AFDS has provided financial and in-kind support to various events and activities and to numerous organisations, helping these organisations to become established, independent bodies.

AFDS has lobbied and made representations to various organisations and government inquiries on issues such as improved access to education, employment, interpreting, captioning and TTY relay services for Deaf and hearing impaired people. This has included advocating for the establishment and funding of the Australian Caption Centre, the National Relay Service and the National Auslan Interpreter Booking and Payment Service (NABS).

AFDS worked with the Deaf community in lobbying for the recognition of Auslan as a community language by the Australian Government and the accreditation of Auslan interpreters by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).

In conjunction with AAD, ASLIA and other national partners, AFDS provided input into recent research commissioned by the Australian Government into supply, demand and funding of Auslan interpreting services in Australia. The report arising from this research is available from the Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services and led to the funding and establishment of the National Auslan Interpreter Booking and Payment Service (NABS).

AFDS is currently conducting a national research project examining Auslan interpreting needs in the workplace. The project will assist a sample of Deaf workers commencing employment as well as current Deaf workers to access funding for interpreting in the workplace. The project is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and will report its findings to the Government in May 2006.