Afford

18/07/2025

🎉 July is Disability Pride Month! 🌈

Disability isn’t something to hide—it’s a powerful part of who we are. This month, we celebrate:

🧩 Identity & Visibility: Disability Pride encourages people to embrace their identity—not hide it—lifting stigma and sparking real-world visibility.

🚫 Challenging Ableism: It reshapes harmful stereotypes and fights the belief that disabled lives are any less meaningful.

💪 Empowerment & Community: Pride builds strength, connection, and celebrates every achievement, big or small.

Let’s lift up disabled voices, spread awareness, and keep building a world that values EVERYONE. 🧡

17/07/2025

🚀 Something big is coming with Explore…
Our industry-leading Explore Program is already opening doors for people with disability to live life on their own terms—and we’re just getting started!
✨ Think bold adventures.
✨ Think new skills.
✨ Think opportunities you’ve never seen before.
And here’s a little hint… 📸 A special project and photo shoot is on the horizon, and we can’t wait to share the magic with you!
👉 Stay tuned—this is going to change the game.

Image ID
1 - Two young women and a young man smile broadly at the camera from a couch where they sit side by side.
2 - The trio tuck into burgers and shakes at a high table while a camera crew shoots their every move.
3 - The trio sit at a high table and clink glasses together. There's a full bar in the background with bottles lined on shelves.
4 - The trip stand with golf clubs about to start a game of put put golf.

16/07/2025

It's been an exciting start to the week at Australian Foundation For Disability with a visit from three incredible young people from Model MATES. Richard, Chloe and Camryn are all models with disability who graduated from the Model MATES modelling school and wow are they good at what they do!
The trio were out and about with a film crew from the equally special Carbon Lily who were capturing their every move for a cool new project coming up. Hint, hint ... it's part of our amazing, sector-leading program Explore.
Stay tuned for more and if you can't wait get in touch now! We're here and happy to chat to you about Explore and explain why it really is the absolute best thing going right now!

You can:
💬 Message us directly via Facebook.

🔗 Click this link https://www.afford.com.au/services/explore/

📞 Or call us on 1800 233 673.

13/07/2025

NAIDOC Week 2025 is wrapping up, but we’re committed to carrying forward the stories, lessons and celebrations that we have learned. We plan to honour the rich histories and enduring strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples all year round —and we’re determined to keep learning, listening and standing together.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in marking this special week.

12/07/2025

Our first-ever Explore program has begun and our clients are loving every second! ❤️

A rolling 16-week community-based program, Explore will help you learn, grow and have a whole lot of fun. And the great news is you can sign up now for awesome activities, including bowling, pub lunches 🍔, bushwalking 🌳and even movie events at the cinema. 🎥

Why not become an Explorer and make every day amazing!

Learn more by calling 1800 233 673 or visit afford.com.au/explore

11/07/2025

The NDIS has introduced major changes to how funding is delivered in new and reassessed plans with participants’ funding now released for claiming in installments. These are called funding periods.
People with Disability Australia says the change is a step backwards for NDIS participants who it adds were not consulted before the changes were announced. Some were even not told of the changes and remain unaware, it says.
Learn more by going here https://pwd.org.au/pwda-signs-joint-statement-on-new-ndis-funding-periods/ and let us know what you think. Do the changes worry you? Or are you happy with the NDIS and how it works?
If there were changes you'd like to see, what would they be?

[Image ID] An aerial shot of a black and white pedestrian crossing with a number of men and women walking across it with a black bubble containing the words New funding periods a step backwards.

10/07/2025

This NAIDOC Week, we’re taking time to explore Indigenous art and stories that inspire strength and vision for the future. From colourful artworks in our community hubs to traditional dances and songs, we honour the creativity that keeps cultures thriving.

Here are a few snaps of our team members with an original artwork by Indigenous artist Alysha Menzel.

The piece, titled A Brighter Tomorrow, Together tells the story of Afford’s reconciliation journey and Alysha created it for us to mark the launch of our first Reconciliation Action Plan in 2024. The original work hangs proudly in our Parramatta Head Office while our SIL clients enjoy copies in their homes.

09/07/2025

🌸 Recently we received a message from one of our clients’ parents that truly touched our hearts:

💬 “Just wanted to say a big thank you to you and Afford for looking after our son James over the past three and a half years. In that time James has formed friendships with his one-to-one carers whom have become part of our extended family."

This is why we do what we do. To see lives transformed, smiles shine brighter, and families feel supported. 💖

Thank you to all our amazing staff who make every day meaningful. And thank you also to our wonderful clients and families for trusting us to walk alongside you. 💜

09/07/2025

Who says you can't follow your heart and achieve your goals? Certainly not Cole White. Watch this amazing young man doing both in this moving video. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Cole white is a unique artist who loves bowling with his best mates and building Lego. The 25-year-old has down syndrome and is often non-verbal. But art has enabled him to express his passions and share his creativity with the world. Cole is now showcasing his artwork at his very first exhibition.

08/07/2025

Here at Afford, we’re committed to building inclusive spaces where all cultures are celebrated and respected. As part of that mission, we launched our first Reconciliation Action Plan in 2024 and to commemorate the occasion, First Nations artist Uncle Paul Calcott painted the remarkable artwork Giilang Guyulgang - Story of Strength and Resilience.

This incredible work follows Uncle Paul's journey as an Indigenous man with a disability and captures important moments throughout his life. Hear Uncle Paul tell his truly amazing in the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z13vk2N6xL8

07/07/2025

https://www.afford.com.au/blog/afford-ceo-jo-toohey-shares-heartfelt-thanks-to-disability-community/

The disability sector leader shares heartfelt thanks for support and kindness throughout recent months during which Afford made major changes.

06/07/2025

This week we proudly celebrate NAIDOC Week 2025 and the year’s powerful theme: The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.

Now really is the time to recognise the incredible resilience and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to stand with the next generation who carry their cultures, stories and dreams forward. We hope that in the coming days you’ll join us in learning, listening and honouring First Nations’ voices.

If you’re looking for events to attend in your local area, go here https://www.naidoc.org.au/local-events/local-naidoc-week-events