More about Steve
Steve Drakoulis is a father of two wonderful children, one of whom is on the autism spectrum.
He has been working in autism support roles for many years, over 13 years, initially as a volunteer, before moving full time into roles supporting families impacted by autism conditions.
He has over 20 years’ experience in senior management roles, mainly in the service industry, and holds an Advanced Diploma in Management and a Diploma in Community Services Work. He is also an experienced trainer and facilitator, with a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
In 2010, through his involvement with the Positive Partnerships workshops, he established a carers support group in Bankstown and within months others around Sydney.
By 2011, close to 100 families were connected through Steve for mutual support and he decided to leave the corporate world and establish a not for profit organisation to help families just like his own.
With the wonderful support of families in our network, the ACN was registered as a not for profit organisation in September 2011. It gained Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status by the ATO and has been recognised as a charity. As at March 2021 we have over 1,890 families registered, comprising of over 4,500 individuals.
The ACN has only one objective – to help parents, children and adults on the autism spectrum, through our own capacity as parents, carers and individuals.
Steve is proud of the fact that carers have never had to pay to access support. While he has worked full time for the organisation from the beginning, he was only paid a part salary to enable ACN to exist; this continued until late 2018 when the ACN, with support from the Federal government, was in a stronger financial situation.
He has been working in autism support roles for many years, over 13 years, initially as a volunteer, before moving full time into roles supporting families impacted by autism conditions.
He has over 20 years’ experience in senior management roles, mainly in the service industry, and holds an Advanced Diploma in Management and a Diploma in Community Services Work. He is also an experienced trainer and facilitator, with a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
In 2010, through his involvement with the Positive Partnerships workshops, he established a carers support group in Bankstown and within months others around Sydney.
By 2011, close to 100 families were connected through Steve for mutual support and he decided to leave the corporate world and establish a not for profit organisation to help families just like his own.
With the wonderful support of families in our network, the ACN was registered as a not for profit organisation in September 2011. It gained Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status by the ATO and has been recognised as a charity. As at March 2021 we have over 1,890 families registered, comprising of over 4,500 individuals.
The ACN has only one objective – to help parents, children and adults on the autism spectrum, through our own capacity as parents, carers and individuals.
Steve is proud of the fact that carers have never had to pay to access support. While he has worked full time for the organisation from the beginning, he was only paid a part salary to enable ACN to exist; this continued until late 2018 when the ACN, with support from the Federal government, was in a stronger financial situation.
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2020: Nominated for Australian of the Year award
2019: NSW Government Community Service Award 2019: St.George Community Group ACN 2019: ACN Recipient of Autism Best Mates Peer award from Autism Mates 2019: St.George Community Group ACN 2019: ACN Local Business Award Outstanding Community Services 2019: Citizen of the Year in Georges River 2018: ACN awarded Sydney Health Community Inclusion Award 2018: Lions club of Ku-ring-gai community award for services to the disabled. 2018: ACN Finalist in Sutherland Shire Local Business Awards 2018: Westfield Hurstville Local Hero award recipient 2017: St.George Community Group ACN 2015 Nominated for ASPECT Volunteer Award 2014 Awarded International Lions Clubs Medal of Merit 2014 Nominated for NSW Disability Industry Innovation Award. 2013 Nominated for ASPECT Volunteer Award 2013 Awarded St.George Community Volunteer Award 2013 ACN Awarded St.George Community Organisation Award 2012 Nominated for ASPECT Volunteer Award 2011 Nominated for ASPECT Volunteer Award |
2021 - current Committee Member - Connecting Communities Together - Ethnic Community Services Co-Op
2021 - current Chair of Autism Inclusion Services 2021 - current Board Member Autism Mates 2020 - current Member National Panel to educate nursing professionals on patients with autism and intellectual disabilities 2019 - 2021 Member Access & Inclusion Group Georges River Council 2018 - current Associate Member Sydney Autism Community Lions Club 2017 - current NSW Carers Representative with Carers NSW 2016 - current Member Lions Club of Lugarno ................................................................ Advanced Diploma in Management Diploma Community Services Work Certificate IV Training and Assessment |
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MP Banks David Coleman, PM Tony Abbott, ACN President Warren Thompson
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Governor Marie Bashier, MP Mark Coure
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Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop, MP Banks David Coleman
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Sutherland Mayor Carmelo Pesce, MP Miranda Eleni Petinos, NSW Minister Disabilities John Ajaka, MP Oatley Mark Coure
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Senator Mitch Fifield, MP Banks David Coleman
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International Lions Clubs Medal of Merit
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