EllieB’s was established in 1981 by a loving group of parents who come together to support each other and help those with intellectual disabilities live meaningful lives.
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Around 30 years ago, a group of over 60 parents and carers got together to set up a support and respite centre for the developmentally disabled in the Salisbury area.
The organiser of that meeting was a special education teacher named Margaret Walshe. One of those present was Elizabeth Bowey, the wife of the then Mayor of Salisbury, and otherinterested parties included representatives from the Housing Trust and Salisbury Council.
It was unanimously decided to name it Elizabeth Bowey Lodge Inc. which evolved to EBL as the years went on.
We grew and evolved across Adelaide, but we’ve never lost sight of ensuring everyone in our care enjoys a rich and fulfilling life. We’ll put in place whatever it takes to achieve that, from full-time accommodation to short stays, learning programmes and plenty of community involvement. Every programme is different because every client is an individual.
Of late, we have been doing what we do under the NDIS guidelines.
We think our goal of helping people live better is neatly summed up in
Watch me smile.
It works for clients, parents, team members, even government.
Smiles are the best measure of performance.
Full and rich lives for everyone.
We create safe, successful support programs for every individual.
We strive to be switched on, savvy, secure!
Here’s what it means to us…
Everything we do we do for our participants; we are always there for them and always in the moment.
Success in developmental disability support relies on flexibility, agility and ingenuity, cookie-cutter solutions don’t cut it in our world.
It takes a lot of serious training to have the confidence to truly connect with our people. We are committed to the highest standards, always.
Strategic Vision
Our passion is to support people with complex and multiple disabilities to live fulfilled lives. We will do this through leading by example to create an innovative, transparent, embracing and brave culture of inclusion, collaboration and respect. Our success is measured by delighted customers who value our service and love working with us.
To view our Strategic Plan for 2019 – 2022, click the button below.
EllieB’s is a registered not-for-profit organisation.
We have members and our profits are returned to our service which ultimately benefits the EllieB’s community.
We are a registered NDIS provider operating across South Australia.
We are governed by a carer-led Board who oversee all governance of EllieB’s. Our Chief Executive and Leadership team manage the day-to-day operations. Each accommodation service has an appointed House Manager who is a key contact for families and significant others.
“My daughter has been using EBL Disability Service for well over 15 years, I can’t share enough about this service. Flexible to suit both participant and family.
Work around you. Can’t do enough to make sure my daughter’s stay is successful every time. Went out of their way to support my daughter in getting a wonderful NDIS plan to be able to access all services. Able to provide support at short notice. Continue to grow in being one of the strongest support services in respite / short term accommodation.
Big shout out to staff for your dedication and support with our daughter. Daughter stayed the weekend one happy girl. Two very happy parents.”
Chris Hill – 5 star Google Review
Click on each board member to show their full bio
I have been involved with the disability sector for many years, having a son with Autism and intellectual disability, and a husband with Multiple Sclerosis. I have advocated on behalf of the families of those with disability, both to service providers, Disability SA and The Minister. I sat on the Board of the Autistic Children’s Association of SA (now Autism SA). I was a member of the Family Forum group of Highgate Park (formerly Julia Farr). For the last 12 years I have been a Board Member of the Harrow Trust (Harrow Housing P/L), which has a focus on developing housing accommodation in the disability sector. Harrow Housing built Harrow House at Glenside which is home to 12 young adults with intellectual disability, including my son. EBL Disability Services has operated Harrow House for the past 4 ½ years. I have been very impressed with the care and service they deliver, the level of consultation with all clients and their families, and the dedication of all of its staff. I joined EBL’s Carer Advisory Group because I wanted to become more involved with the organisation. I joined the Board of EBL to support and promote their invaluable work in the disability sector.
My association with EBL started in the mid 1990s when I first used EBL respite service for my intellectually disabled daughter. In 2015, I decided I would like to give something back to the community. An opportunity arose when EBL was looking for a carer to be involved in their Carers Advisory Group. I accepted the role because I was attracted to EBL‘s culture and ethos led by CEO Wendy Warren which shows genuine compassion for caring for the vulnerable in the community. I was later co-opted as a Board member which allowed me to be a voice for carers/parents of the EBL community. I have strong knowledge and understanding of carers’ needs drawn from my owned lived experience as a mother of an intellectually disabled adult daughter. My aim is to ensure EBL continues to support and provide quality service to the EBL community and that supporting and caring for the vulnerable always remains in the forefront of its consciousness.
I am a qualified accountant. I hold a number of professional qualifications including a Bachelor of Economics degree with accounting majors and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investments. As well, I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and CPA Australia. I have worked in accounting firms and have spent a good part of my working life working in the Commonwealth Public Service in a number of leadership roles in the field of compliance. I am now retired from full time employment and therefore, I hope to devote more time to contribute as a Board member.
I am a long serving supporter of EBL Disability Services. My daughter has a significant developmental disability and associated conditions. She has attended the EBL Respite service for over 16 years. Following the sale of our family business after 29 years I was delighted to be offered a role on the EBLDS Board. With more time to pursue other interests, and a genuine desire to understand how the organisation functioned, I accepted the role and my journey as an EBL Director began.
