We’re United For QLD

Our candidates are workplace delegates, union activists, and everyday members who share one thing in common: a commitment to building a stronger union for you.

Moreton Bay

Meet Your Team

These are the delegates, members and activists who are standing up for UWU members across Moreton Bay. They come from your workplaces and your industries. They know the challenges you face because they face them too.

They're ready to fight for a union that wins for you, picks up the phone when you need help, and puts more money in your pocket.

Endorse Our Candidates

Evanthia Smith

Teacher Aide | Moreton Bay

I'm a Teacher Aide at Bray Park State School and I've been a UWU member for 16 years. I'm a workplace delegate. My main reason for joining the union 16 years ago was for workplace protection and to make sure school admin were doing the right thing under the EBA. Being a union member means being part of a larger united collective with the same workplace objectives. It means standing with work colleagues and supporting them however needed, and empowering others to be confident speaking up for themselves. I'm proud to attend the Labour Day march each year as a reminder of the entitlements we have because of the members who fought before us. Outside of work, I have three children who are now all young adults living away from home. You'll most likely find me at the movies or at a live concert. For the last 10 years I've also held a volunteer role on the Parents and Citizens Association at my children's former high school.
In the early days of my employment, I was stuck on 4 hours a day covering first aid and the resource room while watching colleagues around me maximise their hours. I was being disadvantaged, and it wasn't until the EBA changed that schools had to work the timetable around our hours. That union win changed everything. I'm standing to have the opportunity to represent like-minded members in getting the best possible outcomes for us all. I love that UWU members come from a wide range of industries and that we support each other's fights. I have an excellent work ethic and I will support and stand with you to the best of my ability. I'm backing United For You because all members deserve a union that delivers on its promises: more organisers, better workplace support, a freeze on union fees, and more campaign wins. United For You will answer to members with honesty and transparency. I believe it is the only ethical choice in this election.

Peter Garcia

Nuclear Medicine Scientist | Moreton Bay

I'm a Nuclear Medicine Scientist at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and I've been a UWU member for 20 years. I serve as a delegate and industry committee member. During the first Health Professionals negotiation in 2007, I realised that unless Nuclear Medicine Scientists are members, we will never have a voice at the table where our issues are discussed. That's when it dawned on me: we are the union. Being a union member is the most important decision I've made, both personally and for the benefit of my entire profession. Knowing that your whole profession has unity in their desire to see it improve is powerful. My family and I have lived in the Moreton Bay area for over 20 years. My passion for public healthcare forms the foundation of all my beliefs.
In 2024, Nuclear Medicine achieved almost 100% union density and petitioned the government to support a package that included more permanent staff, support for an educational pathway in Queensland, and an allowance for Nuclear Medicine Scientists. I'm standing because I have a strong passion for the patients of Queensland, and that drives my desire for all healthcare professions to be supported to perform their best in a safe environment. I want to ensure the union remains as members representing members. We are the union. The best people to represent our professions are people from our professions. I'm backing United For You because members representing members is the best way to improve pay and conditions for all of our professions.

Lee Armstrong

Machine Operator | Moreton Bay

I'm a machine operator at Arnott's Biscuits and I've been a UWU member for 34 years. I've served as a site delegate for 30 of those years.
Thirty years as a delegate has taught me what it takes to win for workers. You need a union that uses every tool available: industrial, legal, political and community pressure. That's exactly what United For You stands for. Our union has delivered a 28% pay rise for aged care workers, a 15% pay rise for early childhood educators, and recovered $67 million in stolen wages. I want to keep that momentum going across every industry. I'm backing United For You because this team has the experience and the plan to build a stronger union for all of us.

Donna Collins

Machine Operator | Moreton Bay

I'm a machine operator at Arnott's Biscuits and I've been a UWU member for 35 years. I'm a site delegate in the Food and Beverage industry.
Thirty-five years in this union has shown me one thing: results come from experienced, focused leadership that uses every tool in the toolbox. I'm standing because I want to make sure our union keeps fighting smart and fighting hard for members. United For You has the track record and the plan to keep our union strong.

