Our People

Strive Community Care Pty Ltd was established in 2021 by two community services professionals driven to create a social purpose organisation that actively supports the vulnerable people and families within our community through quality, person-centred services.

Ryan Dempsey

Co-Founder and Managing Director

Ryan is a passionate and dedicated Social Worker (accredited with the AASW) with extensive executive experience in the family preservation, Out of Home Care, disability, and criminal justice sectors. He is committed to serving the needs of disadvantaged people including First Nations communities, those with a disability, at-risk children/youth, vulnerable families, and those involved in the criminal justice system.

Daisy Dempsey

Co-Founder

A First Nations woman from the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea, Daisy is a skilled and experienced community services professional who has a strong background working in family preservation, Out of Home Care, domestic and family violence, and supporting women in the criminal justice system. She is devoted to improving outcomes and recognition for at-risk women and children in Australia.

Dragica Cecez

Care Services Manager

With over two decades of experience dedicated to the child protection sector, Dragica Cecez brings a profound understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable children, young people, and their families. Her background spans both statutory and not-for-profit environments, most recently as a leader in the NDIS space. Dragica is driven by a passion to ensure every individual feels safe, valued, and genuinely cared for, believing that love, safety, and consistency are the cornerstones of quality care. As a compassionate and dedicated leader, she prioritises supporting her staff, equipping them with the necessary tools, guidance, and encouragement to thrive and help those they work with reach their full potential.

Soon

People and Culture Manager

Siann Bullemor

Quality and Therapeutic Practice Manager

Siann Bullemor is a driven and dedicated professional with tertiary qualifications in both Psychology and Business. Passionate about working with children and vulnerable communities, Siann utilises a strengths-based approach to achieve positive outcomes. She takes a values-led approach to leadership, firmly believing every child deserves to grow up in a safe home with ample opportunities for play, creativity, and connection.

Jeremy Morse

Finance Manager

Jeremy is a CPA with two decades of experience in accounting and leadership support across diverse for-purpose organisations from Australia’s top end to Tasmania. His background spans software implementation, public sector enterprises, music production, and property development. A CFO secondment to Anglicare NT has given him a deep understanding of Australian First Nations peoples. His professional perspective is further enriched by various current and previous directorships in mental health, education, banking, overseas aid, housing, performing arts, and local faith communities. This diverse experience drives his commitment to developing efficient financial and reporting systems that maximise front-line service delivery.

Chantelle Eckert

Regional Manager - South-West

Chantelle Eckert has over 15 years of experience in Out Of Home Care (OOHC), specialising in family reunification, transitioning young people into family care arrangements, and supporting their journey into adulthood. She's a passionate advocate for quality care and outcomes for all young people, especially marginalised groups and those with disabilities. Chantelle is dedicated to helping young people break cycles of experience and build successful futures. She holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Social Welfare), various youth work and child protection certifications, and a Mini MBA in Leadership.

Ebbonie Horvatic

Regional Manager - Sunshine Coast & Central QLD

Ebbonie Horvatic, an aspiring Social Worker completing her Bachelor's degree, currently serves as Acting Regional Manager for Strive Community Care in the Sunshine Coast and Central Queensland. With over five years in Out-of-Home Care and a background in adult mental health, Ebbonie brings a compassionate, trauma-informed approach to her role. She is passionate about creating opportunities for young people, ensuring they always feel safe, cared for, and valued.

Vision, Purpose & Values

Why we are here & what we do.

Our Vision

It is a fundamental human right that all persons have the opportunity to live safely and in health, have a sense of belonging and wellbeing, live free from discrimination, and are provided with the fair opportunity to achieve their life potential.

We are committed to support children and their families within the child protection system and those with a disability, marginalised communities impacted by disadvantage and exclusion, thus creating greater equality in society through contributing to stronger people and families. Nobody is left behind.

Our Purpose

Strive Community Care is a For-Purpose organisation geared to provide quality and innovative supports to those in Queensland with a history of trauma and/or a psychosocial disability in order to build capacity, achieve goals, and maximise opportunities in life.

These services are offered in the family preservation, Out of Home Care, disability and justice fields within the community services sector focused on protecting and empowering those with the most complex needs.

Our Core Principles Guide Everything We Do

Person-Centred

The primary focus is always meeting the complex needs of the relevant clients that we support.

Be the Change

Actively advocate for the right to equal access of opportunity for children and their families. Opportunities should not be dependent on location or demographics and therefore systemic change is required to position families to prosper through strength and resilience.

Integrity

All organisation decisions and activity is not only underpinned by strong policy and procedure, but has a compelling inherent moral and ethical grounding that is informed through consistent staff, client and community consultation.

Unity

Encouraging participation, inclusion and acceptance for clients, stakeholders and the communities in which we operate through powerful relationships and healthy organisational culture.

Excellence

Striving for ‘best practice’ professional standards within the community services sector in order to offer consistently quality services that change lives for the better.

Creativity

Utilising an innovative lens to ‘challenge the status quo’ of conventions and offer novel solutions for sector and societal issues.

Ready to see how we can help?

For further information or if you have have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out.