NSW & ACT State Leaders Team
Deb Kuhna
NSW/ACT State Director
Deb.Kuhna@chaplaincyaustralia.com
Deb has been actively involved in Chaplaincy Australia for the past 15 years. Her chaplaincy experience spans hospital settings (mental health), church and community environments, and disaster response situations.
As an ACC pastor and accredited Professional Pastoral Supervisor, Deb has served in varied pastoral roles—leading teams to facilitate compassionate care across multiple platforms and creating welcoming spaces that communities embrace.
Exciting developments are underway across NSW/ACT! Our chaplaincy network continues to expand as more organizations recognize the transformative impact chaplains bring to their workplaces and communities. We’re building strong partnerships, opening new doors, and equipping chaplains to meet growing demand. The future of chaplaincy in NSW/ACT is bright, and we invite you to be part of this meaningful work.
Leeanne Cameron
State Leadership Team
Leeanne has been employed as a pastor in the ACC for over 20 years.
She has experience in diverse leadership roles, providing quality pastoral care both in the community and the church. In 2016 she became the program director for chaplaincy with Alphacrucis College.
Leeanne is also a disaster recovery chaplain and a qualified professional pastoral supervisor. She has a passion to see chaplains, pastoral carers and ministers trained and equipped to provide quality care, and to have longevity of ministry.
Peter Ainsworth
State Leadership Team
Peter is currently the Pastoral Care Pastor of Lifehouse Church in Coffs Harbour, and NSW Ambulance Chaplain in the North Coast Sector.
He also is the regional representative for the Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network (DRCN) on the north coast region.
Previously to this, Peter and his wife Jennie were the senior pastors of All Nations Church in Woolgoolga for 21 years, having seen this church well established and now functioning as the Lifehouse Northern Beaches Campus.
Peter and Jennie have 3 grown children Ben, Joel and Tara and are living their passion for the local church being a flourishing place for missions and chaplaincy to reach out into our communities and to the nations.
Brett Cobby
State Leadership Team
Brett is a visiting chaplain at a major Newcastle hospital. He has also served as an NSW Ambulance Chaplain, leading a multifaith team of Chaplains in the Hunter and New England Sectors and was also a Disaster Recovery Network Chaplain for many years. Brett is an ACC Pastor and has served as a community chaplain and board member in several non-for-profit organisations. Brett’s other roles have included administration, pastoral care, and connections pastor.
After working in an operational role in emergency services for almost thirty years, Brett currently works in the child protection area as a foster care trainer and assessor.
Brett believes that Chaplaincy is about inconvenience and preparedness. “You can’t choose where the next crisis will be, but when the need arises you have to be able to recognise it, to be ready for it and to respond appropriately. This means you must be properly trained, qualified and equipped. As Jesus travelled from place to place, he was always being interrupted to help people. I believe Chaplaincy is more about the journey than the destination.”
Brett lives at Raymond Terrace and has been married to Elizabeth for 31 years.
Rachael Riddington
State Leadership Team
rachael.riddington@chaplaincyaustralia.com
Rachael has had over 12 years chaplaincy experience having joined the Chaplaincy Australia network in 2008. Rachael also joined the DRCN in 2017.
Rachael’s chaplaincy experience has been versatile. She has been a chaplain to prisoners in Kerobokan Jail, Bali, as well as providing Chaplaincy support to Iranian refugees in Jakarta.
Rachael became the school Chaplain at William Campbell College in 2010, a special assistance school based in Nowra NSW. In 2011, the doors opened the doors to Rachael’s current full time Chaplaincy position at William Campbell Foundation.
Rachael a pastor in her local church, Increase Church, Albion Park. She is married to John and enjoys good music and long drives
Fergus Taylor
State Leadership Team
Fergus has been in the School Ministry space in NSW for over 30 years and has been a School Chaplain and Chaplaincy Manager for many years. Currently working with Scripture Union Australia, Fergus has a desire to see Chaplains equipped and empowered to make a difference in their school communities.
Fergus failed his HSC, tried out for Channel 9’s Australian Survivor TV series, played and taught the drums for years and enjoys surfing, touch footy and playing golf, where he has been the Sports Chaplain at his club for 20 years.
Fergus lives at Toowoon Bay on the NSW Central Coast with his wife Catherine and his Son.