MDS

What MDS does

MDS (Macarthur Disability Services) is a not-for-profit community organisation founded in 1982, registered as an NDIS provider (Provider Number 405 000 1355) and operating across eight service locations in the Macarthur region of South Western Sydney and the Southern Highlands, NSW Australia. It delivers a portfolio of thirteen services spanning two categories: NDIS-registered services (Allied Health, Behaviour Intervention Support, Community Inclusion & Support, Individualised Services, Living and Life Skills, MDS Club, Mental Health Recovery Coach Support, Pathways to Employment, Short Term Accommodation/Respite, Social Groups, and Support Coordination) and non-NDIS services (CHSP Sector Support and Development and a free NDIS Navigator & Plan Support Officer). The organisation also operates two sub-brands: Livelihood, a workplace-based employment training program launched in 2024 in partnership with Jigsaw Australia; and MDS Club, a social activities platform with its own e-commerce booking site and loyalty program.

The organisation's business model is principally funded through NDIS participant plans (recurring per-plan allocations billed monthly per service agreements), with supplementary revenue from fee-for-service work, donations under DGR status, and Department of Health, Disability and Ageing funding for CHSP Sector Support and Development. MDS employs a direct-to-consumer go-to-market model with intake and enquiry handling, community events and ageing forums, and a multi-channel digital presence spanning Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, email newsletters, and dedicated sub-brand websites. It serves five primary user segments: people with disability (primary), people with mental illness, CHSP aged care providers, families and carers, and disability employment services participants.

Operational governance comprises a board of eleven directors led by President Mark Buick and an executive team of six led by CEO Brenda Odewahn, with general managers covering Finance, People/Quality/Culture, Community Inclusions & Support, Community Services & Supported Living, and Marketing & Engagement. Certifications include NDIS Provider registration, DGR status, and alignment with the Privacy Act 1988 and Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002.

Name

MDS

Legal name

Macarthur Disability Services

Website

https://mdservices.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

MDS (Macarthur Disability Services) is a not-for-profit NDIS-registered provider founded in 1982, delivering disability, mental health, and aged care services across eight Macarthur region locations in NSW, Australia, for individual participants, families, carers, and CHSP aged care providers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Campbelltown

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. NDIS Funded Services: MDS receives payment for services delivered to NDIS participants whose funding plans cover MDS's registered services. Revenue is generated through the National Disability Insurance Scheme based on participant plans and service agreements.
2. Fee for Service: MDS provides some services on a fee-for-service basis for participants without NDIS funding or for services outside their plan coverage.
3. Donations and Fundraising: MDS accepts donations through its Support Us program and holds Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, making donations over $2 tax deductible. Current fundraising targets include shade cloths ($4,000), computer equipment ($5,000), and sensory/communication equipment ($8,000).
4. CHSP Sector Support and Development: Funded by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to assist Commonwealth Home Support Programme providers in enhancing service quality and increasing capacity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

MDS is a not-for-profit community organisation that delivers a comprehensive suite of disability, mental health, aged care, and employment support services under Australia's NDIS framework. Its core offerings include Allied Health therapies, Behaviour Intervention Support, Community Inclusion programs, Individualised Services, Short Term Accommodation/Respite, Social Groups, Support Coordination, and the workplace-based Livelihood employment training program. Services are delivered directly across multiple physical locations in the Macarthur region of South Western Sydney and through in-home support.

Product overview

MDS (Macarthur Disability Services) is a not-for-profit community organisation operating for over 42 years, providing disability services in South Western Sydney. The organisation offers a comprehensive portfolio of services under two main categories: NDIS Services and Non-NDIS Services. NDIS Services include Allied Health (Occupational Therapy, Dietitian, Speech Pathology, Psychology, Exercise Physiology), Behaviour Intervention Support Services, Community Inclusion & Support with multiple activity locations, Individualised Services, Living and Life Skills, MDS Club (social activities and excursions), Mental Health Recovery Coach Support, Pathways to Employment (SLES), Short Term Accommodation/Respite, Social Groups, and Support Coordination. Non-NDIS Services include CHSP - Sector Support and Development for aged care providers, Livelihood (employment training program), and NDIS Navigator & Plan Support Officer. The services are designed for individuals with disability, mental illness, the aged, families and carers, with a focus on person-centred support tailored to individual needs and aspirations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Livelihood: A specialised workplace-based training program that supports people with disabilities gain employment skills to reach their open employment goals. Features a 3-step program: Academy (training and work experience), Digital (award wage employment experience), and Connect (transition to open employment).
• MDS Club

Products and services

• Allied Health
• Behaviour Intervention Support Services
• Community Inclusion & Support
• Individualised Services
• Living and Life Skills
• MDS Club
• Mental Health – Recovery Coach Support
• Pathways to Employment (SLES)
• Short Term Accommodation/Respite
• Social Groups
• Support Coordination
• CHSP - Sector Support and Development
• Livelihood
• NDIS Navigator & Plan Support Officer

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 42 years of continuous service delivery to the disability community
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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.