Originally the Board was comprised of 5 carers and 3 volunteers from various professions. This has now reversed with less carers and more professionals. The work EBLDS undertakes is complex and challenging and I have first-hand experience of the issues we face. For this reason, I believe that a strong carer presence has never been more critical.
During my time on the Board I have attended national Board Conferences and training programs including: Australian Institute of Company Directors, Governance for NFPs, Finance, Risk and Strategic Planning.
EBLDS has grown significantly under the leadership of Wendy Warren and the team. Her family experience of disability has been instrumental in building trust and respect for the organisation and I feel proud to be able to contribute to EBL’s ongoing success.
I am a carer and my son attends the respite house at Davoren Park. I have completed a Diploma of Business, Diploma of Leadership and Management and am currently attending University of South Australia to achieve my Bachelor of Business. I have had a variety of experiences standing on two school Governing Councils and Para West Adult Campus Student Association. I have also completed the Playford Mayoral Leadership inaugural program.
I currently hold a position on the Adelaide North Special School Governing Council, where I have held the positions of Secretary and Finance Officer.
I was on the Smithfield Plains Governing Council where I held the position of President and general member.
Whilst at Para West Adult Campus on the Student Association I gained experience on all positions of the council.
It would be my greatest pleasure to be involved on this board and become an active and knowledgeable member as EBL moves forward into the future for the wellbeing of all the clients, staff and board members.
By way of background, I am a qualified accountant (CPA) with over 30 years of experience in various industries. With strong analytical, communication skills and commercial acumen, I have a strong bias for clear thinking, strategic focus, decision making and action. I have achieved success in a variety of roles in senior financial management, internal controls & compliance, MIS, change management and budgeting.
I am fairly hands-on and am adept in building consensus amongst peers to accomplish goals. But more importantly, I am passionate about making a difference in the lives of those with a disability and their families.
I am reducing my other commitments to focus on contributing my skills, time and energy for voluntary work and it would be my honour and privilege to serve the needs of EBL clients and their families, to help grow the organisation, provide more services and to be able to extend the excellent care to more families that are in need.
As the mother of a 44 year old man with severe Autism, profound intellectual disability and who is non-verbal with a range of complex health conditions, I am a strong advocate for the most vulnerable. I am committed to ensuring respite or similar NDIS services continue. I have always advocated for the flow-on from children’s respite to adult respite and long term accommodation.
I strongly believe in the values of EBLDS and am enthusiastic about the future of the organisation. Our CEO demonstrates an excellent feel for the needs of our clients and the energy and forethought for the future. I am committed to support her and the team as a Director. I take the Board’s role to oversee the welfare of our clients very seriously. Above all, I am a carer, and my needs for my son are the same as yours for your child.
I have worked as a carer and nurse in family day care and foster care for many years. I am currently still employed as a disability support worker in children’s services, aged care and disability. I care for (and will always protect) the rights of individuals in our care. I have prior experience as a Board member and Chair of Friends of Windermere, VH Refugee Resettlement Program and Australian Vietnam Children’s Association. I have been a Girl Guide leader for 32 years and strongly care about the welfare, comfort and quality of support each child deserves.
With lived experience of disability, I am passionate about supporting people with disabilities to live their best life. It has been a great privilege to utilise my commercial acumen, leadership and strategic management experience to contribute to the significant growth of ELLIEB’S Disability Services since late 2011.
Prior to commencing as CEO for EllieB’s, I worked across Australia in a number of senior executive roles for both commercial and profit-for-purpose organisations. I have wide-ranging experience in the area of change management and business turnaround contributing to strategic growth and service improvement. Additionally, I have a strong foundation in establishing person centric services and robust clinical governance/WHS frameworks in multifaceted human service settings. I am particularly interested in child and adolescent welfare in the context of complex developmental disability.
My educational achievements include: Grad. Cert. Human Services, specialising in Child & Adolescent Welfare; Australian Scholarship Foundation (ASG) recipient ‘Meikles Files Black Leadership’ program with visiting Fellow Andrew Meikle of the Centre for the Mind, Sydney University; Copeland Leadership Program, Flinders University; Professional Management Program – Adelaide University (credits towards Adelaide Uni MBA); Therapeutic Assessment Program for NeuroDevelopmental Disorders (Children & Young People SA); MedicoLegal Consultants of Australia (MLCOA), Understanding Psychiatric Illness DSM5 and Musculoskeletal injury and assessment ANZIIF (MLCOA).
I am an elected state member of the National Disability Services (NDS). Past appointments include: National Operations Committee, Job Services Australia (JSA), Economic Development Boards (Regional SA/NSW), Area Consultative Committees (NSW/SA), Aboriginal Focus Group (NSW) and past member of the CEO Institute of Australia (SA).
Click here to connect with Wendy on LinkedIn
Kilburn
Paralowie
Parafield Gardens
Blair Athol
Elizabeth
Daveron Park
Munno Para
Wallaroo
Frewville
Mawson Lakes
Campbelltown
Elizabeth Vale
Short Stays
Accommodation
Emergency Accommodation
Learning & Lifestyle Programs
Recreational Activities
Financial Plan Management
Social & Community Participation
Our Accommodation Support works to ensure people with a disability have the same opportunities as every person living in their local community. We know that the best place for people with a disability to achieve a full and productive life is within their own home and community.
Our accommodation is aimed at supporting people to build independence and enable personal choice.
Watch our video about Harrow House.