Our Trainers

Meet our team of trainers

Patricia Irvine breakthru College Trainer

Patricia Irvine

After earning her qualification as a certified trainer in early 2016, Patricia has since trained hundreds of students in a wide variety of locations across the North Coast of NSW.

Initially starting her career in Aged Care, Patricia went on to become an experienced Team Leader and eventually Care Coordinator where she was in charge of all facility aspects from staffing to stock control, workplace health & safety, accreditation and more.

As a trainer, Patricia enjoys meeting new students. She loves watching her students grow into confident, skilled carers and actively gives advice to students looking to gain meaningful employment.

Specialties: Management, Individual Support, Aged Care

Gil Sabarre breakthru College Trainer

Gil Sabarre

With a Master of Educational Administration, Bachelor of Arts and a variety of other qualifications, Gil is an experienced trainer with more than 6 years of experience teaching students across Australia about Individual Support.

As a trainer, Gil loves inspiring his students to learn new things, enhance their skills and transform not only their own lives but the lives of those around them through individual support.

Specialties: Individual Support, English Skills, Educational Administration

Anissa Thomas breakthru College Trainer

Anissa Thomas

With 12 years experience and a Bachelor of Vocational Education and Training, Anissa aims to help students gain a better understanding of the communities in which they live, and how vocational training can best serve their goals and aspirations.

Anissa believes her continued success as a trainer comes from her natural communication style and passion for all to have access to education. Anissa strives to help her students achieve personal growth through building confidence, skills and knowledge.

Specialties: Business, Individual Support (Disability) and Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN).

Kim Porter breakthru College Trainer

Kim Porter

Kim has been working in in the Community Service Sector for nearly 20 years. She has worked in a range of industries from Prisons, Foster care, Drug and Alcohol, Private Practice, Family Service and more recently in Schools.

She is a passionate and experienced trainer where she has trained for over 10 years. She believes in the important of training while working in the sector to provide her students the most up to date knowledge and understanding.

In her practice she leads teams of people to deliver holistic wellbeing and engagement services. She practices a strength-based approach and her clients are central to decision making. She is committed to trauma informed care and understanding.

Her passion and commitment to supporting people in the sector and entering the section has meant she has experience in learning design, assessment development and resource development. She is committed to online learning and to each student’s story.

Specialities: Mental health, Community Sector Management and Disability

Jennifer Anderson breakthru College Trainer

Jennifer Anderson

Having worked in the aged care industry for 8 years, coupled with just over 6 years of disability experience, Jennifer joins the breakthru team as a seasoned industry worker and trainer.

A passionate and caring person by nature, Jennifer was drawn to her work as a trainer out of a desire to help the next generation of carers become the best they can be in their chosen career.

“I love to see learners get excited about the subject they are studying. I want to see my students use their passion to become excellent carers so they can provide outstanding support to those who most need it”.

Specialities: Aged Care, Disability

Ann Hurst breakthru College Trainer

Ann Hurst

With a BA in Sociology and Political Science from New Zealand, and Diplomas in Vocational Education and Training and Training Design and Development, as well as 30 years’ experience as a trainer and assessor covering Business, LLN, TAE and lately Community Services across North Queensland and Townsville, Ann is excited to join the Breakthru team.

The excitement a learner experiences when new knowledge and skills are achieved and the pleasure gained from lifelong friendships developed through the learning journey are the two major drivers keeping Ann in the training industry, despite forays across the individual support sector – aged care, community care, mental health and disability.

For Ann developing relationships is the key to successful learning. Relationships in learning mean that everyone grows as a result of the experience and Ann feels humbled and blessed to be part of her learners’ journeys.

Fred Boog breakthru College Trainer

Fred Boog

Fred has been working in in the Community Service Sector for over 40 years. He commenced his work as a Trainer Assessor when he was a NSW Police Officer.  He worked in Education and officer training in the workplace.  He also spent time at the NSW Police Academy and as Manager of a Policy Community Youth Club.  

Upon early retirement he completed studies gaining his Degree in Social Science – Drug, alcohol and addiction studies.  Also achieving a Diploma in Community Services – for the second time.  He then worked with NSW Health as a Drug and Alcohol Counsellor, various NGO agencies – disabilities, youth, mental health and in the Security field.  

He currently works with Wellness Australia in a Post Suicide support role, also as a Mentor to clients within the Disability Services Australia work front. He also has a trade background in the building industry – painter and decorator.  

He has a strong interest in the Community Services area which was first identified when he was a Police officer in small country towns.  “We were the only community support service in town”.  He then formalised his passion due also to the fact there were so few male workers in the Welfare – Support area.  He was going to change that. 

Support of all persons within our community to learn just one thing a day is his goal.  He states that everyone has the ability to learn, it is just manner of delivery that makes it achievable.  

Being a self-employed Trainer Assessor answers all the life skills he needs, leading to support and education of others being his goals.

Need help? Contact us.

Pin It on Pinterest