"Making a positive difference in the lives of people with disability together with their families and carers"
40 Years Supporting Choice and Independence
Thousands of Life Moments Made Possible
Supporting people to learn, connect, celebrate, travel, work, volunteer and live the lives they choose.
Generations of Families Supported
Standing beside families and carers through changing circumstances and every stage of life.
Building Inclusive Communities Since 1986
Creating opportunities for people with disabilities to participate fully in community life.
From Respite to Possibility
Growing from a small respite service into a diverse organisation supporting people across the Darling Downs.
40 Years. One Purpose.
Supporting people with disability to live their best life on their terms.
Honouring our past. Celebrating our present. Building our future.
meet our team
Shane Kamler
Chairperson
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Shane was born in Toowoomba, Qld and educated at St Mary’s College. He is retired. Shane worked in the retail side of banking for 20 years before a career change saw him spend the last 25 years working in the Audit and Financial Crimes area of the banking industry. He has managed teams of up to 30 staff and was instrumental in developing policies and procedures for that area of the bank. Having three great-grandchildren with acquired disabilities provides Shane with an understanding of the difficulties faced in trying to secure the best outcomes for families.
Russell Bianchi
Vice Chairperson
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Russell was born in Toowoomba; Qld educated at St Mary’s College and works for Heritage Bank as their Manager Facilities. His role sees him extensively involved in the management of the Bank’s national leased premises portfolio and built environment.
From personal experience, Russell understands the challenges faced by those within the community who deal with disability, and it was with this in mind that he accepted Breakaway’s invitation to join the Board, with a view to being of service to the wider area.
May McGarva
Treasurer
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May brings over two decades of experience in the accounting industry to her role as a board member. Her journey spans from an office junior to ascending to positions such as accounting manager, general manager, and now director of her own accounting and bookkeeping firm. Throughout her career, May has had the privilege of collaborating with small business owners across diverse sectors, offering comprehensive guidance on business taxation and general advisory services. She has a proven track record of working closely with clients, providing personalised coaching to enhance business performance.
As a chartered accountant, May prioritises effective communication, ensuring that interactions are consistently characterised by honesty and respect. May's dedication to integrity and her wealth of experience make her a valuable asset to our board.
Matthew Harth
Secretary
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Matthew is a recognised business leader with over 18 years’ of experience. He has served in various senior capacities in human resources, workplace health and safety, quality assurance, and information technology. His work has encompassed several sectors, including agriculture, finance, retail, and manufacturing.
Owing to his diverse professional background, Matthew adopts a holistic approach to business management. His expertise is supplemented by postgraduate qualifications in Human Resource Management, in addition to professional qualifications in Leadership and Quality Auditing. Furthermore, he is a certified HR Practitioner by the Australian HR Institute and also an Associate Fellow with the Institute of Managers and Leaders.
When Matthew has downtime, he enjoys spending time with family, snow skiing and travelling.
John Patterson
Board Responsible Person (member)
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John is admitted as a Solicitor in the Supreme Court of Queensland and High Court of Australia and has worked in the Darling Downs and Brisbane regions for his entire career. In addition to his Bachelor of Laws and Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, John also holds a Bachelor of Business majoring in Economics. John brings a wealth of experience across a variety of family law areas including complex financial matters which utilises his background in business, particularly involving trust and corporate structuring and self-managed superannuation funds.
With his calm and likeable nature, he effortlessly puts his clients at ease during what is often one of the most difficult periods in their lives. His pragmatic and level-headed approach to matters is well respected by clients and colleagues alike.
In his spare time John enjoys trying to keep up with his young family and amusing his friends and colleagues with his desperate and often painful efforts to stay involved in the local sporting community.
Belinda Sanders
Board Responsible Person (member)
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Rodney Watton
Chief Executive Officer
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Rodney was born in Northern Ireland and has lived in Toowoomba since 1986. Rodney is married with 2 grown up children.
Rodney brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across Australia’s not-for-profit and community services sector. His career spans direct service delivery, program coordination, senior management, and executive roles in health, disability, aged care, housing, and social services.
Before joining Breakaway Toowoomba, Rodney was Executive Director – Community at Clifton Community Health Services, where he oversaw major capital developments, service expansions, and governance reforms across a regional health precinct. He has also held senior leadership positions with Lifeline Darling Downs & South West Queensland, and the YWCA, building strong partnerships that deliver practical, place-based outcomes.
