About Us
Knoxbrooke has operated for over 40 years as a non government provider of services to people with disabilities in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Knoxbrooke and Knoxcare are controlled by non executive Boards of Directors. Knoxbrooke Incorporated provides services to in excess of 200 adults with varying disabilities . The services include education, community access, life skills development, employment, training, transport and residential services.Knoxbrooke was borne from a need to provide services to people with a disability within the old Knox and Sherbrooke Shires. Rotary in conjunction with concerned parents lobbied the government to provide the needed services to ‘Handicapped’ children in the area. With government support the work to build the Knoxbrooke centre in Burwood highway was commenced. Knoxbrooke evolved from that work by Rotary, parents and concerned community members. The organisation has grown from those small beginnings due to the work and dedication of parents and friends and a committed staff.Knoxbrooke operate from a number of sites throughout the eastern suburbs:
Knoxbrooke Day Programs - Burwood Highway Ferntree Gully
Knoxbrooke Education and Training Ferntree Gully and Mt. Evelyn
Knoxbrooke Industries Ferntree Gully
Residential Housing in Boronia and Ferntree Gully
Yarra View Nursery, Home of Landscaping & Design and The Home of Garden Lovers all from Mt. Evelyn
Knoxbrooke’s Education and Training services operate from two sites, Ferntree Gully and Mt Evelyn, delivering accredited and non accredited training to the general community, schools and other service providers. Knoxbrooke Inc is a registered provider of ACFE (Adult Community Further Education) courses. Knoxbrooke Education and Training services specialise in accredited certificates in Horticulture, Disabilities studies, General Education for Adults and Vocational Preparation.
Knoxbrooke’s Day Programs provide education and training in a wide variety of topics including computer training, music / theatre, art, woodwork, communication skills, cooking and personal development.
Knoxcare operate a group of Horticultural businesses :
The Home of Garden Lovers Retail Nursery-retail plant sales, display gardens and garden design services Each business is managed by professionals from the specific business 's marketplace.The commercial operations under the umbrella of Knoxcare Ltd provide employment and training to people with disabilities as well as returning income to Knoxbrooke to maintain & increase the services to other people with a disability.
Knoxbrooke have been involved in the horticultural area since 1985 with a gardening and mowing service, and the wholesale nursery industry since 1991. In that year Knoxbrooke set up a small trial nursery at Knoxbrooke's education facility in Ferntree gully . With the success of the trial, a property of 5 acres was purchased at 31 Kallista Emerald rd. the Patch . This site has been used for plant production from 1995 to the present. The nursery site closed in 2006 and all staff have moved to the site in Mt. Evelyn.
In May 2001 Knoxbrooke purchased Yarra View Nursery and Yarra View Horticultural Services from St. John of God Services who had run them since the early 1980's. In 1995 St. John of God Services moved the nursery from Wonga Park to it's present location at 136 York Rd. Mt. Evelyn. Since Knoxbrooke bought Yarra View Nurseries five years ago they have developed by incorporating the businesses of Ridge roses Ferndale ferns and Blue wren fuchsias into the operations. Yarra View Nursery has an alliance with Austraflora natives to grow there range of natives. The business now employs approx 80 people, the development which was undertaken through 2007 has resulted in improved growing environments and better quality plants. The business is now able to provide a secure employment environment for the people with a disability who work for the organisation.
Two lawn & garden maintenance crews operated by St. John of God Services were moved initially from Wonga Park to Churinga Services Greensborough, then in 1998 moved to Yarra View site in York Road Mt. Evelyn. They provided lawn mowing and garden care for both small commercial and domestic customers. The Garden Services have combined with a crew based at Knoxbrooke nursery, changed their name and moved into the area of Landscaping. There are now 5 crews and a number of specialist sub contractors involved in domestic and commercial maintenance and landscaping works.
In 1998 a retail outlet was developed by St. John Of God Services on the Mt. Evelyn site then renamed in 2001 to The Home Of Garden Lovers.The workers with a disability in the employment services are supervised by team leaders which the organisation receives funding for from the Federal government department –Family and Community Services. The people with a disability who work in the teams are paid under an ‘Employer Based Agreement’ which is in place between Knoxcare and the workers.
Yarra View has gained quality accreditation under AS/NZS ISO 9001:2000Certificate No. QEC14656 Expiry Date: 1 October 2010 Yarra View is a member of the Nursery Industry Association of Victoria.
