Our History

The Apex Foundation for Research into Intellectual Disability (AFRID) was the culmination of years of outstanding community service activities undertaken by Apex clubs in Australia. In the 1960s, Apex clubs provided facilities, equipment and support for people, especially children, with an  intellectual disability. In 1967, the Association of Apex Clubs of Australia established AFRID as a lasting effort to continue their work and support.

AFRID was established as a not-for-profit organisation with no shareholders or dividends paid. All net proceeds from the investments and operation of AFRID are used for making annual grants to people working in the field of intellectual disability; for growing the investment assets of the Foundation; and for other purposes related to intellectual disability. The AFRID Board members and the members of the subcommittees have always provided their time and expertise in an honorary capacity.

During Apex’s three years of community activities, the clubs generated and donated over $100,000 to intellectual disability support and research. AFRID has built on this financial success and increased its assets through proactive investments, and by obtaining significant bequests from the estate of Miss Dorothy Ross and the estate of Dr David Richards.

In recent times, the Foundation has typically provided up to $80,000 in research grants each year.

In 2007,  the Board of the Foundation agreed to be the prime financial source for the establishment of a Chair in Developmental Medicine by The University of Melbourne in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. Developmental medicine covers all forms of disability but since intellectual disability is the most common form of disability (and often occurs in conjunction with other forms of disability), the Board of the Foundation considered that it was able to support the establishment of the Chair.  The Foundation has agreed to an annual grant of $250,000 for five years, under the proviso that if the proposal should become financially self-sufficient after three years, the Foundation reserves the right to review these annual grants in the fourth and fifth year.

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