Dr Valentine Gonsalves- Phoenix Specialised Youth and Disability Services
Founder and CEO of Phoenix Specialised Youth & Disability Services, Dr Valentine Gonsalves has spent more than 30 years protecting and advocating for some of society’s most vulnerable people. Born in India and raised in Dubai before migrating to Australia, he transformed personal adversity into a mission‑driven career spanning child protection, disability services, and forensic rehabilitation. His leadership and impact have earned him recognition as a finalist in the Small Business category.
Q: How did Valentine’s journey lead him to Australia?
A: Valentine migrated to Australia in 1986 at age 15 with his parents and two brothers, seeking a better future. Adjusting to a new culture during his teenage years, he faced racial vilification, violence, and social exclusion. Instead of letting these experiences define him, he channelled them into a lifelong commitment to justice, inclusion, and advocacy. As a survivor of child sexual abuse, his resilience and empathy became the foundation of his purpose to protect and empower those most at risk.
Q: How did Phoenix begin?
A: Dr Valentine’s police and human services work revealed a major gap: children with disabilities in out‑of‑home care were being overlooked. In 2005, he built his first service from personal savings, working seven days a week for five years to keep it running. After selling that business and carrying the lessons forward, he co‑founded Phoenix in 2019, now an NDIS‑registered provider specialising in forensic disability and complex care.
Q: How does Phoenix support high‑risk and vulnerable clients?
A: Phoenix works at the intersection of disability, child protection, and forensic services, supporting children in out‑of‑home care, young people in juvenile justice, NDIS participants with complex needs, and people in prison or returning to the community. For eight years, Dr Valentine and his team have delivered rehabilitative programs inside Port Phillip Prison for high‑risk offenders, helping reduce recidivism and break cycles of harm. Phoenix integrates therapeutic care, behavioural intervention, and holistic support to prioritise safety, dignity, and lasting change.
Q: How has the business grown?
A: Phoenix has grown rapidly in under six years, expanding from three staff to 23 full‑time office roles and nearly 200 specialised field workers, with close to $9 million in annual turnover. Competing in a sector with more than 7,000 NDIS providers, it has built a strong reputation for innovation and excellence. Its achievements include being named Australia’s Most Innovative NDIS Service Provider (2024 and 2025), receiving the global award for Most Innovative Disability Service in London, and Valentine’s appointment as a Global Goodwill Ambassador.
Dr Valentine Gonsalves pictured with Joseph Assaf AO, Founder and Chairman of the EBA
Q: What is Valentine’s leadership philosophy?
A: Dr Valentine’s mantra, “Keep your eye on the mission and you’ll get the commission,” guides a leadership style that stays grounded and hands‑on. He continues to work directly with participants while leading a multidisciplinary team, supported by strong investment in workforce development, clinical supervision, and evidence‑based practice. Phoenix’s focus is not on being the biggest but the best, with growth never allowed to compromise quality.
Q: What drives Valentine today?
A: Dr Valentine measures success not in revenue but in lives rebuilt. His journey from a migrant teenager facing discrimination to leading a multimillion‑dollar organisation transforming disability and forensic care reflects resilience, courage, and deep compassion. At the centre of everything is family; he credits his wife Cindy and their five children as the foundation behind every achievement, a reminder that no leader succeeds alone.
