Able Australia Services is a long-standing non-profit organisation that provides services to people with multiple disabilities including deafblindness.
Our vision at Able Australia is to create a community where the people we support are seen, hear, respected, valued and connected.
We reach out to the people we support, helping them achieve a quality of life that anyone in the community might expect and a feeling of worth, belonging and self-fulfillment.
Able
The organisation provides services in
Able
The organisation receives funding from both the Government and from the private and corporate sectors through various fundraising and sponsorship opportunities.
Our people are enthusiastic and passionate about achieving excellent results and making a difference to the lives of the people in the community who need it the most.
Our History
- In 1967, an outbreak of rubella caused children to be born with multi-sensory disabilities and other disabilities
- The group eventually came to be known as The Deafblind Association
- Today, Able Australia Services is the name of the organisation that now provides a range of services for people with a range of multiple disabilities including deafblindness
Our Funding
Able Australia receives funding from both the government and fundraising activities including:
- The Australian Charity Wine Auction
- Raffles
- Mail Campaigns
- Sponsorships
- Pledge donations
- Bequests
A History of our Patronage
Peter Hitchener
When Peter Hitchener isn’t reading the news to a near 600,000 viewers in Melbourne, he is spending a great deal of his time involved in community service activities. As the Patron for Able Australia, Peter dedicates a considerable amount of time and compassion to improving the lives of people living with multiple disabilities.
Peter Hitchener began sharing his Channel Nine News commitments with his Able Australia post on September 14, 1998. Since then Peter has been actively involved with fundraising events, school visits, community appearances – as well as the launch of ‘Able Australia’ (formerly the Deaf Blind Association) in November 2006.
Sir Eric Pearce
Peter Hitchener took the post that was held by Sir Eric Pearce for 17 years until his passing in 1997. Sir Eric Pearce was renowned as a broadcaster and television pioneer in Australia.
As chief newsreader for GTV Channel 9, Pearce was best known to Melbournians for his catchphrase sign-off “God bless you, and you”, the second “you” being his wife. He was also best regarded not only for his moon landing coverage in 1969, but for his dedication to the deaf blind community. In his 17 year commitment to the Deaf Blind Society of Victoria, Sir Eric Pearce was actively involved in generating support for the Deaf Blind community. In celebration of Pearce’s long standing commitment to the former Deaf Blind Association, the Sir Eric Pearce Fund is still in operation at Able Australia.
Click here to view a copy of our Strategic Plan.
