Why young men with disability keep falling through WA’s support cracks – and the local social enterprise changing that story
Perth-founded social enterprise Buddiup has come a long way since launching in July 2020, but its mission has remained clear from day one: to empower adolescent boys and young men with disabilities to thrive through health, relationships, community, and learning.
The idea was born from founder Alastair Mackenzie’s eight years coaching and managing a football program for young men with disabilities. While the program developed sporting skills and social inclusion, Alastair spotted an even bigger gap:
“I saw how powerful physical activity and social connection can be for young men with disabilities, but I also recognised a bigger gap – they needed broader support beyond sport. That’s why we created Buddiup – to help build healthy lifestyle habits, meaningful friendships, and life skills through our four pillars,” As Buddiup took shape, Alastair also noticed something else: with around 70% of the disability workforce female – and 40% over 45 – there was a critical need for more young men to step into the sector as positive male role models. Buddiup was designed to change that.
Today, Buddiup (a Registered NDIS Provider) delivers structured full-day programs like Step Up, social-fitness sessions through Team Buddiup, and tailored mentoring support. Together with its sister organisation, Sisterup, it now supports more than 160 participants across Perth, guided by over 60 dedicated mentors.
WASEC sat down with Alastair to find out more about his enterprise.
WASEC:: Is there a participant story that captures what Buddiup does best?
Alastair: One young man in his 20’s joined us right at the beginning. His anxiety was so severe that he would sit quietly in the corner and avoid interaction, even with his mentor.
Two years on, he’s part of our group day program, fully engaged with peers and mentors. He even meets another participant outside the program to go bowling.
Everyone’s goals look different, but progress is our ultimate marker of success.
WASEC: Young people with disability are often missing from conversations about opportunity. What do we need to understand better?
Alastair: We’ve made strong progress, especially with the NDIS, but there’s still a long way to go. The challenge isn’t usually ill intent, it’s a lack of understanding about what a good life looks like for someone with a disability.
Take employment: many of our participants aren’t seeking a 38-hour executive role. They want a few structured shifts in a supportive workplace that offers purpose and social connection.
With more than 240,000 small businesses in WA, the opportunity to create these spaces is enormous.
WASEC: What does Buddiup offer that traditional disability support doesn’t?
Alastair: We address gaps that often get overlooked. Our all-male program – with male mentors and coaches – has been incredibly well received.
The NDIS’s individualised model provides flexibility but can unintentionally lead to isolation. Participants may not get the chance to build friendships or a sense of belonging.
Buddiup brings young men together through structured programs focused on health, wellbeing and social connection, while still delivering personalised support.
WASEC: What would you like to see from the WA Government to help social enterprises like Buddiup thrive?
Alastair: The NDIS has driven progress, but it can’t meet every need. Social enterprises fill important gaps – especially around confidence-building, connection and community participation.
I’d like to see long-term, secure funding for social enterprises that focus on building capability, not just delivering one-on-one support. Dedicated funding streams would help us scale impact and reach people who fall outside traditional models.
WASEC: Buddiup is a social enterprise, not a charity. What does that mean, and how do you reinvest your profits?
Alastair: A social enterprise is a business set up to solve a social or environmental problem, not to maximise profit. Every decision at Buddiup is anchored in our purpose: creating healthy lives and strong social connections for people with disability.
We’ve also established a not-for-profit charity arm. This year, around 30% of Buddiup’s profits will be reinvested into it, and we’ve made a long-term commitment to sustain it.
The charity expands the work of Buddiup and Sisterup, making our programs more accessible beyond what NDIS funding allows – ensuring our impact continues to grow.
Find out more about Buddiup: https://www.buddiup.com.au/
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