locals supporting locals

For Bowen’s newest regional coordinator Jenelle Maher, community has always been at the heart of what she does.Originally from Foxton, a small town in Aotearoa/New Zealand, Jenelle has spent most of her life in Bowen—a place she now proudly calls home.“I never really set out to work in the disability sector,” she said. “But I’ve always been involved in my kids’ sports, and one day I found myself advocating for a young boy with a disability who wanted to join a soccer team.”That experience sparked her journey, leading to her first role as a club coordinator in an environment similar to selectability’s Clubhouse—a group program that encourages social connection and puts members in charge of their wellbeing.Jenelle loves the variety of her role and seeing the impact her team makes.“Every day is different! I love when staff come in feeling proud of their day at work and how they’ve helped someone else,” she said.For those considering a role in the sector, her advice is simple:“Even if you don’t have the skills, if you have a great attitude, a willingness to learn, and can commit to our values, you will have an amazing team and leaders to support you on this journey.”Outside of work, Jenelle enjoys fishing, exploring islands, and camping with her kids. And when she needs motivation, she turns to her personal hype song, Ain’t Nothing Gonna Break My Stride.“No matter the challenge, I remind myself that nothing’s going to break my stride.”To learn more about selectability’s services in Bowen, visit our website.