ACHIEVE AUSTRALIA
INTROUCTION
ACHIEVE AUSTRALIA
Achieve Australia is a for-purpose community organisation that has been providing accommodation and services to people with disability since 1952. We champion social inclusion, focusing on the individual needs and lives of the people we support. An NDIS-registered provider, Achieve delivers expert disability support services in greater Sydney and the Northern Rivers regions of NSW
Our Passion, Purpose and Principles
OurPassionis social inclusion for people with disability.OurPurposeis to build extraordinary lives, supporting people with disability to be well, have a home, choose a career, learn new skills, participate in their community and enjoy a full life.
We live by ourPrinciples:
Living inclusion:Cultivate a sense of belonging in our organisation and community. Elevating voices:Listen and activate the voices of people with a disability. Engaging practice:Align our work to each persons ambition for a good life. Growing capacity:Develop by collaborating, listening, learning and co-design. Valuing resources:Foster cooperation, efficiency, and accountability for outcomes.
SERVICES
Achieve Australia has been providingservicesto support people with disability since 1952. Our expert, qualified staff deliver a range of disabilityservicesin Greater Sydney and the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales.... We employ and train people with disability in steady, meaningful work. Our pack and sendservicesare competitively priced and offer flexible options.
Achieve Australias Northern Rivers services flood update
28 February 2022
Achieve Australias services are being impacted by the severe flooding in northern NSW. We are working directly with our clients, families and carers to keep everyone safe.
As of Monday afternoon, homes within our service were operating as normal but our staff are monitoring the situation closely. However, the flooding and road closures has disrupted some of our other service areas. We have paused our My Life Community and Lifestyle Day program for now and also our Community Participation drop-in support service. However, we have been able to assist drop-in support participants who needed help to leave their homes for a safer place until flood waters recede to do so.
Achieve has also developed contingency plans to take the appropriate action in the event of an extended power outage or if flood waters threaten homes within our service.
Greater participation the big issue for PWD in the NSW election
The NSW State election on 25 March is now not far away.
Disability has not been a big issue on the hustings, but I was interested to see National Disability Services (NDS) identify the key issues as it sees them. Also, the Council for Intellectual Disability has called on NSW Government to take specific steps to promote greater social inclusion. I am all for that.
So, lets take a closer look and if you agree with any of these actions, you can check with your local candidates to see where they stand on these issues to inform you vote on election day this Saturday.
NDS 4-point plan
NDS is Australias peak industry body for non-government service organisations. It hasidentified 4 key areas it wants NSW political contenders to focus on to better serve people with disability (PWD) in our state. These are:
ensuring a stable workforce of disability service workers
creating additional suitable accommodations for people with disability
providing more support for people not accessing the NDIS and employment
finding ways to increase economic participation.
Lets take a closer look.
Workforce
Whoever wins government must take steps to ensure PWD have access to a resilient and skilled disability support sector workforce.
The current shortage of workers is expected to increase significantly. The NDIS National Workforce Plan identifies that Australia-wide demand for workers that provide support to pwd is expected to increase by 31% by 2024.On top of this, the sector has seen a high turnover of workers more than 17% - placing added pressure on the capacity of the sector to deliver supports.
Political parties need to commit to funding strategies and actions to promote careers in the NSW disability sector. It should also make an investment in retaining a skilled disability workforce.
Housing and suitable disability accommodation
The new NSW Government should increase suitable housing for PWD. Housing needs are not being met with the strategies currently in place. We need fit-for-purpose state-owned housing available for pwd whether they are accessing the NDIS or not. And housing should be pet friendly please!
Now, PWD are shouldering the burden of having to be super creative in finding solutions to secure the right accommodation.
I have been looking around for apartments to move into, however none have been suitable thus far. I completed the OT assessment last year by the NDIS (SIL). Ideally, I would like to be near to my family and friends, who are on the north shore of Sydney. Sadly, there is limited apartments that would be suitable for me in this area of Sydney, as I have high physical needs and require certain things to live safely and comfortably. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find anything that meets my needs.
To me, the perfect apartment needs:
2 bedrooms
be clean without smelling like a nursing home
have a small garden for my dog to run around in
be located on the North Shore of Sydney so that I am close by to family and friends
offer 24-hr care in case of an emergency.
