About Us

Whitsunday Housing Company Ltd (WHCL) is a not-for-profit (PBI) company managing emergency, transitional and long term social housing throughout the Whitsunday Region.

The Whitsunday Housing Company seeks to provide housing for those on low incomes and/or those who are limited for other reasons in acquiring affordable, safe, secure and accessible long term housing. Through our association with other housing groups, Government departments and housing forums,WHCL will seek to advocate, lobby and support the housing needs of the Whitsunday region. The group is representative of the regional community and endeavours to maintain an operational framework, which will continue to enable broad access to those seeking to assist it in this mission. Privacy, confidentiality, acceptance and support are respected elements in the work of our organization.

Whitsunday Housing Registered under the NRSCH

Whitsunday Housing Company Limited is proud to announce its successful registration as a provider under the new National Regulatory System for Community Housing.

The aim of the National Regulatory System is to ensure that the community housing sector is well governed, well managed, and capable of meeting needs of tenants, while also providing assurance for government and investors.

Registration under the new national system is a significant achievement requiring organisations to demonstrate and maintain high standards in all areas of operation.

For more information on the NRSCH and what it means for the community housing sector please visit the NRSCH Website. (https://www.nrsch.gov.au/home)

Our People

Board Members

Chairperson – Jan Clifford

Was born in Melbourne and educated in Western Australia. Jan held senior management roles with  the In Shoppe, WD & HO Wills, Toyota and the Laser Cutting Industry in Melbourne.

In 1994 she decided to leave Melbourne and settled in the Whitsundays where she gained employment with Jewel Hotels & Resorts as their Regional Sales & Marketing Manager. Jan then moved on to set up her own sales and marketing company and in her first year of operation won a prestigious AFTA award.

In 2008 Jan was successful in her bid to be elected to the newly amalgamated Whitsunday Regional Council as the councillor for Division 1. In 2012 & 2016 she was re-elected and continues to serve her community.

She holds a diploma of Management and is currently undertaking a Diploma of Local Government. Cr Clifford serves on a wide range of boards and committees in various roles.

They include but are not limited to:

PCYC Whitsunday – Committee Member past Treasurer & Vice Chair
Regional Centre for Social Development – Committee Member and past Company Secretary
Australian Local Government Women’s Association – Immediate Past President
Diploma - Australian Institute of Directors
Jan has been a director since 2008. Jan was the previous Chairman and took a break from May 2013 & re-joined the Board as Secretary in July 2014 and was elected as Chairperson in September 2016.

 

Director – Steve O'Oconnell

Steve was born and raised in Mount Gravatt, Brisbane. At the end of his grade 11 schooling an opportunity presented to complete high school as part of a cadet program with the Queensland Police. In Jan 1977 he commenced Grade 12 at the Oxley Police Academy and then went onto a police basic training.

Steve became a career police officer and was sworn in for service in July 1979. Forty years exactly to the day on 5 July 2019 Steve finished his police career and after long service leave officially retired on turning 60yrs of age in 2020.  There is a mandatory legislated age retirement still operating in Qld Police.

Steve worked as a general duty officer, Detective, Station Officer in Charge and for the last 6yrs as a senior District manager and the first appointed Inspector to Whitsunday. Steve worked over those 40yrs at Whitsunday, Proserpine, Surfers Paradise CIB, Mackay CIB, Finch Hatton, back to Proserpine and then Whitsunday.

Wanting to still work, Steve commenced in August 2019 at Hamilton Island as a qualified work health and safety advisor and investigator.  In August 2021 Steve was appointed as the Regional Manager for Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) at Airlie Beach.

Steve has always believed community support, involvement, and service as an integral part of his work but also of his personal belief and values.  He has been an active committee member of many and varied community groups and forums wherever he has lived.  He devised and initiated a community youth diversion service in Finch Hatton in the old sugar mill office. It was called the PIT – People in Teens – and provided a valued community activity. He helped Council establish a similar concept in Proserpine. Then on transfer to Whitsunday he was for several years a board member of the Whitsunday PCYC.

Steve continues his involvement in community service and has been accepted into the Airlie Beach Rotary Club. There was no hesitation in accepting an offer to help the community again by taking on a role as a member of the board with Whitsunday Housing Company Limited.

Steve holds a Master Degree in Management with a HR specialisation from the University of Southern Queensland and Certificate IV in Work Health & Safety. Joined May 2021

Treasurer – Jackie Bluck

Originally from Mackay, graduated with a Bachelor of Business with a major in Accounting in 1991, then completed her CPA whilst working on the Gold Coast as a Tax Accountant, Business Specialist and Auditor.

In 1997, Jackie then moved to Central Queensland to work in the Coal Mining Industry as a Financial Accountant, then Mine Site Accountant. During her 17 years in the industry Jackie progressed to Commercial Manager for various Mining Companies.

In 2014, Jackie was appointed Manager of Accounting Services, then Manager of Mining Town Projects with the Isaac Regional Council.  Jackie moved to the Whitsundays at the commencement of 2016 and is the Proprietor of Hobby Central Australia as well as an Auditor for Clubs.

Jackie joined the Board of Directors in September 2016.