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.

ABOUT ELLIEB’S

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HOW IT ALL BEGAN

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.

OUR VISION:

Full and rich lives for everyone.

OUR MISSION:

We create safe, successful support programs for every individual.

We strive to be switched on, savvy, secure!

Here’s what it means to us…

SWITCHED ON

Everything we do we do for our participants; we are always there for them and always in the moment.

SAVVY

Success in developmental disability support relies on flexibility, agility and ingenuity, cookie-cutter solutions don’t cut it in our world.

SECURE

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.

OUR PLAN

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 2022 – 2025, click the button below.

OUR STRUCTURE

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.

TESTIMONIAL

“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

OUR BOARD

Click on each board member to show their full bio

ELLIEB’S

CHAIRPERSON

BETSY TANG

CONVENOR, GOVERNANCE & RISK COMMITTEE

DAWN BRODIE

CONVENOR,
CARER ADVISORY GROUP

MATTHEW WILSON

BOARD MEMBER

SANJAY SHAH

BOARD MEMBER

BRUCE JACOBSSEN

ACTING CHAIR + BOARD MEMBER

DON KEARVELL

BOARD MEMBER

WENDY WARREN

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER / PUBLIC OFFICER

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Bruce Jacobssen

Acting Chair + Board Member

I worked in the insurance industry in New York City directly out of high school. After two years, I decided to study music in the UK for one year but completed my three-year degree there and eventually stayed in the UK for twelve years. I briefly worked as a teacher before joining the oil and gas industry where I worked in London, Aberdeen, Norway and Ireland. I worked as both a subsea engineer (SEDCO) and eventually a sales engineer (VETCO). 1986 was a turbulent time for the oil and gas industry, so my wife and I decided to migrate to Australia in 1987. Here, I began working in what was then the fast-growing executive recruitment industry. I worked for the major recruitment practices in Adelaide as a Principal Consultant and eventually Executive Manager. I had great success during this time and was head-hunted three times to take on more senior positions with other companies. In 2015, I decided to leave the recruitment industry and became a sole operator for a licensed business based out of Melbourne (EziCleen). I had success with growing this business and eventually sold it as a going concern in 2020. Since that time, I have worked as a self-employed recruitment consultant working for two fast-growth software companies based in Adelaide (Acacia Systems and Jaix Logistics Software)

Tertiary Education
1978 – Bachelor’s Degree Music (Honours), Surrey University, Guildford UK
1983 – Process Engineering & Drilling Systems, RGIT, Aberdeen, Scotland
1987 – Various Computing Courses, Adelaide TAFE
1982 – Current, Numerous business management courses (too long to list)

Miscellaneous
Dual citizenship – Australian/American
Married to Linda (quintuplet sons now aged 37 years old)
Golf – Glenelg Golf Club
Saxophone – play when I can

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Wendy Warren

Chief Executive Officer / Public Officer

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

OUR LOCATIONS

Kilburn

Paralowie

Parafield Gardens

Blair Athol

Elizabeth

Daveron Park

Munno Para

Wallaroo

Frewville

Mawson Lakes

Campbelltown

Elizabeth Vale

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OUR SERVICES

Short Stays

Accommodation

Emergency Accommodation

Learning & Lifestyle Programs

Recreational Activities

Financial Plan Management

Social & Community Participation

Children and Young Persons Respite

THE FAMILY OF HARROW HOUSE

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.

ABOUT ELLIEB’S

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

OUR VISION:

OUR MISSION:

SWITCHED ON

SAVVY

SECURE

OUR PLAN

OUR STRUCTURE

TESTIMONIAL

OUR BOARD

ELLIEB’S

BETSY TANG

DAWN BRODIE

MATTHEW WILSON

SANJAY SHAH

BRUCE JACOBSSEN

DON KEARVELL

WENDY WARREN

ELLIEB'S

CHAIRPERSON

BETSY TANG

CONVENOR, GOVERNANCE & RISK COMMITTEE

DAWN BRODIE

CONVENOR, CARER ADVISORY GROUP

MATTHEW WILSON

BOARD MEMBER

SANJAY SHAH

BOARD MEMBER

Bruce Jacobssen

Acting Chair + Board Member

Don Kearvell

Board Member

Wendy Warren

Chief Executive Officer / Public Officer

OUR LOCATIONS

OUR SERVICES

THE FAMILY OF HARROW HOUSE