Connecting Futures Australia are a team focused on:

Scott is a passionate husband and father to three outstanding neurodivergent Teenagers.  Scott is an adult living with ADHD. The lived experience is a driver for Scott to create a purposeful Youth Employment Services that has the young adult at the center of the support. Scott has been able to achieve this over the past 6+ years with the support of his amazing wife Samantha as Directors and Co-founders of Connecting Futures Australia. Scott has been lucky to have an outstanding and passionate team that have held the same Values.

Scott's purposeful and inquisitive nature about the disability sector is driven in part by lived experience within his family. This personal experienced drives Scott’s passion to develop a truly inclusive service for NDIS participants, particularly young neurodivergent adults aged 15 - 24.

Scott has over the past fifteen years’ developed experience in the Disability, Private & Public Training, Community & Public Service Sector, culminating with his involvement with the rollout of the NDIS in the Loddon region from May 2017. Scott has been responsible for running Support Coordination, Youth Employment (School Leavers Employment Service), RTO’s, Australian Disability Enterprise and Employment Pathways for people with a disability.

Scott’s lived, personal and professional experience underpins his commitment to providing uncompromising services to NDIS participants, industry and the wider community within Regional Victoria. Scott qualifications include :

- Graduate Certificate in Career Development from James Cook University (currently studying)

- Business Management Degree HR & Marketing at Latrobe University, Bendigo

- Certificate IV TAA (Training & Assessment) from Bendigo Kangan TAFE

- Certificate IV Project Management from Bendigo Kangan TAFE

- Certificate IV in Disability from Bendigo Kangan TAFE.

Jenny’s experience includes Administration, Human Resources and Employment Consultancy. She has worked in various sectors including health, homelessness, Youth at Risk and Employment Services.

Jenny has a wide range of hands on skills in personal assistance for CEO/Directors and and also coordinating projects.

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Natalie brings experience from a broad range of sectors to our team. Her most recent position was senior manager of aged care (home based services) for a not-for-profit organisation where she led a large team of managers, care coordinators and direct service workers based throughout the Riverina Murray region of NSW and the Loddon Mallee region in Victoria. In this strategic leadership position Natalie felt disconnected from the people receiving services and chose to make a career pivot into a position more closely linked to participants, where she can more easily see the impacts of the amazing work being undertaken.

As the Youth Employment Manager, Natalie leads the team of Career Mentors across our footprint and is able to draw on her experience in various sectors including business banking and finance, emergency management, emergency recovery and home-based aged care to source opportunities for young autistic adults to test and try what field of work might be a good match for them. Natalie is also an experienced vocational trainer and assessor, delivering competency-based training to volunteer first responders as part of her volunteer role with Victoria State Emergency Service since 2009. Natalie is also a facilitator of Road Trauma Awareness Seminars with Amber Community and is Deputy Chair of the Remembrance Parks Central Victoria cemeteries trust.

Natalie and her husband have two grown children who both have lived experience of anxiety and one of whom is a member of the LGBQTIA+ community, and Natalie is a vocal ally, striving to creative a safe space for everyone to be who they are and celebrating their individuality. Natalie actively supports her community as an emergency responder and deputy controller with Bendigo State Emergency Service, and via the Strathfieldsaye Street Pantry – Sinclairs which she established in May 2024 to help combat food insecurity in her local community.

Natalie’s formal qualifications include:

Mental Health First Aid

Diploma of Leadership and Management

Certificate IV - Frontline Management

Certificate IV - Training and Assessment

Certificate III - Public Safety (SES Rescue)

Executive Consequence Management (Barrington Centre)

Incident Management Leadership (inter-agency)

She is currently completing her Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management

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Maddie McLarty is an energetic and passionate advocate for the neurodivergent community with a personal understanding of ADHD. Maddie is committed to working alongside young adults as they navigate their own career paths, helping them develop self-confidence and the skills they need to achieve their personal and professional goals.

Her own experiences with neurodivergence has fuelled her drive to empower others, especially those facing similar challenges. With a deep sense of empathy and a unique perspective. Maddie thrives in connecting with youth and creating an environment where they feel understood and motivated to reach their potential. Her relatability, combined with her positive energy, makes her an ideal mentor for young people working to build both confidence and career readiness.

She is particularly passionate about guiding her peers in developing the skills necessary for success while encouraging self-empowerment and resilience along the way. 

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Natalie is a dedicated professional with a foundation in youth work. She has spent years connecting with young individuals, understanding their dreams, and fostering an environment that encourages personal growth and resilience.  

Natalie also has a rich tapestry of experience from a variety of fields including training and assessment, event management, and retail and hospitality. Armed with her diverse skill set, mentoring experience, and bright and bubbly persona, Natalie is committed to paving the way for individuals with disabilities, ensuring that they not only navigate challenges successfully but also thrive in a world that values and supports their unique journeys.

In her own ongoing journey toward personal and professional growth, Natalie is currently immersed in the study of a Bachelor of Counselling. This academic venture highlights her dedication to delving deeper into the complexities of individual struggles and successes, reinforcing her ability to deliver well-rounded guidance and assistance.

Taylah has worked in the disability field for three years as a support worker in the Echuca area and has recently joined our team. Taylah has a background in support work, hospitality, and youth work, and has a passion for working with people. She enjoys working closely with people to help them achieve their goals and loves to see participants succeed. Taylah has studied criminology and sociology, has her cert III & IV in disability support, and is currently completing her diploma of community services focusing on case management.  

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Troy brings a wealth of expertise to the disability field,having served as a Support worker for 3 years and Independent NDIS provider.His diverse background includes roles as a Gym Manager and Personal Trainer,along with experience in the banking sector in Melbourne. Troy has successfullycompleted his Diploma of Community Services at Bendigo TAFE, further enhancinghis skills and knowledge in the field.

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Brontie has worked within the disability field for over three years in the Echuca area, and has a background in disability support work, and early childhood education. Brontie has qualifications in Early childhood education, and her Certificate IV in Disability support. Throughout Brontie’s career she has supported people of all ages, and backgrounds to achieve their goals and build upon their strengths.

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Daniel has had a diverse range of work experience within customer service, hospitality, landscaping, parks & gardens maintenance, after-school care, and school boarding. Daniel has been along-term volunteer for kids camps provided for children from backgrounds of abuse & neglect. Daniel also undertook 5 years of study in the health science field. Daniel’s culmination of experiences have formed a distinct skillset with a highly relational focus and a broad scope of knowledge.

Katharine is committed to supporting and working alongside young people with disabilities, helping them build self-confidence, develop essential life skills, and expand their opportunities to unlock their full potential and explore a wide range of possibilities for a bright future.

Katharine is an experienced educator with a diverse background, having worked in both mainstream classrooms across Australia, Southeast Asia and most recently in a specialist setting working specifically with autistic students.  Katharine has developed a keen understanding of the unique needs of neurodiverse individuals and has a passion for creating and fostering inclusive learning experiences using a strengths-based and individualised approach.  

With a variety of experiences working with students of all abilities and ages from Foundation to year 12, Katharine is now dedicated to supporting young adults assessing and enhance their skills and build confidence toward achieving open employment opportunities.  Katharine’s experience, compassionate approach and drive to make a difference will support autistic young adults to have the tools, confidence, and resources they need to successfully navigate the transition to the workforce and achieve long-term success.

Katharine Qualifications include:

- Masters in Special Education, Inclusion and Early Intervention from Melbourne University

- Bachelor of Education (Languages other than English)

- Post Graduate Diploma in Children’s Literature from Deakin University