Building on a Proven Model

Organic growth

This is where Achieve strengthens and extends what is already working, by expanding established programs and partnerships. In practice, this includes delivering complex Community Participation support, maximising the impact of The Sewing Basket social enterprise model and optimising our investment in Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) through the Housing Futures program with Inclusive Housing Australia (IHA) and other SDA partners. Together, these areas represent a practical pathway to reach more people while building on existing capability and brand awareness.

Inorganic growth

Through mergers and Supported Independent Living (SIL)-only service models, we have a pathway to increase impact and to diversify the range of services we provide and our revenue sources. By expanding our reach and strengthening sustainability, we stay aligned to the plan’s focus on improving outcomes for people with disability and growing services.

Geographical expansion

By expanding our footprint, we continue to extend our reach into new locations so more people can access Achieve’s support. Throughout the year, Achieve responded to several opportunities across Australia to manage transitions that strengthened local communities and ensured services continued to be provided to people in need:

• St Vincent de Paul (Sutherland Shire, NSW) – July 2023

In July 2023, Achieve transitioned responsibility for 10 young people and 35 team members from St Vincent de Paul in the Sutherland Shire. The transition has been successfully embedded and outcomes for the young people have strengthened over time.

Housing standards have improved across the homes, supporting stable and appropriate living environments. Young people have developed a stronger sense of belonging and connection, which has contributed to improved wellbeing and greater confidence in their daily lives. These outcomes reflect Achieve’s ability to manage complex service transitions while maintaining continuity of care and positive experiences for the people supported.

• Windara Communities (Northern Rivers, NSW) – July 2024

In the Northern Rivers, we were approached to take on Windara, a community hub with a long local history. 24 supported employees moved across, along with the programs and relationships that mattered to them. For young people leaving school, the introduction of School Leaver Employment Supports opened new pathways that had never existed in Achieve’s service mix before.

• Mercy Community (South East Queensland) – October 2024

In Southeast Queensland, Mercy Communities sought a provider who could give certainty to people receiving Supported Independent Living and Community Participation. 16 people and 90 new team members joined Achieve. Families asked direct questions about daily routines, safety and the future. Team members needed to understand how the transition would affect their work. These conversations shaped the planning from the beginning, and the result was a smooth transition where services continued without interruption.

• Edenbridge Living (Sutherland) – November 2024

Achieve worked with Edenbridge Living to open 5 self-contained studios designed for people who need both privacy and safety. The model was built around the idea that housing and support should fit together, not sit side by side. The studios gave the people we support a place to call their own while keeping experienced support within reach.

What made these transitions work was not scale or speed but being there day to day. Leaders were on site. Families were invited to talk openly. Team members were supported to move across with clear expectations about their roles. We partnered closely with Inclusive Housing Australia and other SDA providers to make sure housing decisions were thoughtful and suited to each person’s needs. This practical, person-by-person approach meant people were not left behind in the process. They were supported the whole way.

These transitions shaped our growth. Over the next 4 years, we expect to grow from supporting around 700 people to about 1200. But this is not growth for growth’s sake. It is a response to something real. Communities want providers who can manage complexity with confidence and calm. Families want stability. Team members want to belong to an organisation that listens, plans carefully and provides learning and career opportunities. Our growth reflects those needs.