Rodney is a Chartered Manager (CMgr), a Member of the Institute of Managers and Leaders (MIML), the Institute of Community Directors Australia (MICDA), and the Australasian Housing Institute (PAHI). He is passionate about creating sustainable, community-driven solutions that improve wellbeing, strengthen inclusion, and give people real choices in how they live and connect.
Gene Goldby
Chief Finance Officer
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Gene Goldby is the Finance Manager for Breakaway Toowoomba. With 30 years’ experience across a range of industries, including Public Practice, Education and Hospitality, and having served on the Board of Directors for youth-oriented not-for-profit organisations, Gene’s major focus has always been on how the Finance role can help support and allow Not-for-Profit Organisations to achieve their goals.
With qualifications in Accounting, Education and Business Administration through QUT, James Cook University and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, Gene is currently a member of the Institute of Public Accountants in Australia and brings those skills to help manage the communication between Finance and other aspects of any business.
Mohammad Anamul
Chief Operating Officer - People & Business Support
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Anam is a globally experienced people and business support professional with over ten years of experience across human resources, business operations, workforce planning, process improvement, performance management and organisational development. His career spans manufacturing, retail, services and the disability sector, including experience with internationally recognised organisations such as Domino’s Pizza, Mitsubishi Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and INSEE Cement Thailand.
As Chief Operating Officer - People & Business Support at Breakaway Toowoomba, Anam oversees a diverse portfolio encompassing People & Culture, IT, Marketing & Communications, Community Engagement and Business Support. He works closely with leaders and teams across the organisation to strengthen workforce capability, improve systems and processes, support organisational performance, and ensure people and business practices remain aligned with Breakaway’s strategic priorities and values.
Anam is passionate about creating positive and inclusive workplace cultures, developing practical solutions to organisational challenges, and supporting continuous improvement. He believes that strong people practices, effective systems and meaningful community engagement are fundamental to building a sustainable organisation and delivering high-quality outcomes for people living with disability.
Anam holds a Graduate Certificate in Business from the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) and a Bachelor of Business from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is also developing his research profile in the field of leadership and human resources, with a particular interest in translating research and evidence into practical approaches that address real-world organisational challenges.
Professionally, Anam is a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders Australia and New Zealand (FIML) and a Member of the Australian HR Institute (MAHRI). He is also a Certified HR Business Partner through Aon, reflecting his ongoing commitment to professional development, contemporary leadership practice and high standards within the people profession.
Kyra Black
Chief Operating Officer - Service Delivery
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Jodi Peck
Clinical Lead
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Jodi was born and raised in Tasmania, moving to Alice Springs where she lived and worked for 10 years, finally settling in Toowoomba in 2012. With over 15 years of experience in the disability sector, Jodi has worked as a support worker, house lead, teacher aide and 1:1 inclusion support for children with disabilities before transitioning to a career in nursing.
Jodi’s journey with Breakaway began in 2013, where she initially worked as a support worker before studying nursing at USQ, Toowoomba. After graduating with her Bachelor of Nursing in 2018, Jodi dedicated five years as a registered nurse in a busy hospital setting, specialising in paediatric nursing. Jodi completed post graduate studies in paediatric nursing as well working and gaining knowledge and experience in all areas of clinical nursing care.
Now, returning to Breakaway as the Clinical Lead, Jodi brings her wealth of knowledge to oversee our clinical care, governance, and management of registered nurses, all whilst ensuring the Respite Centre, Breakaway on Bridge, operates at its best. With a passion for fostering independence and autonomy amongst individuals with disabilities, Jodi’s commitment to holistic health care shines through in her work every day.
Jennifer Farnsworth
Safety and Quality Coordinator
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Jen relocated to Toowoomba from the Gold Coast in 1998 whilst working within the medical sector. A change of career in 2009 saw Jen in a safety administrative role, initiating her passion for a profession in the safety field. Over the past 15 years, Jen has cultivated expertise in developing and implementing comprehensive Safety and Quality systems across diverse industries, ranging from oil and gas, construction to disability. Her approach emphasises proactive risk management, meticulous compliance monitoring and continuous improvement to safeguard both workers and clients.
Navigating complex regulatory legislation, Jen holds a Certificate IV Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) as well as Certificate of Authority with Workplace Health and Safety (Qld) as WHS Officer. She is passionate about fostering a culture of Safety and Quality excellence and is eager to continue leveraging skills and knowledge to drive positive change and uphold the highest of Safety and Quality standards across Breakaway.