Most places I have looked at failed to meet the majority of this criteria.
Mainstream supports
The Federal Government is providing funding supports for 573,342 NDIS participants across the country according to current data but what about everyone else?The new NSW Government must address the needs of pwd in this state who are not eligible for NDIS.
According to figures from the NDIS, approximately 161,000 people in NSW were receiving NDIS funding as of June 2022 from a total of approximately 1.37 million people with a disability! This means less than 12% of people with a disability in NSW are receiving NDIS support.
Government must collaborate with pwd and sector experts to identify and clarify gaps in mainstream support. Then, develop and action strategies to deliver support at a state level to people who fall outside the scope of the NDIS.
Investment in access to mainstream services for people with disability across health, housing, education and training, and employment is a critical need.Employment and economic participation
The NDS call for construction action to improve rates of pwd participation in the workforce and the economy and I wholeheartedly agree!
You can read my previous blogs,Employing people with disability benefits everyone, to learn my views about this topic. Suffice to say, the unemployment rate for people with disability is 10.3% compared to 4.6 % for the general population. Not good enough by a long, long way.
All political parties need to commit to improving the employment and economic participation opportunities for people with disabilities. The government must also allocate proper funding to develop and implement a strategy that improves access to jobs for PWD. It is good for everyone for pwd to fulfil their potential to contribute to the economy.
I would like to see NSW Government take more of a lead in creating state-wide awareness of the pwd employment situations. This should call out barriers to employment and offer solutions. Also, areas in the community that are beginning to change regarding disability employment need to be called out and celebrated.
Government should do more to employ people with disabilityAchieve Australia is supporting theEveryday for Everyone campaignthat calls on NSW Government to take specific steps to remove barriers to social inclusion for PWD.
The Chair of Achieve Australia,Kerry Stubs, is a signatory to an open letter created by the Council for Intellectual Disability detailing the steps government should take. These steps would boost employment rates of pwd, make public transport easier to use and ensure government information was more accessible.
Both major parties and all minor parties must understand the struggle of PWD to participate in our society and be willing to act to bring about real change.
More information please
The NSW Government also has a key role to play under the Australian Disability Strategy and the Disability Inclusion Act NSW, but we have heard little about this from them.
Support for people with disability voting in NSW Election
The Electoral Commission list all the available supportsfor those with disability voting in the NSW election. This includes early voting, wheelchair access to voting booths, and Braille ballot papers.
Theres no better time than right now for those wanting our vote to tell us where they stand on all these important t issues.
How to make sure people with disability feel welcome in your workplace
Research shows employees with disability are a big plus for any workplace so why do they still hit so many barriers in securing a job?
The unemployment rate of people with disability is around 53.4%, compared to 84.1% of people without disability. And yet the statics say that people with disability generally take fewer days off, less sick leave and stay in jobs longer than other workers.
Maybe the answer lies in how well prepared the rest of the workforce is to welcome colleagues with disability. There is so much support available for employers to get prepared - it is more than time to close the employment gap.
People with disability want to be treated like anyone else in the workplace, and definitely not like an outcast or a sympathy hire.
How Disability Employment Services (DES) supports employers
The workplace must be inclusive of everyone. One way of doing this is ensuring that it is physically easy to access. This means kitting out your workplace with equipment such as adjustable tables, ramps (to Australian standards, not hills), wide enough doors and similar things.
Thegovernment provides employers with lots of assistance to make it as easy as possible to employ people with disabilities. This includes financial support for accessible equipment and paying salaries.
TheDES websiteprovides information on everything employers need to know. The agency can also liaise between the employer and people with disability (PWD) employees to ensure all parties are happy with the adjustments made and check if there are further needs to be met.
How DES supports PWD employees
DES focus on assisting employees to get set up in new workplaces, and even organise equipment such as adjustable desks. They also can assist with ensuring that the building is accessible. If it is not, they are able to apply for a grant to make the building accessible. Accessible buildings often help other employees too.
The government offers employers $10,000 to employ a person with disability in a suitable ongoing job. The position must be ongoing. DES additionally offers the wage subsidy to assist companies to employ more people with disability while remaining a profitable business.
