Our Team
Jerry Unser, Program Manager BSc, Dip Ed, MA Counselling
Jerry began teaching in Australia after completing a science degree in Northern California, USA. After 10 years of Health and Physical Education teaching and Sports Administration, he completed a Masters in counselling and began a chaplaincy role in Qld for the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
He has also worked for Queensland Education as a behaviour management specialist and guidance officer; and for Emmanuel College as a counsellor with a focus on leadership development. Jerry has worked for the past eight years as a consulting author in the development of youth and education resources. In conjunction with his work at ADRA, Jerry is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Southern Queensland.
Rachel Humphries, Program Coordinator
Before joining ADRA, Rachel spent more than four years with Sanitarium Health Food Company managing many projects and programs including the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRY-athlon with over 10,000 participants nation wide. She managed a variety of other projects dealing with publishing, media, sponsorships and more. She also worked in England as a radio programmer.
Getting Connected Consultants
Gary Hopkins, M.D., Dr.P.H
Gary L. Hopkins is professor of Behavioural Science, Andrews University (USA) and Assistant Clinical Professor of Health Promotion and Education, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University (USA). He is the director of the Centre for Adolescent Health Behaviour Research and director of the Institute for the Prevention of Addictions.
Dr Hopkins is a medical doctor who has completed a Masters Doctorate and Fellowship in Public Health.
As a renowned academic, with doctorates in both medicine and public health, Gary speaks around the world educating people on the topics of kids and violence, HIV and AIDS risks and protective facts among adolescents. Gary is keen to see young people make positive decisions for their lives.
Getting Connected Advisory Group
ADRA Australia has put together a team of professionals with experience in education, youth resilience and communications. This ensures the Getting Connected program taps into expert advise and support to ensure the program is relevant, up-to-date and appropriate for youth and schools. Below are the Getting Connected Advisory members.
Jonathan Duffy, CEO, ADRA Australia
Jonathan has completed a Bachelor of Education with a double major in Physical Education and Biology at Flinders University. Since completing his undergraduate degree, Jonathan has completed a Graduate Certificate in Occupation and Health Management from Sydney University and a Masters in Public Health through Deakin University.
He has 26 years experience in public health/health promotion in school, hospital, community, and corporate settings and was previously Director of Warburton Health Resort.
Jonathan is a popular corporate speaker within and outside of Australia, having presented on health and lifestyle matters to many of Australia's icon businesses.
His current interest lies in the reduction of at-risk behaviour in young people. He is currently working on a book within the area of youth resilience.
Gary Christian, Director, National Program, ADRA Australia
Gary has nearly 20 years experience in the humanitarian field. He has spent the last eight years with ADRA Australia, directing the national program and is responsible for its many projects including the national ADRA Appeal, women's refuges, community centres, counselling centres, ADRA Op Shops, refugee programs and many more projects.
Prior to working with ADRA he spent six years with Mission Australia caring for similar projects as well as setting up several new centres. In his personal time, Gary serves as board member for Drug Free Australia.
Gary has been involved with Getting Connected since its inception and is keen to see the program provide needed benefits to young people, schools and communities.
Dr Wayne French, Chaplain, Avondale College
Wayne’s keen interest in supporting youth and inspiring them to get the best from life has led him to complete his doctorate in Youth Ministry in 2003 at Fuller Theological Seminary. In the past 20 years, Wayne has led many youth groups around the world in service to others. In 2000 Wayne lead a youth group in street puppetry at the Olympic Games held in Greece and has also travelled to Lima, Peru and the USA with similar ministries.
Neroli Hills-Perry, B.A. (Hons), M.Commerce, MPRIA
Neroli is director for Corporate Affairs and Communications department at legal.consult. She is a highly experienced global corporate affairs, communications and crisis management adviser, with specific expertise in growing businesses by managing perception.
Having lived and worked on five continents, Neroli has successfully transferred complex communications strategies to a diverse range of industries and localities.
Prior to co-founding legal.consult Neroli served as Director (VP) Corporate Affairs, Asia Pacific for the investment banking arm of NatWest Group, one of the largest and best capitalised financial institutions in the world, as well as Senior Manager, Media Relations for the largest wholesale bank in Australia, and media advisor to the Westpac Banking Corporation.
Neroli has presented at international seminars in Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia and written articles for journals in the USA, Australia, Asia, Europe and Africa.
John Tompson
John has spent the last 15 years in public health education in the Sydney region which allowed him the opportunity to work with psychologist Rose Cantali, where together they developed school-based resilience development strategies. It was from this basis that Getting Connected evolved.
Originally John was a registered nurse. After completing his Bachelor of Health Promotion he spent time training nurses in the highlands of Papua New Guinea with his wife. John is very passionate to see young people placed in situations where their sense of worth is maximised.