About Us

LDS is not just a service provider; we believe in our clients, and we care about them.

At Lutheran Disability Services Australia, we’re inspired by the power of Christian community and the resilience of the people we support.

Our journey began in 1986, when a group of families came together to create a loving home for five individuals with disabilities...

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OUR

MISSION

To include people with disabilities in Christian community

Our Values

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Our Values

FAITH

● Unconditionally loving and accepting of all people

● Committed to mentor, support and encourage all in their faith journey

● People that recognize that everyone is individually gifted by God

● Expressing love while serving in any capacity

EMPOWERMENT

● Listening, respecting and encouraging individuals to be the best that they can be

● Providing people opportunities to express themselves and pursue their personal goals through person centred practice

● Supporting individuals to find creative ways for community inclusion

● Educating and advocating for personal choices and desires

EXCELLENCE

● Striving to go above and beyond in offering a dignified and respectful service

● Providing high quality support through teamwork and effective collaboration

● Continually evaluating our services and seeking feedback

● Demonstrating an innovative and professional service

FUN

● An awesome team that believes fun should be part of everything we do

● People who make work fun, fulfilling and exciting

Our Clients

MEET CHRISTINA

MEET CHRISTINA

Christina has a wonderful smile and a large laugh. She loves to dance and she becomes quite the mover whenever a song from her beloved Elvis comes on.

MEET ALEX

MEET ALEX

Alex is very sociable and loves being around people. Music and dancing are a big part of life, and Alex especially enjoys heading along to Club Cool at the Governor Hindmarsh to soak up the atmosphere, move to the music, and connect with friends.

MEET TRACEY

MEET TRACEY

Tracey is passionate about her garden and puts a lot of time, hard work and love into ensuring it produces the highest quality vegetables and fruits. She also enjoys cooking with her support worker Katrina.

MEET BRUCE

MEET BRUCE

If you’ve met Bruce, you’ll know he loves his sports! You’ll find him barracking on his favourite footy team the Hawthorn Hawks, and playing backyard cricket or shooting hoops with his neighbours. If you get the chance, he’ll show you his many medals he has collected over the years from swimming, athletics, and various other sporting achievements such as the Special Olympics!

Building Stronger Communities Together

At Lutheran Disability Services, we believe everyone deserves to be part of a vibrant community. We empower individuals, foster connections, and strive for continuous improvement. Your voice matters — we regularly seek your feedback to ensure our services meet your needs and exceed your expectations.

Leadership

SUE RAW

Chief Executive Officer

Sue is an experienced CEO, Executive and Non-Executive Director who specialises in leading the development of strategy, operations, projects and sustainability. Previously the CEO of Baptist Care SA and many other CFO and Non-Executive director roles, Sue is a seasoned executive leader with extensive experience across corporate and not-for-profit sectors including community services. With her qualifications as a GAICD and Chartered Accountant, she has played a key role in governing and setting strategic direction, overseeing performance and ensuring accountability to stakeholders. Sue’s strong leadership capabilities and high level communication and interpersonal skills have enabled her to build and nurture strong collaborative relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, develop high performing teams and effectively empower, motivate and engage team members to deliver the mission of the organisation. Sue has strong commercial acumen and technical expertise, and a proven record of delivering on strategic priorities. Sue’s personal values align well with LDS and she is passionate about ensuring clients have opportunity to be connected with community, learn new skills, increase independence and access accommodation to lead fulfilling lives. She is excited to be connecting with staff, clients, supporters and other key stakeholders to listen and learn from their experiences and aspirations. I look forward to working with the dedicated team at LDS to continue to enable those with a disability to live independent, active and fulfilled lives and to help shape what comes next. – Sue

CARLA PANTELIS

Senior Manager, People, Quality and Development

As an accomplished HR generalist with over a decade of experience, I excel at designing and delivering strategic initiatives that support organisational vision and values while embedding a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, diversity and inclusion. By leading the People, Quality and Development portfolio at LDS, it gives me the opportunity to guide strategic workforce planning, organisational development, safeguarding, quality, and continuous improvement. I work closely with leaders and teams to shape a high‑performing, inclusive and values‑driven workforce—one where culture, capability and performance come together to create meaningful impact. Known for my collaborative style, authentic leadership and people‑centred approach, I strive to create workplaces where everyone feels safe to contribute, innovate and grow. I am energised by empowering people, enhancing capability, and building environments where individuals feel celebrated, supported, valued and able to thrive.

JOYCE YOU

Senior Finance Manager

Joyce manages the finance of Lutheran Disability Services (LDS) through effective leadership, advice and hands-on support. She focuses on delivering outcomes that are aligned to the mission, values and financial goals of LDS to ensure that we are providing the optimum service to our clients. Joyce immigrated to Australia in 2006 and is a Certified Practising Accountant. Joyce has served LDS since 2015 and enjoys make a difference in the lives of our clients through her role.

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Lucinda Osborne

Board Chair

Lucinda is an experienced governance, risk, and financial services (insurance) professional with a diverse background across not-for-profit, government, and corporate sectors.

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Megan McNaughton

Board Member

Megan is an experienced senior manager with a strong background in disability, health, and aged-care services.

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Scott Ross

Board Member

Scott is an experienced executive and banking professional with more than 25 years across financial services, retail, real estate, legal and tertiary education sectors.

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John Inglis

Board Member

John is a highly experienced disability sector leader with more than 45 years of frontline, management, and governance expertise.

Governance

Chairman:

Mr Kym Wallent

Board Members:

Mr John Inglis

Ms Lucinda Osborne

Mr Peter Miller

Mr Tim Haggis

Organisation:

Our Partners

Our Location

PAYNEHAM HEAD OFFICE

Edwardstown Baptist Church (EBC)

Help Us Make a Difference in the Lives of Our Clients

At Lutheran Disability Services, we’re dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities to thrive in their communities. Your donation will help us provide additional support and services that go beyond the basics, enriching the lives of our clients and fostering a sense of belonging.

Every donation counts, and we’re grateful for your support. Together, we can create a more inclusive and compassionate community.
Your donation will enable LDS clients to thrive in Christian communities!