Australian disability enterprises

Understand what an Australian disability enterprise (ADE) is

An Australian disability enterprise (ADE) is a not-for-profit organisation that employs people with disabilities.

ADEs have the same working conditions as other employers and they empower people living with disability to contribute to their communities.

ADEs range from small nurseries to large product assembly lines.

Know the types of work ADEs do

The work of Australian disability enterprises spans the hospitality, retail, manufacturing, recycling and horticulture industries. It includes businesses specialising in:

• scanning and digitisation
• packaging and assembly
• mailing fulfilment production
• recycling
• secure document destruction
• screen printing
• plant nursery, garden maintenance and landscaping
• cleaning and laundry services
• motor vehicle cleaning
• food services.

Many ADEs have quality assurance systems in place, as well as significant experience in working on large government projects.

Consider our procurement objectives

When you buy from an Australian disability enterprise, you still need to consider whether it meets the procurement objectives for NSW Government agencies. Considerations include:

• whole-of-life costs
• experience
• quality
• reliability
• timeliness
• delivery
• innovation
• product servicing
• fitness for purpose
• any value-adding components such as meeting the government’s economic, social and environmental objectives.

Buy from an Australian disability enterprise

There’s no limit on the maximum contract value you can buy from an ADE. You also only need to get a single quote.

BuyAbility, an initiative of National Disability Services maintains the list of verified Australian Disability Enterprises.

Log in to search for verified ADEs or find them on the BuyAbility directory.