Jason Granzien

Brewery Technician | Moreton Bay

I'm a Brewery Technician at XXXX in Milton and I've been a UWU member for 33 years. I'm a site delegate in the Food and Beverage industry.
After 33 years as a member, I know the value of a strong union. I've seen what happens when workers stand together and I've seen what happens when they don't. Our union has won historic pay rises across aged care, early education, and the public sector. It has recovered $67 million in stolen wages. And it has put the union's finances back on solid ground after years of budget blowouts. I'm backing United For You because this ticket has the runs on the board, and I want to see our union keep delivering for members in every industry.

Bernie Austen

School Cleaner | Moreton Bay

I'm a school cleaner at Morayfield State High School and I've been a UWU member for 9 years.
I know what it means to work hard and to need your union in your corner. Our union has delivered real wins: protection against outsourcing in Queensland, the insourcing of school cleaning in NSW, and better pay and conditions across the board. I'm backing United For You because this team is committed to no fee increases for four years, more organisers in workplaces, and making sure every member gets a call back within 24 hours when they need help. That's the kind of union I believe in.

Elliott Rhodes-Bates

Critical Care Flight Paramedic | Moreton Bay

I'm a Critical Care Flight Paramedic with the Queensland Ambulance Service and I've been a UWU member for 18 years. I serve as a delegate and HSR. When I first started in the ambulance sector, I had the pleasure of working with experienced women and men who shared the importance of being in a union and how together we can achieve great things. Being a union member means fairness, justice, representation, and a collective voice to improve our safety and conditions so we can go home to our families and be well enough to care for sick Queenslanders when they need us most. Outside of work, my husband, our six-month-old and I love to travel. I love the beach and have had a long association with surf life saving. Family and friends are important to me, and I love a good book and a great coffee.
A defining moment was an EB about 10 years ago where the union negotiating team got a solid improvement in pay and conditions. Instead of worrying about whether I could afford to stay in a profession I love, I could focus on the important things: patient and paramedic safety. Since LHMU through United Voice and now UWU, our union has grown from strength to strength. I'm standing because I want to ensure that for the next 20 years our union continues to grow and stands ready to tackle the challenges of an ever-changing workplace. I want to represent the best interests of members by communicating and representing their wishes. I'm backing United For You because the future of our union requires us to stop the waste and ensure members' interests are at the forefront of every decision.

Angela Turner

Educator | Moreton Bay

I've worked in the Early Education sector for over 22 years. I have a strong desire to see the industry grow and to become a powerful advocate for children and the support they need as they develop from birth to six years and beyond. I've been a committed union member and a strong supporter of workers' rights throughout my career.
My passion is helping build a stronger union and empowering employees in every workplace by advocating for their rights and needs. Together, we can motivate others to stand up for what is fair and continue to support each other.

Liz Nye

Aged Care Worker | Moreton Bay

I've been a UWU member for 4 years. Being a union member means stability to me. I fight for what I believe is right.
The union has made a real difference by fighting to better our wages. I'm standing because I want our rights to be heard. I want to be our members' voice. I'm backing United For You because of its values, its respect, and its willingness to fight for members.

Tanya Needs

Senior QAS Educator | Moreton Bay

I work at the Queensland Ambulance Service Education Centre and I've been a UWU member for 9 years. I serve as a delegate, State Councillor, and EB Committee member. I joined UWU in 2017 after a presentation to my student group. Being a member means being part of a bigger team that helps and supports members with everyday questions, improves working conditions, holds employers to our agreements, and works towards making our workplace better. I'm the proud wife of another UWU member and a proud mum of two young adults. On weekends I love the water and I spend a lot of time volunteering with my local junior Rugby League club where I'm a sports trainer and committee member.
Watching delegates support members through the 2017 Enterprise Bargaining made me believe this was something I wanted to be part of. Over the years as a delegate, it's always a humbling privilege to receive a "thank you for being here for me," and it's always a proud moment when a member becomes a delegate or helps another member. I've been lucky enough to be mentored by some very inspirational members and I feel it's time to invest the same passion and commitment. It's not about what I want to achieve for fellow members. I like to think of it as: what do they need and how can we achieve it together? I listen to hear, not just to respond. I'm backing United For You because of its strengthened focus on members, their welfare and conditions, and continued focus on education and training.

