Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia

What Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia does

The Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia (ADFA) is a not-for-profit support organisation headquartered in Granville, NSW, founded in 1989 by trade unions, asbestos disease victims, victims' families, and concerned citizens. Its core offering comprises peer-led support services for people diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases (mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer) and their families, delivered through monthly meetings at the Granville headquarters, the Central Coast Support Group, a counselling service, and referrals to medical and legal resources. ADFA supplements direct support with medical and legal information resources, treatment-options guidance, a bi-monthly newsletter, and a membership program, while running awareness campaigns such as National Asbestos Awareness Week, Workers Memorial Day, and the flagship Gala Race Day fundraising event.

The foundation has no proprietary technology platform; its technical footprint consists of a WordPress-based website (adfa.org.au), multilingual downloadable fact sheets (Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Vietnamese), and standard social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube). Its research and advocacy ecosystem includes formal partnerships with the Thoracic Oncology Group of Australasia (TOGA) — to which ADFA contributed A$25,000 in 2020 — and the Asbestos Diseases Research Institute (A$35,000 in 2022), alongside an ongoing relationship with Turner Freeman Lawyers for compensation-claim referrals. ADFA played a leading role in winning Australia's first NSW dust diseases law reform in 1998 and continues to provide evidence at NSW Government Enquiries into Dust Diseases.

ADFA's revenue model is donations- and fundraising-driven, with no commercial pricing for services. Funding sources comprise individual donations, the Gala Race Day and Annual Fundraising Dinner, and corporate sponsorships, channeled toward operational costs, member services, research grants, and awareness campaigns. Governance is provided by a volunteer executive committee (President Barry Robson, Vice President Maree Stokes, Treasurer Kate Robson, Secretary Etta Kinnaird, plus committee members John Limpus and Karen Martin). The foundation is independent, with no parent company, subsidiaries, or external ownership stake.

Name

Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia

Legal name

Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia Inc.

Website

https://adfa.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Australian not-for-profit founded in 1989 providing counselling, peer support groups, medical and legal information, and advocacy for people with asbestos-related diseases and their families across NSW, headquartered in Granville.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Granville

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: ADFA generates revenue through donations, fundraising events (Gala Race Day, Annual Fundraising Dinner), and corporate sponsorships. These funds support the foundation's operations and community services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia (ADFA) is a community-based not-for-profit that delivers in-person and information-based support to people diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses (mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer), their families, carers, and friends. Its core offerings include peer support groups, counselling, medical and treatment information, legal entitlements guidance, and a public asbestos-awareness and education program delivered through campaigns, seminars, and printed multilingual resources.

Product overview

The Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia (ADFA) is a not-for-profit support organization, not a technology product company. Its offering consists of support services for asbestos disease victims, including counselling, support groups, medical and legal information resources, and asbestos awareness education campaigns. The organization provides a bi-monthly newsletter, annual membership, and runs events including the Gala Race Day, Asbestos Awareness Week/Day, and educational seminars. Printed materials and fact sheets on asbestos safety are available in multiple languages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Support Services for Asbestos Disease Victims
• Medical Information Resources
• Treatment Options Information Information on treatment approaches for asbestos-related diseases, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and complementary therapies, intended for patients and their families.
• Legal Entitlements Guidance Guidance and referrals regarding compensation claims, legal rights, and NSW Dust Diseases Board assistance for asbestos victims, delivered in partnership with specialist lawyers.
• Asbestos Awareness Campaigns Public education events including National Asbestos Awareness Week and Asbestos Awareness Day, designed to educate Australians about asbestos risks in homes and workplaces.
• Bi-monthly Newsletter Newsletter issued every two months to members, covering foundation activities, medical research developments, and upcoming events.
• Membership Program Annual membership providing access to foundation support services, monthly meetings, newsletters, and participation in community activities.
• Gala Race Day Event Annual flagship fundraising event supporting ADFA's operations, support services, and research funding commitments.
• Seminar Program Educational seminars on asbestos and silica-related diseases delivered across NSW and ACT locations including Canberra, Lidcombe, Coffs Harbour, Batemans Bay, Nowra, and Merewether.
• Printed Materials and Fact Sheets Downloadable PDF resources covering homeowners' asbestos safety, workplace safety, and multilingual asbestos location diagrams in Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Hindi, Indonesian, and Vietnamese.

Quantifiable outcome

• ADFA has contributed to winning changes to NSW laws regarding dust diseases in 1998, benefiting members Australia-wide.
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Asbestos Diseases Research Institute (ADRI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2022ADFA presented Dr Helen Ke with a cheque for $35,000 at ADRI reception at Government House. ADFA Board Chair Dennis Wilson, Barry Robson, and Kate Robson participated. ADRI is a WHO Collaborating Centre for research on asbestos-related diseases.
• Thoracic Oncology Group of Australasia (TOGA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2020ADFA declared support for TOGA and presented a cheque for $25,000 at a meeting between ADFA President Barry Robson and TOGA Board Chair Prof Nick Pavlakis. ADFA aims to support better treatment outcomes and ultimately find a cure for mesothelioma. Prof Pavlakis extended Associate Membership to ADFA.
• Turner Freeman LawyerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTurner Freeman Lawyers is a key legal partner providing expert advice to asbestos victims on compensation claims. They have represented thousands of asbestos victims including Bernie Banton against James Hardie, and achieved landmark legal decisions for mesothelioma victims.
• Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJustin Harvey from AIHW presented on occupational and non-occupational exposure of Mesothelioma at an ASGN meeting, covering data from the Australian Mesothelioma Registry.
• Trade UnionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADFA was founded by Trade Unions, victims, families of victims, and concerned citizens. Trade unions continue to support the foundation's advocacy work and community initiatives.
• Asbestos Support Advocacy GroupsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of related organizations including Asbestos Disease Support Society (ADSS), Asbestos Awareness, Asbestos Victims Association (AVA) SA, and Asbestos Council of Victoria/GARDS for information sharing and collaboration.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bernie Banton Foundation: Australian asbestos-disease foundation named after the late campaigner Bernie Banton - a figure ADFA's legal partner Turner Freeman represented. Operates in the same victim-advocacy space as ADFA, providing direct support and awareness for asbestos-affected families in Australia.
• Asbestos Awareness: Australian asbestos-awareness and advocacy organisation cited in ADFA's support network. Shares ADFA's focus on raising public awareness about asbestos risks in homes and workplaces, with overlapping education and campaign activity.
• Asbestos Victims Association (AVA) of South Australia: South Australian victim-led asbestos advocacy organisation listed in ADFA's partner network. Directly comparable in mission and activities - providing support, counselling, legal information, and advocacy for asbestos disease victims and families in SA.
• Asbestos Disease Support Society (ADSS): Queensland-based asbestos disease support organisation referenced in ADFA's own network. Provides peer support, advocacy, and information to asbestos victims and families in Queensland, mirroring ADFA's mission in NSW and making it a direct peer in the Australian asbestos-disease advocacy space.
• Asbestos Council of Victoria / GARDS: Victorian asbestos and dust-disease advocacy and support organisation named in ADFA's peer network. Offers comparable services to ADFA for Victorian asbestos victims, making it a directly comparable regional peer.

Others

• Asbestos Diseases Research Institute (ADRI): WHO Collaborating Centre for asbestos-related disease research, and a recipient of ADFA funding ($35,000 in 2022). Not a direct peer as ADRI focuses on research rather than victim support, but operates in the same Australian asbestos ecosystem as a key partner and enabler.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjSClSv9cXGcPh1tFvcC4hQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61572978404236
• Instagraminstagram.com/adfa_aus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asbestos-diseases-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia