Ability First Australia
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
Ability First Australia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ability First Australia
- Legal name
- Ability First Australia Ltd
- Website
- https://abilityfirstaustralia.org.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ability First Australia industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Services and Sector Advocacy
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Social Assistance (624), Individual and Family Services (6241), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)
Keywords
Where Ability First Australia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ability First Australia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Member Organisation Fees: Ability First Australia represents 25 member disability service providers. Revenue is generated through membership contributions and alliances.
- Donations: The organisation accepts one-off and recurring donations from the public to support its mission of inclusion for people with disability.
- Ability Forum Services: The Ability Forum consumer panel is offered to external organisations to conduct market research with people with disability and carers, generating revenue from survey and research services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | One-off or recurring donation amounts |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Ability First Australia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ability First Australia is a national not-for-profit industry alliance of 25 disability service provider members delivering support to people with disability across all Australian states and territories. It provides sector-wide advocacy, shared services and programs (including Ability Forum market research, AccessTech assistive technology rental, the Community Housing Fund, and the YPIRAC case management program), training (Diploma of Leadership in Disability Services), and coordinated policy influence on behalf of members representing approximately $5.6 billion of disability support services.
Product overview
Ability First Australia is a national not-for-profit industry alliance in the disability sector, offering a portfolio of programs and services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include: Ability Forum (an online consumer panel for market research launched in 2019), AccessTech (an assistive technology rental and refurbishment pilot launched March 2025), the Community Housing Fund (a not-for-profit property fund), the YPIRAC System Coordinator Program (case management for under-65s), the Diploma of Leadership in Disability Services (accredited qualification), and the Frontline Leader Project (role clarity initiative). Affiliated brands include Ability Roundtable and Cerebral Palsy Australia. The organization does not offer a SaaS platform or API-based product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ability Forum: A world-first online consumer panel launched in 2019 that allows disability service providers to seek real-time consumer insights from people with disability and carers.
- Ability Forum (Organisation Use)
- AccessTech
- Ability First Australia Community Housing Fund
Products and services
- Ability Forum A world-first online consumer panel launched in 2019 that enables disability service providers to gain real-time market insights from people with disability and their carers to better target services and products.
- AccessTech (AT Rental and Refurbishment Pilot) An assistive technology rental and refurbishment program that makes access to AT simpler, faster and more affordable, operating as a pilot in South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia through December 2026.
- Community Housing Fund
Quantifiable outcome
- Approximately $5.6 billion worth of support services represented
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Ability First Australia
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Ability First Australia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ability First Australia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Alliance20coreAlliance20, an industry body of disability providers, is merging with Ability First Australia. Ten not-for-profit disability providers currently members of Alliance20 will join Ability First, making it the country's largest not-for-profit industry alliance in the disability sector. Transition expected to be completed by July 2026.
- NovitaTechcorePartner in the AT Rental and Refurbishment Pilot (AccessTech), providing infrastructure, skills and expertise in AT refurbishment, assessment and distribution in South Australia.
- AbilityTECHcorePartner in the AT Rental and Refurbishment Pilot (AccessTech), providing infrastructure, skills and expertise in AT refurbishment, assessment and distribution in Western Australia.
- St GilescorePartner in the AT Rental and Refurbishment Pilot (AccessTech), providing infrastructure, skills and expertise in AT refurbishment, assessment and distribution.
- UNE PartnershipsminorCo-designed the Diploma of Leadership in Disability Services (11461NAT) qualification with Ability First Australia, with extensive sector consultation.
- Yajilarra TrustminorFacilitated inclusive governance roundtable session for Ability First Board Chairs and CEOs.
- Purpose at WorkminorFacilitated inclusive governance roundtable session for Ability First Board Chairs and CEOs.
- Department of Health, Disability & AgeingcoreCommonwealth funder of the YPIRAC Systems Coordinator Program, a case management service for people under 65 with complex care needs.
- Department of Health, Disability and AgingcoreFunded the AT Rental and Refurbishment Pilot Program across South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.
- Australian Government Department of Social ServicescoreFunded the Frontline Leader Project and the Diploma of Leadership in Disability Services as part of the Jobs and Market Fund.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ability First Australia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cerebral Palsy Alliance: Leading disability service provider and research organisation focused on cerebral palsy. Comparable as a specialist disability provider operating at scale within the broader sector Ability First represents.
- Aruma: One of Australia's largest disability service providers and an Ability First member. Comparable as a major operating provider within the alliance, illustrating the scale of service delivery that Ability First collectively covers.
- Northcott: One of Australia's largest not-for-profit disability service organisations and an Ability First member. Comparable as a major provider within the alliance's footprint.
- Scope (Australia): Major disability service provider supporting people with physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities and an Ability First member. Comparable as a large operating member of the alliance.
Direct peers
- National Disability Services (NDS): Australia's peak body for disability service providers, representing hundreds of NGO disability service organisations nationally. Most directly comparable peer to Ability First Australia as both are industry alliances/peak bodies advocating for disability providers.
- Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO): National cross-disability peak body representing people with disability and their families. Comparable to Ability First as a sector-wide advocacy coalition shaping NDIS policy and representing disability community interests.
- People with Disability Australia (PWDA): Australia's peak national disability rights and advocacy organisation representing people with disability. Comparable to Ability First in driving policy, advocacy and sector representation across the disability ecosystem.
- Inclusion Australia: National peak organisation advocating for people with intellectual disability and their families. Comparable as a disability-sector alliance engaged in advocacy, policy influence and member-driven services.
- Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA): National peak body for disability advocacy organisations across Australia. Comparable peer in representing a network of disability-focused organisations engaging government on policy and program design.
Others
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: Independent statutory body regulating NDIS providers and safeguarding participants. Comparable as a key ecosystem participant whose policy decisions directly affect Ability First's members and programs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ability First Australia social profiles
Digital presenceAbility First Australia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ability First Australia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Ability First Australia subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Ability First Australia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ability First Australia M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ability First Australia
What does Ability First Australia do?
Ability First Australia is a national not-for-profit industry alliance of 25 disability service provider members delivering support to people with disability across all Australian states and territories. It provides sector-wide advocacy, shared services and programs (including Ability Forum market research, AccessTech assistive technology rental, the Community Housing Fund, and the YPIRAC case management program), training (Diploma of Leadership in Disability Services), and coordinated policy influence on behalf of members representing approximately $5.6 billion of disability support services.
Is Ability First Australia a public or private company?
Ability First Australia is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ability First Australia founded?
Ability First Australia was founded in 2012.
Where is Ability First Australia based?
Ability First Australia is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Ability First Australia make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Member Organisation Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and ability Forum Services.
Who are Ability First Australia's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Aruma, Northcott and Scope (Australia). Direct peers are National Disability Services (NDS), Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO), People with Disability Australia (PWDA), Inclusion Australia and Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA). NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission is listed as an others.
Does Ability First Australia have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ability First Australia.
What industry is Ability First Australia in?
Ability First Australia's product category is Disability Services and Sector Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support. Its NAICS code is 62412 and its SIC code is 8300.