Impact Report 2025
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands we live and work on throughout Australia. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
At Scope, we like to use Key Word Sign to give an Acknowledgement of Country. This is our way of paying our respects while keeping inclusion at the centre. We invite you to learn how to deliver an Acknowledgement of Country in Key Word Sign by watching the video. Key Word Sign Australia is a part of Scope.
Ashana, Key Word Signer, delivers an Acknowledgement of Country in Key Word Sign
Belinda (right), Supported Independent Living client, and Jacqui (left), National Business Development Manager
Belinda (right), Supported Independent Living client, and Jacqui (left), National Business Development Manager
Acknowledgement of disability
Scope respectfully acknowledges the diverse experiences of people with disability, their family, carers, and supporters.
We value and celebrate the potential of all people, act to reduce barriers, and honour the lived experience of disability as a vital form of expertise, equal to any professional skillset.
Welcome to Scope’s first Impact Report
Every day at Scope, we create meaningful opportunities for people with disability to belong and thrive.
This report brings that impact to life through the voices, stories and experiences of our clients, families, and staff.
See the difference. Feel the impact. Experience Scope in action.
Our Impact Report is a multimedia journey into our organisation, a celebration of our people, our clients, and the difference we make together.
It’s structured around our four strategic themes: strengthening our organisation, evolving home and living options, enhancing community supports, and building sector leadership and advocacy. Together, these themes reflect how we’re delivering on our purpose and shaping a more inclusive Australia.
We invite you to scroll, watch, read and listen, to immerse yourself in the stories of Scope and the people at the heart of what we do.
Discover how, every day, we’re creating opportunities, challenging barriers and making a lasting difference for people with disability.
Reflection from our Board Chair
Professor Sanchia Aranda AM, Chair of the Board
On behalf of the Board of Directors, it is my privilege to reflect on a year of meaningful progress at Scope.
Against a backdrop of sector reform, workforce pressures and growing community need, our people have delivered measurable impact, supporting greater independence, stronger inclusion, and the rights and choices of people with disability.
Over the past 12 months we have focused on what matters most: supporting our clients to belong and thrive, strengthening inclusive communities, and partnering across the sector to drive systems change and advance the rights and choices of people with disability.
Delivering this impact requires more than commitment, it demands capability, innovation and courage. We’ve invested in our workforce, strengthened our processes and systems, and embedded responsive, evidence-informed practice to ensure we not only meet today’s needs but anticipate tomorrow’s.
We’ve also deepened our partnerships with families, peer organisations, government, and advocates because meaningful change happens when we work together.
Scroll down to explore some of the highlights from the past year — a snapshot of our progress and impact across key areas of our work.
Leading with purpose and impact
This year, Scope took bold steps to transform for the future. Our new national operating model, launched in January 2025, is bringing together Scope, Home@Scope and Scope New South Wales as one organisation.
Now, we’re stronger, more connected, and focused on what matters most: people.
Across 1,300 residents in 348 Supported Independent Living homes, we continue to see the real difference our work makes every day, in every home, and every community.
4,574 clients supported across Australia
creating meaningful opportunities to belong and thrive
Strength through change
At its heart, Scope is a people business, people supporting people. Our transformation ensures those relationships are at the heart of everything we do.
Our new regional structure connects leaders and teams more closely with clients and families. Technology upgrades across 360 sites have improved Wi-Fi access, streamlined systems, and freed up time so staff can spend more time where it matters most: with clients.
We’ve also listened deeply. Through our Client Experience Tracker and new advisory panels of clients, families, and employees with disability, lived experience now drives service design and delivery decisions.
92% of clients
say they are happy living where they are
Homes that support independence
A home is more than four walls. It’s a place of belonging, safety and independence.
This year, we’ve opened new, purpose-built homes and developed contemporary housing design guidelines that set a new benchmark for accessibility and quality.
Because when a home fits, people thrive.
13 new homes opened
26 in development
designed for independence and comfort
Building inclusive communities
Our Communication and Inclusion Resource Centre (CIRC) continues to lead nationally on communication access.
