Name: Jim Valavanis
Position: Manager - Business Development & Sustainability
Email: jim.valavanis@afdo.org.au
Website: http://www.afdo.org.au
552 Victoria Street
North Melbourne VIC 3051
Our Mission / Objective
Our vision is that all people with disabilities must be involved equally in all aspects of social, economic, political and cultural life.
Using the strength of our membership-based organisations to harness the collective power of uniting people with disability to change society into a community where everyone is equal.
Our Services
To achieve our mission and vision, AFDO provides policy advice and representation to government and organisations on matters that impact on the lives of people with disability. AFDO also works to inform and educate the general community about disability, and we work to develop a community where people with disability can participate in all aspects of social, economic, political and cultural life. This includes genuine participation in mainstream community life, the development of respectful and valued relationships, social and economic participation, and the opportunity to contribute as valued citizens.
Our Beneficiaries
AFDO is made up of member organisations who work together to contribute to the national policy agenda and address issues that impact the lives of people with disability in Australia. We understand that disability specific organisations play a key role in the provision of information and peer support to people with disability and their families. This role keeps them closely connected to their grass roots communities. Each community has its peak organisation that uses its voice to advocate on issues.
AFDO is the forum where these views are collected and coordinated to ensure Government is across issues impacting all people with disability in Australia.
Projects in Progress
DSS – NDIS Jobs and Market Fund (2019-21)
Activity Details: The project proposed to develop and implement a national strategy to build the capacity of people with disability (PwD), their families, PwD and family led organisations to effectively make the most from approved NDIS Plans and help with service improvements. The Jobs and Market Fund (JMF) outcomes addressed by the project include (i) increased capacity and capability of NDIS providers and (ii) increased capacity of NDIS participants to influence the market.
NDIA – NDIS ILC Readiness (2017-2018)
Activity Details: To collaboratively partner with a broad range of people with disability and family organisations, and their state and territory based members and networks, to build the capacity and improve organisational readiness for the introduction of ILC, by addressing the diverse and specific needs of small organisations made up of people with disability and families as they re-orient to the new ILC environment.
NDIA – Community Inclusion Capacity Development (CICD) Program (2017-18)
Activity Details: Develop resources for a number of practical disability readiness training modules with a focus on practical inclusion strategies that can be readily implemented after attending a workshop, designed to increase the confidence of mainstream services and community organisations across Australian communities to welcome and include people with disability in a variety of mainstream settings.
NDIA – Community Inclusion Capacity Development (CICD) Program (2017-18)
Activity Details: To increase the social and economic participation for people with disability by designing an online gateway for the community to access high quality, up to date, disability specific information informed by lived experience of disability.
DSS – Disability Representative Organisations (DROs) (2018-2020)
Activity Details: To support national DROs for people with disability, to ensure that disability issues and a diversity of voices are represented in Australian Government decision-making and policy outcomes. For domestic representation of Australians with disability, consistent with Australia’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). To support people with disability and/or lived experience of disability, who are the focus of the systemic advocacy services funded under the DRO Grant Opportunity.
DSS – Disability and Carer Support Programme (2016-17)
Activity Details: The Disability and Carer Support Activity (DaCS) aims to improve access, support and services for people with disability and carers. The DaCS Activity includes providing appropriate means of self-reliance, communication, education and advocacy.
Our People
CEO
Leadership Team
Ross Joyce – Chief Executive Officer
Helen Cameron – Personal & Executive Assistant
Patrick McGee – National Manager – Systemic Advocacy, Insight & Research
Tracylee Arestides – Interim National Manager – Policy, Sustainability, Initiatives & Projects
Jim Valavanis – Manager – Business Development & Sustainability
Duncan Steward – Coordinator – Business Sustainability
Rebecca (Bec) Rudd – Coordinator – Policy & Submissions
Steve Schreck – Coordinator – JMFR1 Projects & BIDS
Ainslie Whitburn – Coordinator – ILC ICB Projects & BIDS
Kirra Jackson – Coordinator – Volunteers, Students & Interns
Aaron Holt – Communications Officer
Nick Wilson – Project Support Officer
Natalie Wade – AFDO Expert Advisor – Disability Royal Commission
Jody Barney – AFDO Cultural Consultant
Natasha Thomson – AFDO Social Security Consultant – Techincal Experts Social Security (TESS) Working Group
Geoff Trappett – AFDO Transport Consultant – National Inclusive Transport Advocacy Network (NITAN) Chairperson
Eva Sifis – AFDO Expert Consultant to Inclusion in the Arts
Amanda Lawrie-Jones – AFDO Cousultant – Access & Inclusion Consultant
Names of Board Members
Liz Reid AM – President (Chair)
Trevor Carroll – Vice President and International Coordinator
Janine Neu – Vice President
Christine Hunter – Treasurer
Debbie Kennevell – Director
Richard Dent – Director
Belinda O’Connor – Director
Mary Henley Collopy – Director
John Simpson AM – Director
Grant Lindsay – Director
Number of Employees
Registration Information
ABN
Tax Deductible
How to help us
Wills and Bequests
To find out more about this click the link below:
General Donations
To make a donation click the link below:
Work with us
Volunteer with us
Our Annual Reports
Our Mission / Objective
Our vision is that all people with disabilities must be involved equally in all aspects of social, economic, political and cultural life.
