AGAPI Care was established in 1987 by a group of Greek-Australian parents who were unwavering in their belief that their children with a disability were entitled to the same access to programs and services as other members of the community without prejudice or disadvantage. Faced with languag...
AGAPI Care was established in 1987 by a group of Greek-Australian parents who were unwavering in their belief that their children with a disability were entitled to the same access to programs and services as other members of the community without prejudice or disadvantage. Faced with language and cultural barriers that hindered access to mainstream services for their children, the families created a not-for-profit organisation whose purpose was to provide information and support services including advocacy and referrals to people with a disability of Greek heritage and their families based on the recommendations of the Galbally Report of 1978 for multiculturalism:.Building on these principles and in direct response to the needs of the community AGAPI Care quickly extended its services to include all people with a disability.
In 1992 AGAPI Care expanded to provide direct client care with the opening of a Short Term Accommodation and Assistance Centre in Preston followed by a second Short Term Accommodation and Assistance Centre in Oakleigh in 2001.
In 2010 the organisation established a long-term supported accommodation house in Preston and another in Clayton South in 2013 to meet the needs of its community for more Specialist Disability Accommodation options. At every stage of development AGAPI Care has enjoyed the strong support of the community to not only raise funds to extend their services but to build awareness and promote cultural diversity and inclusion.