Ability Works Australia

What Ability Works Australia does

Ability Works Australia is a non-profit social enterprise headquartered in Kew, Victoria, operating since 1966 with a workforce of 180+ staff. The organisation delivers three interconnected service lines: (1) Employment Services through Customised Employment and the newly launched Inclusive Employment Australia program, which match job seekers with disabilities and other barriers to mainstream employment with employer opportunities, delivered under its registered NDIS provider status; (2) Inclusive Design consulting through the Inclusive Insights Platform and disability-inclusive usability testing, which leverages 1,000+ participants with lived disability experience for accessibility audits, co-design workshops, and digital usability testing; and (3) Manufacturing and Logistics including wire and metal fabrication (snake mesh, bollards, brackets, brush assemblies), co-packing and third-party logistics, mailroom and digital records services, and custom Traffolyte label production. Revenue is generated through a mix of NDIS-funded employment services, commercial manufacturing contracts, professional services fees, and social procurement arrangements, with named customers spanning Transurban, Henkel, Stanley Black & Decker, myDNA, RSL Victoria, Lendlease, John Holland, Alstom, and the Victorian and Australian Governments.

The go-to-market is primarily direct sales and relationship-based, supported by showcase events, accessibility reference group participation, content marketing, and earned media. The business model is hybrid: a mission-driven social enterprise that must compete on commercial quality (ISO 9001 certified) while generating social impact through employment outcomes. Operations are anchored at the Kew facility, with national reach via the Inclusive Insights Platform and digital service delivery. Key strategic assets include Social Trader certification, Victorian Government Social Procurement Framework supplier status, ISO 9001 quality certification, and multi-decade relationships with transport and manufacturing sector customers.

Name

Ability Works Australia

Legal name

Ability Works Australia

Website

https://abilityworks.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ability Works Australia is a non-profit social enterprise (founded 1966, Kew, Victoria) providing NDIS-funded employment services, inclusive design consulting via a 1,000+ participant panel, and accessible manufacturing and logistics, serving commercial and government clients across Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Employment and Social Enterprise Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Educational Support Services (611710), Temporary Help Services (561320), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Assistive Technology (AT) & Accessible Learning Tools (EDALAGAB), Assistive Technology & Accessible Digital Skills (EDAAAIAK), AT Implementation, Coaching & Professional Development (Teachers/Staff) (EDAKAIAI)

Keywords

• Disability employment services
• Inclusive design consulting
• Contract manufacturing services
• Social procurement services
• Accessibility testing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kew

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Disability Employment Services: NDIS-funded customised employment, supported employment, and Inclusive Employment Australia services. Provides employment opportunities for people with barriers through social enterprise model.
2. Manufacturing and Assembly Services: Wire and metal fabrication, co-packing, third-party logistics, and light manufacturing for commercial clients. Includes snake mesh for precast concrete, brush assemblies, and custom metal products.
3. Inclusive Design Consulting: Disability and inclusive usability testing, accessibility audits, website accessibility testing, co-design workshops, and training services for organisations.
4. Records Management and Digital Services: Mailroom services, document digitisation, scanning, and records management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ability Works Australia is a non-profit social enterprise delivering inclusive employment services to job seekers with disabilities or other barriers, alongside design-led contract manufacturing (wire and metal fabrication, co-packing, Traffolyte labels) and inclusive design consulting (usability testing, accessibility audits, co-design workshops via the Inclusive Insights Platform). Services are delivered to NDIS participants, employers, government agencies, transport operators, and commercial clients, with the Kew, Victoria facility serving as the operational hub.

Product overview

Ability Works Australia operates as a social enterprise offering three interconnected service lines: (1) Employment Services including Customised Employment and Inclusive Employment Australia, which connect job seekers with barriers to employment to meaningful work; (2) Inclusive Design consulting comprising the Inclusive Insights Platform and disability-inclusive usability testing, which harnesses lived experience to improve accessibility of products, services, and spaces; and (3) Manufacturing and Logistics services including Wire & Metal Fabrication (producing snake mesh, bollards, brackets, brushes), Packing and 3PL, Mailroom and Digital Services, and Traffolyte label production. The organisation is registered as an NDIS provider and certified Social Trader.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Inclusive Insights Platform: A platform connecting people with lived experience of disability to paid projects that improve accessibility across Australia, including usability testing, co-design sessions, and accessibility consulting.

