Ability Advocates

25/12/2025

Merry Christmas to all!

As we come together to celebrate, let's remember the importance of inclusion and kindness.

19/12/2025

Seasons Greetings to our incredible community. Thank you for championing inclusion with us this year.

Our office will be closed from
5pm, Friday 19 December and will reopen at 9am, Monday 5 January.

18/12/2025

As we reflect on the past year and approach the Christmas period, we are reminded of the moments that brought us together.

On the 3rd of December, we hosted a warm and meaningful brunch to recognise International Day of People with Disabilities, bringing together our clients, staff and community.

25/10/2025

Creating inclusive environments relies on understanding your rights. Join our free webinar to explore human rights, workplace rights, and effective advocacy strategies. Learn to navigate your rights, request support, and advocate with confidence. Your rights are your power – join us to claim them and build a more inclusive future.

25/10/2025

Are you ready to lead with purpose?

We’re seeking a Quality, Risk & Capability Lead to join our dedicated team at Ability Advocates.

In this role, you'll shape the standards that not only protect but empower individuals with disabilities. You’ll ensure compliance, continuous improvement, and the highest level of service delivery.

This is not just a job; it's an opportunity to make a significant impact in the community. Imagine being at the forefront of quality management, creating systems that safeguard dignity and drive change.

Join us in our mission to dismantle barriers, foster inclusion, and ensure every individual receives the support they deserve. Together, let's create a future where quality ensures access, empowerment, and positive change for all.

Apply Now on Seek https://www.seek.com.au/job/88106592?ref=cm-ui

Explore this opportunity today!

09/10/2025

Today at the Inner West Council’s annual Trainees and Apprenticeship Reception, we celebrated the power of inclusive employment in action with 10 of our trainees and placements being part of the group being celebrated.

Pictured here you will see Greg Stoupe, our Team Leader for Inclusive Employment and Workplace, Inner West Councillor Vicki Clay, and six of the eleven brilliant trainees we’ve proudly placed and supported at Council this year at the event organised by the wonderful team at Inner West Council Their smiles tell you the story!

These young professionals are living proof that when community, leadership, and opportunity align - everyone thrives.

At Ability Advocates Australia, we’re not just placing candidates - we’re building inclusive workplaces, one meaningful role at a time.

💡 Want some amazing talent and to co-create inclusive change? Reach out. We have hundreds of traineeship and workplace-ready candidates eager to contribute.

26/09/2025

🧩 Autism isn’t just a diagnosis - it’s a lifelong journey.

When our CEO Lorraine Salloum’s daughter Caitlin was diagnosed at age 2, there was no roadmap. The NDIS gave their family hope, structure, and life-changing therapies.

Now, thousands of children are being moved to a new program outside the NDIS. It may look “perfect on paper,” but families like Lorraine’s know: tailored, ongoing support isn’t optional - it’s essential.

👂 Reform must listen to parents.

🌱 Every child deserves to be seen, supported, and treated as an individual with potential.

🎙️ Thank you to Petra Taok and SBS for amplifying Lorraine’s voice.

🔗 Arabic speakers can hear the full interview here:

https://www.sbs.com.au/language/arabic/ar/podcast-episode/perfect-on-paper-children-on-the-autism-spectrum-are-being-sent-to-a-new-program-outside-the-ndis-but-is-it-for-their-benefit-testimonies-from-the-heart-of-the-struggle/jvur44xco

💙 CHANGING THE WORLD FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

يظهر أن برنامج التأمين الوطني للإعاقة (NDIS) يواجه مفترق طرق بين الحاجة إلى إصلاحات تواكب التنوع الكبير في احتياجات أطفال طيف التوحد وبين ضرورة الحفاظ على الدعم المتو....

19/09/2025

Are you living with a disability and seeking support?
You may be:
- Experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness
- Facing long-term barriers to employment
- Transitioning from the criminal justice system
- From a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background

🌟 Your Voice Matters! 🌟

Ability Advocates is conducting a survey to gather insights from people with disabilities. The feedback will be used to shape the VoiceABILITY program and improve services. By participating, you can directly influence the development of the advocacy programs and share the challenges and successes you face.

By taking part, you can:
✅ Make an Impact – Your insights will directly influence our advocacy programs.
✅ Be Heard – Share your experiences, challenges, and successes.

📋 Take the Survey Today
Scan the QR code below or click use the link below to share your voice!
https://form.jotform.com/250773850000044

We’re proudly delivering this program through the Peer Support and Capacity Building (PSCB) grant for the NDIS, helping people with disabilities build skills, confidence, and connections with others who share similar experiences.

15/09/2025

🚀 One Year On | A Proven Model for Inclusive Employment

Twelve months ago, this video marked the beginning of a bold collaboration between Ability Advocates and Inner West Council - a specialised, targeted traineeship program designed to create the conditions for success for people with disabilities.

Through our unique model as a specialist group training organisation and disability services provider, eight trainees commenced paid roles with Council, supported by wraparound recruitment, training, and workplace coaching. This wasn’t just a pilot - it was a blueprint for change.

🌟 The result?
Inner West Council was awarded the 2025 Disability and Inclusion Award at the Local Government Awards. More importantly, lives were changed, workplaces transformed, and inclusion embedded with integrity.

We’re now expanding - and we’re calling in employers and partners who are ready to walk this path with us.

✅ Do you have vacancies?
✅ Are you committed to authentic inclusion—not just policy, but practice?
✅ Ready to be part of a model that works?

Let’s co-create a workforce that reflects the richness of our communities.
📩 Connect with us at Ability Advocates or DM to explore how we can partner.



Https://youtu.be/hbl0-joXkP4

15/09/2025

🎓 From Potential to Possibility: Our Graduates Are Ready 🌟

We’re proud to celebrate the 20 brilliant graduates of the Ability Advocates Pathways to Public Sector Traineeships program – talented individuals with disabilities who are now fully traineeship ready in business and IT.

This isn’t just a milestone. It’s a testament to what happens when inclusive design meets belief. Through nationally accredited training, tailored support, and a truly person-centred approach, these graduates have built skills, confidence, and a vision for their future.

🗣️ “We just need to be given a chance. Thank you to Ability Advocates who believed in and supported every one of us and helped build our confidence.”

Now, they need a workplace to believe.

We have dozens more workplace ready candidates – people with disabilities who are eager to contribute, collaborate, and grow. If you’re ready to build a workforce that reflects the future, we’re ready to help you find the right match.

👏 Congratulations to our graduates. You are proof that inclusion works – and that talent is everywhere.

10/07/2025

🤝 Building Understanding, Together

Today, Ability Advocates CEO Lorraine attended the NDIA Advocates Forum, representing affiliated charity and not for profit organisation Ability Advocates Foundation. Lorraine is Director and volunteer supporting people with disabilities in human rights matters, including NDIS appeals at the Administrative Review Tribunal.

It was a valuable opportunity to connect, learn, and collaborate for better outcomes for people with disabilities.

Lorraine’s key takeaways from the forum:

Health vs. NDIS:
*Understanding the distinction - health manages treatment, NDIS supports building skills and independence.

Therapy reports:
*Emphasizing real-life observations and functional improvements.

Lived experience:
*50–60% of NDIA staff have lived experience of disability, bringing empathy and insight to their work.

We thank NDIA for fostering open dialogue and collaboration.

Together, we can drive meaningful change! 💙