Outsider Perspective Drives Transformative Disability Support in Sydney
TL;DR
Ability to Achieve's outsider perspective gives them an advantage in simplifying complex disability support systems, helping families navigate services more effectively than traditional providers.
Ability to Achieve uses consistent, patient support work with forward-thinking planning to help participants achieve goals through incremental steps toward independence.
Ability to Achieve transforms lives by helping people with disabilities gain independence, recover from addiction, and participate fully in their communities.
An IT executive's lack of disability sector knowledge became his greatest asset in making support services more accessible and understandable for families.
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Michael Jones brought two decades of telecommunications and IT leadership experience from New Zealand when he relocated to Australia to manage operations at disability support provider Ability to Achieve. What began as a corporate turnaround initiative evolved into a personal mission when Jones discovered his outsider perspective—lacking familiarity with clinical terminology, therapy protocols, and occupational therapy frameworks—became his greatest asset in serving families navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
"Numerous families struggle to comprehend the system as well—the therapy jargon, behavior support plans, OT language," Jones explains. "Coming from outside the field, I can relate to them from that same viewpoint. I can simplify complex processes into terms that everyday families can grasp." This approach has shaped Ability to Achieve's operational philosophy, which prioritizes making support accessible and effective rather than focusing on paperwork. While clinical expertise remains crucial behind the scenes, the organization emphasizes achieving real outcomes for participants.
Beyond administrative simplification, Jones observes daily transformations through consistent support work that receives less public attention than NDIS cost controversies. Community support workers at Ability to Achieve employ what Jones describes as "building blocks"—assisting participants with university applications, obtaining identification documents, practicing public transportation use, and building social confidence. "Support workers are thinking four to five steps ahead every shift," Jones states. "They're not just managing the present moment—they're working towards long-term independence."
The outcomes documented by Ability to Achieve counter negative perceptions of the NDIS. Participants have transitioned from year-round hospitalization to independent living, overcome severe addiction with three months of sustained recovery, moved from home isolation to community engagement at Bondi cafes, and progressed from one-on-one care to shared supported living. One individual successfully transitioned completely off the NDIS after three years of consistent progress. "These are not isolated incidents—this is what occurs when support is consistent, compassionate, and focused on genuine outcomes," Jones remarks.
Jones acknowledges mixed public perception of the NDIS, noting that those without lived experience often view it as a financial burden while dependent families witness its life-changing potential. "The NDIS is functioning. Lives are being transformed every day across this nation," he emphasizes, while acknowledging the system requires ongoing adjustments like any large-scale program. He contrasts Australia's structured system with homelessness crises in parts of the United States and notes that while New Zealand has stronger cultural perception of disability support, Australia's NDIS framework—though relatively new—is well-structured as an insurance scheme and steadily improving.
Maintaining hands-on involvement despite his CEO title, Jones ensures Ability to Achieve's culture reflects values in practice rather than policy documents alone. Serving over 200 participants across Sydney, Canberra, and Wollongong, the organization maintains what Jones describes as a participant-centered, non-corporate culture. "Our aim is to continue growing while avoiding over-corporatization or losing sight of what truly matters," Jones states. "We will remain participant-centered, grounded, and driven by heart."
As Australia continues refining the NDIS, Jones's transition from corporate leader to disability advocate demonstrates how fresh perspectives can drive innovation in support delivery. The organization's work, detailed at https://abilitytoachieve.com.au/, illustrates that dedicated implementation produces dramatic life changes. "Every individual deserves the opportunity to create the life they desire," Jones reflects. "Support workers play a crucial role in making that possible—one shift, one conversation, one small victory at a time."
Curated from Press Services