Products and services

• Customised Employment Employment placement service matching job seekers experiencing barriers to employment with suitable employers, providing ongoing support and innovative task breakdowns to both parties.
• Inclusive Employment Australia Program delivering inclusive employment solutions connecting people with barriers to employment with meaningful work opportunities; commenced November 2025 for NDIS participants.
• Inclusive Design / Disability-Inclusive Usability Testing Consulting service leveraging the lived experience of people with disabilities to test and improve accessibility of products, services, digital systems, and physical spaces for commercial and government clients.
• Inclusive Insights Platform Platform connecting organisations with people with lived experience of disability to short, paid projects including usability testing, customer research, co-design, physical environment testing, inclusion training, and surveys.
• Wire & Metal Fabrication Manufacturing service producing wire forms, metal components, and custom fabricated products including snake mesh, bollards, brackets, and industrial brushes for commercial clients.
• Packing and Third Party Logistics (3PL) Co-packing and third-party logistics services including retail packaging, food and beverage packaging, pharmaceutical packaging, promotional packs, and fulfillment for commercial clients.
• Mailroom and Digital Services (Records Management) Records management service launched July 2019, providing digitisation of business records, document scanning, indexing, and data entry for government and corporate clients.
• Traffolyte Labels Custom-manufactured Traffolyte labels for industrial and commercial signage applications, with online ordering portal at orders.abilityworks.com.au.
• Snake Mesh Precast concrete reinforcement mesh with curved-bend design, engineered for efficient spacing of steel reinforcement in concrete, manufactured in Australia.
• Brush and Lid Assemblies Metal stem brushes and lid assemblies manufactured and assembled in-house with custom-built machinery for industrial and consumer product applications.
• Social Procurement Services Services helping organisations generate social value through procurement, providing social procurement evidence for government tender advantages, staff engagement, and brand equity.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of staff report being highly satisfied with their job
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TransurbancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Long-term partnership since 2011 for manufacturing and assembly services, corporate volunteering programs, and video collaboration projects. Social enterprise partnership providing competitive manufacturing quality with social impact.
• AureconcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInclusive design consulting partnership leveraging lived experience insights for engineering and infrastructure projects.
• AlstomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for human-centered design testing of Next Generation Trams for Melbourne, providing lived experience accessibility input on public transport design.
• John HollandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccessibility input for zero-emission buses, workplace accessibility and inclusion assessments for office environments.
• Metro TrainscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSunflower Hidden Disabilities Program review, night lighting trials at train stations, accessibility testing and research with lived experience participants.
• KineticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWebsite accessibility audit and usability testing partnership to improve digital experience for passengers with disabilities.
• V/LinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in Accessibility Reference Group providing lived experience feedback on regional train services.
• Yarra TramscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership and accessibility testing for Melbourne tram network improvements.
• City of BoroondaracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Balwyn Shopping Village accessibility review, playground inclusive design collaboration, and council accessibility assessments.
• Henkel AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing supplier partnership for brush and lid assemblies, manufactured and assembled in-house with custom-built machinery.
• myDNAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPacking, assembly and distribution partnership for genetic testing kits - approximately 90,000 kits since 2017.
• RMIT UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarketing collaboration and inclusive design research partnerships with university marketing program.
• Stanley Black and DeckercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred packing and assembly supplier selected in August 2018 for building and construction brands.
• RSL VictoriacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnnual ANZAC badge and wristband assembly and packing - 180,000+ items per year.
• Toyota AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerToyota Continuous Improvement team provided pro bono services to Ability Works for their customer Transurban, demonstrating corporate social responsibility collaboration.
• McConnell Dowell Decimil Joint VenturecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupply through Victorian Government's Social Procurement Framework for Mordialloc Freeway upgrade project.
• LendleasecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership through subcontractors for $1.1B Frankston Hospital redevelopment delivering electrical, landscaping, construction and glazing components.
• Norman G ClarkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPainting of cooling fan clutch kits for Kenworth trucks, demonstrating metal fabrication capabilities.
• Concept Wire IndustriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufacturing and supply chain partnership for wire products.
• FREDONcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInstrument panel assembly for Fredon, precision manufacturing partnership.
• A.G CoombscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHVAC bracket supply for Frankston Hospital redevelopment project.
• Landscape PluscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFabricated landscape edging supply (Corten steel and powder coated) for hospital redevelopment.
• Lee GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNon-standard bollard manufacturing for infrastructure projects.
• SpectivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLarge volume aluminum window bracket machining for construction projects.
• Victorian Department of Transport and PlanningcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSocial procurement engagement and accessibility consulting for transport infrastructure projects.
• Department of DefencecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigitisation project for Australian Defence Force member files at Victoria Barracks, preserving historical records.
• ColescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSocial procurement partnership providing inclusive employment outcomes.
• Good Things FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for Be Connected digital skills training program, providing scam awareness and digital literacy training for employees over 50.
• Wide Bay AdvocacycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term two-year partnership for FSC Champions program accessibility including website audits, usability testing, remediation planning, accessible document templates, training materials, Disability Inclusions Foundations training, and ongoing accessibility guidance through monthly Expert Advisory Group meetings.
• Standard Accessibility Reporting Inc (SAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-design partnership for Standard Accessibility Reporting programs and initiatives.
• Swinburne UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent partnerships including inclusive design projects such as accessible tap design with Product Design Engineering students.
• NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme)coreOthersRegistered NDIS provider delivering employment supports and services to NDIS participants through government-funded scheme.
• Victorian Government - Social Procurement FrameworkcoreOthersCertified supplier under Victorian Government's Social Procurement Framework, enabling government contractors to meet social procurement requirements.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Stormtech: Australian social enterprise manufacturing custom technical apparel with a mission to provide employment pathways. Comparable as a smaller-scale social-enterprise manufacturer, though in a more specialised product category.

