David Wallis

About Me....
I initially started my career in the building industry, and completed my apprenticeship as a Carpenter and Joiner. I operated my own business in the building industry until in 1993 I found out my son was Deaf, at almost 3 years old. After my son was diagnosed as being profoundly Deaf, this led me on the journey of learning sign language to communicate with him.
In 1998 I was accredited as a Para – Professional Sign Language Interpreter. This started the transition from the building industry to the disability and community involvement.
 
For the past 16 years I have managed two non-profit organisations that specialised in providing disability employment services and community support. This involved managing all aspects of the service and service delivery,

• Strategic and Business Planning
• Policy Development
• Financial Management
• Human Resource Management
• Public Relations
• Quality Assurance
• Agency Management

• I have set up the legal business structure for a social enterprise, Ability Enterprises Ltd, Toowoomba’s first Social Enterprise to establish industry contracts that enable people with a disability to be employed in flexible working conditions.  Ability Enterprises won the contract to operate the gatehouses on all of Toowoomba Regional Council Waste Management sites. This has created 50 jobs in the local area, 38 jobs were filled with people with a disability. Ability Enterprises objectives is to provide real work opportunities to long term unemployed and people with a disability.
  Also I was part of the development committee which established Bounce, hole in the wall coffee outlet. Bounce was the first social enterprise coffee outlet in Toowoomba and now has grown to three outlets. Bounce motto is ‘it’s more than what’s in the cup’
  
  The journey continues…………