Nadine Stephen and Kate Priest head up a mission-driven partnership between OPC IT experts and disability support service Koomarri. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Picture this: you’re the leader of a charity supporting hundreds of vulnerable people. You’re backed by a handful of passionate staff, but your budget is tight at best.
If this sounds like a challenge, that’s because it is.
Koomarri is Canberra’s longest-serving disability provider and CEO Nadine Stephen has been part of the team’s fabric for more than a decade.
Nadine has worked in the disability sector her whole career. She brings a mountain of experience in client care, policy and executive management, so she understands the challenges of running a modern organisation with limited resources.
Operating within the NDIS, Koomarri works with more than 300 Canberrans across a range of business, training, community and residential initiatives.
“Koomarri means to ‘shield’ in the Ngunnawal language,” she says.
“Simply put, we support people who live with a disability to achieve their life goals, dreams and aspirations. That kind of work really needs a supportive community to be fruitful.
“As a charity, you’re working as efficiently as you can without the same resources or funds that many private companies enjoy. Investing in proper IT solutions is non-negotiable, but it’s so important to us that we see value.”
Seeking fresh external IT support, Koomarri’s executive team was initially drawn to OPC for its experience working with not-for-profits and its budget constraints.
But Nadine quickly learned this was only part of the equation.
“The bottom line is, our systems eventually filter down to affect the lives of vulnerable people. We need to be able to trust our partners wholeheartedly,” she says.
OPC is one of the largest IT providers for the not-for-profit sector in the ACT, supporting some of the region’s largest providers.
Kate Priest worked in the not-for-profit industry before joining OPC in April as strategic solutions manager. Having experience on both sides of the pond makes her an ideal addition to the team.
“I know how it feels to stretch a shoestring budget,” Kate says.
“Finding the right balance between money spent and value gained is really important, but IT shouldn’t be holding not-for-profits back.
“We understand these clients need flexibility, agility and personalisation, which we do really well.”
Operating within the NDIS, Koomarri works with more than 300 Canberrans across a range of business, training, community and residential initiatives. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Kate says OPC works closely with some of Australia’s largest not-for-profits to understand their unique challenges.
The goal? To deliver tailored, reliable IT solutions that enable each client to focus on its core mission.
“Our team of experts, including our onsite technicians, bring a diverse range of knowledge and skill sets. Our role is both strategic and hands on, ensuring each partnership is supported with care, empathy and long-term value,” Kate says.
“We secure and streamline Koomarri’s tech so they can spend more time doing what they do best, without getting bogged down by IT issues.
“Essentially, we look after them so they can look after others.”
Nadine says the OPC team possesses a wealth of knowledge and “provides us with a high-quality, affordable service”.
“But they also always have our best interests at heart. That’s the most important thing for us.”
Kate says building a solid network of community-driven partnerships benefits everyone, including private businesses, especially in a small city such as Canberra.
“I think every business should have some sort of philanthropic relationship,” she says.
“Charities do so much for our communities and ask for so little in return. Making them feel seen, heard and understood is OPC’s bread and butter.”
To find out more, visit OPC: Not-for-Profits.
