About us

Eighty9 Limited was founded in 1989 as Inner Western Workskills, and has been working to promote equality of access and opportunity for individuals since.

A note from our Founder - our outputs and impacts

At Eighty9 Limited we have spent the past 35 years working to alleviate inequality in all aspects of our society. As the company has grown so too have our goals and ambitions, and in 2023 we are influencing change in even more ways than ever with business operations spanning the Employment Services, Training Services, Disability Services, Allied Health Counselling Services and Charity sectors.

The board of Eighty9 Limited remain excited by the opportunities we have before us and the new objectives we are pursuing as we continue to resource our brands and empower our leadership team to deliver outcomes that have real impact in people’s lives. We look forward to continuing the delivery of exceptional services for decades to come.

Gary Hatwell, FAICD
Executive Chairman, Eighty9 Limited

At the heart of our Organisation is the commitment to RISE

Respect

Treating people with respect, recognising them as they are and always offering compassionate support.

Integrity

Being transparent and honest in all our work and relationships, and accountable for our performance.

Service

Being dedicated to serving and helping people to overcome their challenges no matter how difficult.

Empowerment

Encouraging agency and control through active participation in our programs and services.

Our History

1989

Eighty9 Limited is founded as Inner Western Workskills Inc.

Eighty9 Limited is founded as Inner Western Workskills Inc. in Brompton, South Australia with a mission to promote equality of access and opportunity for individuals to participate in the social and economic benefits of employment, and commitment to meet the diverse needs of all customers.
1990

Inner Western Workskills launched its first three training programs

Inner Western Workskills launched its first three training programs focussed in Adelaide’s largest growing employing industries, and moved into a custom built Training Centre in Welland, South Australia.
1991

Our first Literacy and Numeracy skills training are launched

In 1991 we launched our first Literacy and Numeracy skills training as we recognised that some of the trainees in our growing range of vocational training courses were struggling with their English and Math skills, and it was affecting their employment opportunities after completing training.
1998

Inner Western Workskills was awarded one of the inaugural 'Job Network' contracts

The Federal Government launched the new 'Job Network' and Inner Western Workskills was awarded one of the inaugural contracts to deliver this service from May 1998. In preparation for delivering this new service new offices were opened at Edwardstown and Marion, with offices in Woodville Park and Modbury to be added in 1999.
2001

Inner Western Workskills established the Status brand

Inner Western Workskills established our Status brand to operate both our Job Network and Registered Training Organisation business.
2004

Inner Western Workskills formed a partnership with charity Kids Future Kids

In 2004 Inner Western Workskills formed a partnership with the charity Kids Future Kids, a charity that aligned well with our objective to promote equality of access and opportunity for individuals. This partnership was recognised in 2006 with the 'Prime Minister's Award For Excellence In Community Business Partnerships SA', however shortly after this in 2007 the Kids Future Kids charity closed its doors and the board of Inner Western Workskills began to look for other opportunities to support the local community.
2009

Status awarded their first contract to provide Disability Employment Services (DES)

In a big year for new contracts, Status was awarded its first contract to provide Disability Employment Services in 2009, providing services to Adelaide South from our Marion and Noarlunga offices. We continue to provide Disability Employment Services in 2023 from 18 offices to more than 11,305 participants across South Australia and Western Australia.

Status was successful in applying to deliver the Australian Government’s Language, Literacy and Numeracy services.

Starting in July 2009 Status was also successful in applying to deliver the Australian Government’s Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital literacy program across the Adelaide metropolitan area, a program we continue to this day through our Skills for Education and Employment contract in Southern Adelaide and Southern Perth.
2015

We became the patron and sponsor of the South Australian affiliate to Dress for Success Worldwide

The board’s search for a charity that furthered out objectives was met in 2015 when we became the patron and sponsor of the South Australian affiliate to Dress for Success Worldwide, a global movement for change empowering women to obtain safer and better futures. Originally operating out of our Modbury offices, in 2023 Dress for Success now operate from two locations in Hindmarsh and Noarlunga.
2017

Status enters the Perth market delivering Employment, Training and Disability Services

An opportunity to pick up an Employment Services contract in Western Australia quickly resulted in a rapid expansion of our Employment Services, Disability Employment Services, Foundational Skills training and Accredited Training into the Perth market.
2022

The ImpactEight brand is established to oversee the services of Dress for Success and our new men’s equivalent service, Geared for Success

In 2022 our ImpactEight brand was launched. Seeing the wide range of benefits that Dress for Success Adelaide had provided to the women in our communities, through ImpactEight we established a men’s equivalent service, Geared for Success, with first appointments in early 2023 from the newly renovated ImpactEight Noarlunga site.

