STEPS Mental Health Support Facilitator Fran Caddell is a finalist for the title of Customer Service Hero in the 2024 Gympie Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, taking place on Saturday 19 October.
Ms Caddell is an active member of her community, using her can-do attitude, knowledge, and connections in Gympie to provide exceptional, holistic support to people in need. She was also a finalist for the title of Community Queen in the 2024 Gympie Women in Business Awards.
Josh Hansen, STEPS’ Mental Health Services General Manager, says that Ms Caddell is incredibly deserving of her nomination and an integral part of the Gympie community.
“You only need to have a single conversation with Fran to see how knowledgeable and passionate she is,” Mr Hansen said.
“She is the best advocate you could ever have – all of her clients would agree. Fran works hard to understand the individuals she works with and what they need to thrive.”
Ms Caddell’s role encompasses workplace psychological safety and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), with clients and stakeholders often asking for her services due to the positive working relationships she has developed.
“Fran is an amazing colleague. She offers mentoring and support to all of the staff she works with, and everyone on the team looks to her for guidance,” Mr Hansen said.
“She always makes new staff feel welcome, accepted, and valued. Every birthday, milestone, or special occasion, you can expect her to be an active part of the celebrations. That’s probably my favourite thing about Fran; she displays all of our values as a not-for-profit organisation and embeds them into her work.”
Looking to the future, Ms Caddell plans on sharing her mental health insights with others in her community and beyond. She is looking forward to presenting at the 2024 Rural Mental Health Conference, hosted by the Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association in Cairns this November.
About STEPS Mental Health Services
STEPS provide a range of mental health services aimed at supporting and empowering individuals, reducing stigma associated with mental illness, and skilling workforces to better support people with a mental illness. Our work to advance mental health recovery through research and advocacy has made STEPS a leading voice on mental health support strategies throughout Australia.
