Who We Are

EBL Disability Services is a registered not-for-profit organisation.

We have members and our profits are returned to our service which ultimately benefits the EBL community. We are a registered NDIS provider operating across South Australia.

We are governed by a carer-led Board who oversee all governance of EBL. 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.

The foundation comprises a diverse representative group of volunteer members including, carers and EBL Board members. Its primary role is to support a range of activities and programs that enhance and enable a sense of community within our disability service such as:

Both EBL Disability Services and the Foundation are guided by a Constitution and specific set of By-Laws. Each year we provide an Annual Report which outlines the Foundations and EBL’s governance arrangements, service activities, internal audits, risk and quality management.

Susan Chapman | Chairperson

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.

Betsy Tang | Vice Chair and Convenor, Governance & Risk Committee

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.

Dawn Brodie | Convenor, Carer Advisory Group

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.

Andrew Sterzl | Convenor, Finance Committee

During my two years on the Foundation Board of EBL I have developed an understanding and passion for the work the organisation undertakes. The commitment and dedication of all staff and stakeholders in EBL is terrific and the strong culture is inspirational. It is for these reasons I would like to contribute further to the future strategic development of the organisation through becoming a member of the Board of EBL Disability Services.

I have a strong background in governance, financial and operational management of organisations in the financial services sector and believe this skill set would lend itself to assisting with the long term stability of EBL Disability Services.

I am a graduate of the Australian Institute of Directors Company Directors Course and hold a Masters of Business Administration. This alongside my 20 years in financial services management will assist me in delivering accountable and ethical governance in accordance with EBL’s goals and objectives.

Phil Donaldson | Convenor, Innovation Committee

I have been an EBLDS Board member and EBL Foundation member since late 2018. I have been involved in the Governance and Risk Committee and Chair the Innovation Committee. Currently heads the housing task force group on behalf on the Foundation and EBL Disability Services.

I have just become a Board member of Trees for Life and sit on the Community and Sustainability Ministerial Advisory Board for the implementation of the new Planning Act in SA.

Over the past few years I have been working with the City of Playford on innovative housing models for people with a disability and assisting them on the their evaluation and implementation of their ILC grant under NDIS working with ATSIC and different cultural groups in the northern region.

As a collaborative business, I Chair the Australian Living Lab Innovation Network, am Founder and Principal of Adelaide Design Link and joint venture partner in Green Cities Global.

Recently I have been appointed Executive Leader of Bioregional Foundation Australia and work to deliver the One Planet Living ^tm Program across Australia.

As a board member I am keen to deliver a strategy for the redevelopment of the Davoren Park Respite Care Centre and to establish an overall housing strategy for EBLDS and the Foundation to support our people in the future.

Tracey Edwards

Member of the Foundation for three years and Chair for one year.

I am a Certified Financial Planner and very much enjoy my community work.
Since I have been with the Foundation I have been involved with the Innovation Committee, rewriting the Constitution, confirmation of the investment portfolio and purchase of Davoren Park.

I have also assisted in the granting of an FPA grant for the My Voice Matters project.

Judith O’Donnell

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.

Christine Streeter

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.

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 EBL Disability Services since late 2011.

Prior to commencing as CEO for EBL Disability Services, 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