IMPACT leader named finalist in national disability employment awards

It’s rare to be recognised for your work on a national stage, but that’s exactly what IMPACT Community Services’ Felicity Hill experienced as a finalist at last month’s Disability Employment Australia (DEA) Awards.

Having been promoted to Regional Manager of Employment Services in December 2025 after only three months at IMPACT, Felicity was an obvious nomination choice for the Prime Super Emerging Leader Award.

The award celebrates a leader early in their management career who has demonstrated exceptional initiative, innovation and influence.

This is precisely what Felicity has done in her role overseeing IMPACT’s Inclusive Employment Australia and Workforce Australia teams across the organisation’s regional Queensland network, spanning from the Fraser Coast to Central Queensland.

Felicity clearly recalls the moment she learned she was one of the three finalists. At the time, she was tackling her emails after a month-long family holiday to Japan.

“It was the first email that I saw in my inbox,” Felicity said. “I was really excited. I was proud of myself.

“It's so nice to be recognised for your efforts in the sector, and I think it's something that doesn't happen enough on that scale.”

Felicity travelled to Adelaide to attend the DEA’s Gala Dinner, where the winners across four categories were announced.

While Felicity didn’t take home the win, she knows that being named a finalist is an honour in itself. Felicity said it was surreal to hear people screaming for her.

“It was nice to feel known in that space because it’s not something that happens very often,” Felicity said.

“People that I didn't know were congratulating me, which made my anxiety so much better.”

In addition to representatives from partner organisation CoAct, one of Felicity’s cheerleaders on the night was IMPACT’s General Manager of Disability, Employment and Training, Jenna Morrish.

As an experienced leader, Jenna saw Felicity’s leadership potential from the get-go and has been nurturing it ever since.

Her support hasn’t gone unnoticed. Felicity said she loves working under Jenna, whose mentorship and transparent, upfront leadership style suit the emerging leader well.  

“I appreciate her as a human,” Felicity said.

“She gives me opportunities to learn and grow and do things that I haven't done yet, and she supports me in that.

“Her brain works the same as mine. She understands me. When I go on tangents, she can keep up.”

The feeling is mutual. Jenna said that she’s witnessed incredible professional and personal growth in Felicity over the years they’ve known one another, and this development has accelerated over the last eight months.

“Since starting at IMPACT, I’ve seen Felicity step confidently into her leadership, continuing to evolve, challenge herself and lift others along the way,” Jenna said.

“What truly sets her apart is how deeply she cares about her people.

“She has a natural ability to hold accountability while building trust, which makes her not only respected, but genuinely valued by her team.”

Helping to shape Felicity’s empathetic approach is her firsthand knowledge of the employment challenges faced by those living with disability. Felicity’s mum, who has lived with disability for Felicity’s entire life, inspired her to join the disability employment sector.

“I watched her struggle all through high school just wanting to work, not for money, but to give her a sense of purpose,” Felicity said.

“When she did finally get a job after I finished high school, it changed her.

“She became brighter and happier. It made her feel like she was contributing to society in a meaningful way.”

Since launching her career in the industry in 2018, Felicity has supported many people in similar shoes to her mum find this same sense of fulfillment through employment.

She began as a consultant in the open employment space before finding her home in the Disability Employment Services (DES) program, now known as Inclusive Employment Australia. She also tried her hand as a claims officer and a regional manager at a not-for-profit, laying the groundwork for her current role at IMPACT.

Felicity said that the considerable time she spent working on the ground has made her a better leader.

“I knew what it was like to have that pressure of KPIs and placements and money,” Felicity said.

“I think that helped shape me to be the manager that I am because I have a good understanding of all facets of the role.”

This is only the beginning for Felicity, who hopes to continue to grow as a leader while helping more people experience the same sense of purpose and belonging that meaningful employment can bring.

