Purpose Driven Partnerships Building Opportunities at Ability Works
Purpose Driven Partnerships Building Opportunities at Ability Works
Purpose through partnership
Ralph Fallows works across all parts of Ability Works. His role sits between the organisation and the people it works with – building partnerships across Inclusive Design, Employment Services and Social Enterprise Services.
His work isn’t about one-off projects. It’s about creating relationships that lead to consistent work, shared outcomes, and long-term stability for the teams delivering it.
A path shaped by purpose
Ralph joined Ability Works in 2026, after a 20 year corporate career. As he prepared to move on from that space, he started exploring the not for profit sector – completing Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) qualifications, taking on Non Executive Director and Chair roles, and working directly in child protection and youth development.
That work still continues.
Around six years ago, he also moved into social enterprise – work that connects more directly to communities and long-term outcomes. Growing up in a small community on the west coast of Scotland shaped that direction.
“I’m drawn to the importance of supporting those around you and creating a greater sense of purpose. I now get to do this, everyday!”
Leadership grounded in listening and action
Ralph describes how he works in his own words:
“I’m a listener and action focused. I love working with people. I understand and like working on the big picture but am always keen to roll up my sleeves and ‘flip the burgers on the BBQ’. I thrive in delivering on expectations and not doing it alone.”
His role moves between conversations, planning, and delivery.
Some days are spent working with partners to understand what they need. Others are about shaping how Ability Works responds – what services fit, how work is structured, and how it can be delivered in a way that holds up over time.
Building partnerships that hold
One of the biggest misconceptions about partnerships is how they begin.
“(people often misunderstand) that you need to build trust in a partnership before delivering an immediate, tangible, measurable outcome.”
In practice, it often works the other way around.
Trust isn’t always something you wait for. It’s something you build by delivering – showing up, meeting expectations, and following through on what’s been agreed.
Those early outcomes create confidence. And over time, that’s what turns a transaction into ongoing work.
What stands out
For Ralph, the work isn’t just external. It’s shaped by the people inside the organisation.
“I am truly inspired each and every day with my interactions with our people. From having the day on which I was born guessed correctly… To learning how to communicate without talking. And learning of what Ability Works means to those who are employed here. It’s far from just being a workplace.”
Those interactions change how the work is understood – not just as output or delivery, but as something that directly affects people’s confidence, independence and day-to-day experience.
Looking ahead
“There are some many opportunities that we are working on. We are surrounded by current and prospective partners that are super keen to see what they can do with us. We are in a great position.”
The focus now is choosing the right ones. Partnerships that:
- create consistent work
- align with how Ability Works operates
- and can be built on over time
That’s what sustains the work – not just for the organisation, but for the people who rely on it.