We’re reimagining day programs through our Social Connections strategy, creating bright, modern spaces where people can learn, connect and contribute. At our newly renovated Pakenham hub, clients are already discovering new skills and friendships in a space designed for belonging.
Employment remains a powerful focus. From social firms and customised employment, to school leaver supports and training through METS, we’re creating real opportunities for people with disability to shape their own futures.
Belonging and employment are the foundation of inclusion, creating connection, confidence and contribution
This year, more clients transitioned into open employment, more young people moved from school to work, and more businesses became inclusive employers through our partnerships and training initiatives.
Driving leadership and advocacy
We continue to lead beyond our own services, shaping the future of disability inclusion through research, advocacy, and collaboration.
Projects like Best Care are improving healthcare communication for people with disability, while Be Safe Online empowers young people to navigate the digital world safely.
Strategy Accelerator launched
driving innovation and new ideas that will redefine disability support
And through national partnerships with Ability First Australia, NDS and Alliance20, we’re ensuring the sector speaks with one strong, unified voice informed by the people we serve.
Remaining financially strong in a changing sector
The disability sector continues to face challenges from NDIS reform and workforce shortages, to rising operating costs and uncertainty around pricing.
Despite these pressures, we remain financially strong, resilient and ready for the future. Prudent management, disciplined investment, and a clear strategic focus have ensured stability while enabling innovation and growth.
This financial strength allows us to keep investing in our people, upgrading homes and systems, and delivering high-quality supports — now and into the future.
Honouring Kate MacRae, a remarkable leader
This year, we farewelled our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kate MacRae, whose leadership has shaped Scope and the wider disability sector with care, courage, and vision.
Kate’s journey with Scope began more than 40 years ago as a frontline employee. Returning as CEO in 2022 was a full-circle moment, one that reflected her lifelong commitment to people with disability.
Her leadership has been thoughtful, values-driven and grounded in integrity. She leaves behind a culture of connection and care that will continue to grow.
To honour Kate’s legacy, we have established a 12-month Leadership Scholarship to support a person with disability to pursue senior leadership or governance development, a reflection of Kate’s enduring belief in inclusion and opportunity.
Kate, on behalf of the Board, our staff, clients and families, thank you for your leadership, your care and your unwavering commitment to Scope’s mission.
Welcoming Lisa Evans, our new CEO
As we celebrate Kate’s extraordinary contribution, we also look to the future with confidence and excitement as we welcome Lisa Evans as Scope’s new Chief Executive Officer.
Lisa brings more than three decades of leadership experience across the healthcare and disability sectors. Since joining Scope as Chief Operating Officer in 2023, Lisa has been instrumental in strengthening service delivery and driving operational excellence.
Her leadership is shaped not only by professional experience but by lived experience as a parent of a young man with disability, giving her a deep appreciation of the life-changing role that quality support plays.
Lisa’s appointment represents a balance between stability and renewal. She is a leader who understands our organisation, our purpose, and our people, while bringing fresh energy, innovation, and forward thinking. We are delighted to welcome Lisa to this new role and look forward to her leadership as we continue to grow and strengthen Scope’s impact nationwide.
Together, we thrive
As we move forward, our purpose remains clear:
to create meaningful opportunities for people with disability to belong and thrive.
One purpose. One vision. One Scope.
With Lisa’s leadership, strong foundations and a united community, Scope is ready to embrace the opportunities ahead.
Together, we’re shaping a more inclusive Australia — one life, one home, and one community at a time. Each story of confidence gained, connection built, or goal achieved reminds us why our work matters.
I hope you enjoy these stories in this, our first Impact Report — a celebration of how our work is making a difference for our clients, our people, and our communities.
Sanchia Aranda
Chair, Board of Directors
Message from the CEO
Lisa Evans, Chief Executive Officer
It’s an honour to share my first message as Scope’s Chief Executive Officer at such an important moment for both our organisation and the wider disability sector.
