Does Focus ACT use the same support worker for each visit?

Yes. Focus ACT strongly encourages a trial period when first matching a participant with a support worker. After that trial, the same worker is kept as the default for each visit. Participants should not have to re-explain their preferences, routines, and goals to a different face each week.

Does Focus ACT offer flexible scheduling for disability support?

Yes. Focus ACT arranges support across weekdays, evenings, and weekends. Rosters are built around the participant's life and needs, not around what is easiest for Focus ACT to staff.

How does Focus ACT build personal relationships with participants?

Focus ACT selects and trains support workers to get to know participants as people — including their preferences, daily routines, humour, and personal goals. Consistency of worker is maintained as the default to allow those relationships to develop over time.

How quickly can Focus ACT adjust support arrangements when needs change?

Focus ACT moves quickly when a participant's needs change. Service Managers have the authority to adjust supports without escalating through multiple approval layers, meaning changes typically happen within days rather than weeks.

Is Focus ACT a registered NDIS provider?

Yes. Focus ACT is a registered NDIS provider (Provider No. 4050001755, Registration ID 4-3LLK-1362) and a registered charitable not-for-profit organisation (ABN 26 653 640 096). Focus ACT has been operating in Canberra since 1989.

What services does Focus ACT provide?

Focus ACT provides Core Supports including personal care, household tasks, community participation and transport, as well as Supported Independent Living, Support Coordination, Psychosocial Recovery Coaching and Community Activities. All services are delivered across the ACT.

About Focus ACT

Supporting people to live their lives since 1989

Q: How quickly does Focus ACT respond to enquiries?

Focus ACT responds to enquiries within one business day. Service Managers are contactable directly — there is no call centre to navigate and no ticket queue to wait in. You can call 02 6282 9422 or email focus@focusact.org.

A registered charitable not-for-profit NDIS provider based in Canberra. Over 35 years of person-centred support, driven by a team who genuinely cares.

Get in touch 02 6282 9422

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Our Story Our Workforce Our Values Our Approaches What to Expect Our Commitment Meet Our CEO

Our Story

Thirty-five years of showing up

Focus ACT was founded in Canberra in 1989 with a simple belief: that every person with a disability deserves real choice, genuine community connection, and support that truly fits their life.

What started as a small team has grown into one of Canberra's most trusted disability support organisations. Today, we support more than 500 participants across the ACT through shared and individual living, community activities, support coordination, and specialist care.

We are proudly not-for-profit. Every dollar we receive goes directly into improving the lives of the people we support.

Our Services Contact Us

Focus ACT participants and staff together at a community event

Leadership

Meet Our CEO

Focus ACT is led with care, clarity and a strong belief in sustainable, person-centred support.

Focus ACT leadership

Yingying Zhang

Interim Chief Executive Officer

Yingying Zhang is the Interim Chief Executive Officer of Focus ACT, bringing extensive experience in executive leadership, financial management, governance, and organisational transformation across the not-for-profit, government, healthcare, and community services sectors.

A Chartered Accountant (CA ANZ), Yingying has built a distinguished career leading organisations through periods of growth, change, and financial improvement. Her expertise spans strategic planning, financial sustainability, risk management, compliance, and operational excellence. She is passionate about building high-performing teams, strengthening governance frameworks, and ensuring organisations deliver meaningful outcomes for the people and communities they serve.

Since joining Focus ACT, Yingying has led key initiatives to strengthen organisational performance, enhance service quality, improve financial sustainability, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Her leadership is guided by a strong commitment to person-centred service delivery, ensuring that people with disability have the support, opportunities, and independence to live fulfilling lives.

Yingying is dedicated to working alongside participants, families, staff, and stakeholders to create positive and lasting impact, while positioning Focus ACT for long-term success and sustainability.

“At Focus ACT, our purpose is to empower people, support choice and independence, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve every day.”

Our Workforce

People who make the difference

Our 160+ staff are the heart of Focus ACT. From support workers and team leaders to service managers and specialists, every person is chosen for their skill, their compassion, and their commitment to quality support.

35+

Years of Service

Established 1989

160+

Dedicated Staff

Across Canberra

500+

Participants Supported

And counting

100%

Not-for-Profit

Every dollar counts

A Focus ACT support worker walking alongside a participant

We invest heavily in training and professional development. All staff complete comprehensive induction training before working with participants, and ongoing learning is built into how we operate.

Our workforce is diverse, reflecting the community we serve. We actively recruit people with lived experience of disability, bilingual staff, and community leaders who understand the Canberra region.

Mandatory safeguarding and NDIS compliance training
Person Centred Active Support accreditation
Positive Behaviour Support frameworks
First Aid, medication, and clinical care skills
Regular supervision and performance reviews

Our Values

What we stand for

These values are not just words on a wall. They shape every decision we make, every interaction we have, and every support plan we write.

Respect

We treat every participant, family member, and colleague with genuine dignity and respect, recognising the inherent worth of every person.

Person-Centred Care

Every decision we make is guided by what matters most to the individual. We listen first, then act in ways that honour each person's goals and preferences.

Integrity

We are honest, transparent, and accountable in everything we do, building trust with participants, families, and the broader community.

Excellence

We continuously improve our practice, invest in our people, and hold ourselves to the highest professional standards in disability support.

Inclusion

We believe everyone deserves to be a valued member of the community. We actively remove barriers and create opportunities for genuine belonging.

Empowerment

We build capacity and confidence, supporting people to make their own choices and live the life they want to live.

Our Approaches

How we work

Three evidence-based frameworks guide everything we do. Together they define our culture and our quality of support.

What to Expect

What makes Focus ACT different

These are the things we get asked about most often by people choosing a provider. We want to be clear about how we work.

Same support worker, every visit

We strongly encourage a trial period when first matching you with a support worker. After that trial, we keep that worker as your default — so you are not re-explaining your life, preferences, and routines to a different face each week.

Responsive communication

Our team responds to enquiries within one business day. Service Managers are contactable directly — there is no call centre to navigate and no ticket queue to wait in.

Flexible scheduling

We arrange support across weekdays, evenings, and weekends. We build your roster around your life, not around what is easiest for us to staff.

Personal relationships that go deeper

Our workers are selected and trained to know you as a person — your preferences, routines, humour, and goals. That depth of relationship is something we build deliberately, not something that happens by accident.

Fast support adjustments

When your needs change, we move quickly. Service Managers can adjust your supports without escalating through multiple approval layers — so changes happen in days, not weeks.

Our Commitment

Accountable by design

As a registered charity and NDIS provider, we are held to the highest standards of governance, transparency, and quality.

ACNC Registered Charity

Registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission for full accountability and public transparency.

NDIS Registered Provider

Fully registered NDIS provider (4-3LLK-1362) meeting all NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission requirements.

DGR Endorsed

Endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient, meaning donations to Focus ACT are tax deductible for Australian donors.