Welcoming employees just takes a little forethought
Workplaces should accommodate for people with disabilities. Everyone gets nervous when they start a new job, and this is no different for people with disabilities.
When I began working at Achieve Australia, I was very nervous because I wanted the team to like me for who I am and not to judge me based on my disability.
Most people with disability dont want to be reminded that they have a disability. Some employers act and treat people with disability like they know everything about every type of disability. This can be frustrating as everyone is different and has different needs.
Employers must not share their employees personal information with anyone without that persons consent. This includes information about a persons health condition or disability. Its both unprofessional and a breach of confidentiality to share this information.
Creating an accessible event
Employers should also be aware that if the workplace has an event that it should be made accessible to all members of staff. Some examples of this would include ensuring:
food is at a level that everyone can access
that staff with a visual impairment are told what options there are and are served food
members of staff who are deaf or have a hearing impairment can read what is in the food.
By the way, having labels for food works for everyone including those with allergies and dietary needs according to their culture.I hope that if you run a company or manage the hiring process, you already understand why people with disability should be considered for your roles. And the ways diversity can benefit your company culture and outcomes.
There are so many positive reasons to employ someone with a disability and there is a lot of support available for employers and employees to help both succeed at work.
If you have any further questions,please reach out to me, I am such a big advocate for people with disability to be in the workforce!
Home services include:
Supported Independent Living (SIL)
What is ourMy Homeservices?
We provide Supported Independent Living (SIL) services that we call My Home. This means we provide supports to assist people with disability to live as independently as possible in their own homes.
You might live on your own, or in a community or group setting with other people, while receiving services to assist with daily living. This can include help with shopping, cooking, cleaning, showering, dressing, getting to appointments or going out.
We will work closely with you and your family or carers to determine your
personal goals
needs and preferences
health or medical requirements
areas of interest
and tosupport your participation in the community.
Short-term accommodation
If you are looking for a short-term accommodation then look no more because our Summer Hill House is the perfect place for your short stay!
Summer Hill House has been designed to offer peace of mind, comfort and convenience.
Our facilities
Set amongst beautiful gardens just 7kms west of Sydneys CBD, Summer Hill House offers short term accommodation and respite for people with an intellectual disability, high physical support and/or complex health needs.
Private rooms
Interactive sensory room
Specially designed accessiblespa bath
Peaceful landscaped gardens
Shared living spaces to dine,watch movies or play games
Specialist nursing staff on duty
In addition, we have a range of special events and regular group activities throughout the year featuring movie nights, music therapy, health and wellbeing, gardening, family days, and more.
We provide tailored transition services
At Summer Hill House we can provide individual supports and tailored transition services into accommodation for people with disability. This gives:
families and carers the chance to meet with our on site team, discuss all necessary requirements and explore all available options
people with disability the opportunity to meet new people and create meaningful connections
people with disability the opportunity to explore different activities and discover new life experiences.
. Community participation individual support
Community participation individual support
Daily living supports for people with disability
Our drop-in services offer flexible supports for people with disability to live independently in their own homes or transition to independent living arrangements. We call our drop-in service, Community participation individual support.
Our services can help you with
Housekeeping such as cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, and gardening
Personal care such as showering and dressing
Shopping and meal planning
Maintaining relationships with family and friends
Creating new friendships and social connections
Attending medical or hospital appointments
Finding employment and going to work
Budgeting and banking
General health and wellbeing
Where we provide individual supports
We currently provide our Community participation individual support service in Hornsby, Epping, Ryde, and surrounding areas and the Northern Rivers region of NSW. We can provide our drop-in service in other locations on request.
Annual reports
Our annual reports show how we are working to create a diverse and inclusive world, together!
Elevating the voices of people with disability in our work a key priority of our 2020-2023 Strategic Plan was a highlight of our year. This included co-designing a new independent living skills program with young people with disability and their families.