• Jigsaw AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLivelihood program is empowered by Jigsaw Australia. Jigsaw Australia provides expertise and support in developing the workplace-based training program that helps people with disabilities gain employment skills and transition to open employment.
• Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) Providers NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMDS Sector Support and Development works collaboratively with CHSP providers across Australia to enhance service quality and capacity. MDS has partnered with multiple SSDs including Central Coast and Hunter - Wesley Mission, Inner West Sydney - Ethnic Communities Council of NSW, Orange City Council, Live Better, and others on joint resources.
• Ithaca ImpactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Ithaca Impact to develop the ESG Sustain Check Tool - a free self-assessment tool for CHSP organisations to measure sustainability across Environmental, Social and Governance areas.
• Enkindle and Three DigitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrokered by SSD providers including Macarthur Disability Services to author the Home Care Client Management Systems Solutions Evaluation and Guide 2024.
• Volunteering SA&NTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Volunteering SA&NT to develop 'Innovate Your Aged Care Volunteer Engagement: Using a Co-production Approach' booklet.
• Local Government CouncilscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMDS hosts ageing forums in partnership with Camden Council, Campbelltown Council, Wollondilly Shire Council, Wingecarribee Shire Council, Canterbury-Bankstown City Council, Fairfield Council, and Liverpool Council.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Northcott: NSW-based registered NDIS provider offering accommodation, Allied Health therapy, recreation, behaviour support and employment services. Comparable as a regional NSW NDIS provider with overlapping Allied Health, Pathways to Employment, and Short Term Accommodation offerings to MDS.
• genU (formerly Karingal): National community services organisation delivering disability, aged care, and employment services across Australia. Comparable as a multi-vertical community services provider with overlapping disability and employment services similar to MDS.
• Hireup: Australian NDIS-registered platform connecting participants with disability support workers. Comparable as a registered NDIS provider serving the same participant base, but distinguished by a digital marketplace model rather than MDS's facility-based community service delivery.
• Mable Technologies: Australia-based platform enabling NDIS participants to find and engage independent support workers. Comparable as an NDIS provider serving the same participant and Support Coordination use cases, with a tech-enabled self-service model that competes with traditional providers like MDS.
• Life Without Barriers: One of Australia's largest NDIS and out-of-home care providers operating across disability, child youth and family, and aged care services nationally. Comparable as a multi-service NDIS provider offering community participation, supported independent living, and therapeutic supports similar to MDS.
• Aruma (formerly House with No Steps): National NDIS-registered disability services provider offering supported independent living, community participation, employment support and respite. Comparable as a large, multi-service NDIS provider with similar therapeutic, daily living, and social inclusion offerings to MDS.
• Achieve Australia: Sydney-based NDIS-registered disability provider delivering supported independent living, day programs, and community participation services. Comparable as a Greater Sydney NDIS provider with overlapping Community Inclusion, individualised support, and Pathways to Employment offerings to MDS.
• Cerebral Palsy Alliance: Established NDIS-registered provider delivering allied health, accommodation, behaviour support and community inclusion services, primarily in NSW. Comparable as a long-tenured, multi-disciplinary NDIS provider with similar Allied Health, Behaviour Intervention, and Community Inclusion services to MDS.
• Scope Australia: Major Australian disability services provider offering Allied Health, accommodation, behaviour support, and employment programs. Comparable as a large, multi-service NDIS provider with overlapping therapeutic, community inclusion, and supported employment offerings to MDS.
• Sunnyfield: Not-for-profit NDIS-registered disability services provider offering accommodation, community participation, and supported employment across NSW. Comparable as a values-aligned, multi-service NDIS provider with similar community-based programs to MDS.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mdservicestv
• Facebookinstagram.com/macarthurdisabilityservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/macarthur-disability-services
• Instagraminstagram.com/macarthurdisabilityservices
• TikToktiktok.com/@mds_disability
• Xx.com/mdservices

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about MDS