The Disability Trust

What The Disability Trust does

The Disability Trust Limited (ACN 001 260 153) is an Australian not-for-profit, NDIS-registered disability services provider founded in 1975 in Wollongong, NSW, and now operating from 12+ locations across New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Queensland. The organisation delivers a comprehensive suite of disability supports organised into five service categories: Home and Living (Supported Independent Living, Individualised Living Options, Short Stay and Respite, Housing and Tenancy); Employment Services (Inclusive Employment Australia, embarc Employment, Project SEARCH, School Leaver Employment Supports); Activities and Participation (Sport and Recreation, Children's Services, Club Trust day options); Clinical Support Services (Positive Behavioural Support, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Psychology); and NDIS Plan Management and Support Coordination. It also operates social enterprises including The Plant Room Café and charitable programs such as KidsWish.

The organisation employs 3,000+ staff supporting 6,000+ individual clients and their families, with a community-led go-to-market model built around direct enquiry, NDIS support coordinator referrals, and local presence in disability communities. Technology infrastructure centres on an internal NDIS Plan Management System for tracking participant plans, billing and service delivery across regions, with limited proprietary technology beyond this operational platform and an Evenness by Devika virtual-reality sensory room at the North Wollongong centre. Revenue mechanics are predominantly government-funded through participant NDIS plans (subscription/recurring model), supplemented by Department of Social Services contracts for Disability Employment Services (transitioning to Inclusive Employment Australia on 1 November 2025), social enterprise transactions (café revenue), and philanthropic donations/bequests.

Growth has been driven by both organic geographic expansion (e.g., Trusted Support Coordination into Queensland in February 2021, Hunter region expansion) and a deliberate M&A strategy that has absorbed KidsWish (July 2021), OC Connections (2021–2023) and Marriott (2024), alongside the WISE strategic partnership with ermha365 for mental health integration. The organisation is governed by a Board of Directors and operates as a registered charity (ACNC) with no parent company or external institutional investors, with strategic positioning anchored to NDIS regulatory participation including selection for the NDIS SIL Quality Supports Pilot.

Name

The Disability Trust

Legal name

The Disability Trust Limited

Website

https://disabilitytrust.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Disability Trust is an Australian not-for-profit NDIS-registered provider founded in 1975, employing 3,000+ staff to deliver disability support services — including supported independent living, employment services, clinical therapies, and community participation — to 6,000+ clients across NSW, ACT, Victoria and Queensland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Child and Youth Services (624110), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM), Physical Disabilities & Mobility Support Childcare (HSAAAIAD)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• NDIS registered provider
• Supported independent living
• Disability employment services
• Community participation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Spring Hill

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. NDIS Government Funding: As a registered NDIS provider, The Disability Trust receives funding through participants' NDIS plans for services including SIL, employment supports, clinical services, and community participation.
2. Social Enterprise Revenue: Revenue generated through social enterprises including The Plant Room Café locations (Horsley, Hammondville), providing employment opportunities for people with disability while generating income.
3. Donations and Bequests: Philanthropic donations and bequests through estate planning, including Kids Support Fund and general donations. ABN: 29 001 260 153.
4. Disability Employment Services Contracts: Government contracts from Department of Social Services to deliver Disability Employment Services (DES) through Workskills and WorkAbility agencies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Disability Trust is a not-for-profit registered NDIS provider delivering disability support services across five categories: Home and Living (Supported Independent Living, Individualised Living Options, Short Stay and Respite), Employment Services (Inclusive Employment Australia, embarc, Project SEARCH, School Leaver Employment Supports), Activities and Participation (Club Trust day options, Sport and Recreation, Children's Services), Clinical Support Services (Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Psychology, Positive Behavioural Support), and NDIS Plan Management and Support Coordination. Services are delivered through 3,000+ employees across 12+ locations in NSW, ACT, Victoria and Queensland, supplemented by social enterprise operations (The Plant Room Café) and charitable programs (KidsWish).

