Our people

Diploma of Community Welfare Work, Bachelor of Business and Arts (in progress), Cert IV in Disability Community Services

Melody Carbarns is the Housing Hub Services Manager at the Summer Foundation. Her focus is on supporting project coordinators to connect with people with disability who are seeking specialist disability accommodation (SDA).

Melody works on the establishment and implementation of projects that see people with disability connecting with SDA providers, ultimately finding sustainable housing solutions.

Melody started with the Summer Foundation in 2016 and has more than 19 years’ experience in the disability support sector. Throughout her career she has worked as a support worker, residential aged care worker, service manager, care coordinator and team leader.

Masters of Business Administration

Joanne Mear is the Summer Foundation’s Business Manager – Housing Hub. In this role she ensures the operational and financial imperatives of the housing matching service run smoothly.

She is responsible for relationship management, project process improvements and adding value for users of the service, which includes both people with disability and property investors.

Joanne joined the Summer Foundation in 2018 and brings a broad skill set that has been honed in both the not-for-profit and commercial sectors, and most recently in the real estate sector. Joanne is passionate about using her commercial and financial acumen to help people with disability find suitable housing in the community.

Bachelor of Journalism, Diploma in Digital Marketing

Natalie Koufos supports the Housing Hub to deliver projects by facilitating team meetings, events and administration. She also helps the team with database management.

Natalie began her career in journalism, before switching to marketing where she coordinated events, marketing activity and projects for an aged care provider in South Australia. She has also worked on fundraising campaigns and strategies.

Bachelor of Occupational Science and Therapy

Megan Miles works with teams in Victoria, South Australia and the ACT to assist people to connect with housing in line with their goals and needs.

She assists people with disability with their support needs, as well as helping to navigate the SDA application process. Megan also works with SDA providers to identify suitable tenants for their housing opportunities.

Megan is an occupational therapist and has worked in community settings with a focus on assisting people to remain in their own community in a safe and sustainable way. She has worked in the disability sector for over 14 years, including working as a support worker and a program manager of a large community access program for children and adults.

Master of Communications, Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Philosophy)

Vince Patton is responsible for communicating, engaging and effectively connecting with a diverse range of audiences, ensuring those audiences’ needs are met.

He has been involved in building and launching the Housing Hub’s social media channels, supporting the rollout of the latest version of the Housing Hub website, and identifying key audience subsets and developing tailored engagement plans.

Before starting at the Summer Foundation in 2017, Vince worked in a communications consulting practice where he managed the strategic and creative aspects of the business. He has also worked in local and state governments, at an international publishing house and in the corporate sector.

Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy),
Masters of Health Management

Kelly Chait is a Reporting Lead in the Housing Hub team at the Summer Foundation.

She provides advice and support regarding young people in or at risk of admission to residential aged care. This involves clinical consultation in relation to housing solutions, supporting projects in the interface between health and the NDIS and providing clinical advice about the NDIS.

Before joining the Summer Foundation, Kelly was employed as an occupational therapist for 7 years, specialising in spinal cord injury rehabilitation, in both New South Wales and Victoria.

Bachelor of Social Work

Melissa Efstathiou is responsible for writing reports for applicants which are presented to SDA providers for consideration of a tenancy offer.

She mentors support coordinators and occupational therapists, as well as supporting NDIS participants in obtaining appropriate SDA funding. Melissa has also written reports about applicants for Good Housing, Summer Housing and Enliven properties.

Before joining the Summer Foundation, she worked in NSW health hospitals for 8 years. Melissa worked across a range of specialities, with her primary area of interest being geriatrics.

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Social Work (Hons)

Joanna Stewart is Housing Engagement Lead in the Housing Hub team. She works to connect with organisations, hospitals, individuals and networks to generate local interest and applications for SDA properties.

Joanna provides information and support to potential tenants and their supporters as they embark on their housing journey.

During her time at Summer Foundation, Joanna has undertaken work to build the capacity of health and aged care services as well as working directly with young people living in aged care to assist them to gain access to the NDIS.

Before joining the Summer Foundation, Joanna worked as a hospital social worker for 15 years across a number of areas including brain injury, orthopaedics, cardiology and oncology

Based in Brisbane South, Emma connects organisations, hospitals, individuals and networks in the region to generate interest and applications for individual properties.

Emma has 25 years’ experience in the health and disability sectors, both here and in the UK with a focus on disability accommodation, support services, case management and training.

Emma was part of the team who first worked with the NDIS rollout in the Barwon region and is a strong advocate for the rights of people with disability.

