Project team

Kim Richards

Kim is the Principal Consultant and has over ten years experience in the human services sector across drug and alcohol, mental health, child protection, justice, employment, education and training. A passion for social justice and systemic advocacy Kim has developed and implemented programs for marginalised young people that have been acknowledged at a state and national level.

Kim has worked for organisations such as Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Service (ADAWS) CREATE Foundation, SpeakOut Ltd, Legal Aid Queensland and other Government Departments. In addition to this Kim has been a member of the Children Services Tribunal of Queensland for the past five years which has now amalgamated into the Queensland Civil & Administrative Tribunal of Queensland (QCAT).

Cameron Francis

Cameron is a Social Worker with ten years experience in the youth alcohol and other drug sector. Starting off with a field placement at QuIVAA and going on to be employed as an outreach worker, Cameron developed a passion early in his career for working with young people who use alcohol and other drugs. Further positions as a peer educator with Brisbane Youth Service, and later operating the Needle and Syringe Program with Youth and Family Service (Logan City Inc) firmed up his commitment to working with young people who use alcohol and other drugs.

For the last four years, Cameron has been working for ATODS at Ipswich, primarily as an individual counsellor for young people, but also assisting other local services to build the capacity of their workforce in alcohol and other drug practice. In this role, Cameron developed and delivered training and support programs, and acted as a consultant on complex cases that required multi-agency responses. Cameron brings a diverse set of experiences to the Dovetail team and is excited about supporting the sector, in an increasingly complex environment.

Benjamin Dougherty

Ben is a Project Officer on the Dovetail Initiative. He has over five years experience in working with young people as a Facilitator of Art and Design for Speak Out and Artspace (ADAWS), a Multimedia teacher for Brisbane North Institute of TAFE and a support worker at the Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Service.

Ben has a Degree in Arts Writing from Southern Cross University and a Degree in Screen Production in Digital Media from Griffith University. He brings skills in writing, design and administration to the Dovetail team as well as experience in various ‘frontline’ work with young people.

Leigh Beresford

Leigh is a clinical nurse with a wide range of experience spanning 25 years. During her rewarding career in midwifery Leigh became interested in grief and loss which subsequebtly lead to a move in to alcohol and drug nursing. In 2001 Leigh began working for the alcohol and drug service case managing clients at Melaleuca Clinic, during which time she developed a passion for working with young people so jumped at an opportunity in 2005 to work on the QIDDI team delivering interventions to young people at Hot House and Biala.

Leigh’s other passion is travel and she has managed to spend about seven years exploring the world since 1985, third and developing countries being her preference. Now Leigh brings her rich life experience to the Dovetail team and another adventure begins.