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 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 Communication, Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Philosophy)

Vince works to connect the Housing Hub with our most important audiences: People with disability, their families, and networks. Our Housing Outcomes Facilitators learn from people with disability about what is needed to progress their housing journeys, then create the resources necessary to support.

Previously, Vince was involved in launching the Housing Hub’s social media channels, managing our engagement with mainstream media, supporting the rollout of the latest version of the Housing Hub website, 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 the Home and Living Services Manager 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.

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 Business Management

Blair is responsible for the delivery of marketing and communications objectives for the Housing Hub.

With broad experience Blair’s most recent appointment was Business Development Manager with an organisation that provided support services to those living with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. In this role he managed grant income as well as all marketing and communications initiatives for the organisation.

Blair started his professional career working in an agency that ran fundraising campaigns for national and international not-for-profit organisations. He then started his own photography business specialising in weddings, portraiture and business photography while also working as a project manager at a digital marketing agency.

Blair is looking forward to applying his skillset to support the Housing Hub’s various marketing, communication and promotional initiatives.

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 Science (Psychology)

As Digital Product Lead, Alex is responsible for all elements of the Housing Hub website and leading his team to deliver optimal user experience, customer support and paid product delivery.

His experience has been mostly within advertising and design agencies, where he specialised in digital production, project management, and building and leading cross-functional digital teams. Alex has worked in the property industry, as well as aged care and with non-for-profits such as the Big Issue.

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.

Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Public Relations)

Sarah O’Neill is responsible for managing the Housing Hub’s social media channels, developing updates to subscribers and writing content for the Housing Hub website and other teams. Sarah is committed to producing engaging and valuable content that connects people with disability to accessible housing options.

Before joining the Housing Hub, she was a Digital Fundraising Officer at Cancer Council Victoria, working with key stakeholders to coordinate the implementation of digital fundraising strategies across a portfolio of campaigns.

Bachelors of Business and Marketing from Western Michigan University

Sam is working with providers to list properties on the Housing Hub as well as executing digital reports, forecasts and other paid products for providers. Sam has 5 years’ experience in marketing and 2 years in digital advertising and business strategy. His not-for-profit roles have included managing volunteers for community projects, participating in various community works projects, and studying leadership/management.

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.

Diploma Counselling

In her role as Housing Engagement Coordinator, Edwina works with prospective SDA tenants to provide information on the “how-to” for participants and their informal/formal supports; and engages with key stakeholders within the SDA sector and community.

She has spent most of her life in remote and rural South Australia, with a varied career pathway from working within the Catholic parish school system providing support to vulnerable children, advocacy and case management work for families into the world of the NDIS as a Local Area Coordinator for the largest region in SA and specialist support coordinator.

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 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.