Four selectability employees recognised with Australia Day award nominations

Community connection and a passion for making a difference lie at the heart of selectability’s work, and this commitment is being recognised with four employees in Moranbah and Richmond receiving nominations in the highly regarded Australia Day awards.

In Moranbah, Kayla Sutton, Kaitlyn Searle and Ashleigh White were nominated for the Isaac region, in recognition of their ongoing contribution to the local community through their work with selectability.

Regional coordinator Kayla received four separate nominations, reflecting the impact of her involvement across multiple community activities and events.

“Being nominated by people in the community is very special. It reinforces how important it is to stay connected, show up consistently and be part of the community we support,” said Kayla.

“I love being a part of the community here in Moranbah and my team. To be nominated alongside colleagues I work so closely with is something I am very proud of,” said Kaitlyn. 

The nominations highlight the Moranbah team’s active engagement both with their recipients and the wider community. Through local events, partnerships and hands-on involvement, they support recipients to feel connected, included and valued as part of the broader community.

“I think it is important in a role like this one to be engaged with community, those connections matter,” said Ashleigh.

“Being nominated just shows that the relationships we build and the time we spend engaging locally really matter, I am excited to continue doing it.”

Richmond regional coordinator, Renee Backer was also nominated for the Community Spirit Award, recognising her long standing commitment to the local community both through and beyond her role with selectability.

Renee is known for her practical, hands-on approach to community engagement. From supporting local fundraisers and cooking for community dinner nights, to more recent efforts alongside recipients preparing food for flood affected residents and emergency crews, her actions reflect a deep understanding of local needs and a strong desire to give back.

Renee said working with selectability has supported and expanded her ability to stay connected with the community and contribute in meaningful ways.

“Although I don’t do it for recognition, it is incredibly nice to be nominated. It goes to show that the work we put in is important for the community as much as it is to me,” said Renee.

“Working at selectability has only helped that grow for me, I am seeing new sides of the community I didn’t see before, whether it be interacting with new services or people in general. I am very proud.”

Across both regions, the Australia Day nominations highlight a shared notion in the importance of local knowledge, presence and participation.

By engaging with their communities in practical and genuine ways, selectability employees help strengthen connections, build trust and create opportunities for recipients to be active participants in community life.

While the nominations recognise individual contributions, they also reflect selectability’s broader commitment to valuing employees who invest in their communities and understand that strong local connections are essential to meaningful support.

Congratulations Kayla, Kaitlyn, Ashleigh and Renee on their nominations and for the positive impact they continue to make across the communities selectability supports.