About Lyndon Shea

In the 1970s, Lyndon was a full time activist working on human rights issues, most notably in support of the Aboriginal Land Rights movement.

In 1984, he took on the role of researcher for the Personal Care Workers Study in Northcote, and wrote the first Australian study of Attendant Care for People with Disabilities, titled “Ahead of its Time”. 

In the Department of Labour in the mid 1980s he administered a program called the Disability Attendant Study. These were the two founding stages of the organisation now known as the Disability Attendant Service, a thriving community organisation delivering consumer controlled care to People with Disabilities.

In that period he also did project work for the Australian Quadriplegics Association and the Disability Resources Centre.

 As Acting Manager for Merit Employment Programs at the Public Service Board of Victoria in 1990, Lyndon had oversight of Disability Awareness Programs run in the Victorian Public Service, and the development of the first Disability Employment Strategy for the Victorian Public Service.

For five years in the 1990s, Lyndon was a member of the Board of STAR (Victorian Action on Intellectual Disability) and represented STAR on the National Council of Intellectual Disability.
From 1995 – 2012, Lyndon held a variety of positions at state and national authorities, public and private organisations and as a consultant, specialising in vocational education and training. During this period, Lyndon developed a multifaceted appreciation of the Australian training system and issues of access to vocational education.

In a twenty three years career in the Public Service, Lyndon had extensive experience initiating new policy programs and strategies, in evaluating proposals and submissions, and in reviewing project and program performance against their stated aims.  

Lyndon's working life

At the start:
While at Hutchins School in Hobart, Tasmania - 
Chorister, St David’s Cathedral Choir 1960 - 64
Shop assistant, Fitzgerald’s Department Store, 1965
Shop assistant, Fullers Bookshop, 1966

Following the successful completion of senior schooling:
Corps of Staff Cadets, Royal Military College Duntroon 1967
Left Duntroon 1968

As a University student:
Resident tutor, Canberra Grammar School; 1968
Clerk, Bureau of Census and Statistics 1968;
Cleaner, National Library; 1969 
Assistant to the Press Attaché, French embassy; 1968 - 70 
Copy boy for The Australian newspaper, Canberra bureau
Indoor plant carer, Willow Park Nursery, Pialligo, Canberra 1970 - 71

During University Vacation:
Factory worker and delivery man, Sydney 1970
Storeman for Transport Company IPEC, Hobart 1971

Following completion of Teacher training: 
Teacher, Ballarat North Technical School and Altona North Technical School, 1973
Editor, Education Subscription Service; partner in the business of Walker* Press, Melbourne, 1974 - 1977        
National Co-ordinator, Campaign Against Racial Exploitation (Aboriginal Land Rights and Anti-Apartheid activities), 1978 – 1979
Education Research Officer, Student Union, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology,1980 – 1982
Development work in Somalia and Zimbabwe, 1983    
Research Worker, Personal Care Workers Study, Northcote, Victoria, 1984
Project Officer, Western Desert Land Council, South Hedland, Western Australia, 1985    
Administrative Officer, Aboriginal Employment, Department of Labour, Victoria    , 1985 – 1987
Manager, Aboriginal Employment Unit, Public Service Board of Victoria, 1987 – 1989
Acting Manager, Merit Employment Programs, Public Service Board of Victoria, 1989 – 1990
Senior Consultant, Industrial Conditions Unit, Public Service Board of Victoria,1990 – 1992
Senior Policy Officer, Commonwealth/State Relations, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Victoria, 1993 - 1994    
Manager, Curriculum Services, Office of Training and Further Education, Victoria, 1995 – 1998
Manager, Training Package Materials Evaluation and State Liaison Officer (Victoria), Australian National Training Authority, 1998 - 2000    
Joint Executive Officer and National Manager Learning Projects, Business Services Training Australia Ltd, 2000 – 2001
Consultant, Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services (VETASSESS), 2002 – 2003
Program Manager, New and Emerging Skills, Office of Training and Tertiary Education, 2003 – 2007
Partner, Shea Business Consulting – specialising in education and skills development, 2007 - 2012