Lindy-Lou Badger, Manager, Family Relationship Centre, Mount Gambier
A LEADERSHIP role with ac.care has allowed Lindy-Lou Badger to settle close to her extended family in the vibrant Limestone Coast after an extensive career in education and social services.
She was recently appointed manager of ac.care’s Mount Gambier Family Relationship Centre, leading a team of counsellors and other staff.
“I look forward to building on my experiences while establishing many positive relationships with both my colleagues and families in the community,” she said.
Lindy-Lou has a masters in counselling, along with degrees in education, special education and psychology to back up her extensive experience in the sector.
“All of my study has grown out of my desire to provide the best possible service to families in need of support,” she said.
She previously lived in the eastern suburbs of Adelaide and spent several years working for the Northern Territory Education Department within the student services division.
“I started my professional career as a high school teacher, then moved into teaching in a youth remand and detention centre and have also taught in primary and secondary schools and special needs centres,” she said.
Lindy-Lou has worked as an assistant principal, school counsellor, wellbeing and behaviours advisor, as well as in many other roles, including working with children who have experienced trauma.
Upon arriving in the Limestone Coast region, she had the opportunity to take up contract work as a pastoral care counsellor for Penola, Millicent and Mount Gambier communities before becoming the disability choices coordinator for non-Government support organisation Minda.
“As a team member, I had the shared responsibility of rolling out their disability services under the new NDIS scheme,” Lindy-Lou said.
“Working in the education system and in the area of disability has provided me with the wonderful opportunity of connecting with families and other service providers across the Limestone Coast.”
After a broad career, the move to the region has allowed Lindy-Lou to spend more time with her seven grandchildren all living in Mount Gambier, aged between four and nine, and enjoy the country lifestyle.
“I am in the process of renovating an Edwardian home with the intention of settling in Mount Gambier for this next stage of my life,” she said.
“Most of my personal time is taken up with family watching ballet, football and T-ball, at birthdays and on beach trips.”
She also loves the opportunities living in a country area allows for exploring the region and cooking with local produce, as well as the broad range of events and entertainment in the vibrant regional area.
“I recently attended a wonderful all-day comedy event in Penola with some top national talent and am now looking forward to Mount Gambier’s Red Hot Summer Tour show featuring John Farnham and the massive Generations in Jazz music festival,” she said.
“Mount Gambier has it all - fantastic infrastructure with no traffic and lots of fresh air.”
The Family Relationship Centre is part of ac.care’s broad service offering, which also includes foster carer recruitment and support, along with homelessness, Aboriginal and adult community education programs, delivered across the Riverland, Murraylands, Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula, as well as throughout the Limestone Coast.
ac.care is one of few organisations created and run by country people for country people in South Australia.