Bachelor of Technology

Hitesh Sharma is a Salesforce expert and as CRM Lead provides information and support to users and business stakeholders on all aspects of the platform. He has been working on key Housing Hub projects to improve the user experience.

Hitesh is a consultant with 10 years’ experience in Australia, the UK and Singapore analysing business processes and systems then designing and implementing digital and Salesforce CRM applications.

Carmen Dzurban works alongside people in need of disability housing in NSW and Queensland to ensure their goals of living independently are met and to support them in the process of finding appropriate housing options.

During the closure of 3 institutions in Newcastle in 2020-21, Carmen worked closely with residents and their families and investors to ensure alternative suitable purpose-built housing was available.

Carmen has experience working in the social and disability housing sectors and as a support coordinator.

Bachelor of Arts (English), Master of Business Administration

Rachel Elliott works with the Operations Team to ensure the Housing Hub remains compliant, efficient and profitable, and to ensure the smooth running of the day-to-day functions of the business.

Rachel has worked as a professional writer, editor, publisher, project coordinator, general manager and operational manager. In the 9 years before joining the Summer Foundation she worked for an education organisation in the not-for-profit sector.

Bachelor of Physiotherapy

Lydia Dockrill is in the Housing Hub team, where the goal is to raise awareness of specialist disability accommodation (SDA) funding to people with disability, who are eligible.

After completing her degree as a physiotherapist at Otago University in New Zealand, Lydia moved to Christchurch to work at a public hospital where she experienced several different areas of healthcare. After moving to Melbourne in 2017, Lydia worked at the Northern Hospital, helping patients who had respiratory conditions and those who had undergone major surgery.

Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Masters of Public Health, Cert III – Auslan

As Reporting Coordinator with the Housing Hub team, Teigen Bywater writes housing applicants’ summary reports for specialist disability accommodation (SDA) providers. She also assists with the reporting aspect of an applicant’s SDA journey, including mentoring their support coordinator and allied health professionals to write reports that address the SDA legislation.

Teigen moved into the disability sector after finishing her Masters degree and worked as a support facilitator at one of Summer Housing’s pilot projects in Abbotsford.

She lived in Mongolia for a year from mid 2016 and worked as a program officer for the Mongolian National Federation of the Blind.

Before joining the Summer Foundation in 2020, Teigen was involved in the rollout of the NDIS as a Senior Local Area Coordinator in inner east Melbourne.

Olga Elia is the Housing Hub Housing Engagement Coordinator. She works closely with the Engagement Lead to generate interest and exposure for key projects, and ensure we reach our key target audiences.

With a legal background, Olga joined the Summer Foundation in 2011. She recently transitioned from the Communications Team to the Tenancy Matching Service. Her ‘can do’ attitude to taking on challenges means she is never afraid to ask people for things that support the work of the Summer Foundation.

Bachelor of Arts (Hons)
Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies
IAP2 Certificate of Engagement (in progress)

Kerrie Lord works in the tenancy matching team to support people applying for SDA in South Australia and Western Australia.

Kerrie’s passion is people – getting to know them and supporting them on their journeys. She has more than 10 years’ experience in client and stakeholder engagement, working across the higher education and not-for-profit sectors and in federal government.

Before joining the Housing Hub Kerrie worked at the NDIA on internal projects and developing easy-to-understand resources and correspondence for participants, partners and staff.

She has completed her Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies and hopes to continue on to Masters level.

Meryn has 6 years of experience working with young people, with 4 of those years working specifically with First Nations youth. During this time, she coordinated and worked as part of teams to provide residential care, educational programs and recreational activities to young people, in particular for those experiencing challenges in their lives. Meryn is currently studying a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, with the aim of transitioning into an allied health career.

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
Bachelor of Visual Communication (graphic design)

Nadia Di Girolamo is responsible for creating summary reports for potential SDA applicants to assist in determining eligibility for SDA and help housing providers match tenancies to applicant’s needs.

Before joining the Housing Hub Nadia worked in the homelessness sector in South Australia, in therapeutic OT roles with older people at risk of homelessness. She also has experience in disability and NDIS focused project management roles.

Bachelor of Social Work

Chloe specialises in assisting people with disability to navigate the SDA application process. Her aim is to support people with disability with the process of finding appropriate housing options so they can achieve their goals of living independently.

Prior to joining the Summer Foundation Chloe worked at the Stroke Foundation as part of the Stroke Connect team, where she worked with stroke survivors, carers, families and health professionals, government and the public to reduce the impact of stroke on the community.

Bachelor of Arts

Sinead works with people with disability and their families, and relevant stakeholders to explore Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) and independent living. Part of her role is to facilitate regular information sessions on SDA, generate interest and applications for SDA properties.  