Stacey Whitton-Starling

Educator | Moreton Bay

I've been working, studying and advocating in early childhood for 26 years. I started my early childhood journey alongside my HSC in 2000, where I was blessed to be supported by amazing teachers and educators and mentored into the educator I am today. I want early childhood to be the best it can be, to support educators, children and families while ensuring safety for all.
I choose to be in the union because I know the union is the way we can create a safer and better early childhood space for everyone. We stand together, we fight together, and together we win. That’s what United For You is all about!

Jamie Rhodes-Bates

Director & Paramedic | Moreton Bay

I work as a director and paramedic in Queensland and serve as a workplace delegate and State Councillor. I joined the union early in my career because I saw the enormous power that comes from people on the ground standing together to win outcomes for workers. I value honesty, transparency, kindness and respect, and I hold those values close in the leadership roles I hold. I'm a passionate advocate not only for workers in my own industry, but for workers in every workplace. I strongly believe all workers are entitled to a safe workplace, a boss that values their contribution, and fair compensation for the work they do. Regardless of my own role, my heart will always beat to the drum of the union.
An executive team with demonstrated capability and a track record of always putting workers' interests first is incredibly important. I'm running to ensure the voice of frontline workers is heard, and to make sure our union is led by experienced members, organisers and executives who can strategically pull the right levers and get in front of the right people to get real wins for members. The United team is the only way our great union will remain strong and continue to see the safety, rights and conditions of working Australians improve.

Leeanne McFadyen

Educator, ECEC | Moreton Bay

Being involved in the Big Steps campaign, I have witnessed educators courageously standing up for their rights and fighting for educators to have a safe working environment. In leadership roles like mine, balancing advocacy, team wellbeing, service operations, and regulatory responsibilities - yes they also shape the future of the profession. There is more to go and I’ll never stop advocating for eductors who make the difference. To see this in real time has made our industry stand out for change.
The United For You team has helped Educators find their voice. Collective voices raised awareness and now we have the opportunity for real reform and build the Union to stand together and raise the standards.

Carl Ratana

UWU Lead Organiser, Property Services | Moreton Bay

I've been a UWU member for 26 years. I still remember the exact date I joined our mighty union, 4 June 2000. I now work as a lead organiser. I first got involved with the union after finishing my chef's apprenticeship. I was on $4.14 per hour, working seven days a week, full time in a restaurant and on my days off working at CaterAir. In those two days at CaterAir I was earning more money than in my full time restaurant job. The difference was CaterAir had an LHMU enterprise agreement. That experience showed me clearly what a union can do for workers, and I never looked back.
I'm standing for election to ensure that our union continues to fight for our members, utilising all avenues to win for workers. I want to empower workers to act collectively, ensure dignity and fairness, and overcome social injustice. United For You is the only ticket that I believe represents the interests of UWU members, to ensure a transparent, democratic, member-led union.

Melanie Little

UWU Coordinator | Moreton Bay

I've worked for UWU for almost 20 years and I've been a member for 8 years. I started in retail at 14 and joined the SDA straight away. When I moved to LHMU (now UWU) I joined United Voice and have remained a member ever since. Being a union member was a no-brainer for me. Now working for the union in my 20th year, it means so much more than workplace protection. Union is like having a large adopted family, people you can rely on when things get tough who also help you get further in life. I have two young daughters, 8 months and 3, so my life mostly revolves around them. My partner and I also run a small business and enjoy participating in community events in Moreton Bay. In my spare time I enjoy house renovations, exercise, and shopping.
One moment that stays with me is when we assisted a group of vulnerable cleaners at the airport who were being sexually assaulted and having wages stolen by their manager, who was threatening them over their visas. The union secured all their money back, the manager was terminated and charged. That changed their lives. I'm standing because since the merger I have seen membership and income decline, and I don't want that to continue. I work closely with members from all of our industry coverage and I can bring a variety of different perspectives. My dedication to this union is second to none. I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly and I'm still here wanting to help make it better. I'm backing United For You because I know the direction and safety of the union can only be achieved by those on this ticket. United For You is where my values stand and I wish for nothing but the best for our union and its members.

Stand with us. Endorse United For You in Queensland.

Our candidates are ready to work for you. Now we need you standing with us.

By endorsing United For You, you're showing your support for a union that delivers real results. Higher wages. Better conditions. Support when you need it. No fee increases.

This is your union. Back the team that's backing you.

Add your name to endorse United For You in Queensland.