To learn more about IMPACT’s Inclusive Employment Australia and Workforce Australia services, visit www.impact.org.au

At IMPACT Community Services, we believe in nurturing talent from within, and the Leaders Lab program is a testament to this commitment. Today, we share the inspiring journey of Nicole Hanson, who has grown remarkably through this program.

Nicole’s story begins in March 2019, when she joined IMPACT in the Accounts Payable role. A few months later, she transitioned to Payroll, demonstrating her versatility and eagerness to learn. After returning from maternity leave in February 2022, she stepped up as the Finance Team Leader. Now, she is poised to take on the role of Finance Manager, covering for Jenna Lindeman during her maternity leave.

Nicole’s decision to join the Leaders Lab program was driven by a desire to enhance her leadership skills, particularly after stepping into the Team Leader role. Her expectation was clear: to gain practical tools and strategies to refine her leadership style, learn from peers, and engage in thought-provoking discussions that would foster both personal and professional growth.

Leaders Lab is an initiative of IMPACT, created to encourage leadership development and create a culture of continuous learning and improvement within its leadership group. Leaders Lab creates a safe space for employees to learn, practice, develop, and refine their leadership skills, ensuring that leaders are grown and nurtured throughout every level of the organisation – not just those in management roles.

Staff who have successfully completed an Institute of Managers and Leaders (IML) program become part of the leadership alumni, and are encouraged to join Leaders Lab. The program involves monthly staff training sessions, Diversity Council of Australia sessions, access to IMPACT Academy (online learning platform) for personal development resources, coaching, mentoring, and more.

These activities provide participants with a comprehensive suite of resources and supports that help shape their leadership and build their capability for future career opportunities.

Throughout the Leaders Lab program, Nicole honed several key self-leadership skills, including self-awareness, time management, resilience, personal accountability, and mindfulness. These skills were not just theoretical; they were put into practice. For instance, implementing a morning routine to set up the day and an afternoon reflection time helped her maintain focus on priorities.

Participation in the program significantly boosted Nicole’s confidence. It was reassuring to learn that challenges faced at different career stages are often similar, even for those in long-established leadership roles. This realisation helped her overcome self-doubt and reinforced the belief that she was chosen for her role for a reason.

To fellow IMPACT staff considering the Leaders Lab, Nicole’s advice is simple: embrace the opportunity wholeheartedly. The program offers a unique chance to develop essential skills, connect with other leaders, and gain valuable insights. Sharing experiences and engaging in open dialogue can enhance confidence and empower you to achieve your career aspirations.

Staying open to learning and growth is crucial. Building a network of peers who understand the challenges of leadership provides ongoing support and inspiration. Nicole emphasises the importance of taking time to reflect and celebrate progress and milestones, no matter how small.

At IMPACT, we are proud to support our staff in their professional journeys, and the Leaders Lab program is just one of the many ways we invest in our people.

Insights from Outstanding Leadership Awards Finalist, Tanya O’Shea

This morning, Tanya O’Shea, the Managing Director of IMPACT Community Services, engaged in a conversation with David Dowsett on ABC Wide Bay Breakfast. The discussion centred around her recent nomination for the Outstanding Leadership Awards and the unique challenges faced by individuals in high-pressure leadership roles.

One critical topic explored was “leadership burnout” and its potential impact on prominent leaders who have recently stepped down from their positions. Notable figures like Queensland Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk, Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll, and Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci were cited as examples.

The conversation also delved into the effects of recent challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, cost-of-living crises, and the relentless pressures of social media on leaders already navigating demanding roles.

Tanya, drawing from her experience, shared valuable insights into effective strategies for self-care and burnout prevention.

For those interested, the full interview recording is available below.

By Tanya O'Shea, IMPACT Community Services' Managing Director

"STRONGER TOGETHER" is a weekly column where Tanya explores key issues. This week Tanya focuses on what it means to be a leader in both your personal and professional life.

When we talk about leadership, it should not always be within the context of a business position; rather we should also be talking about what it means to be a leader of your own life, and what that looks like.

