ABOUT US
We support young people and persons with a disability to be part of the community, empowering them in leading rewarding lives.
We support young people and persons with a disability to be part of the community, empowering them in leading rewarding lives.
MADEC is a not for profit, community organisation. Recognised as a Public Benevolent Institution since 2014, we have been providing disability and youth supports in the Mackay/Whitsunday region since 1973. We are a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Provider and Licensed Child Safety Provider in Mackay.
We view our community as a whole, inclusive of individuals and groups of all ages and abilities.
Our Vision is to create an inclusive community that empowers, supports and respects all individuals.
Our Mission is to empower and support people to do their best!
Our Values are:
MADEC has proudly unveiled its 2025-2027 Strategic Plan. This forward-thinking initiative reaffirms MADEC’s vision of fostering an inclusive community where every individual is empowered, supported, and respected. The new Strategic Plan underscores MADEC’s commitment to addressing the evolving needs of its clients and community through five core strategies:
In 2025, MADEC proudly launched its first Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), marking an important milestone in our commitment to reconciliation, equity, and inclusion in Mackay and the Whitsundays.
The RAP features a commissioned painting by this beautiful painting is by renowned Yuwaalaraay artist Gordon Lister. His artwork brings to life MADEC’s vision for a connected, cohesive community where all feel valued, empowered and respected.
Every year, MADEC supports hundreds of people across the Mackay and Whitsunday regions to live with independence, connection, and confidence. From 2024 to 2025, we delivered 188,000+ hours of support, empowered 450+ individuals, expanded vital youth and disability services, and strengthened our commitment to cultural inclusion, child safety, and person-centred practice.
Our Social Impact Report shares the stories, milestones, and community outcomes made possible through this work.
Meet Jaz, our fearless leader, who makes sure MADEC is the best possible organisation it can be by formulating and implementing the strategic plan guiding the direction of the organisation.
Meet Anne, who oversees our finances, budgets, forecasting, and administration to ensure MADEC is a sustainable and compliant organisation.
Meet Bernhardette, who leads our strategic focus on positive client outcomes, compliance, safety, and risk management.
Meet Edmund, who oversees our disability support services and ensures that all MADEC clients receive person-centred care that promotes independence, dignity, and inclusion. He works closely with his team to deliver programs that uphold the NDIS principles of choice and control, empowering people to live the lives they choose.
The P&C Manager designs, develops, and implements strategies for recruitment, drafts HR policies, and monitors employee performance.
Patrick Wilsmore is a strong values-based leader with strong commercial and business acumen. He has worked in numerous sectors and industries, including not-for-profit, NDIS, and Out of Home Care (OOHC), where he has had a conscious focus on the value propositions of organisations, their employees, and their participants/customers. Patrick has lived experience with NDIA/Disability, Direct Lived Experience with Child Protection/OOHC and through marriage has shared lived experience with First Nations people.
Joel is a Director with global property firm CBRE with a Bachelor of Business with a major in International Business, Finance, and Trade, a Bachelor of Business in Property, and an Masters of Business Administration (MBA). He is also a member and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). With extensive experience across property, economics, and people leadership, Joel also serves on the board of Women & Children First. He brings a commercially astute and strategically disciplined perspective to the non-for-profit sector, underpinned by a deep commitment to advancing mission-driven organisations that empower individuals thrive and lead fulfilling lives.
A strategy & finance professional, Stephen Fernando counts significant experience with Strategy Formulation, Business Transformation, Technology Enabled System Improvements, and Data Analytics for Improved Decision Making. In addition to his management accounting and CPA qualifications, Stephen holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the USA and is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Diagnosed with Younger Onset Alzheimer’s in August 2019 at 59, Bill Yeates has designed his own holistic person-centred approach to slow down his cognitive decline and rebuild his concept of self. Bill now competes in masters swimming, fin-swimming, and surf lifesaving events, and speaks at conferences worldwide on how to live a better quality of life.
MADEC was born of a community need for assistance and support, and this legacy runs through and true today.
MADEC initially started as a pioneering resource centre for Teachers of the Mackay and surrounding region. Over the years MADEC proved itself adaptable and flexible by responding to changing community needs.
Transitioning from a Teacher and training focus, to a youth and disability service required MADEC to be agile and forward thinking, a strength that has served us to this day.
As of 2014, MADEC has been recognised as a Public Benevolent Institution (PBI). A PBI is a charity whose main purpose is to relieve poverty, sickness, suffering or disability. It is the highest level of charitable goodness.
Today, we support young people and persons with a disability to be part of the community and empower them to lead rewarding lives. If you’re interested in the NDIS Mackay, get in touch!
The privilege of evolving to meet community needs means we look a little different to when we started. MADEC has survived and thrived with more than 50 years of community involvement and support behind us. This support is invaluable to us, and we stand proud knowing the generosity and belief backing us from past, present, and future.
We now look forward to evolution again, having commenced work on a charitable housing project, benefitting many community members requiring affordable and accessible housing.
