that needs mor efocus and support is continuity of care.
“People with disability thrive when they have consistent, trusted relationships with their support workers, but high turnover in the sector can disrupt that stability. There’s also more work to do in creating genuine pathways for inclusion, not just access, but belonging.”
Is there a moment or story that’s stayed with you during your time at CPSN (so far) that you'd like to share with our community?
I thoroughly enjoyed my first connection day. Working remotely on a permanent basis can be very challenging, and having these in person connection days are so amazing. It was an absolute treat to meet the team face to face.
How would you describe CPSN’s culture in a few words?
CPSN’s culture is supportive, inclusive, and people focused. We value collaboration, genuine relationships, and creating an environment where both clients and staff feel respected, empowered, and heard. More importantly it’s something I personally felt right from the beginning during my very first interactions with the team.
What are your top three (3) tips you can share that you’ve learnt from doing your role / having the life experience you do etc?
1) Listen first, act second means truly hearing people’s needs, instead of assuming what they are and then responding to your own assumption. It creates better outcomes every time.
2) Be flexible and open-minded, no two days (or people) are the same, so adaptability is key in both problem solving and support.
3) Never underestimate small actions, what feels like a small effort to you can make a huge difference to someone else’s independence and confidence.
How has your perspective on disability inclusion evolved over time?
After 14 years working in this space, my focus has definitely shifted to uphold a more rights-based inclusion standard and structuring environments that prevent harm and bias.
Defining how we operationalise dignity and respect and mirroring that in our internal processes and procedures is what gives me great joy.
What have people with lived experience of disability taught you that you couldn’t have learned elsewhere?
People with lived experience teach humility. They expose blind spots in governance and service delivery that often go unseen and undetected. They shift inclusion from “we provide” to “we partner.” And perhaps most importantly, they teach that dignity is not something an organisation grants. It is something it must never take away.
Outside of work, what are we most likely to find you doing? What are your hobbies and interests?
I love the outdoors so when I’m not working, you’ll find me at a beautiful camping spot enjoying either beach or bush views with my husband and our family and friends. I adore cooking and like experimenting with new cultures’ flavours and textures. We are avid travellers so you can bet there’s always an international trip booked to somewhere. I was also born in South Africa, and speak three languages.
At CPSN, we take the time to ensure that we recruit the right people for the right roles like Nettie. From time to time we have various roles available to join our team. You can find out more about our current employment vacancies here. If you prefer, call us on (03) 9478 1001. We're here to help.
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