Frances Scodellaro

As AQ's COO I provide leadership, direction and guidance to AQ's service delivery (School, Consultancy and Learning, Employment, Therapy, Supported Accommodation) and R&D teams. As a member of the executive leadership team, I have responsibility for the alignment of AQ operations to AQ's strategic plan.

Achievements and highlights:

• Provided services to 2500+ clients and generated over 38M in revenue in 2023.
• Growth across AQ's existing campuses; student enrollments increased by 26% in 2024.
• Secured accreditation for three new school campuses and Distance Education providing for further enrolment growth in 2025 (% increase).
• Expanded inclusion consultancy services via grants and fee-for-service revenue streams, launching new early years and community inclusion streams.26
• Maintained NSSAB and NDIS accreditation with excellent audit results.
• Successfully performed the duties of CEO in an acting capacity for periods of up to 8 weeks.

As General Manager, I led AQ's Therapy, Community, Consultancy, and Training Services and joined AQ's Executive Leadership Team.

Achievements and highlights included:

• Established the AQ Advisory Committee, engaging autistic people and their parents and carers.
• Secured funding and launched AQ's pilot Autism EmployABLE program.
• Secured funding and established AQ's Steppin' Up, Steppin' Out Program in remote Queensland and Northern Territory Indigenous Communities.

During this time, I held various management roles, including Manager, Children's Services, Manager, Innovation & Development, and Manager, Outreach & Training Services.

Achievements and highlights include:

• Secured funding and established AQ's regional centres: Rockhampton, Cairns, Mackay, and Gladstone.
• Managed successful tenders and implementation of major federal programs: Autism Advisor Program, Indigenous Liaison Program, Early Days Program, and National Coordination.
• Led implementation of state and nationally funded projects, including the Early Years Connect Project, Building Family Capacity Project, and Online Transition to Prep Resource.
• Secured and executed the Host Provider Service (precursor to NDIS).
• Organized and delivered annual state symposiums.
• Invited speaker at the 2009 Annual Autism Conference in New Zealand.
• Delivered a lecture series at Beijing University and provided professional advice for the establishment of an early intervention service in Beijing.

In this role, I was responsible for the development and facilitation of professional development workshops, seminars, and courses, as well as consultation services across Queensland and Australia.

Achievements and highlights include:

• Presented at state and national conferences.
• Developed and delivered bespoke consultation and professional development services across the Northern Territory.
• Created parent and professional resources with national reach.

During this period, I held various roles as a speech pathologist, initially as the sole speech pathologist and later as the senior speech pathologist, working in the school, outreach services, and as a member of the Diagnostic Assessment Panel.

Achievements and highlights include:

• Presented at state and national conferences, and invited as keynote for the 1994 Manila Autism Symposium.
• Provided consultative support to establish a service for autistic children in the Philippines.
• Lectured at the University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology.
• Founded an autism Special Interest Group for Speech Pathologists.
• Established and led new AQ outreach therapy service.