Lead Application Developer
Community Accommodation & Respite Agency (CARA) — 2018 to 2020
I led the design, development, and modernisation of CARA’s digital systems during a period of significant organisational growth and sector reform. My role combined application development, solution architecture, business analysis, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring CARA’s systems could scale, integrate, and support a rapidly expanding workforce delivering disability services across South Australia.
Key Achievements
Designed and delivered custom applications and digital workflows that streamlined operations, reduced manual effort, and improved service delivery across multiple business units.
Modernised CARA’s SharePoint environment, transforming it from a basic document repository into a structured, governed, and user‑friendly platform that supported collaboration, compliance, and organisational knowledge.
Led the development of integrated digital solutions that connected disparate systems, improved data accuracy, and reduced duplication across HR, rostering, operations, and corporate services.
Built strong relationships with operational leaders, translating complex business needs into practical, scalable digital solutions that aligned with CARA’s strategic direction.
Introduced structured development practices, including documentation, version control, testing processes, and release management, improving reliability and reducing system downtime.
Provided technical leadership and mentoring to colleagues, uplifting digital capability across the organisation and supporting a culture of continuous improvement.
Scope of Responsibility
Application development and solution design
SharePoint administration and modernisation
Business analysis and requirements gathering
Integration of systems and data flows
Documentation, testing, and release management
Stakeholder engagement across corporate and operational teams
Technical support and troubleshooting for critical systems
Expanded Leadership & Technical Impact
This role marked a major shift in my career trajectory. I moved beyond hands‑on technical work into architectural thinking, designing systems that supported organisational growth, compliance, and service quality. I became a trusted advisor to managers and executives, helping them understand digital opportunities and risks, and guiding them toward sustainable, scalable solutions.
I also strengthened my capability in:
translating operational pain points into digital solutions
designing systems that balanced usability, governance, and risk
managing competing priorities across a complex stakeholder landscape
delivering improvements in a resource‑constrained environment
building repeatable processes that improved reliability and reduced rework
Legacy
The systems, workflows, and governance structures I developed at CARA continued to support the organisation well beyond my tenure, forming the foundation for later digital uplift initiatives and enabling CARA to operate more efficiently during a period of sector‑wide change