Courtney Scott is a visionary leader, industry expert, and passionate advocate in the NDIS disability support sector. As the CEO of Empowered Living Choices (ELC), Courtney is dedicated to delivering high-quality, person-centred care, ensuring individuals with disabilities have the support, respect, and independence they deserve.

With a deep understanding of the NDIS and a steadfast commitment to excellence, integrity, and innovation, Courtney has built ELC into a trusted provider of disability services. What began as a mission to offer better, more compassionate support has grown organically into a thriving organisation, employing over 70 dedicated staff and supporting individuals with complex physical disabilities to live a life of choice, control, and connection.

Courtney’s leadership is defined by her ability to identify gaps in the disability sector and implement meaningful solutions. She has pioneered initiatives that go beyond traditional care models, ensuring that ELC’s clients don’t just receive support but thrive—engaging with their communities, forming meaningful relationships, and living fulfilling lives.

One of Courtney’s core strengths is her commitment to workforce empowerment. She understands that exceptional care starts with valued, well-supported staff, which is why she has championed innovative rostering solutions, staff training, and burnout prevention strategies. Her dedication to employee well-being directly translates into consistent, high-quality care for clients—because when support workers feel empowered, they provide the best possible service. Her efforts recognised and she was awarded Winner of the Women in Business Gold Coast prestige award of Employer of the Year.

Courtney’s impact extends beyond ELC. She is a driven advocate for social change, actively working to improve foster care systems, rehabilitation services, and disability advocacy. Her work is rooted in the belief that every person—regardless of ability or background—deserves dignity, opportunity, and support to reach their full potential. Everyone deserves hope and Empowerment. Her leadership has influenced broader systemic improvements in the disability sector, making ELC not just a service provider, but a leader in best practice, innovation, and community-driven change.

Under Courtney’s guidance, ELC has become more than just an organisation—it is a movement. A place where every person belongs, where high standards of care are the norm, and where real lives are transformed. With a strategic mind, a compassionate heart, and an unwavering dedication to making a difference, Courtney Scott continues to lead ELC with vision, integrity, and purpose—ensuring that every individual, family, and team member feels empowered to live their best life.

With over 15 years of experience as a Registered Nurse, Kirsty Dempsey is the at the heart of Empowered Living Choices’ medical and clinical excellence. As Medical Manager, she brings a wealth of knowledge, deep compassion, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring every client and staff member at ELC receives the highest level of care and support.

Kirsty’s dedication and impact in the healthcare industry were recognised when she was named a Top 3 Finalist in the Gold Coast Women in Business Futurist Award—a testament to her visionary leadership, forward-thinking approach, and relentless pursuit of excellence in disability care.

For Kirsty, nursing is more than a profession—it’s a calling. She has always believed that every person deserves compassionate, expert care tailored to their individual needs, and she has built her career around that philosophy. At ELC, she has created a culture of clinical excellence and holistic support, ensuring that clients receive not just medical care, but a deep level of understanding, advocacy, and respect.

Kirsty is on call 24/7, ensuring that clients, families, and support staff feel safe, supported, and confident in their care. She takes the time to personally train and mentor every staff member, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to provide the exceptional, person-centred care that ELC is known for. Understanding that great support starts with great training, Kirsty leads comprehensive education programs for ELC staff, focusing on clinical best practices, emergency response, and person-centred care strategies. She ensures that every team member is not only technically skilled but deeply empathetic, reinforcing ELC’s mission to deliver excellence in disability support.

Her commitment extends beyond the clients—she is equally dedicated to ensuring that support workers feel valued, confident, and empowered. She provides ongoing monthly check-ups, in-shift training, and individual guidance to ensure both staff well-being and continuous improvement in service quality.

Kirsty’s impact at ELC is more than medical—it’s transformational. She bridges the gap between healthcare and disability support, ensuring that ELC participants receive the best possible care, with dignity, respect, and independence at the forefront. Her expertise, leadership, and tireless dedication make her an irreplaceable pillar of the ELC family.

For Kirsty, every client matters, every staff member deserves support, and every challenge is an opportunity to improve lives. Through her leadership, training, and unwavering commitment, she ensures that ELC isn’t just a provider—it’s a place where people truly thrive.

With a keen eye for detail and a passion for helping people, Emily Ashton plays a vital role in keeping Empowered Living Choices (ELC) running smoothly. With a strong background in the community sector and administrative roles, Emily brings a wealth of experience, efficiency, and dedication to her work.

Emily thrives in her position because she loves working with the community, being part of an organisation that cares, supporting both the frontline team and management to ensure everything runs seamlessly. She is highly organised, detail-oriented, and proactive in problem-solving, making her an invaluable asset to the team. From managing administrative tasks, coordinating rosters, communicating with staff, clients and the community and managing the reception, she ensures that everything is in place for the team to provide exceptional care.

One of Emily’s greatest strengths is her ability to multitask and stay ahead of challenges. She excels at communication and collaboration, ensuring that internal processes are streamlined, and that staff have the resources they need. Her strong interpersonal skills make her approachable and supportive, fostering a positive and efficient work environment.

What Emily loves most about her job is knowing that her work behind the scenes directly contributes to making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. By keeping operations efficient and organised, she helps Empowered Living Choices deliver high-quality, person-centered support. Her dedication, reliability, and passion for the community sector make her an essential part of the organisation’s success.

As the Operations Manager at Empowered Living Choices (ELC), Brett Casey plays a critical role in ensuring the organisation’s compliance with industry regulations and best practices. In the disability support sector, compliance is essential for maintaining high-quality care, safeguarding clients, and ensuring the business operates ethically and efficiently. Brett’s expertise in regulatory compliance, financial oversight, and operational management makes him a key leader in keeping ELC running smoothly and responsibly.

Brett is responsible for overseeing company finances, rostering, and behind-the-scenes logistics, ensuring that every aspect of the organization aligns with legal and industry standards. His work includes staying up to date with NDIS regulations, auditing processes, and internal policies to ensure that ELC continues to provide safe, effective, and person-centered support to its clients.

With a background in running programs that help people with disabilities develop employability skills, Brett understands the importance of structured, compliant, and well-managed support systems. His dedication to this work is also deeply personal—his mother-in-law sustained an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) from a car accident, giving him firsthand insight into the challenges people with disabilities face. This drives his commitment to ensuring ELC delivers exceptional, compliant, and compassionate care.

Brett’s strengths lie in his strong attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and commitment to upholding industry standards. He excels in risk management, policy implementation, and continuous improvement, ensuring that ELC not only meets compliance requirements but also thrives as a trusted disability support provider. What he loves most about his role is knowing that his work behind the scenes helps create a safe, structured, and empowering environment for the individuals ELC supports.