Graeme's        Catherine's            Resumes for Graeme

After leaving Hollywood Senior High School in 1979, he commenced his employment history as an Assistant Personnel / Welfare Office working within a Sheltered Workshop, whilst completing a Bachelor of Arts (psychology / computer science).  He became directly involved with social and welfare service provision for people with a disability.  He gained valuable research and tutoring experience during his Bachelor of Psychology (1987) degree.  Frustrated by lack of opportunities in the Rehabilitation Counselling field he went to live and work in the United Kingdom firstly as a Data Processing Manager for an Electronics Company, and then a Psychologist Evaluator at the Papworth Trust.

At Papworth he was responsible for establishing a commercially orientated Assessment and Development Centre, providing vocational assessment and guidance mostly to people with disabilities. His previous research and computer experience led him to pioneered the Trust's involvement in international Rehabilitation Engineering research on a couple of EEC TIDE projects. This research resulted in the development of integrated robotic workstations to assist severely physically disabled. As part of his Project Management he travelled to the USA, Canada, Holland & Sweden to attend and present at international conferences.

Returning to WA in 1994, he moved from working with SkillShares to Local Government being employed as a Disability Services Officer for the City of Canning. In this role he has supported the Disability Access Advisory Committee of Council and is ensuring that Council's information, policies and practices come in line with the Disability Services Act and Disability Discrimination Act. He was the co-ordinator of the City's Disability Services Plan and Disability Discrimination Act Action Plan, and his work led to the Council receiving the prestigious Prime Minister’s Employer of the Year Award (1996).

For 3 years he was employed as the Coordinator, Disability Employment for the Ministry of Premier & Cabinet, a challenging strategic role aimed at improving access to employment opportunities for people with disabilities within the State Public Sector.  He is currently a Senior Project Officer heading a new internet based service delivery project for the Ministry, which has already revolutionised the redeployment process.

He has been involved in a number of Committees including, ACROD (WA)'s Access & Mobility Committee, People With Disabilities (WA) Inc., and was a member of the Disability Discrimination Act Standards Project and the Access & Mobility Technical Committee of the Australian Building Codes Board.  He has been a consultant for the Commonwealth Attorney-Generals Department on access standards.

He was the Chairperson of the Department of Transport (WA) Consultative Working Party to develop its Disability Discrimination Act Action Plan. As chair he conducted a lot of direct negotiation and liaison with Department of Transport staff, Industry Representatives and Consumers. He also undertook some research in Europe, investigating best practise, with funding from the WA Department of Transport.

In his initial role with the Ministry of the Premier & Cabinet, he developed a strategic approach to promoting employment opportunities for people with disabilities, including a supportive policy framework within the WA Public Sector.   He supported the Disability Employment Advisory Committee.  His role then changed to a Senior Project Officer responsible for project / contract managing the ‘Jobs Online’ information technology system, which he conceptualised, then implemented and monitored.  He then managed the strategic alliance between key stakeholders of this project.

Currently he is Principal Consultant for Ability Awareness and AByte4You Computer Solutions Pty Ltd. He is also working as a Community Development Officer for the Gold Coast City Council with a particular remit to address disability issues. Mr Dargie is a Committee Member of the Gold Coast Advocacy Group Inc, which provides individual and systemic advocacy to people with disabilities in the Gold Coast Region.

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After leaving High School mid 1985, she commenced a Business Studies Course at the Benowa TAFE College on the Gold Coast.

While attending the course she was introduced to the newly appointed Recreation Officer for People with Disabilities who was based at the TAFE College.  As a result of this meeting she was asked if she would be interested in participating in some Disabled Sporting events being held on the Gold Coast.  Catherine showed so much potential in the swimming pool, that the Recreation Officer told her about Sporting events such as the forthcoming 1988 Seoul Paralympics, and with training she could be there representing her country.

The Recreation Officer trained Catherine for the latter part of 1986 until mid 1987 when Catherine approached an able bodied Swimming Coach on the Gold Coast. He was reluctant at first as she was a lot slower than his able bodied swimmers.  He finally decided to train her.

In 1988 she competed at the Westfield Challenge in Sydney where she won 10 Gold Medals in 10 events and also obtained a World Record in one of the events.  Later that year she was named in the Australian Team for the Seoul Paralympics.  Catherine won Silver in 100m Backstroke for her class of disability.  She was named Gold Coast Disabled Athlete of the Year and Sporting Wheelies most improved Disabled Athlete of the Year.

In 1989 she competed at a World Championships held in Nottingham England where she won six Gold and one Silver in one day.  Upon returning she was named Gold Disabled Athlete of the Year also the Queensland Disabled Athlete of the Year and the Sporting Wheelies Disabled Athlete of the Year.

She competed at the 1990 Australian Open Swimming Championships held in Melbourne where for the first time Disabled Events had been included in the programme. She won Gold in a Multi Disability race as a result of being the closest to the National Record for her class of her disability.

Later that year she competed at the World Championships in Assen Holland where she won One Gold and three Bronze.  She was named Gold Coast Disabled Athlete of the Year.

Early in 1992 she was given a Queensland Academy of Sport scholarship to assist with her travel and training costs as a lead up to the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics.  Later that year she was named as a member of the Australian Team.  She won Gold as a member of the 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay for S1 - S6 her class.  She was named Gold Coast Disabled Athlete of the Year.

Upon her return to Australia in 1993 Catherine was named in the Gold Coast City Council Awards and received the Australia Day Sporting Award.  In June she was named in the Queens Birthday Honours List and she received the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for her services to sport.  In late 1993 she was married and moved with her husband to Perth.  

Recently she has been involved in a number of consumer advisory groups for people with disabilities.

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