Over the past two and a half years as Chief Operating Officer, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside remarkable people whose dedication, compassion, and expertise bring Scope’s purpose to life every day. Together, we help people with disability belong and thrive, and that sense of purpose continues to inspire everything I do.
As I step into this role, my focus is on building on what makes Scope strong — our people, our partnerships, and our deep connection to community — while ensuring we are ready for the future. With more than 30 years of experience across health and disability, and as a parent of a young man with disability, I understand both the complexity and the privilege of the work we do. My leadership will continue to be grounded in listening to our clients and families, our staff, and our partners because genuine progress begins with understanding.
In the year ahead, we will continue to strengthen the foundations of One Scope, so that every client experiences the same high-quality service and support, no matter where they live. We will invest in our workforce, empowering our people to grow, innovate, and feel proud of the difference they make. And we will continue to advocate for the rights and voices of people with disability, ensuring Scope remains a strong, ethical, and future-ready organisation.
The disability sector is evolving rapidly, bringing both challenges and opportunities. But with our collective expertise and shared commitment, Scope is well positioned to lead through change and shape what comes next. I’m excited about the journey ahead and confident that, together, we’ll keep moving forward so that every person we support can truly belong and thrive.
Message from departing CEO
Kate MacRae, Chief Executive Officer 2022–2025
An extract from the farewell speech delivered by departing Chief Executive Officer, Kate MacRae
"Scope is a remarkable organisation that promotes the human rights of people with disabilities at the core of all that we do, and we walk alongside people with disabilities throughout their lives."
Making impact through our strategic plan
Our Strategic Plan 2024–2028 sets a clear direction for the next four years that’s grounded in purpose and shaped by the voices of our clients, families, and employees.
We’re building a future where the people we support and the people who work with us can follow their dreams and live the lives they choose. This plan is about more than goals; it’s about creating lasting impact and transforming what inclusion looks like across Australia.
It gives us a clear roadmap to face challenges with confidence, embrace new opportunities, and keep growing our positive impact every day.
Our work is guided by four key themes that capture what matters most:
- Strengthening our organsation
- Evolving our home and living options
- Enhancing our community supports
- Building sector leadership and advocacy
Learn about our strategic plan in our Easy Read video
Marcus, Customised Employment client and Research Assistant at Scope
Marcus, Customised Employment client and Research Assistant at Scope
Strengthening our organisation
We will build a unified organisation that continues to value and support our clients and employees. We will deliver consistent, safe, and positive experiences and protect our organisation for future generations.
Evolving our home and living options
We will develop our home and living options in line with community expectations of smaller, more contemporary housing. We will continue to strengthen and innovate our home and living practices and service models.
Enhancing our community supports
We will find innovative ways to support our clients to connect with a range of services that meet their needs. Our aspiration is to deliver integrated services that support people to live, work, learn, and be included in their community.
Building sector leadership and advocacy
We want to lead sector and policy development that has positive social impact for people with disability. We will continue to advcoate on behalf of the sector using our extensive research, data, and knowledge.
Scope in numbers
4574
clients supported
1305
clients in Supported Independent Living
348
Supported Independent Living homes
1793
adults and children who received therapy and psychology services
658
clients who participated in Social Connections or day and lifestyle options
These numbers are from financial year 2024-25.
Where our services are located
NOTE: map is accurate as of November 2025. Some SIL locations may have more than one home
NOTE: map is accurate as of November 2025. Some SIL locations may have more than one home
Acknowledgements
This Impact Report is a celebration of the people who make Scope what it is.
Our heartfelt thanks to all the clients, families, and staff who generously shared their stories, experiences, and achievements. Your voices bring this report to life, showing the true impact of our work and reminding us why it matters.
To all our clients and their families — thank you for the trust you place in us every day.
Thank you also to our teams across Scope for your dedication, care and professionalism, and to our partners, supporters and volunteers who work alongside us to create more inclusive communities.
This report is about you and for you. Together, we continue to build a future where every person with disability can belong and thrive.
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