Independence Australia Group and AQA Victoria to join forces, providing an opportunity to enhance our disability service offering, broaden our impact and reinforce our shared purpose of supporting independence.

Effective 1 July 2025, AQA will merge with Independence Australia Group (IAG).

Independence Australia Group is currently one of Victoria’s largest disability service providers which began as the Paraplegic Association of Victoria in 1957,  founded by and for people with spinal cord injury, and shares many of AQA’s characteristics as a purpose-driven organisation. IAG has leveraged its social enterprise activities to support its continued growth to become one of the most trusted and sustainable disability service providers.

For 37 years AQA has been a trusted provider of specialised support for Australians living with quadriplegia and paraplegia with high physical support needs. This legacy of care will continue, with a strong commitment to preserving existing services, minimising disruption, and maintaining the flexibility, choice and personalised approach that clients value.

By combining the strengths of IAG and AQA, we will enhance our collective resilience whilst maintaining individualised services, flexibility and choices for the customers and communities we support.

Impacted clients, staff and external partners will be kept informed as we work together to create a unified organisation that builds on our shared values, collective strengths and experience.

We look forward to working with the Independence Australia Group, creating a future-ready organisation that will empower more Australians to live full and enriching lives within an inclusive community.

“By combining the strengths of IAG and AQA we can better navigate the challenges of the rapidly evolving disability services sector and emerge stronger and more capable of providing choices for our communities, whilst accessing a greater depth and range of services,” said Peter Turner, Managing Director & CEO at IAG who will lead the combined group as CEO.

“Peter is an exceptional leader who genuinely understands and embodies AQA’s mission and values, and I am confident in his ability to guide the organisation forward and proud to pass the reins to his capable hands”, shares AQA CEO Kristian Dauncey.

For media enquiries, please contact Independence Australia Group’s Media Team at [email protected].