Celebrating 80 Years of Opportunities with valued Donors and Supporters

2025 marks 80 years since Bedford proudly opened its doors to the South Australian community.

What started in 1945 as a modest centre for those recovering from Tuberculosis, Bedford is today South Australia’s largest employer of people with disability, supporting more than 1,400 people to live the life they choose.

“Bedford soon became a service that supported people with disability, and through reinvention and expansion in the 60s and 70s, Bedford became an internationally recognised for training and job opportunities for people with disability.

“Bedford became not just a place to work, but also a place to connect socially. We even had a Miss Bedford Industries Quest with the winner representing Bedford in the Miss Telethon Quest, and no doubt many will remember the Bedford Car Lottery, South Australia’s first legal lottery.

“So much has happened in 80 years, and as we continue to undergo more important change, our purpose of offering choice and opportunities to people with disability remains stronger than ever.”

To celebrate, Bedford invited its valued community of donors, supporters and ambassadors from the past and present to mark this important occasion. Guests were treated to a walk down memory lane revisiting milestones from Bedford’s rich history, learnt more about the future direction and saw some of the incredible work happening every day.

Bedford’s 80^th year also marks the halfway point in the organisation’s transformative Future Bedford Strategy. It’s a $50 million 5-year investment plan to provide a more contemporary and inclusive form of employment for the community through a sustainable model of operating.

“Bedford continues to be a beacon of opportunity for people with disability. We proudly provide training employment and support while spearheading major sector change nationally as the only not-for-profit disability employment provider to develop a social enterprise business model,” Mr Mann said.

“This unique model offers choice and career pathway opportunities into open employment for those facing barriers to work. It’s a significant expression of our long-held philosophy, that no matter the circumstances, people should feel empowered to make their own decisions and exercise personal choice about how they live.”

To coincide with its 80-year celebrations, Bedford is set to transform the Australian social enterprise landscape with the opening of a retail social enterprise hub at Salisbury South, the largest of its kind in the nation. The hub will be home to Cultivate Food and Beverage and Dovetail, two thriving Bedford backed social enterprises.

The retail social enterprise hub is set significantly build on Bedford’s existing foundations of the last 80 years and offer unprecedented choice in employment opportunities for people with disability in 2025 and beyond.

While so much has happened since Bedford was born, what remains unchanged is Bedford’s commitment to the people it supports, providing opportunities to learn, grow and make the most of their lives.

1945 On 12 April 1945, the South Australian Tuberculosis Association Incorporated registered the name ‘Bedford Industries’ and with that, Bedford was born. With £200 working capital, Bedford Industries established its first timber workshop in Glenelg.

1950 Officially opened Bedford Industries’ new domestic woodwork factory at Panorama, where it remains today.

1954 Employed 100 people, with 26 employees graduating to full-time work.

Early 60s With tuberculosis largely controlled in Australia, Bedford broadened its offering, including support for those with medical, physical, mental and social disabilities. This took the number of employees to 250.

Late 1960s Expanded its employment pathway opportunities to include bookbinding, shoe repairs, textile manufacturing, a paint shop, electronics and engineering, food assembly and packaging, and woodwork and cabinetry production.

1971 Launched a car lottery, South Australia’s first legal lottery

1974 Described as “the best of its type in the world”, Balyana, Bedford’s residential and rehabilitation facility at Clapham, was officially opened by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1974.

1984 Prime Minister Bob Hawke officially opened the KT Jenkins Rehabilitation Centre. The building was named in honour of Kenneth T Jenkins, who steered Bedford through 20 years of significant growth.

1986 69 employees achieved outside employment – now known as open employment – for the first time.

1992 Provides training for about 470 people with disabilities across a multitude of areas.

2002 Awarded a national contract with Bunnings to supply ready-to-assemble furniture. This furniture can still be found in Bunnings today.

2003 Achieves an Australian record for the largest group of people with disability taking part in a graduation ceremony.

2007/2008 A number of mergers supported the growth of Bedford in Port Pirie, Wallaroo and Kadina (2007) and Mount Gambier and Port Lincoln (2008).

2014 Merged with Phoenix Society, making it the second largest Australian Disability Enterprise.

2022 Launches $50 million Masterplan, Future Bedford.

2023 Three Bedford-backed social enterprises – Cultivate Food and Beverage, GreenInc and Dovetail Advanced Manufacturing are established.

2024 Bedford’s portfolio of inclusive businesses expands to include Beacon Laundry, Electronic Recycling Australia, Bounce Back and Blend Creative – previously Minda businesses.

To celebrate 80 Years of Opportunities, Bedford is selling personalised butterflies to create a butterfly wall. A symbol of lasting hope, choice and new possibilities, butterflies remind us that one small act can have a big impact.

On sale for $80 (fully tax deductible), proceeds supporting Bedford’s mission to provide more jobs, opportunities and pathways for people with disability.

Click here to purchase a personalised butterfly.

For further information on Bedford and 80^th year events please see:
https://www.bedfordgroup.com.a...