AmAble founder to launch new disability service

A new Bellarine disability service will be directed by the former chief executive of AmAble, which reportedly owed more than $500,000 to creditors last year.

Bec Provis, founder and former chief executive of AmAble, is launching a new support service for people with neurodiversity and cognitive disabilities. Picture: Mark Wilson

                               

The former chief executive of a Geelong disability support organisation that allegedly owed more than $500,000 to creditors is launching a new business.

AmAble’s former chief executive Bec Provis announced her resignation in April this year, and with husband Huw Provis is now the director of Diversity Supports.

Diversity Supports is the company behind new organisation Shape Your Journey.

The social media page for the organisation has listed September 1 as its launch date.

It was described as the “Bellarine’s dedicated neuro-affirming NDIS Support Service, specialising in working with neurodiversity and cognitive disabilities”.

The organisation’s expression of interest form indicates the organisation is located in Drysdale.

Ms Provis founded AmAble in late 2019 and provided respite services, after-school and holidays programs and support groups.

It was alleged a family feud was the cause of turmoil at AmAble in April, and despite rumours it would cease trading it has continued to provide its programs since.

AmAble is a not-for-profit charity that services clients with disabilities throughout the region.

It is understood Ms Provis’ daughter Danni Frecklington is now director of AmAble.

At the time of her resignation Ms Provis said she reported to the AmAble board she proposed a resolution to cease trading.

“I requested details of financials and access to our accounting software which was numerously denied,” she said on April 20.

“In the last two weeks when staff came to me with what was owed to them, I was personally paying them so they didn’t go without.”

According to Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) documents from December 2022, AmAble owed money to bank accounts, employees, superannuation, suppliers of goods/services and personal loans.

The company was restructured in October 2023, and according to copies of restructuring documents given to affected creditors, AmAble owed $403,061 to the Australian Taxation Office, $97,313 to WorkCover, $32,334 to the State Revenue Office, $2014 to Origin Energy and $1964 to the Geelong council.

In an operational update issued on April 15, Ms Frecklington said Ms Provis’ resignation announcement, which was made through a group chat with staff, was “incredibly inappropriate and ... sent to create rumour and chaos”.

“Both Bec and Huw announced their intention to shut AmAble down so they could start their own company without ‘having to answer to a board’ and ‘get back to the grassroots’,” she said in the update.

“As per my duties as a director to act in good faith and the best interests of the company, appropriate action had to be taken.”

Ms Provis declined to comment about Shape Your Journey.

AmAmble did not respond to requests for comment.

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.

Originally published as AmAble founder to launch new disability service