Ashgrove Community Care, (ACC) was formed as an initiative of Ashgrove Baptist Church in 2014.
Today, ACC delivers various services, programs and support services that nurture holistic well-being.
We’re here to walk alongside individuals and families, equipping them with tools to thrive.
The vision for the Centre began after Pastor (now Rev) Lorrie Pfeffer attended a Careforce (now Lifekeys) Seminar in Melbourne in 2011. She was also greatly inspired by the successful counselling program of Gateway Baptist Church in Mackenzie in outer Brisbane.
Lorrie Pfeffer
ACC Counselling Centre was founded with a heart for community care and support.
Ashgrove Baptist Church (ABC) owned a residential house on church property in Waterworks Road in The Gap which was suitable for development as a counselling centre and the hub of ACC.
With the support of the ABC Elders and the Senior Pastor at that time (Rev Tim Sweetman), the building was renovated to create a welcoming and functional space for counselling and other services.
Pastor Lorrie Pfeffer served as the founding Director of ACC and was soon joined by two additional counsellors. Professional counselling and supervision services were then offered to clients from across Brisbane and throughout Australia via telephone and on-line.
ACC has also regularly run a range of Lifekeys (formerly Careforce) courses, including:
Woman to Woman
Man to Man
Divorce Recovery
These courses have supported individuals, couples and families through key life experiences, transitions and challenges.
Generous financial support from ABC members and attendees, has been instrumental in supporting the mission and vision of ACC. Donations raised through the tax-deductible annual appeal held in June each year have enabled concessional and discounted services to be offered to support clients with financial needs.
The leadership of ACC has transitioned to the ACC Council and Co-ordinator to ensure the long-term development and sustainability of ACC, as Rev. Lorrie Pfeffer approaches retirement. The leadership transition will create opportunities for new initiatives and expansion of community care services.
ACC Council
The ACC Council (ACCC) was established in 2023 to oversee the ongoing operations, activities, finances and facilities of ACC.
The Council functions according to its Charter and reports directly to the Elders of Ashgrove Baptist Church.
Peter Bickerton
Chair
Retired Architect
Nicole Thorlton
Secondary Teacher
ABC Elder
John Savery
Retired Engineer
Karen Chapman
Co-ordinator and Counsellor
Consultants to ACCC
Ashgrove Community Care Council values the expertise of its consultants who bring specialised knowledge and experience across a range of fields. Each consultant has been carefully selected to support and strengthen the mission and operations of ACC.
Paul Beckmann
Financial Consultant
Rachel Jones
Educator, Counsellor, Caseworker
Simon Benjamin
Independant Consultant, Blue Skies Consulting
Paul Beckmann
Financial Consultant
Paul has a background working in the finance industry and assisting various charitable organisations in matters of financial governance and funding. He is keen to help Ashgrove Community Care to operate efficiently and to be well-resourced to provide affordable professional services to its diverse clients.
Rachel Jones
Educator, Counsellor, Caseworker
Coming soon.
Simon Benjamin
Independant Consultant, Blue Skies Consulting
"It has been a privilege to work with Ashgrove Community Care and assist in navigating the next part of its development to meet the needs of the local community. I enjoy working with organisations whose heart and soul are set on benefiting the community in all that they do, which is why I enjoy working with them."
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ACC Co-ordinator
Karen Chapman
Bachelor of Counselling,CCAA,PACFA (reg)
Karen Chapman recently joined Ashgrove Community Care as Co-ordinator, bringing with her a warm, person-centred approach and a strong commitment to supporting individuals through life’s challenges and transitions.
Karen believes that every person is a unique and valuable individual, shaped by their own experiences, relationships, values, aspirations, and cultural and spiritual perspectives. Her approach recognises the importance of providing a safe and supportive environment where people feel heard, understood and empowered to move forward.
As Co-ordinator, Karen is looking forward to supporting the ongoing work of ACC and helping to strengthen its role within the local community. She is passionate about ensuring ACC continues to provide professional, accessible and quality services that respond to the needs of the people and families it serves.
Finances
ACC activities are funded by fees paid for services, grants, endowments, tax-deductible donations from ABC members and attendees.
The expanded services initiated in 2023 have been assisted in development by a three year seed funding grant provided by Carinity (a Community Care Division of Queensland Baptists) and a very generous matching donation from an ABC member.