St. Luke's

Executive Director - Di O'Neil

Di O'Neil is currently Executive Director of St Luke's. She has worked as a social worker, trainer and manager in the child and family field and related areas since graduating from Melbourne University in 1968.

Di has been associated with St Luke's for more than 29 years. She has significantly influenced the development of St Luke's philosophy and practice and the strengths-based movement in Australia . She has participated in many practice development forums at a local, state and national level.

Di has sat on many statewide practice and policy committees. Di has presented at many conferences, and provides training and facilitation across Australia and internationally. She co-authored “Beyond Child Rescue” with Dorothy Scott (Allen &Unwin 1996)and “Promoting Family Change: the optimistic factor”, by Bronwyn Elliott, Louise Mulroney and Di O'Neil (Allen & Unwin June 2000). She has a chapter in Making a Difference edited by Robyn Munford and Jackie Sanders (Allen and Unwin 2003). She has been an inspiration behind several of the practice tools developed, published and distributed around the world by Innovative Resources (see catalogue).

Even although Di has worked with some of the most troubled families where violence and abuse have dominated their lives, the hero inside each person she has met has inspired her work. She believes all parents want their children to have a fair go and that the best way for community services to create safety and a sense of belonging and self worth for children is to tap into their parents' dreams for them.

In 2001, Di's contribution to the international child and family welfare field was recognised when she received the Lingren Strengthening Families Award ( University of Nebraska ).