Product overview

The Disability Trust operates as a registered NDIS provider offering a comprehensive suite of disability support services organized into five main categories: Home and Living (including Supported Independent Living, Individualised Living Options, and Short Stay/Respite), Employment Services (Inclusive Employment Australia, embarc Employment, Project SEARCH, SLES), Activities and Participation (Sport and Recreation, Children's Services, Club Trust day options), Therapy and Clinical Support, and NDIS Plan Management/Support Coordination. The organization also operates social enterprises including The Plant Room Café and manages charitable programs such as KidsWish. The service portfolio spans across multiple Australian regions including NSW, ACT, Victoria, and Queensland, supporting over 6,000 individual clients with a workforce of 3,000+ employees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Home and Living Services Comprehensive disability accommodation and daily living support services for NDIS participants, including Supported Independent Living in Specialist Disability Accommodation, Individualised Living Options tailored to participant needs, Short Stay and Respite for families, Housing and Tenancy support, and Individualised Support with Community Access.
• Employment Services Disability employment services for job seekers with disability and employers seeking inclusive hiring, offering pathways from school-leaver supports through to open employment. Funded primarily through Department of Social Services DES contracts (now transitioning to Inclusive Employment Australia).
• Activities and Participation Social, recreational and community engagement programs for people with disability including Making Friends, Social Groups & Outings, Sport and Recreation, Community Access and Day Options (Club Trust), and Children's Services (Arvo Group, The Adventure Hub, KidsWish).
• Clinical Support Services Allied health and clinical therapeutic supports for NDIS participants, including Positive Behavioural Support, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Psychology and Clinical Nurse Specialist services. Delivered through the Trusted Clinical Services subsidiary brand.
• Plan Management Financial management service for NDIS participants, handling payment of provider invoices, budget tracking, and financial reporting against NDIS plans.
• Support Coordination Expert guidance for NDIS participants to navigate and implement their plans, connecting with service providers and maximising plan utilisation. Delivered through the Trusted Support Coordination brand (Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast expansion).
• Sport and Recreation Programs Sports and recreation programs for people with disability including Score Dragons and Score Raiders wheelchair rugby league (in partnership with NRL clubs), CycleAbility cycling program, Fitness 4 All, and various inclusive sports groups promoting physical activity and social inclusion.
• The Plant Room Café Hospitality training and employment social enterprise providing café operations (Horsley and Hammondville locations) that create supported employment opportunities for people with disability while generating revenue for the Trust.
• KidsWish Charitable program providing support, activities, and experiences for children with disability and their families, including sports academies, after-school care, vacation care, KidsWish Saturday Club, Christmas programs, and sibling programs. Merged into The Disability Trust in 2021.
• CycleAbility Monthly cycling program teaching bike riding skills, road safety, road rules and bicycle maintenance for people with disability. Supported by charity partner Figtree Lions Club with fundraising by COO Ed Birt.
• Short Term and Respite Accommodation (STA) Temporary disability accommodation and respite across multiple dedicated facilities including Emma Ruby House (Cook ACT), Parkside (Horsley), Nanga Mai (Dapto), and Mountview TCU (Wollongong). Purpose-built 5-star Emma Ruby House provides short-term accommodation, Club Trust day options, clinical services, and capacity-building programs.
• Mental Health Supports Psychosocial supports and mental health services for NDIS participants with psychosocial disability, delivered as part of the integrated Clinical Support Services and WISE strategic partnership with ermha365.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported 1,650 DES participants into employment as of 2018 contract renewal
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ricky Stuart FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2018Purpose-built Emma Ruby House for young adults with disability. Foundation built the 5-star facility in Cook, ACT and handed keys to The Disability Trust to operate short term accommodation.
• ACT GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2018Partnership with Ricky Stuart Foundation to deliver Emma Ruby House short term accommodation facility for young adults with disability in Cook, ACT.
• Department of Social ServicescoreOthers · 1 January 2018Awarded ongoing contracts to deliver Disability Employment Services (DES) for five years through Workskills and WorkAbility agencies.
• St George Illawarra DragonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop Score Dragons wheelchair rugby league program. Clubs invested in delivering positive outcomes and ensuring people with disabilities are included in the local rugby league community. NRL players participate in training runs and guard of honour at matches.
