About

About GDP Industries 

Geelong Disabled People’s Industries (GDP) is an Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE) and registered charity with a core purpose – providing long-term supported work, training and work experience for Geelong people living with disability. We work at community level to make a real difference in the lives of people with special needs. 

This single purpose was why GDP began in 1965. And it’s since driven everything about us. Creating a safe, supervised workplace for supported workers is a key focus. So, we created and run a light-industrial factory and second-hand store at our North Geelong site. 

In addition to supported work, we offer work experience for young people living with disability. We do this by partnering with schools including Geelong Grammar, St Joseph’s College, Nelson Park and others. 

We also partner closely with the Geelong business community. Through various contracts and community touchpoints, we provide a growing range of services. Most people are surprised by the breadth of work we do. Each GDP service/process is designed to give meaningful work and opportunity to our workers while providing real value to our partners and the community. 

Often, our work centres on materials reuse and recycling – over the years, we’ve helped prevent countless tons of ‘waste’ from reaching landfill. For more than two decades we’ve managed the City of Greater Geelong’s Resource Recovery Centre where our team works onsite rescuing reusable materials and items direct from the waste stream. Many organisations and individuals also drop-off materials direct to our North Geelong site. 

We’re always looking for innovative ways to provide opportunity for people living with disability, to connect with new partners and to better serve the Geelong community. 

Whatever we do, we achieve much more together. 

Mal Huybens, General Manager, GDP Industries. 

At GDP, everyone has an opportunity. We’re all about supporting people living with disability. We’re always re-shaping what we do to fit their skills, build on their skills, give them more choices and keep them challenged and engaged. They’re not only at the heart of what we do, they’re IN our hearts. We’ll have a go at almost anything – if it brings real opportunity to the people who matter most at GDP.”