Inner Western Workskills established Allied Health service BlueSky Mind Studio

Identifying a growing need for mental health services within the communities we work, Inner Western Workskills also established Allied Health Service BlueSky Mind Studio in 2022. Providing both in person and telehealth counselling services BlueSky Mind Studio was quickly able to start providing assistance to internal and external participants.
2023

BlueSky Mind Studio launches our NDIS services

Inner Western Workskills saw a unique opportunity to use our growing expertise in Allied Health Services combined with our extensive history in Disability Employment Services to expand our service offering with a selection of NDIS services. Our new NDIS business would operate through the BlueSky Mind Studio brand providing a person centred approach through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy sessions.

After 35 years operating as Inner Western Workskills, in 2023 the Organisation was restructured to a Company Limited by Guarantee and renamed Eighty9 Limited

After 35 years operating as an Incorporated Association, Inner Western Workskills was restructured as a Company Limited by Guarantee and renamed Eighty9 Limited, to ensure it remains fit for purpose for the next 34 years. Eighty9 Limited was chosen to reflect our foundation and extensive history serving our mission; to promote equality of access and opportunity for individuals to participate in the social and economic benefits of employment, and commitment to meet the diverse needs of all who access our services.
131,176
Assisted on their journey to work
45,539
Improved foundational skills
1,456
Helped to improve mental health

Our Leadership

Our Board is comprised of Directors with extensive knowledge, skills and experience in the industries we serve, including those who have been recognised as Fellows of their professional associations.

The Board aspires to excellence in governance standards, providing strategic guidance for Eighty9 Limited and its brands, and effective oversite of management. The Board is the guardian of the founding purpose for which Eighty9 Limited was established, to promote equality of access to foundational opportunities and supports that alleviate suffering for people who are unemployed, living with disability, and those in necessitous circumstances, and is accountable for the pursuit of that purpose.

Board Members

Gary Hatwell FAICD

Gary has over 40 years of strategic management experience within government and non-government sectors, 35 of which have been dedicated to the development of Eighty9 Limited.

In 1989 Gary co-founded Eighty9 Limited as Inner Western Workskills, and has served as Managing Director and Public Officer of the Association since this time. As a constant member of the Executive team, Gary has also held Board positions as Executive Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer of the Association. Gary is currently the Executive Chairman of Eighty9 Limited.

In 2015 Gary was made a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, recognising the stewardship and success achieved in directing the work of Eighty9 Limited.

Julie Hatwell FCPA

Julie commenced with Eighty9 Limited in 1989 in a voluntary capacity, consultant, and then in 1997 as the Executive Manager, Finance. Since this time Julie has served within Inner Western Workskills as a founding member of the Board of Directors of Status, Treasurer of Eighty9 Limited, and founding Board member of Dress for Success Adelaide.

As a University qualified Accountant and a Fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Public Accountants, Julie remains responsible for all of the auditing and financial reporting of Eighty9 Limited and its brands.

Vikki Lewis

Vikki commenced with Eighty9 Limited in 1995 as a Vocational Trainer in Retail.

Vikki is a founding Director of Status, and since retiring from the operational side of the Organisation in 2014 has continued as a non-Executive Director on the Status board, as well as serving on the board of Eighty9 Limited.

With Masters qualifications in education and counselling, Vikki has a particular interest in Training Services and especially the roles that literacy and numeracy, vocational training, and employability skills development play in assisting disadvantaged people into paid work. Vikki is also a founding Board member of Dress for Success and strongly believes that building self-esteem, especially in unemployed women, plays a vital role in preparing for work.

David George FASRC

David commenced with Eighty9 Limited in 1997, and until his retirement in 2014 served as the Executive Manager Corporate and Disability Services.

David is one of the original Directors of Status, and in his role as Executive Manager Corporate and Disability Services he has overseen contractual performance and governance across our brands and services. From 2010 to 2014 David directly managed our new Disability Employment Services (DES) contract, and DES remains a special interest both personally and professionally as a Fellow of the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors.

In 2023, David was admitted to membership of the Rehabilitation Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand. David remains actively involved as a non-Executive Director and board member of Eighty9 Limited.