• Canberra RaiderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop Score Raiders wheelchair rugby league program. Both Clubs passionate about delivering positive outcomes and ensuring people with disabilities are included in the local rugby league community.
• Merrigong Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to run Strangeways Theatre Group - a Wollongong-based professional theatre collaborative of performers perceived to have intellectual disability. Producing original shows since 2014.
• National Disability ServicescoreOthers30 years membership in National Disability Services, the national peak body for disability service providers in Australia.
• BlueScope/WIN Community PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors Sports Ready Gala Day enabling The Disability Trust to run the program for local primary school support units with 14 years of support.
• Wests IllawarracoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-term partner supporting annual Gala Night fundraising events, contributing donations to raise over $1.4 million over 20 years for families and children with disability.
• WAVE FMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for annual Gala Night fundraising events.
• Wollongong City CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanning inclusive play space at Stuart Park expanding existing playground with new features. Funded by Australian Government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Fund.
• Figtree Lions ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity partner supporting CycleAbility program fundraising alongside Ed Birt's Indian Pacific Wheel Ride.
• UOW (University of Wollongong)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity program partnership including Project SEARCH internship program at UOW Pulse. Partnership for community initiatives and student engagement.
• ermha365coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISE strategic partnership launch with ermha365 to support mental health and disability services integration.
• OC ConnectionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinalised merger with OC Connections expanding disability services capacity.
• MarriottcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerger with Marriott disability services organization boosts organizational mission and service delivery capacity.
• KidsWishcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerger bringing together KidsWish team including therapists, direct care and fundraising staff. Enables expanded early intervention supports for children and young people with disability.
• Australia PostminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia Post publicly endorsed traditional place names campaign by Trust staff member Rachael McPhail. Working to create database of traditional Country names cross-referenced with postcodes.
• TAFE NSWminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with TAFE NSW for employment training on South Coast, helping FAR South Coast WorkAbility and NDIS teams join forces for training programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Yooralla: Long-standing Victorian disability services non-profit delivering SIL, therapy and community participation — comparable non-profit model and NDIS service depth.
• Scope Australia: Victorian-headquartered disability provider delivering accommodation, therapy and employment services — comparable scale, service mix and NDIS-registered model.
• Life Without Barriers: National not-for-profit delivering disability, child and family services across Australia, including NDIS supports — comparable broad service portfolio and federal funding exposure.
• Sunnyfield: NSW-based NDIS provider focused on accommodation, supported employment and lifestyle services — comparable Supported Independent Living and Supported Employment offering.
• Aruma: One of Australia's largest NDIS-registered disability service providers, delivering supported independent living, employment and community participation across multiple states — directly comparable in service mix and scale to The Disability Trust.
• Northcott: NSW-based non-profit NDIS provider offering accommodation, therapy, recreation and employment services — overlapping service categories and overlapping NSW geography.
• Cerebral Palsy Alliance: Major Australian disability services provider offering therapy, accommodation, assistive technology and lifestyle supports — closely comparable breadth of clinical, accommodation and community services.
• Ability Options: Not-for-profit NDIS and DES provider operating across NSW and Queensland with supported employment, accommodation and community participation — overlapping geographies and employment services focus.
• Achieve Australia: Greater Sydney disability non-profit delivering supported independent living, day programs and community participation — direct overlap with The Disability Trust's Illawarra/Sydney footprint.

Emerging players

• Hireup: Australian tech-enabled platform connecting NDIS participants with support workers — overlaps in personal care/independent living support but competes via digital marketplace model rather than employed workforce.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DisabilityTrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/disabilitytrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-disability-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/thedisabilitytrust
• Xx.com/DisabilityTrust

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Disability Trust