75 Years of Legacy. Now Focused on the Future.

Ability WA kicked off a whole year of celebrations, launching Shine Together 75 at a special event at ANZAC House in Perth. It was the first of five milestone events planned across our 75th anniversary year, and it brought together corporate partners, government representatives, our Board members, staff, customers and families to celebrate three-quarters of a century of community, connection and impact.

An Evening of Stories

Guests heard from Ability WA Chief Executive Officer Jacquie Thomson, Board Director and nine-time Paralympic gold medalist Priya Cooper OAM, and the Hon Hannah Beazley MLA, Minister for Local Government, Disability Services and Volunteering, who officially launched our 75th birthday celebrations on the night.

Our Board Chair, Dianne Ritson, joined the celebrations in a recorded message (she couldn't be with us in person, as she's busy meeting her newborn granddaughter in Victoria). Reflecting on Ability WA's journey, she said:

"Ability WA has been part of the fabric of this state for over 75 years. We started as a small group of parents and volunteers committed to giving their children a better chance."

She added that while the organisation has grown enormously, its purpose hasn't changed:

"Our mission has never really changed. We exist so that people of all abilities can thrive in their own communities, on their own terms. What has changed is our reach, our expertise, and the scale of what we're able to do."

Hearing From Our Customers

The heart of the evening was a candid panel session with two of our customers, Sebastian and Melanie, who shared what Ability WA's support has meant for their lives.

Sebastian, supported into employment through Ability WA and a valued member of the Goodwill Engineering team, spoke about the difference the right support has made:

"Ability WA have given me opportunity. The friendship and commitment is a main part of Ability WA."

Melanie, who receives tailored home and living support and lives in Specialist Disability Accommodation, spoke about what independence looks like for her:

"I can live the life I want to live in the way I want to live it."

Their stories captured exactly what CEO Jacquie Thomson spoke to in her own address, describing Ability WA's 75 years as a constellation of individual stars, employees, customers, families, partners, donors, government and directors, all shining quietly on their own, connected by the organisation into something the whole sector can navigate by. It's a fitting explanation for why this milestone year carries the name Shine Together 75.

A Night to Remember

Beyond the speeches, the evening was full of moments that brought Ability WA's community spirit to life. Guests were invited to add their own message to an Ability Tree, taking a star and writing down their hopes and memories for the organisation's future, a growing, shared reflection of 75 years of connection.

The night's entertainment included a stirring performance from ICONYX, a First Nations singer-songwriter and artist of Kukatja and Pintupi heritage from the East Kimberley, whose music blends hip-hop, pop, R&B and world storytelling. Guests then gathered to watch Jacquie Thomson and Minister Beazley sprinkle gold dust over a striking 75th anniversary tiramisu tower, marking the occasion in the sweetest way possible.

A 75 Year Story, Still Being Written

Ability WA's origins date back to 1948, when a small group of determined parents began advocating for better support for their children and other children with disability. That grassroots movement was formally incorporated in 1951 as the Spastic Welfare Association of Western Australia, laying the foundations for the organisation known today as Ability WA.

Seventy-five years on, Ability WA supports more than 2,300 customers across metropolitan Perth and beyond, with the help of 1,200 staff members delivering services spanning home and living support, community participation, employment, therapy services, assistive technology and early intervention.

What's Next

The launch is just the beginning of a year-long program of anniversary events, including a staff celebration, a customer morning tea, a customer dance party and a health and disability symposium, running through to 2027.

If you would like to be part of Ability WA’s future, fill in the form below.