Ability Works Australia

Ability Works Australia AWA create inclusive employment & design solutions for people with disability and those facing social exclusion.

Our work spans social enterprise, employment services, and inclusive design, focused on turning inclusion into practical, real-world impact. At Ability Works Australia, inclusion is more than a value – it’s the way business is done. We are a purpose-driven non-profit creating meaningful work and better-designed workplaces with and for people with disability and those who are socially excluded. Our

impact comes to life through three connected areas:

Social Enterprise (Supported Employment) – a work-integrated social enterprise providing supported employment through manufacturing, packaging, assembly, and 3PL logistics services for government and corporate partners. Employment Services – IEA and NDIS-funded customised employment supports, using the Griffin Hammis model to help people move into open employment at full wages. Inclusive Consulting & Training – partnering with organisations to design more inclusive workplaces, products, and services, so inclusion is built in from the start. For over 60 years, we’ve been part of Melbourne’s community, working alongside businesses, government, and community partners to create a future where everyone’s skills and contributions are valued. When you work with Ability Works, you help make inclusion standard practice – not a special project.

Accessibility isn’t about how something looks - it’s about whether people can actually use it.At Ability Works, we test ...
04/06/2026

Accessibility isn’t about how something looks - it’s about whether people can actually use it.

At Ability Works, we test digital accessibility the way real people experience it: with real assistive tools, real conditions, and real lived experience.

And we keep seeing the same barriers pop up:

- Forms that “pass” automated checks but fail with a screen reader
- Buttons you can’t reach without a mouse
- Headings that look fine but break navigation
- Beautiful layouts that some users can’t perceive at all

These aren’t small issues. They stop people from completing tasks, finding essential information, or buying your products.

If your organisation wants to reduce complaints, avoid expensive fixes later, and make your services genuinely usable, our team can help.

We test with real methods and real people — so you get insights that actually improve your service.

Read what our Inclusive Design Project Manager is learning through hands‑on accessibility testing:
https://www.abilityworks.com.au/web-accessibility-testing-learnings/

Broken‑down Cookie Time boxes, stacked and sorted by our Packing and 3PL crew.It’s repetitive. It’s physical. It’s real....
02/06/2026

Broken‑down Cookie Time boxes, stacked and sorted by our Packing and 3PL crew.
It’s repetitive. It’s physical. It’s real.
And it creates stable jobs for people who’ve been shut out of work for years.

This is the part no one sees - but it’s the part that matters.

“They always go above and beyond.”That’s the kind of feedback that keeps our teams going.For the Good Friday Appeal , ou...
01/06/2026

“They always go above and beyond.”

That’s the kind of feedback that keeps our teams going.

For the Good Friday Appeal , our crews clean, repair and re‑sticker thousands of collection tubs so they can be reused safely each year. It’s detailed, hands‑on work - and we’re proud that our partners see the care that goes into it.

Thank you to the Good Friday Appeal team for the trust you’ve placed in Ability Works over many years.

Big smiles in the Packing team this month.We partnered with Ziwi , an award‑winning New Zealand pet‑nutrition company cr...
29/05/2026

Big smiles in the Packing team this month.

We partnered with Ziwi , an award‑winning New Zealand pet‑nutrition company creating high‑quality food for cats. They trusted Ability Works with a specialised repacking project for their 85g canned range - and our team absolutely delivered.

Over two weeks, our Packing & 3PL crew repacked 10,752 cans, creating steady, hands‑on work for 10 employees across 10 days.
Work that builds confidence.
Work that builds skills.
Work that builds pride.

Partnerships like this show the power of inclusive employment and social procurement - strong outcomes for business, and real opportunities for people who’ve faced barriers to finding work.

If your organisation needs packing and 3PL support - from short‑run assembly to complex repack projects - our team is ready.

Get in touch:
www.abilityworks.com.au/contact/

Check out Ziwi:
https://ziwipets.com/en-au

Accessibility gets you in the door. Inclusive design makes sure you can use the space once you’re inside.At Ability Work...
26/05/2026

Accessibility gets you in the door. Inclusive design makes sure you can use the space once you’re inside.

At Ability Works, we test spaces, systems and journeys with people who live with access barriers every day. That’s how you find the real problems - the ones that don’t show up in drawings, standards or “tick‑the‑box” reviews.

If your organisation wants to meet requirements and build things that genuinely work for people, we’re here for it. Practical, lived‑experience‑driven, no nonsense.

Reach out if you’re planning upgrades, new builds or digital improvements. We can help you meet requirements and more. Get in touch today!
https://www.abilityworks.com.au/contact/

Read more about the differences between accessibility and inclusive design on our website:
https://www.abilityworks.com.au/accessibility-vs-inclusive-design/

Remember to lift with your legs while you’re lifting the community.Every packing job here creates real work and real imp...
25/05/2026

Remember to lift with your legs while you’re lifting the community.

Every packing job here creates real work and real impact.

If your organisation wants a reliable local partner for packing or 3PL, talk to us about contracting through social procurement and strengthening your supply chain close to home.

Our Australian‑made twisted wire stem brushes are built for the everyday jobs that keep worksites moving - from applying...
22/05/2026

Our Australian‑made twisted wire stem brushes are built for the everyday jobs that keep worksites moving - from applying adhesives to cleaning components and prepping surfaces.

Made here in Melbourne, each brush is assembled in our Social Enterprise, creating meaningful employment while supplying builders, fabricators and manufacturers with reliable, locally made tools.

If you want consistent quality without offshore delays, choose products that support local jobs and local capability.

Explore our Australian Made Campaign certified brushes:
https://australianmade.com.au/licensees/ability-works-australia/twisted-in-line-brushes

21/05/2026

Our approach is simple: local materials, local processes and local jobs. From wire forming to assembly, our team delivers consistent quality while building skills and confidence in a supported, inclusive workplace.

The work you see in this video is part of the brush and lid assemblies we manufacture and assemble for Henkel Consumer Brands . Every component comes from Australian suppliers, and every step happens in‑house on custom‑built machinery designed to improve efficiency and accessibility.

You can read the full Australian Made Week story here:
https://www.abilityworks.com.au/celebrating-australian-made-week/

Strong local infrastructure starts with strong local manufacturing.Our team produces Australian‑made concrete reinforcem...
21/05/2026

Strong local infrastructure starts with strong local manufacturing.

Our team produces Australian‑made concrete reinforcement mesh used in construction projects across the country. It’s high‑quality, locally sourced, and made in a workplace that creates meaningful employment for people who’ve faced barriers to work.

Choosing local materials supports local jobs - and keeps your supply chain steady.

Check out our Australian Made–certified wire ware:
https://australianmade.com.au/licensees/ability-works-australia/precision-wire-ware

This Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we’re asking one simple question: does the web work for everyone?For many peopl...
21/05/2026

This Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we’re asking one simple question: does the web work for everyone?

For many people with disability, the answer is still no.
Barriers like poor colour contrast, missing alt text and inaccessible forms can block access to jobs, services and basic participation.

At Ability Works, we’re working to change that.
Our new article explores why digital accessibility matters, how we’re partnering with OZeWAI to build real pathways into digital work, and what organisations can do today to make their websites more inclusive.

Read the full story:
https://www.abilityworks.com.au/global-accessibility-awareness-day-a-web-that-works/

Address

1 Yarra Boulevard
Kew, VIC
3101

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30am
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+61398537080

Website

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