She is currently working on delivering SDA information sessions to disability service providers across Victoria, as well as working collaboratively with service providers to share knowledge and provide positive outcomes for NDIS participants.

Master of Science (Political Economy of Late Development)
Bachelor of Arts (International Relations and Development Studies)

Victoria’s role focuses on external promotion of SDA opportunities with the aim of identifying people with disability who are SDA eligible. She engages with key stakeholders to build strong relationships and inform them of SDA housing opportunities. Victoria has represented the Summer Foundation at disability-related sector events and while doing SDA apartment tours for people with disability. 

She is currently working on a large geo-mapping database project, that provides up-to-date information on where people are looking for SDA housing, which can be shared with housing providers and other key stakeholders.

Victoria has 10 years’ work experience in international NGOs and philanthropic foundations, tackling global inequalities relating to youth, children’s rights and gender, including roles diversity and inclusion, fundraising, fund development, event management, and programme /project management roles.

Bachelor of Social Work
Diploma Community Welfare (services)
Certificate IV Training and Assessment

Heidi Fleming’s role involves supporting and guiding NDIS participants through the process of applying for SDA accommodation.

Heidi started her career as a case manager with UnitingCare Disability, supporting people to link with services, before she moved to managing a group home with Sunnyfield for 3 years, then developed training material for staff in active support and skills for life.

Before joining the Housing Hub Heidi was working as a Local Area Coordinator with Uniting.

Bachelor of sport, health and physical activity

Vivien Matthews works in the tenancy matching team. As well as keeping in contact with organisations that work within the disability sector, her role includes providing people with disability and their families with information on SDA, eligibility pathways and what the SDA journey entails. She does this in presentations, both online and in person.

Vivien has experience in the community aged care sector, connecting older Australians to services to allow them to live independently for as long as possible. She ran Dementia Friendly Cinema, Age Well Adelaide, Come and Check Your Engine, InContinenceLand and other smaller events.

Bachelor of Psychology

Answering phone and email inquiries from people seeking information about appropriate disability housing, Jesse Camilleri is the first person many callers to the Housing Hub encounter.

Before joining the Housing Hub team Jesse was an applied behavioural analysis (ABA) therapist at children’s disability services and support organisation Change for Life, then he was promoted to ABA program coordinator.

Cert III Community Services
Cert III Tourism & Retail Travel Sales
Cert III Event Management

In her work in the Housing Hub Lived Experience Team Shanais Nielsen co-facilitates workshops to help people understand specialist disability accommodation (SDA). She is also involved with data integrity work with the Operations Team. Shanais previously worked as a project administrator in the Curriculum Unit at a TAFE, and now works for the Housing Hub 3 days a week.

Bachelor of Journalism (First Class Hons)

Jamie-Lee Dwyer contributes blog posts to the Housing Hub and provides her lived experience of disability to a range of projects.

Jamie-Lee is working on a blog post that explains her individual process to writing, which has evolved as her abilities have degenerated. Her idea is to share her experience in the hope that it will create and foster a community of people with disability who over time will learn more about SDA.

Jamie-Lee has worked as a copywriter for the Brisbane Airport Corporation and for BioNews, writing weekly blog posts for their Friedreich’s Ataxia website.

Diploma in Welfare

In her role as a lived experience associate Melanie Schlaeger provides her perspective on disability related issues through blog writing and involvement in other Summer Foundation projects.

Melanie has worked in many disability related roles. She has run workshops around life goal setting for people with disability, particularly in the context of NDIS planning goals. She also worked in a program that encourages people with disability to think about work goals and passions in regard to setting up their own business and learning to have a good work ethic and sense of purpose.

Melanie enjoys working in jobs that foster positive change in the people/projects she is working with.

Certificate III in Office Administration

As part of the Housing Hub Lived Experience Team Tom Butler co-facilitates housing workshops for people interested in specialist disability accommodation (SDA).

Tom was attending the Australian Defence Force Academy in the Air Force before becoming a quadriplegic in a diving accident. As well as his volunteer work for local sporting organisations, Tom designed and built his own SDA home. It was this lived experience and expertise that led to his role with the Summer Foundation.

Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) – graduating end of 2021

As the Lived Experience Team Coordinator, Rebecca Evans manages the team of Housing Hub Lived Experience Associates and Lived Experience Facilitators.

Rebecca was previously a Lived Experience Associate herself, where she used her lived experience of disability and of being on an SDA housing journey to contribute to various projects, workshops, and events across both the Housing Hub and the Summer Foundation. She has recently been involved with Housing Hub events in Perth and the successful Building Better Homes campaign for mandatory design standards.

