We’re driven to create valued roles and an inclusive society for people with disability
For over 10 years, Valued Lives has added choice, control and inspiration to the lives of people with disability, their families and supporters, because everyone has the right to a valued life.
As unique as you
We’re a diverse bunch at Valued Lives. Our self-directed support services team, office crew, and Board are all friendly and supportive, just like you’d expect. And like you, we love to laugh and have some fun, too.
But what brings us together is our commitment and passion for helping people with disability live the lives they choose. We do this by listening to what you want.
You’re in the driver’s seat. You steer your visiting supports and plan your way. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you make informed choices to get you where you want to go. We help build your skills and turn them into strengths. We’re right there with you every step of the way.
You’re in the driver’s seat. You steer your visiting supports and are the owner your plan. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you make informed choices to get you where you want to go. We help build your skills and turn them into strengths. We’re right there with you every step of the way.
Bringing our own experiences
In fact, many of us have a personal connection to the cause, known as lived experience of disability. Meaning we either have a family member with disability or identify as a person with disability ourselves.
Because of this shared lived experience, we have a greater understanding of some of the challenges you face.
Together, we’re better. And we can overcome those barriers with you, to help you achieve your wildest dreams. We’ve seen the transformation that can happen when people get personalised supports focused on aspiring and reaching goals.
Our support services cover home, community and work. But rather than focus on one area, we take a holistic approach to personalised support. By listening to how you would like to improve your life, we help you to take control and make decisions.
You’re in the driver’s seat
Giving you the power to choose and control the supports and services that shape your journey.
Inclusion matters
Good citizenship and social inclusion are at the heart of what we do.
Together we're better
Working in partnership with you, we help you achieve your goals and aspirations, to live your best life.
We're family-founded
Valued Lives was founded in 2013 by a group of families with lived experience who wanted to improve the supports available to people with disability.
These parents wanted a service provider who saw their family member as an individual capable of thriving with the right visiting supports and living a life with meaning and value.
Unable to find services that took into account personalised needs and futures planning, they formed their own.
Valued Lives has continued to build a reputation for providing personalised supports uniquely tailored to your needs, owned and driven by you.
Valued Lives timeline
Based in Perth, we provide NDIS individualised supports to people with disability living in the wider metropolitan area.
Over the past decade, we’ve accomplished a lot and reached many milestones, from launching the Peer Connect WA project to delivering the My Home My Design Project with the National Alliance of Capacity Building Organisations (NACBO).
10 years of Valued Lives
2023 was a significant year for Valued Lives. We celebrated our 10-year anniversary and underwent a brand refresh.
In addition, we formed a Disability Inclusion Panel. The independent Panel presents the voice of lived experience to the Valued Lives Board and Leadership team. All supports and services provided by Valued Lives are guided by the voices of people with disability and their families. This is a commitment we have made to grow and succeed as an organisation. The Panel also plays a significant role in guiding the mentoring and advisory services of Empowered Connections.
Goals for the future
We want an inclusive society where all people are able to live their best lives as valued citizens. To support our goal of strengthening pathways to inclusion, we’ve outlined our focus areas for the 3 years from 2023 to 2025.
You can see why and how we are aiming to achieve our goal across the focus areas in our Strategic Plan.
Awards we've received
- 2022 Property Council WA Award for ‘Best Diversity or Inclusion Initiative’
- 2021 Disability Support Award for Excellence in Innovation Award
- 2021 Disability Support Award for Excellence in Home and Family Support Award
- 2019 Disability Support Award for Excellence in Improving Employment Opportunities
Meet our Board Members
To provide an authentic voice of disability our Board of Directors is made up of individuals with disability or family members of people with disability. These members represent 75% of the Board as outlined in our constitution. All members are highly skilled directors who meet nine times a year to establish the organisation’s strategic plan and drive its development.
Dr. Rita Kleinfeld-Fowell (she/her)
Chairperson
Rita is an inspiration to many. Despite being legally deaf and blind, she has achieved remarkable success.
After fighting to attend mainstream education in the UK as a child, she went on to graduate with a first-class law degree, was awarded a doctorate and is now a Senior Solicitor at Tom & Co Legal in Australia.
When she arrived in Australia, she faced challenges accessing individualised support, which prompted her to work as a Support Coordinator, where she could drive change from the ground up.
As the Valued Lives Chair, Rita advocates for open employment and inclusive living for people with disability. She emphasises the importance of connection and commends the unwavering commitment of the organisation to helping people with disability find open employment and live a life of their choosing.
Cole Vindevoghel (he/him)
Board Member
Cole has extensive global experience in technology and project management. His focus is driving change, project governance, strategy, process improvement and standardising business systems to improve performance.
A Singaporean-born Canadian, Cole has worked in North America, Southeast Asia, India, and Europe before settling in Australia in 2006.
In 2023, Cole joined the Valued Lives Board, to support people with disability to live their best life and have a meaningful role in society, regardless of the form it takes.
Cole’s commitment to fostering meaningful roles in society aligns with Valued Lives’ mission of providing real opportunities for people with disability to achieve valued lives.
Jane Forward (she/her)
Chief Executive Officer
In 2021, Jane became the CEO of Valued Lives after working in human services for three decades. She is a family member of a person with a disability and is committed to human rights and community connections.
Jane established the Valued Lives Disability Inclusion Panel to elevate and celebrate the voice of disability and inform the organisation’s future direction.
Her focus is strengthening the co-design capability of Valued Lives to ensure participants lead the design of supports.
She’s proud to lead a devoted and passionate team who place participants at the centre of Valued Lives’ work.
Jane holds Social Work, Management and Governance qualifications and is a member of the NDS State Committee.
Colin Twist (he/him)
Board Member
Colin has extensive experience in global business. He is driven by a service-oriented approach, with a focus on sustainability, client engagement and commercial success.
Colin joins the board as a person with lived experience, as a dedicated father to a young man with Autism. Despite the complexities and inherent challenges of accessing support systems, Colin has been a strong advocate for his son’s mainstream integration and committed to helping him lead a life filled with purpose, control and success.
As a result, his son has achieved multiple milestones including finishing school, getting his driver’s license, earning a Certificate IV in Cyber Security, and getting a government job.
He believes setting meaningful goals and achieving them brings fulfilment and encourages us to live our best lives.
Colin has a background in operational roles and shifted to Cyber Security after dealing with severe PTSD due to deployments as a first responder in Papua New Guinea.
He is near completion of an M.B.A. specialising in Cyber Security and has received recognition for his academic achievements.
Ross Kyrwood (he/him)
Board Member
Ross has over 35 years of experience in human services, starting as a youth worker and later becoming CEO.
He joined the Valued Lives Board in 2024. He is passionate about ethical and accountable leadership, innovation and creating environments where people can thrive.
As a director at Valued Lives, Ross strives to actualise his passions. His primary focus is ensuring the organisation offers the right opportunities through person-centred support design, allowing individuals to actively participate as valued members of an inclusive world and pursue their goals and aspirations.
Ross holds a Master’s in Leadership and Management from Curtin Business School.
Insider Info Booklet
A guided template for family members and carers to record useful information.
Welcome Pack
Information for the individuals we support, their families and the disability community.
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