Direct peers

• Flagstaff Group: Australian social enterprise providing meaningful employment through commercial packaging, assembly, and document management. Closely comparable on the manufacturing/employment hybrid model for people with barriers.
• Get Skilled Access: Australian accessibility and lived-experience consulting firm offering accessibility audits, usability testing, and inclusion training. Closely mirrors Ability Works' Inclusive Design and Inclusive Insights Platform offerings.
• CoAct: Australian network of disability employment service providers delivering DES and Inclusive Employment Australia programs. Comparable on employment services business model and NDIS/government contract reliance.
• Yooralla: Victorian disability services provider offering employment supports, accommodation, and therapy services. Comparable on geography (Victoria), NDIS registration, and disability employment focus, though less weighted to commercial manufacturing.
• Aruma: Large Australian disability services and social enterprise combining supported employment, lifestyle services, and commercial operations across multiple states. Directly comparable to Ability Works' employment + social enterprise model and similar NDIS provider positioning.
• Karingal St Laurence: Australian community services organisation delivering disability employment, NDIS supports, and social enterprise activities. Comparable on multi-service social enterprise model combining employment, training, and commercial services.
• Centre for Inclusive Design: Australian not-for-profit focused on inclusive design consulting, co-design, and accessibility research. Overlaps with Ability Works' inclusive design consulting and lived-experience research capabilities.
• atWork Australia: Australian Disability Employment Services (DES) provider placing people with disability into open employment. Comparable on employment services revenue stream and NDIS-aligned programs such as Inclusive Employment Australia.
• Bedford: South Australian social enterprise employing people with disability across packaging, manufacturing, and recycling operations. Comparable on Australian social-enterprise manufacturing, supported employment, and commercial customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Ability-Works-Australia-207172529303241
• Instagraminstagram.com/abilityworksaus
• Xx.com/abilityworksau
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ability-works-australia-ltd

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Ability Works Australia