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🇦🇺 Building and Breaking: Two Sides of Disability Support in Australia

Author

ruvim senina
August 14, 2025

This week, Australia saw two major developments in the disability sector — one filled with hope, the other with heartbreak. On one side, Accessible Homes Australia announced a $10 million inclusive housing project in Queensland. On the other, Annecto, a major not-for-profit disability and aged care provider, collapsed — leaving 900 workers without jobs and thousands of clients without critical support.

These two headlines seem to pull in opposite directions. But taken together, they tell a deeper story about the instability and potential of disability support systems — not just in Australia, but around the world.

A Village of Possibility

In Hervey Bay, Queensland, Accessible Homes Australia has begun construction on the Urraween Village, a 12-villa community designed for people with high support needs under Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Each two-bedroom villa is fully accessible and equipped with smart-home features. Communal amenities include sensory gardens, community spaces, and integrated support services.

This development is a model for what disability-inclusive housing can look like: integrated, empowering, and designed for dignity. Rather than isolating disabled people in institutions or group homes, it offers freedom, safety, and community — all on the individual’s terms.

A System in Crisis

At the same time, Annecto, a decades-old disability and aged care provider, has gone into administration. The collapse has left nearly 900 staff jobless and over 3,500 clients scrambling to find new providers. Reports say the organization owed more than $11 million in unpaid wages and entitlements, underscoring severe financial mismanagement and instability in the disability support sector.

This is not just a business story. It’s a human story — about people who depend on daily care, companionship, and safety, suddenly facing abandonment. It’s about workers who dedicate their lives to supporting others, left unpaid and uncertain about their future.

The contrasting headlines from the same country reveal a key truth: good disability services are possible, but they are also fragile when systems lack oversight, sustainability, and respect for both workers and recipients of care.

My Thoughts

The promise of places like Urraween Village fills me with hope. If we had more communities like that around the world, accessibility and independence for people with disabilities would become far more than just ideals—they’d be everyday realities. Knowing that people can live in homes designed for their needs, with freedom and dignity, is truly inspiring.

But reading about Annecto’s collapse also brings a heavy dose of fear and concern. Building accessible housing is only part of the equation. Without the support systems in place—without trained caregivers and reliable services—people can’t fully benefit from these opportunities. How can individuals develop the skills they need to thrive if the organizations that provide care are unstable or disappear?

Seeing these two sides of the system play out simultaneously is unsettling. It’s scary that one part can be rising with innovation and promise, while another crumbles under financial strain. What’s more, many people rely on both housing and support services. These systems should not be isolated from each other but work together in tandem to truly improve lives.

This contrast has taught me that innovation and systemic stability must go hand in hand. Visionary projects push us forward, opening new doors for independence. But without strong, sustainable organizations to provide daily care and support, those doors remain out of reach for many.

Ultimately, I believe there must be room for both. Most people want to live independently, and that’s a powerful goal to strive for. Yet, it’s equally important to acknowledge that needing help is not a weakness — it’s human. We all need support sometimes, and creating a system that respects and balances both independence and assistance is key to genuine disability justice.

Question to Consider

How can a nation support visionary, community-first projects like Urraween Village while also ensuring that long-standing providers—like Annecto—remain stable, accountable, and sustainable through strong governance and resilient funding systems?

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