Nicole "Nikii" Hauge
Director
I started Progressive Youth because I could see that we needed to do things differently when it came to supporting some of our youth who have had a challenging time. For 28 years, I was a foster carer, working alongside some of the most complex young people in our care system. That experience showed me, firsthand, where the system fails and the real impact that failure has on a child's life. It's also where my belief in children's rights was formed: every young person deserves to be heard, respected, and given a genuine chance, regardless of how complex their circumstances are. I'm proud to have built an organisation that advocates for that belief every day — one that refuses to accept “the norm” when the norm isn't good enough for our young people.
Josh MacRae
Executive Manager, Operations and Finance
I oversee the operational side of the business at Progressive — our Accounts, Housing, HR, and IT departments, including our relationships with external IT suppliers. It's not always the most visible part of what we do, but I take real pride in it: every system that runs smoothly and every supplier relationship managed well means our frontline team has one less thing to worry about, and more time for the young people who need them. This work means a lot to me personally. Fostering and social work have always been part of my family's story, and being able to bring my skills to an organisation doing this work isn't just a job to me — it's a way of contributing to something I've cared about my whole life.
Nadine Palin
Executive Manager, Operations
Joining Progressive as a social work student, I quickly fell in love with everything Progressive stands for and its passion for social justice and systemic change. Our goal here at Progressive is to improve the lives of marginalised members of society who need systemic support, and to improve how the community services sector supports people more broadly. While I've developed a strong connection to the child safety sector, I'm also passionate about supporting people living with disability. Progressive is an NDIS-registered organisation, offering a range of NDIS support services.
Dannai MacRae
Executive Manager, Social Work and Training
My connection to this work started long before I had a job title for it. My family fostered when I was growing up, and I then became a carer myself. Watching young people move through a system that too often wasn't listening to them is what first drew me into social work, and it's shaped everything I've tried to build since. As Executive Manager of Social Work and Training, I lead our social work department and our training function, including co-writing our PCC training. At the centre of it all is one belief: a young person's voice belongs in the decisions that affect their life, and no child should be seen or supported in isolation. They're part of a network — family, carers, community — and our role is to strengthen that network around them, not work around it. At Progressive, we go beyond the “norm.” That's not just something we say; it's what I've spent my career, and my life, trying to make true.
Lara Fressard
Social Work Case Manager
Jade Ryffel
Department Head, Social Work
My background is in Psychology, and early in my career I saw a system that too often failed the young people it was meant to protect. That experience shaped my search for an organisation that genuinely drives systemic change and ensures young people feel safe, supported, and valued throughout their journey — and I found that at Progressive. In this role, I'm fortunate to walk alongside our young people through some of their hardest moments and their biggest wins. Watching them grow, overcome obstacles, and achieve incredible things despite the barriers they've faced is one of the most rewarding parts of the work. Their resilience and determination inspire me every day, and it's what fuels my commitment to the future they deserve.
Liu Aliifaalogo
Department Head, Training
I joined Progressive in 2021 after years in the hire industry, where work felt more like a job than a calling. Starting as a Youth Worker, I quickly realised this work is about being someone young people can turn to — honest, real, and showing them their opportunities are endless no matter what they're facing. Progressive isn't just a service to me; it's a team of people who genuinely care, and that's what keeps me here. Since moving into the Training Team, I've become passionate about developing our staff, building the skills and confidence they need to create real outcomes for the young people they support.
Efrat Bong
Training Specialist
Part of the PYCC training team, delivering specialist courses that build the confidence and capability of our staff on the ground.
Bella Glynn-Armstrong
PYCC Team
Part of the Progressive Youth Care team supporting our young people and homes.
Denton Paterson
House Coordinator
I joined PYCC in 2020 and was a worker on the ground for three years prior to this role, predominantly as a key worker. My role now is to ensure our homes are up to the required standard. The best part of the job is when I see both our young people and our staff learn, develop and grow within themselves.
Rianna MacRae
Department Head, Housing
My role at Progressive is house coordinator and maintenance. I help maintain our homes and make sure they're safe, comfortable, and in good working order for our young people. This work is personal to me. I grew up in a family shaped by fostering, and I know firsthand how much it matters for a young person to feel safe in the place they call home. A well-kept, cared-for house isn't just maintenance to me; it's part of giving our young people the stability and dignity they deserve, sometimes for the first time. Every repair, every small fix, every home I help keep running well is my way of contributing to that.
Jack Auckett
Maintenance
Starting as a youth worker at PYCC from the very beginning, I have seen the organisation grow over the years. Now, having worked my way up to the housing and maintenance department as the in-house maintenance man, I bounce from house to house doing everything from landscaping to hanging a picture frame.
Kimaea Kirifi
Projects Manager
I support the incredible team at PYCC as a Projects Manager, helping navigate everything from rostering and operations to the unexpected challenges that pop up each day. Having started my journey with PYCC as a Youth Worker five years ago, I've had the privilege of seeing firsthand the impact our work has on the lives of young people and the dedication of the people who make it happen. The thing that makes PYCC special is our people. Every day, I see staff who genuinely care and consistently go above and beyond for our young people. It's a culture built on compassion, teamwork, and the belief that everyone deserves to feel safe, supported, and heard. I'm proud to be part of an organisation that never loses sight of its purpose and always does what's needed to support both our young people and our Youth Workers.