Pat Dalton (Chairman)
Pat joined the Board in February 2007. He is a Barrister by profession (now retired) and appeared for Kew Cottages Association in action against the Government for breach of statutory duty and in the inquest into the death of nine residents in a fire at Kew Cottages. Pat has a son who is a resident of Helen Schutt House in Aspendale, he is the brother of a resident in one of our accommodation houses who is also a long-term client in our day services.
Brian Tuohy (Deputy Chairman)
Brian joined the Board in October 2002 and has been associated with Knoxbrooke through his involvement with a major business partner of Knoxbrooke Industries. Brian is a past President of the Down Syndrome Association.
Jeanette Furmedge (Treasurer)
Jeanette Furmedge has been actively involved with Knoxbrooke since 1974. Jeanette was elected to the Knoxbrooke Board of Management in 1985 and held the position of President in 1988 and 1989. Jeanette is a qualified Sports and Remedial Therapist and has worked in this vocation, following her position as company director of Thermalaire Pty Ltd. She has been a Member of the Outer Eastern Region Intellectually Disabled Persons Committee and The Council of Intellectual Disability Agencies honoured her in 2005 with an award for outstanding contribution in a voluntary role.
Les Crowe
Les Crowe Les Crowe has been a member of the Board of Management since 1987. He held the position of honorary Treasurer from 1989 to 1990 and has been the president since 1990. He operates as a professional loss assessor consultant from his office in Melbourne. The Council of Intellectual Disability Agencies honoured Les in 2005 with an award for outstanding contribution in a voluntary role.
Peter Francis
Peter Francis has been on the Board of Management since 1998. He is partner of Francis, Abouritz and Lightower, a city Law firm and is the former President of STRIDE, and early intervention group for children with disabilities.
Jan Charlett
Jan has been actively involved with Knoxbrooke for many years as a parent of a Knoxbrooke client and was elected to the Board in February 2002.
Denise Whitehouse
Denise joined the Board in December 2003. Denise is a senior lecturer in Design & Cultural History, at Swinburne University’s Faculty of Design and has considerable experience with committee work. One of her sisters is a resident of The Haven and been a member of the Knoxbrooke community since the 1970s. Knoxbrooke has accordingly been apart of Denise and her family’s life for many years.
Rad Kilian (Director and CEO)
Rad joined the Board in December 2001 and was appointed as the CEO in August 2003. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and a CPA. He has specialised experience with manufacturing businesses and management systems, as well as general public accounting practice.
Rad Kilian Director & CEO
Rad is a qualified chartered accountant FCA / CPA with over thirty years experience and joined the Board in December 2001. As a chartered accountant Rad has specialised experience with both manufacturing and management systems, as well as general practice.
Peter Berthelsen General Manager - Nursery Division
Peter has had extensive project management and community support services experience. He has work in horticulture for 25years as a landscape gardener, qualified horticulturalist, co-ordinated major landscape projects and managed the construction of displays at home and garden exhibitions including The ABC Gardening Australia Live and the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.
Paul De Stefanis Company Secretary / Financial Controller
Paul is a qualified FCPA, BComm with 25 years experience in finance & marketing in manufacturing mainly in the food & beverage industry. Paul has worked for leading Australian companies that manufactured well known brands such as Four’nTwenty Pies, Devondale milk & cheese and Torquay soft drinks. He has managed the financials of capital projects with budgets of over $5M.
Glen Bowen Manager Disability Support Services
Glen has worked in disability services for many years, having worked in business services, day programs and residential services having experience in the management of those areas.
Rick Jamieson Manager Education and Training (RTO)
Rick has worked in Disablity Services and Specialised in Education and Trainng for more than 15 years. His background is in the hospitality industry holding a number of senior positions.
Karen Dettmann Manager Disability Services ( Employment)
Karen has worked in the area of Disability services for over 30 years having a wealth of experience in all facets of the delivery of service.
Lynda Hopkinson Manager Knoxbrooke Industries
Lynda has worked in the area of Disability Services for more than 20 years in Residential, Day Programs Employment and Business services.
John Jongsma Business Development Manager
John has worked in the wholesale nursery industry for 17 years managing accounts such as Bunnings, Big W and Mitre 10.
Glen Chadband Nursery Operations Manager
Glen has worked in the wholesale nursery industry for 28 years responsible for the propagation, growth & despatch. Glen has worked for some of the largest and most respected nurseries in Victoria such as Austraflora, Flemings and Larkmans. He has been able to bring this experience to Knoxbrooke improving product quality, yield and propagation methods.