Taking control of your own narrative and life for yourself rather than for others is not an easy task; it involves honest self-reflection and attention, setting boundaries and goals.

It may even involve quitting – and that’s not a bad thing. While there are currently some negative connotations with the word ‘quit’, as though you’ve given up or failed; the root word aligns with notions of freedom and being clear.

You’re not giving up on something, you’re freeing yourself from a direction, a job, a habit, a relationship, that didn’t serve you.

You chose not to give up on yourself and neglect your needs.

Resilience is one of the key attributes of a good leader, and it certainly applies to leading your own life.

Being able to recognise what you want and even who you are can be hard when very specific and non-inclusive societal narratives have been maintained throughout human history.

However, the prevalence of a mainstream narrative doesn’t mean it’s right and it certainly doesn't mean you are wrong if you don’t conform to society’s expectations.

Being resilient isn’t about being unwavering or unaffected by a situation – you're human and you’re allowed to feel, you’re allowed to change your mind and you’re allowed to dream. Resilience is being able to recover, adapt, and keep going.

It’s the ‘get knocked down seven times, get up eight’ spirit.

At IMPACT Community Services we invest in building resilience and leadership in our staff through myriad tools.

We have established a Leaders Lab for people in management positions to be involved in a monthly staff training sessions.

As an organisation we have the Impact Academy which encourages staff to pursue personal development in fields of interest to them through online learning courses, and champion mental health and cognitive awareness/reflection through various programs.

Understanding who you are can be the first step to living authentically and thriving in your daily life.

It can be an overwhelming process, so remember to take care of your wellbeing and give yourself a break.

It’s not about having all the answers right now, life is the journey of asking questions to find them and if you need support it’s available.

If this sounds like the type of workplace you’d like to clock in to, now’s your chance.

There is currently a range of vacant position that could be what you’re looking for. Click here or phone 4153 4233 to find out which roles are hiring.

While leadership is often easy to define, it’s not always so easy to practice.

But IMPACT Community Services’ Finance Manager Jenna Williams has been leading and developing her skills since joining the Bundaberg team five years ago.

Jenna joined IMPACT in 2017 as a Finance Officer, before taking on the role as Finance Team Leader in October 2018 and more recently took on the role as Finance Manager in January 2022.

During her time at IMPACT, she has completed a Foundation of Intentional Leadership program (FoIL), run through the Institute of Mangers and Leaders, after being selected by IMPACT management to attend.

The FoIL program, now called Leaders Lab, seeks to develop leadership in staff as the organisation grows its own workforce.

Leaders Lab involves monthly staff training sessions, Diversity Council of Australia sessions, access to IMPACT Academy for personal development resources, coaching, mentoring and more.

“I have learnt so much while working at IMPACT and value the commitment they have to developing their staff,” she said.

“I am a strong believer that you never stop learning and IMPACT support this.”

Jenna said it was great to be a part of the finance team as they all pitch in and help and support each other where needed.

She said the finance team has continued to grow and strengthen throughout her time at IMPACT and it’s something she’s looking forward to continuing.

“With new finance and payroll systems currently being implemented, our current goal is to navigate through the changes that these systems will bring,” she said.

“We will have a focus on improving and streamlining our processes and collaborating with IMPACT’s programs and managers to ensure that we are providing value.”

In her new role, Jenna is looking forward to her own professional growth as a leader.

“I also like to challenge myself and see my own growth, so that I can continue to lead the Finance team,” she said.

“It is great to know that I play a small part in making a difference in the community,” she said.

Hearing good news stories at staff meetings highlights that the community is benefiting from having an organisation like IMPACT and the programs that we deliver.

IMPACT Community Services has a range of support services in employment, training, mental health and volunteering.

To find our more visit impact.org.au or phone 4153 4233.

IMPACT is open from 8am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 8am-4.30pm Friday.