Rebecca is passionate about advocating for individuals with disabilities and on systemic issues. She currently volunteers as the Managing Director and Executive Chair of the Youth Disability Advocacy Network – a leading advocacy organisation and the peak representative body in Western Australia for young people with disabilities.

Bram has lived experience as a disabled individual going through the Specialist Disability Accommodation property application process.

In their work with the Summer Foundation they will facilitate and co-facilitate both face-to-face workshops and webinars for participants, families and supporters to learn about different housing options under the NDIS.

This is Bram’s first job, but they intend to also take on other projects within the disability education and advocacy sector.

Cert IV Music, Cert 3 Business, Cert 3 Work Education

As a lived experience facilitator Ryan will be involved at workshops with NDIS providers and professionals as well as people with disabilities and their families to explain the benefits of independent living with the correct supports.

Ryan previously worked as a manager at Headspace for over a year and for almost a year with Anywhere on Wheels as a presenter, social media/website/app development expert and tour reviewer.

Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Social Work, Cert IV in Assistive Technology Mentor

As a lived experience facilitator Natasha Street was involved in the Summer Foundation’s Housing Options workshops in Tasmania.

She previously worked as a Local Area Coordinator – Community for Baptcare in Tasmania, as an assistive technology mentor for Assistive Technology Australia and as a primary school teacher.

Bachelor of Social Work, Cert IV in Test & Evaluation

As a lived experience facilitator Liz Ellis has been involved in Summer Foundation Housing Options workshops, the development of the Housing Hub and stakeholder engagement.

Liz has worked for disability service providers in strategy and customer experience roles, has been involved with several disability advocacy committees and sits on a committee of management.

Bachelor of Commerce, Cert III in Performing Arts

Belinda Aitken brings her lived experience as a person with disability to Summer Foundation projects. She co-facilitated our Housing Options workshops in Tasmania which are now being rolled out nationally. She also brings the experience of navigating her own housing journey to her role as the lead of the SDA Tenants Reference Group.

Belinda is passionate about people with a disability having a voice and direct input in their housing journey, which will lead them to having the best support, choice, and flexibility in how they live.

Before joining the Summer Foundation in June 2020 Belinda worked in customer service as a volunteer at the National Sports Museum at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Bachelor of Psychological Science, Certificate III Business and Business Administration

Julia works a data research assistant on research projects within the Research team. She carries out independent and team research within the housing market data team which is responsible for systematically providing housing market data to support the development of the Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) market.

Julia has worked on the Provider Experience Report, the Housing Hub Seeker Snapshot, and Housing Hub Market Data Subscription reports. With a background in health/disability research support, she has worked in an education support role within disability services, in research assistant roles on grant projects and clinical trials unit at Griffith University and Gold Coast University Hospital.

Julia was a member of the disability advisory committee at Griffith University for almost 4 years and is a member of the Metro South Health – Partnering in Research Allied Health & Consumer Collaboratory/Committee (PRACC).

Bachelor of Graphic Design, Diploma of Digital Media

Daniel is the Digital Marketing Designer for Housing Hub. He is responsible for the graphic and design needs of the business, from flyers and pamphlets, to reports and documents, and web/digital design.

Since joining the Housing Hub he has been involved in the design of the SDA Provider Experience survey and is running the weekly social media/ email marketing channels. He is also working on the design and distribution of Housing Hub marketing collateral.

Prior to joining the Housing Hub, he worked as a graphic designer for a small Brisbane-based motorcycle parts accessories retail store.

Bachelor of Computer Science and Business Analytics

Bharath works as a Business Analyst with Housing Hub and the Summer Foundation research teams. His main tasks are around managing data requests and preparing reports.
He is currently working on understanding KPIs and targets for the FY 2022-23 for the various business units within the Summer Foundation.

Throughout his career, Bharath has worked in different operational roles in the energy and telco sector. He has also been part of business project teams supporting vendors as a subject matter expert.

Diploma in Social Services, Diploma in Banking and Financial Services, Diploma in Photography

Micharla holds the role of Engagement Coordinator for the Housing Hub, where she helps people learn about SDA properties and apply for their new homes. She is responsible for relationship-building with communities and building the capacity of people with disability. Micharla works closely with housing providers in QLD, helping participants apply for SDA properties that are advertised on the Housing Hub website.

Prior to her role at Summer Foundation, she worked in social services and in the banking sector as a Senior Relationship Manager. Her role at Summer Foundation is the culmination of her skills and experience from her work in both sectors. She is passionate about families being able to stay together, so this drives her in her work.