about us
Barunga Village
Retirement, Community and Residential
Bequests and Donations
Meet the team
BACKGROUND
A little bit about us
Founded in the early 1980s, Barunga Village was established like many other small-town nursing homes, as a modest extension to the local hospital. However, under the guidance of Chief Executive Officer, Elizabeth Carroll, Barunga Village is now regarded as one of the leaders in aged care in South Australia and a trailblazer in fields such as individualised accommodation and dementia care.
Community-owned and operated, Barunga Village is a regional success story and a major contributor to the health and economic development of Port Broughton and its farming hinterland.
I am proud to be one of many to represent this organisation. We are here to support people on their journey, whether that be for support services or employment opportunities, whilst continuously providing outstanding support to our consumers. On behalf of the Barunga Village team, I thank you for visiting.
Julie Norman,
Chairperson
MEET THE TEAM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Julie Norman
Chairperson
Julie has been a dedicated member of the Board of Directors for the past nine years. She believes that Barunga Village is unique and increasingly important to the community. Julie’s connection to Barunga Village is deeply personal, as her parents experienced the exceptional care characterised by kindness, understanding, love, and respect that the organisation provides.
Julie is committed to leveraging her skills to help sustain the valuable and essential services that Barunga Village offers. Her dedication to the well-being of consumers and her belief in the mission of Barunga Village continue to drive her contributions to the organisation.
Robyn Bowley
Deputy Chairperson
Robyn has lived in Port Broughton for over 30 years and retired from the Port Broughton District Hospital and Health Services after a distinguished 31-year career, where she served as Nurse Unit Manager. Her extensive clinical and management experience in Community Nursing has provided her with valuable insights into Aged Care Clinical Governance.
Robyn finds great fulfillment in contributing to the community as a Board Member at Barunga Village. She is excited about new capital development opportunities and the ongoing growth of the organisation.
Debra Devlin
Board Member
Debra joined the Board of Directors in 2022 following her retirement. She is driven by a strong desire to give back to the broader Mid North community, and her role on the Board provides a valuable opportunity to do so.
With extensive experience in governance related to youth, disadvantaged populations, homelessness, and domestic violence, Debra is eager to deepen her knowledge and embrace new challenges within the aged care sector.
Jan Tod
Board Member
Jan joined the Board of Directors to provide a valuable consumer perspective, as her mother resides in Barunga Homes. A long-time local to the community, Jan has lived on a farm with her husband for many years.
She is deeply committed to the local area, including her involvement with the local school, reflecting her strong community values. Jan is dedicated to helping maintain the excellent reputation and high standard of care that the organisation has upheld for many years.
Richard Patterson
Board Member
With two decades of experience in managerial roles in the private sector, Richard was both eager and enthusiastic to join the Board of Directors at Barunga Village. Richard intends to leverage his skill set to support, enhance, and develop Barunga Village’s valuable community asset.
Nicole Hewett
Board Member
Nicole has over 18 years of experience in organisational development (OD), with expertise in leadership coaching, strategic OD project development, and consulting across Australia, the UK, and Canada. A 2014 MBA graduate, she excels in fostering resilience, enhancing well-being, building high-performing teams, and driving change initiatives. Nicole is accredited in various leadership, performance, and psychometric tools, enabling her to deliver impactful insights and results in diverse organisational settings.
Matt Kris
Board Member
Matt has been a dedicated professional in the residential aged care industry since 2014, serving as both a Physiotherapist and an Allied Health Manager. His journey in aged care has been marked by a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for consumers through compassionate and innovative care.
Matt’s connection with Barunga Village began several years ago when he worked as a Physiotherapist. During this time, he experienced firsthand the organisation’s genuine care and dedication to its consumers.
In 2024, Matt proudly joined Barunga Village’s Board of Directors, bringing his extensive expertise and passion for aged care to the leadership team.
EXECUTIVE TEAM AND MANAGERS
Elizabeth Carroll
Chief Executive Officer
Adam Drabsch
Chief Financial Officer
Kate Manser
Director of Nursing and Care Services
Carly Barnes
Director of Business Operations
Jemima Rogers
Director of Community Services
Meryl Weckert
Care Manager - Butterfly Approach
Xiang (Alyson) Bao
Care Manager
Annabel Freeth
Marketing and Communications Manager
Elise Bormann
Administration and Finance Manager
Jodi Russack
Quality and Risk Manager
Monica Merlano
People and Culture Manager
Stacey Meschede
Wellness, Lifestyle and Volunteer Manager
Jodie Webb
Retirement Manager
Carsten Meschede
Maintenance Manager
Janyth Sims
Enquiries and Admissions Officer
Bequests and donations
Your generous donation or bequest will ensure Barunga Village continues to provide one of the highest standards of care in South Australia. From constantly improving our accommodation facilities and entertainment and leisure activities to helping us deliver our state of the art health and care services, you can really make a difference by giving a few extra dollars a year.