Chief Operating Officer | Forward Ability Support

_{14th July, 2026}

• Lead a significant portfolio of disability services across SIL, SDA and community supports
• Partner with the CEO, Executive Team and Board to strengthen service quality, performance and growth
• Shape outcomes for people living with spinal cord injury and complex disabilities

Your Impact 
  
You will provide executive leadership across Forward Ability Support’s SIL, SDA, Personal Support and community support services, ensuring services are safe, sustainable, participant-centred and aligned with organisational strategy.
  
This is a pivotal operational leadership role, providing the opportunity to influence service excellence, workforce capability and continuous improvement across a highly regarded disability organisation.
  
The Role
  
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, you will lead a diverse disability service portfolio, partnering with the Executive Team, Board and key sector stakeholders to deliver operational priorities and support organisational growth.
  
Key responsibilities include:

• Leading SIL, SDA, Personal Support and community support service delivery
• Driving service quality, participant outcomes and operational performance
• Strengthening safeguarding, quality and compliance frameworks
• Building capability across operational teams and frontline leaders
• Using data and insights to improve service effectiveness and sustainability
• Providing strategic advice and performance reporting to the CEO and Board
• Building relationships across disability networks, government and sector partners

The Organisation
  
Forward Ability Support (formerly ParaQuad NSW) is a leading not-for-profit disability organisation supporting people living with spinal cord injury and similar neurological conditions.
  
The organisation delivers specialised services including in-home personal support, Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), supporting people to live with greater independence, choice and control.
  
What You Bring
  
You will bring a strong understanding of disability service operations and the realities of delivering high-quality supports in a complex NDIS environment — balancing participant outcomes, regulatory requirements, workforce capability and operational performance.
  
You will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience within disability services
• Strong understanding of NDIS-funded service delivery, SIL, SDA and participant-centred practice
• Experience leading large multidisciplinary disability teams across multiple service streams
• Demonstrated capability in operational performance, quality improvement and safeguarding
• Experience managing regulatory requirements, compliance obligations and service standards
• Strong commercial and operational capability, including workforce and budget management
• Ability to influence Boards, executives, government stakeholders and sector partners

Most importantly, you are a values-driven disability leader who understands the importance of delivering safe, empowering and high-quality supports that enable people to live the lives they choose.
  
Questions?

Please review the advertisement thoroughly, and if indicated above, the client website. If you have questions that are not covered there, please email hello@socialimpactcareers.com.au (no applications here please) with the specific questions and we’ll respond as soon as we can.
  
How to Apply

As we are retained to recruit this role, all third-party and indirect applications will be forwarded to Social Impact Careers.
  
Please send your CV and a brief cover letter highlighting how your interests, skills and experience align with the selection criteria under “What You Bring” above. 
  
To ensure your application is received correctly, please click the 'Apply Now' button.

Closing Date

Recruitment will commence as soon as suitable applications are received, and the role may close once sufficient suitable applications are collected. Don’t wait - please apply as soon as possible.