Karena Phillips

About Karena Phillips

With over 15 years of experience in the disability and aged caresector, MiHaven Care’s Manager, Karena Phillips has played a significant role during the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Cairns. Initially employed to assist individuals with disabilities in preparing for their NDIS pre-planning meetings, she provided essential support throughout the funding access process. As the Cairns site expanded with the NDIS, Karena continued her work with a disability service provider, collaborating with MiHaven on the region’s inaugural Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) project.

In 2021, Karena advanced to the position of Area Manager for Cairns, which included overseeing remote regions such as Maryborough, Bundaberg, and Hervey Bay. During this tenure, she also engaged with SDA providers in the Wide Bay area. Most recently, Karena has contributed to the successful merger of two large disability organisations at a local level. This role involved upskilling local teams and enhancing their own expertise in SDA properties and funding, alongside managing vacancies effectively.