New CEO for disability support service

PINARC Disability Support has employed Peter Newsome as their new chief executive officer.

Currently settling into Ballarat life and creating connections throughout the community, Mr Newsome has moved from Melbourne where for the last 16 years, he worked for St John of God in community outreach and disability services.

“I come with extensive experience in the disability sector, and after many years, I was really looking for an organisation like Pinarc, that has a close relationship to community,” he said.

“Already, in these early days, in lockdown, walking around Ballarat, meeting people, visiting my local coffee shops, I feel a strong sense of community.

“Pinarc is well known, warmly engages with its customers, appreciated by the community and they’re important ingredients to carry forward.”

Within his new role, Mr Newsome sees great opportunity, having the chance to form close relationships with customers, families and carers, sit down, listen to their experiences, and offer support.

“One of the highlights of my work has been hearing the challenges and intimate stories that families carry with them. They’re an unpaid workforce.

“Our role is to walk with, hold the hand, and support people with a disability, their carers and families to take the next steps, and navigate the complexities of the NDIS,” he said.

“The NDIS really became operational for services in Ballarat in 2016. We’re a way forward… and it’s a brilliant world, but still far too complicated, and we need to be there to help people.”

Coupled with his focus on relationships, Mr Newsome has a goal for Pinarc to “remain vitally important” to Ballarat, while continuing to expand with the needs of the regional city.

“The growth of NDIS and the growth of the regional city are exciting for Pinarc, so my role is to personally continue our growth, offering services for the existing community and many that might be entering Ballarat.

“Supports for families may be episodic or life-long. We need to evolve with families, help them make sense of what their future looks like, and make sense of a life that’s meaningful for their son, daughter or loved one,” he said.

Mr Newsome’s wife and his two young sons will join him in Ballarat later this year.