Using the strength of our membership-based organisations to harness the collective power of uniting people with disability to change society into a community where everyone is equal.
Our Services
To achieve our mission and vision, AFDO provides policy advice and representation to government and organisations on matters that impact on the lives of people with disability. AFDO also works to inform and educate the general community about disability, and we work to develop a community where people with disability can participate in all aspects of social, economic, political and cultural life. This includes genuine participation in mainstream community life, the development of respectful and valued relationships, social and economic participation, and the opportunity to contribute as valued citizens.
Our Beneficiaries
AFDO is made up of member organisations who work together to contribute to the national policy agenda and address issues that impact the lives of people with disability in Australia. We understand that disability specific organisations play a key role in the provision of information and peer support to people with disability and their families. This role keeps them closely connected to their grass roots communities. Each community has its peak organisation that uses its voice to advocate on issues.
AFDO is the forum where these views are collected and coordinated to ensure Government is across issues impacting all people with disability in Australia.
Projects in Progress
DSS – NDIS Jobs and Market Fund (2019-21)
Activity Details: The project proposed to develop and implement a national strategy to build the capacity of people with disability (PwD), their families, PwD and family led organisations to effectively make the most from approved NDIS Plans and help with service improvements. The Jobs and Market Fund (JMF) outcomes addressed by the project include (i) increased capacity and capability of NDIS providers and (ii) increased capacity of NDIS participants to influence the market.
NDIA – NDIS ILC Readiness (2017-2018)
Activity Details: To collaboratively partner with a broad range of people with disability and family organisations, and their state and territory based members and networks, to build the capacity and improve organisational readiness for the introduction of ILC, by addressing the diverse and specific needs of small organisations made up of people with disability and families as they re-orient to the new ILC environment.
NDIA – Community Inclusion Capacity Development (CICD) Program (2017-18)
Activity Details: Develop resources for a number of practical disability readiness training modules with a focus on practical inclusion strategies that can be readily implemented after attending a workshop, designed to increase the confidence of mainstream services and community organisations across Australian communities to welcome and include people with disability in a variety of mainstream settings.
NDIA – Community Inclusion Capacity Development (CICD) Program (2017-18)
Activity Details: To increase the social and economic participation for people with disability by designing an online gateway for the community to access high quality, up to date, disability specific information informed by lived experience of disability.
DSS – Disability Representative Organisations (DROs) (2018-2020)
Activity Details: To support national DROs for people with disability, to ensure that disability issues and a diversity of voices are represented in Australian Government decision-making and policy outcomes. For domestic representation of Australians with disability, consistent with Australia’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). To support people with disability and/or lived experience of disability, who are the focus of the systemic advocacy services funded under the DRO Grant Opportunity.
DSS – Disability and Carer Support Programme (2016-17)
Activity Details: The Disability and Carer Support Activity (DaCS) aims to improve access, support and services for people with disability and carers. The DaCS Activity includes providing appropriate means of self-reliance, communication, education and advocacy.
Our People
CEO
Leadership Team
Ross Joyce – Chief Executive Officer
Helen Cameron – Personal & Executive Assistant
Patrick McGee – National Manager – Systemic Advocacy, Insight & Research
Tracylee Arestides – Interim National Manager – Policy, Sustainability, Initiatives & Projects
Jim Valavanis – Manager – Business Development & Sustainability
Duncan Steward – Coordinator – Business Sustainability
Rebecca (Bec) Rudd – Coordinator – Policy & Submissions
Steve Schreck – Coordinator – JMFR1 Projects & BIDS
Ainslie Whitburn – Coordinator – ILC ICB Projects & BIDS
Kirra Jackson – Coordinator – Volunteers, Students & Interns
Aaron Holt – Communications Officer
Nick Wilson – Project Support Officer
Natalie Wade – AFDO Expert Advisor – Disability Royal Commission
Jody Barney – AFDO Cultural Consultant
Natasha Thomson – AFDO Social Security Consultant – Techincal Experts Social Security (TESS) Working Group
Geoff Trappett – AFDO Transport Consultant – National Inclusive Transport Advocacy Network (NITAN) Chairperson
Eva Sifis – AFDO Expert Consultant to Inclusion in the Arts
Amanda Lawrie-Jones – AFDO Cousultant – Access & Inclusion Consultant
Names of Board Members
Liz Reid AM – President (Chair)
Trevor Carroll – Vice President and International Coordinator
Janine Neu – Vice President
Christine Hunter – Treasurer
Debbie Kennevell – Director
Richard Dent – Director
Belinda O’Connor – Director
Mary Henley Collopy – Director
John Simpson AM – Director
Grant Lindsay – Director
Number of Employees
Registration Information
ABN
Tax Deductible
How to Help us
Wills and Bequests
To find out more about this click the link below:
General Donations
To make a donation click the link below: