Our Staff

Ewan Filmer

Manager 

Ewan has worked at Capricorn Citizen Advocacy since July 2013.  Before CCA he worked for 25 years in six local governments around Queensland including Rockhampton Regional Council. Before CCA, Ewan also worked for Anglicare supporting prisoners leaving jail and was employed at CQ University, Rockhampton.

Ewan has great job satisfaction in helping CCA continue to recruit and support good matches. He loves that Citizen Advocacy is able to help make a real difference in vulnerable people’s lives.  Citizen advocacy understands that unpaid, freely given relationships are of crucial importance for vulnerable people, as these relationships act as a check and balance to paid supports from various service providers. They also can combat loneliness which is a recognised as world wide epidemic across all social strata in all advanced economies.

After CCA’s advocacy funding changed in 2023, Ewan began to focus more on areas outside of Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast, working in advocacy for people in rural, regional and remote locations.  Ewan has completed studies at the University of Qld, University of Southern Queensland  and Deakin University.  He is a life member of a special school P&C, member of CQ University’s Regional Engagement Committee, grant writer for a local Scout Group and member of a local church.

Ben Cooke

Citizen Advocacy Coordinator

Ben Cooke joined the CCA team as Citizen Advocacy Coordinator on 3 February 2025.  Prior to commencing in this role, Ben previously served as the Regional Manager of the Central Queensland Office of the Queensland Human Rights Commission (QHRC) for 14 years.  In this capacity, he led a dedicated team in resolving complaints related to human rights breaches, discrimination and sexual harassment.  He also delivered specialised training on topics such as discrimination, sexual harassment, human rights legislation, and unconscious bias.

Beyond his managerial, complaint resolution and training responsibilities, Ben was also deeply involved with community groups and organisations, working with them to promote human rights and raise public awareness about the rights and responsibilities under Queensland’s human rights and anti-discrimination legislation.  

One of Ben’s most significant achievements at QHRC was founding and developing the Beach Day Out event, an inclusive beach festival held annually during Disability Action Week.  As chair of the organising committee for five years, Ben oversaw the festival’s growth from a modest 80 participants in 2012 to an impressive 4,000+ attendees by 2016, making it Queensland’s largest and most popular Disability Action Week event.  The Beach Day Out event continues to thrive, promoting equitable access for all and raising awareness of the needs and rights of people with disabilities.  Ben remains very proud of the role he played in establishing and growing the event.

In his role at CCA, Ben focusses on identifying and supporting vulnerable individuals with disabilities who have unmet needs (Protégés) within the Rockhampton and Capricorn Coast regions.  These individuals are often socially isolated and lack meaningful unpaid relationships.  Ben works to connect Protégés with ordinary community members (Citizen Advocates).  Citizen Advocates voluntarily form a freely given, one-on-one, unpaid relationship with their Protégé and provide meaningful support and assistance to them, helping them address unmet needs and ensuring they have the best opportunity to lead fulfilling lives.

Additionally, Ben offers ongoing support to established Citizen Advocate relationships by providing guidance, assistance, and referrals to help Citizen Advocates better assist their Protégés.  Ben finds this work both challenging and deeply rewarding.

Donna Graham

Administration Officer/Advocate

Donna has been the Administration Officer at Capricorn Citizen Advocacy since April 2021. She possesses an extensive history of business management, administration and bookkeeping within a plethora of different industries. This has included, the management of a local builder, a commercial transport company and a hospitality establishment.

Donna also spent 4 years working within the justice system. This time provided her a very comprehensive learning experience in offering support and understanding of the needs of people requiring advice and advocacy as they moved forward in their lives, often following much adversity and life changing events.

Before the pandemic, Donna was feeling the need for change and studied a Certificate III in Community Services as the call to help vulnerable, at-risk people, became prevalent.

The satisfaction felt by Donna in her role at Capricorn Citizen Advocacy is heartfelt. It has been a learning and joyful experience, especially seeing the outcomes for clients and proteges, who now have much needed support and encouragement and the company, kindness and consistency of care given by our valued advocates, who’ve been so well matched through the assistance of Capricorn Citizen Advocacy’s program.

Donna is progressively learning more about advocating effectively to better promote, protect and defend the personal wellbeing and interests of vulnerable people with disabilities who have unmet needs and limited means to have those needs addressed.