To contact DAMEC staff please visit the contact us page.

Kelvin Chambers - Chief Executive Officer

Kelvin has been the CEO of DAMEC since 1998. Over that time Kelvin has seen the agency grow from a small advocacy and research organisation to a multifaceted health organisation delivering policy, research, project work and outpatient counselling. As a psychologist, Kelvin also brings a wealth of policy and advocacy experience working with such diverse organisations as the Ethnic Communities Council of NSW, the Ethnic Affairs Commission, Migrant Resource Centres and numerous small NGOs. Kelvin is a specialist in cross cultural work and dependency and continues to lead DAMEC to deliver quality outcomes to the sector. 

Projects and Research

Karen Redding – Senior Project Officer

Karen has worked with DAMEC for over 10 years; her current areas of focus include Ageing, Training and Quality Improvement. Karen started her career in community health, and has since worked in a diversity of areas including alcohol and other drug social services teams, treatment provision and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. She has worked in Sydney and the United Kingdom, as well as across both Government and Non Government sectors. Karen is currently completing a Masters of Social Work (Q) at the University of Sydney. 

Rachel Rowe – Senior Research Officer

Currently on extended leave.

Rachel started at DAMEC in 2010 and has led DAMEC research since 2012. Research at DAMEC aims to investigate the prevalence and impact of substance use among CALD communities, and to support and improve the provision of culturally relevant AOD interventions for people from CALD backgrounds. Rachel has a BA (Hons) in Communications (Social Inquiry) and International Studies, and has worked across sociology, gender and cultural studies, political economy and international relations departments. She is currently completing her Masters of Public Health and Health Management and is a member of the Public Health Association of Australia.

Alison Jaworski – Project Officer

Alison joined DAMEC in June 2013. Her current activities include assisting with DAMEC's Transitions Project, representing DAMEC on community drug action teams (CDATs) across the state and assisting with other funded and non-funded projects.

Piath Machut - Project Officer

Piath joined DAMEC in July 2016 as Project Officer for the African Companions project. Piath has recently finished her Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences. She has a lot of experience working with the South Sudanese community, including running a Dinka women’s support group, through her involvement with agencies such as the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) and the Community of South Sudanese and Other Marginalised Areas Association (CSSOMAA).

Abeny Mayol – Project Officer

Abeny recently joined DAMEC in 2017 as a project officer for the African Companions project. She is a curious and self-motivated Urban and Regional Planning (Honours) graduate who has experience working in the private sector, with local council as well as for the not-for-profit sector. Abeny has been involved in different types of community programs since she arrived to Australia in 2011. She enjoys working a range of groups in the community including people with disabilities, the elderly and people from CALD communities. Abeny speaks three languages; Dinka, Swahili and English and she is currently interested in exploring social policy issues.

Counselling (Liverpool)

Yasmin Iese - Deputy CEO/Clinical Manager

In her 15 years in the sector, Yasmin has specialised in cultural perspectives and approaches to treatment. She has a Bachelor of Arts, a Masters of Health Sciences and Behavioural Psychiatry, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision & Frontline Management. Yasmin also has extensive experience working with young people, in particular young people from Pacific Islander backgrounds. 

Sinatt Cheng - Senior Clinician

Sinatt has worked in non-profit agencies for over 15 years. As a senior clinician, she supports culturally and linguistically diverse clients in the areas of alcohol and other drug issues, mental health, child protection, trauma, grief and loss, personal development and family support. Sinatt has Postgraduate Diplomas in Counselling, Family Dispute Resolution and a Diploma in Community Welfare. She is also a member of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Association of NSW. Sinatt is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, Teo chew, Khmer, Vietnamese and English.

Vi Nguyen- Senior Clinician

Vi has a background in social health and counselling, is fluent in Vietnamese and English. As a Bi-lingual Counsellor she works with culturally and linguistically diverse clients in the area of alcohol and other drug issues, co-morbidity, and family support. She has a Master of Social Health and Counselling at Macquarie University and is also a member of Vietnamese Drug and Alcohol Professionals network.

Sandra Evers- Psychologist

Sandra is a Psychologist who has worked with DAMEC for more than six years.  She has experience in providing evidenced based, psychological interventions for clients within a cross cultural context. Sandra provides long term, therapeutic work for clients experiencing psychological and emotional distress while supporting them to reduce the harms associated with drug and alcohol use. Sandra is registered with AHPRA and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society. 

Douha El-Assaad - Bi-lingual Clinician

Douha is a provisionally registered psychologist with a background in community development.  She has delivered and contributed to a number of community projects, aimed at engaging with Arabic-speaking and Muslim communities within South-West Sydney. 

Lilly Lertsinpakee - Family Worker

Lilly joined DAMEC in Aug 2016, she has a Welfare degree in Community and Family, Diploma in Leisure and Health, Diploma in Drug and Alcohol and Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment. Lilly has been working in community sectors in the last 12 years in various roles such as Counsellor, Community Development, Project worker, Group Facilitator and Case management. She is passionate working with CALD community.  

 Counselling (Blacktown)

Mathias Dussey - Bi-lingual Clinician

Mathias Kofi Dussey is a holder of Master of Rehabilitation Counselling and Graduate Diploma of Counselling. He works as African Bilingual Drug and Alcohol Counsellor. He has twelve-year experience working as a Counsellor. He provides counselling services for people with range of issues to improve their wellbeing. This comprises people with physical and mental health, drug and alcohol, domestic violence, physical and sexual abuse, and socially disadvantaged issues. He also has experience working with people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds. 

Deacon To'o - Pacific Islander Family Community Worker

Deacon has recently joined the DAMEC family and has a background in AOD (Alcohol and Other Drugs) and Disability services. Deacon has been working in the Community sector for 15 years and is fluent in Samoan and English. As the Pacific Islander Community and Family Worker, Deacon with experience and knowledge will support all CALD communities, primarily focussing on individuals, groups and families from Pacific island backgrounds.

Yalda Latifi - Bi-linguial Clinician

Yalda has qualified and registered counsellor and psychotherapist. She is specialised in cultural perspectives over ten years of practice. She has majored Bachelor of psychology, Masters of counselling and psychotherapy. She is also a reiki master with years of exceptional international experience in different field of mindfulness and meditation. Yalda is passionate about consciousness and helping others to discover meaningful ways to live.

Transitions

Thanh Van Nguyen – Senior Case Manager

Thanh has been employed at DAMEC since 2008. He works with Vietnamese offenders with drug-related issues, providing intensive post-release support to them and their families. Thanh has a Bachelor of Community Welfare, a Graduate Diploma in Family Intake & Support Work and is a member of Vietnamese Drug and Alcohol Professionals network. For over 30 years Thanh has volunteered his time in work within his local community, including in various leadership roles with the Vietnamese community in NSW.

Benjamin Ondu - Transition Worker (Bi-lingual)

Ben joined DAMEC in October 2015, he has a Social Science Degree in Criminology and Diploma of Community Welfare Work, he has experience in mental health and homelessness, he enjoys working with CALD communities to build a better and resilient community.

Financial and Administrative 

Sathees Jeyaraj - Finance & Administrative Manager

Sathees joined DAMEC in mid 2012. He brings an extensive background in accounting and finance having worked mainly in the private sector. Sathees is responsible for overseeing DAMEC's accounting, finance and administrative operations.