Australian Foundation for Disability

• Supported Independent Living (SIL)Clients can live independently or with 24/7 support in a SIL house while building skills, making social connections and achieving their goals. Afford provides clients with transport and clients can access Afford’s Community Services program.

• Short-Term Accommodation (STA)STA, also known as Respite, provides short-term accommodation to clients.. This gives clients time to connect socially and trial living independently, with access to transport, social activity programming and 24/7 on-site support. For caregivers who might need to travel, have a break, or may be in poor health, STA provides a care and accommodation solution for their loved one living with disability.

• Community ServicesAfford’s Community Services connect clients with social and recreational activities that build life skills, connection with their community and friendships. Afford’s Community Services supports clients to build capacity, enhance their wellbeing and achieve their goals.

• Employment Services including Disability Employment Services (DES) and School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES)Afford works with people with disabilities, injury or illness to find and sustain meaningful careers and achieve their work goals. Afford’s School Leaver Employment Service (SLES) is available for clients who are leaving school soon and are younger than 18. It gives them insights into the areas of work that they’re interested in, and provides them with skills and experiences to reach their goals. If clients are older than 18 and have a disability, injury or illness, Afford’s Disability Employment Service (DES) can assist with job search, and the recruitment and training process.

• NDIS Support CoordinationAfford guides clients who are eligible for NDIS funding through the NDIS process and supports them to develop care plans that optimise their funding to meet individual and family needs.

• Allied HealthAfford connects clients to a variety of allied health professionals and supports, including face-to-face and telehealth services.

• Australian Disability Enterprises (ADE)Afford employs people with disability, providing work opportunities in NSW and Victoria. Jobs include: packaging, shrink wrapping, bundle wrapping, pick and pack and assisting with mail-outs. Afford works with corporate organisations to provide supply chain solutions that meet their social procurement and inclusivity goals.

Afford has been established for more than 70 years and is one of Australia’s largest disability service providers.

Afford was established as the Poliomyelitis Society in 1951 by Dr Ross Williams, at the height of the polio epidemic in Australia. After the virus was eradicated, the organisation was renamed the Foundation for Disabled in 1969.

In 2001, the organisation became known as the Australian Foundation for Disability (Afford), while also launching its Disability Employment Services (DES) and Short-Term Accommodation (STA) services.

Following the resignation of CEO, Steven Herald in March 2021, Afford began an important and significant period of transformation with the appointment of new CEO, Jo Toohey in September 2021

This transformation has been organisation-wide and sees Afford committed to safeguarding their clients, providing quality and safe services and upholding the rights and choices of their clients.

Ms Toohey’s arrival was followed by the appointment of a new Chair of the Board, Carol Bryant in February 2023, and today, for the first time in the organisation’s long history, two female leaders are at the helm.

Disability Royal Commission

In 2022, Afford appeared as case study 23 at the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

Newly appointed CEO, Jo Toohey appeared at public hearings to give evidence and provide information about the changes and corrective actions that had been instituted following the resignation of previous CEO, Steven Herald in March 2021.

In 2021 the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission launched an investigation into Afford after the death of a client in a Supported Independent Living home operated by Afford .

This is currently a Federal Court matter.

• Afford website