- Achieve Australia will assume responsibility for two Community Access and Participation centres in Como, in the Sutherland Shire and Haberfield in Sydney’s Inner West.
- The move adds younger participants - around half still living with family - creating future pathways to Supported Independent Living.
- It builds on the successful 2023 Supported Independent Living transition of services to Achieve Australia by St Vincent de Paul Society NSW.
Achieve Australia (Achieve) and the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW (the Society NSW) have announced that Achieve will take over the Society NSW’s community and lifestyle programs located in Como and Haberfield. The change means people using the two centres will continue receiving familiar supports, at the same locations, whilst gaining the backing of Achieve’s broader network and innovative day-program options.
“Achieve continues to grow our services with values aligned organisations, like St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, who are seeking to transition their Specialist Disability Services in metropolitan Sydney. We view this opportunity as one that furthers our passion for social inclusion and ensures the continuity of services and employment at these two historic sites”, said Jo-Anne Hewitt, CEO Achieve Australia.
The Como and Haberfield programs complement Achieve’s existing Supported Independent Living and Sewing Basket sites in the Sutherland Shire and Inner West. The addition strengthens Achieve’s commitment to “growing communities, not just services” by creating a full suite of disability supports in both locations.
“We are grateful for Achieve’s collaboration during this period of change and look forward to transitioning the people we assist and employees to ensure continuity of support. Achieve, as a values-aligned specialist disability services provider, has an established history of supporting people with disability to lead thriving lives over many decades, and we are confident that the people who engage with these services, their families and employees will be in good hands going forward,” said Yolanda Saiz, CEO of St Vincent de Paul Society NSW.
Achieve aims to grow the two centres over five years - welcoming up to 80 new day program participants and 40 new community participants - while keeping services affordable and sustainable.
Available for interview
- Achieve Australia: Jo-Anne Hewitt
- St Vincent de Paul Society NSW: Yolanda Saiz
About Achieve Australia
Achieve Australia is a for-purpose organisation passionate about inclusion for people with disability. Established in 1952, Achieve now supports nearly 600 people across Sydney, the Northern Rivers and South East Queensland to be well, have a home, learn new skills, find work and participate in community life. Achieve employs approximately 1,400 staff and provides a range of services including Supported Independent Living, community and lifestyle programs, community participation and supported employment through The Sewing Basket, AchievAble Enterprises and Windara.
About St Vincent de Paul Society NSW
The St Vincent de Paul Society is a lay Catholic member-led organisation that has been assisting people experiencing disadvantage and hardship in NSW for over 140 years. The Society NSW currently has more than 12,000 members and volunteers in local communities across the state. The Society NSW is also a leading provider of frontline services, with 100 local services and programs across the state. These deal with a range of issues including homelessness, domestic and family violence, disability, mental health, youth wellbeing, refugee and migrant inclusion, rehabilitation and addiction.
Media contact: Sarah Archer, Chief Strategy Officer, 0417750211, sarcher@achieveaustralia.org.au