Board & Leadership Team

Michael Austin
Chief Executive Officer

Michael has served as Chief Executive Officer at CatholicCare Wollongong since 2014. Prior to this role, he held practitioner, management, and senior executive positions at CatholicCare Sydney. He holds a Bachelor of Social Work, a Graduate Diploma in Couple and Family Therapy, and a Master of Social Work from the University of New South Wales.

Michael is currently the Chair of Catholic Social Services Australia NSW/ACT and an elected board member of Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA). His previous governance roles include Chair of Family Relationship Services Australia (FRSA), Chair of the Institute of Counselling, member of the Advisory Board for the Bachelor of Counselling and Behavioural Science at the University of Notre Dame, and member of the Sydney Archdiocesan Catholic Schools Board.

With extensive experience in governance, executive leadership, and strategic planning, Michael brings deep expertise in business management, people development, and delivering impactful client outcomes across the community services sector.

Tony Eid
Chief Operating Officer

Tony has served as Chief Operating Officer at CatholicCare Wollongong since October 2020. He brings extensive executive experience across a range of sectors, including technology, not-for-profit, banking, wealth management, insurance, motor vehicles, equipment, and fintech.

Throughout his career, Tony has held senior leadership roles such as Chief Operating Officer, General Manager of Delivery and Operations, Program Portfolio Director, and Head of IT. He has led both Business and IT functions, with responsibilities spanning strategy, delivery, operations, governance, and budget management.

Tony is a trusted advisor to executive teams, known for identifying complex business challenges and implementing practical, outcome-focused solutions that drive organisational performance. 

Cheryl Tarantola
Executive Manager, Aged Care & Disability

Cheryl is the Executive Manager of Aged and Disability Services at CatholicCare, where she leads the development and delivery of client-centred models of care across both sectors. She brings over 15 years of experience in aged care and disability management, with a strong focus on mental health, clinical care improvements, regulatory compliance, and service innovation.

Before joining CatholicCare, Cheryl managed supported independent living group homes, day centre programs, and led a large multidisciplinary team delivering home care services across Southwestern Sydney. She has a proven track record in aligning strategy with client outcomes, operational design, and the transformation of new models of care and practice.

An Endorsed Enrolled Nurse, Cheryl is passionate about Ageing in Place strategies that ensure continuity of care throughout the individual lifecycle. She currently sits on CatholicCare’s Committee for the Aged and is completing a Master of Business Administration through Torrens University Australia.

Michelle Ferrara
Executive Manager, Children & Youth Services

Michelle has worked in the social services sector for over 30 years, bringing deep expertise and leadership to her current role as Executive Manager, Children & Youth Services at CatholicCare, a position she has held since 2008. Her previous roles within the organisation include Acting Manager of Out of Home Care (2007–2008) and Team Leader of the School, Student & Family Program (2006–2007).

Michelle currently serves as Chair of the Child Protection Committee and is recognised for her expertise in youth homelessness, case management, family law separation, stakeholder engagement, program development and evaluation, strategic planning, change management, and public speaking.

She is also expanding her leadership in early childhood education and care, overseeing 11 before and after school care and vacation care services.

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Sociology), a Diploma of Education (Primary), and a Certificate in Human Resources Practice. 

Roseanne Plunkett
Executive Manager, Family Services

Roseanne is an experienced secondary school teacher and Marriage & Relationship Counsellor who has worked in leadership roles at CatholicCare Wollongong since 2011. She served as Manager of the School, Student & Family Program from 2011 to 2017 and has held the position of Executive Manager, Family Services since 2018.

Roseanne is a values-driven leader with a strong track record in championing innovation in service delivery and business practices. Her expertise includes strategic and business planning, project management, budget oversight, and team development. She is known for her ability to lead staff in putting mission and values into practice across all levels of service.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Graduate Diploma in Education, a Graduate Diploma in Arts, and has completed the Leadership Illawarra Program (Sydney Business College) and the CatholicCare Leadership Program (Australian Catholic University).

Roseanne is currently on long service leave. Alexandra (Alex) Miller is Acting Executive Manager, Family Services. 

Moye Prichard
Executive Manager, Finance and Enterprise Development

Moye has been with CatholicCare Wollongong since 2018, serving as Finance Manager and Acting Executive Manager, Business Support, before stepping into her current role as Executive Manager, Finance and Enterprise Development. Prior to joining CatholicCare, she spent a decade at KPMG as a Senior Manager.

Moye provides strategic oversight of CatholicCare’s financial management and stewardship, including the development of budgets across diverse funding streams such as the NDIS. She leads the implementation and management of the CareView Plan Management system and plays a key role in the development and execution of strategic and business plans, including the launch of new service lines and process efficiency initiatives.

Her responsibilities also include oversight of financial reporting, risk management, governance, internal controls, and compliance. Moye brings extensive experience in both internal and external auditing, as well as in-depth financial analysis across a range of industries, including the not-for-profit sector.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Management), a Graduate Diploma in Chartered Accounting, and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. 

Narelle Austin-Eames   
Executive Manager, Quality & Risk

Narelle has served as Executive Manager, Quality & Risk at CatholicCare since July 2021. She brings extensive experience from global, private, and public sector organisations, with a strong background in safety, risk management, and quality systems.

Before joining CatholicCare, Narelle held senior roles including NSW and ACT Safety Manager and Australia/New Zealand Head of Safety (Second in Charge) in a high-risk construction environment. In this role, she led risk-focused initiatives, drove compliance with ISO 45001 standards, and implemented business improvements aligned with global directives.

Earlier in her career, Narelle managed a portfolio of private health, corporate wellbeing facilities, and major public hospitals along Australia’s east coast, supporting teams to achieve accreditation through the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards. Her success in this space led to her oversight of the Victorian portfolio for Home and Community Care Standards.

Narelle holds a Bachelor of Information Technology, a Master of Business Administration, a Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety, and qualifications as an Internal Investigator (ICAM) and Internal Lead Auditor. She recently completed the Company Directors Course through the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a member of both the Risk Management Institute of Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Hiep Nguyen
Executive Manager, Information Technology

Hiep is the Executive Manager, Information Technology at CatholicCare Wollongong, bringing over 30 years of experience in the banking and finance industry. He is a delivery specialist with a strong track record of leading and delivering complex, multi-program initiatives involving strategic and transformational change.

Known for his ability to bridge the gap between business and technology, Hiep delivers detail-oriented solutions that align with organisational goals. His career spans multiple business units and functional areas within highly regulated environments, where he has demonstrated expertise in team leadership, stakeholder engagement, and vendor management.

Prior to joining CatholicCare, Hiep held senior roles including Program Director, Program Manager, and Application Service Manager. He is a lateral and strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills, particularly in risk mitigation, issue resolution, and prioritising tasks to achieve optimal customer outcomes.

Hiep holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Mathematical Statistics.

Steve Nielsen
Executive Manager, People & Culture

Steve is the Executive Manager, People & Culture at CatholicCare, bringing over 25 years of experience in human resource management across a wide range of industry sectors. His career spans from small to medium not-for-profit community service organisations to large, global public corporations.

Before joining CatholicCare in 2024, Steve held executive-level roles in the aged care sector for five years. Prior to that, he led senior HR and transformation initiatives across industries including pharmaceuticals, information technology, banking, and insurance.

Steve’s signature strength lies in translating People & Culture strategy into practical outcomes that drive organisational effectiveness and performance. He holds postgraduate and tertiary qualifications in psychology, human resource management, training and development, and industrial relations.