About Us
Community Gateway are a group of people who genuinely care. We provide services such as respite, in-home care, transport assistance, cleaning services, outings for aged people and disability support, just to name a few!
We place great importance on providing services and supports that promote wellness and are developed based on the premise that, even with age, chronic illness or disability, people generally have the desire and ability to make gains in their physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing and lead a meaningful and fulfilling life.
Community Gateway staff take the time to truly know and understand our clients and what is most important to them, enabling us to form meaningful connections, based on a solid foundation of support, trust and openness.
Our Strategic Plan
Our Commitment to you
We will be flexible and creative in our approach and have a
‘CAN DO’ attitude
Actively listen with empathy and an open mind
We will speak and act with honesty and transparency
In all our communication we will be timely, open and respectful
We will actively work together to create a collaborative environment
We will take ownership of what we do to deliver quality service outcomes
Our Board Members
Chairperson
Jan Wetherall
Jan Wetherall is a Registered Nurse/Case Manager with over 30 years experience working in the community sector specialising in aged and disability care. Jan is passionate about high quality person centred support for people with disability and the aged which is why she joined the Community Gateway Board. Jan has served on the Community Gateway Board for nine years and is the current Chairperson
Board Member
George Lymbers
George Lymbers is a senior leader in Technology and Business Operations with a Degree in Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration. He is passionate about leading and driving organisational change to create significant business impact and believes that we can inspire exceptional care and wellbeing through the use of innovative technologies in the administration and delivery within Health and Aged Care Services.
Board Member
Felix Aasa
Felix Aasa is a retired accountant and real estate agent. He has held a number of financial and accounting roles in employment including Financial Controller for a family owned business. He served on the board of a prominent aged care facility in Southern Sydney for 15 years and as a mentor and director of a youth outreach centre for Project Youth, Miranda Police, PCYC Sutherland and Caringbah Baptist Church.
Board Member
Narelle Hawken
Narelle Hawken is a Chief Operating Officer in the legal industry and has over fifteen years of experience managing all business functions from a strategic, operational, financial, HRM and commercial perspective. Narelle is passionate about creating a cultural, ethical and equally diverse environment that is collaborative and safe. Working as the conduit between all stakeholders she ensures productive, cooperative, and mutually respectful relationships flourish and grow. She is near completion of her MBA and is a FIML, MAICD, MAHRI, enabling her to bring her knowledge and strengths to the board.
Our Leadership Team
Chief Operations Officer
Tegan Bezzina
Tegan Bezzina has a Bachelor Degree in Population Health and is a Case Manager with over nine years experience working in social and community services. Tegan specialises in aged and disabilities care, however; also has experience in the child protection and out of home care sector. Tegan joined Community Options in 2010 and has since spent time as a Team Leader prior to progression into her current position as Director Operations for Community Gateway. Tegan is passionate about making a difference to the lives of people with a disability and those who are ageing and is committed to the future of Community Gateway.
Chief Executive Officer
Deborah De Santis
Deborah is an experienced senior executive and non-executive director with a passion for the
community sector.
She has held senior leadership roles in stakeholder engagement, marketing and communications, sales, customer relations, and human resources.
In addition to her executive roles, Deborah ran, and ran a communications and marketing
consultancy for 16 years with a range of high profile clients in sectors such as manufacturing,
mining, property development, construction, financial services, health insurance, education and
aged care.
Deborah is a Director of the Illawarra Credit Union and Chair of the Board Governance
Committee. She is an active member of the Illawarra business community and a former Director
of the Illawarra Business Chamber.
Deborah holds a Bachelor of Arts (Management/Psychology) and a Master of Arts (Journalism)
from the University of Wollongong and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of
Company Directors.