Also, Inclusive Housing Australia worked with the people we support and their families to develop additional fit for purpose housing and following a successful pilot, we launched the ground-breaking Quality Champions program. The program employs people with lived experience of disability to talk with the people we support to review our services and recommend improvements. You can read more about these initiatives further in this report. Achieves financial sustainability and efficient structure enables us to invest in innovative projects like these. We also continued to invest in The Achieve Foundation and its mission to remove barriers to inclusion for people with disability, and create more positive community attitudes. We took deliberate steps during the year to build our knowledge as an employer to ensure employees with disability thrive at Achieve no matter their role. In June 2022, we were proud to be recognised for these efforts by being named a Disability Confident Recruiter at the first Disability Confidence Awards. This important groundwork is part of our plan to recruit more qualified and talented candidates with lived experience of disability at all levels of the organisation including our Board. We want to attract quality candidates from diverse backgrounds to our roles. Taking part in recruitment fairs during the year and creating a more compelling Careers section on our website, has made it easier for us to tell our story of being an employer of choice. The Careers section was a key improvement of our website redevelopment project. Our social enterprises had a strong year. The Sewing Basket opened a store at Caringbah creating new jobs for people with disability, and the team at AchievAble Enterprises started arrangements for 14 employees to gain a nationally recognised qualification. Managing the risk of COVID-19 remained a top priority over the year. We are proud of how well the team balanced COVID safety with the social and emotional wellbeing of the people we support. This was well illustrated by how we held an NRL Grand Final party in the home of our most ardent footy fans in 2021 but by 2022, we could support some of these fans to attend the Grand Final in person. We also ran a successful COVID-19 vaccination effort for the people we support and staff, greatly assisted by Dr Jamal Rifi and Mr Faisal Rifi of Belmore Medical Centre. We managed the challenge of accessing enough Rapid Antigen Test kits and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during peak times so well, we were able to share surplus stock with other service providers in need. Our experience and knowledge saw Achieve chosen to join the NDIA Contingent Care COVID-19 Panel advising our sector. The COVID challenge continues, but we are well equipped to manage it. It has been an exciting year for us, and we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our Board of Directors and Executives and to all our employees for their incredible efforts, especially our teams providing services directly to the people we support. Our sincere thanks also to volunteers at The Sewing Basket and to all our supporters.Homes and programs
1 Short term accommodation centres
52 Community homes
52 Apartments
3 Community and lifestyle programs
26 Quality Champions interviews
Support services
17 Short term accommodation provided
280 Short term accommodation nights provided
115 People supported through our day programs, My Life
185 People engaging our Support Coordination team
3,493 Support Coordination hours provided
284 People receiving Supported Independant Living
90 People receiving drop-in support
26 Business customers at AchievAble Enterprises
Employees and volunteers
1,175 Total Achieve Australia employees
66 Supported employees
69 Total volunteers
8,832 Total volunteering hours
Research and grants
QUT Philanthropy for people with disability in Australia
Frameworks Project tackles community attitudes
11 grant submissions submitted worth $1.9 million
Inclusive governance model created
Funding secured for Community Connections Program
Mapping SDA in NSW with UTS researchers
Awards and recognition
Disability Confident Recruiter Disability Confidence Awards 2022
Employer of Choice (Public Sector and NFP) Excellence Awardee Australian HR Awards 2021
The Sewing Basket, Kincumber Finalist Outstanding Specialised Retail Business 2022 in the Central Coast Local Business Awards
The Sewing Basket, Caringbah, Highly Commended, Sutherland Shire Environment Centre Local Business Sustainability Awards 2022
New Achieve Australia website
We redesigned and enhanced our public website
Features include a simpler navigation structure and home page
Additional accessibility features were added such as a Read to speak tool that reads text to site visitors
We added a Resources section to make it easier for our community to find the information they need
More videos, newly designed pages and a fresh and expanded Careers section help us better tell Achieve Australia stories including to potential employees
Year two of our Strategic Plan FY2020-2023
During Year 2 of our plan, we worked on a diverse range of projects designed to enhance the services we deliver to the people we support. All projects are aligned to the 5 priorities outlined in the Strategic Plan - Living Inclusion, Elevating Voices, Transforming Services, Building Capacity and Valuing Resources. The 2020-2023 Strategic Plan guides our strategic work while ensuring we remain true to our passion and purpose. The plan was developed through a large consultation project led by Achieve Australias Strategy Planning Committee comprising members of our Board, the Executive and Senior Leadership teams. Insights gathered from the people we support, their families and carers, frontline staff, community partners and industry thought leaders all informed the final draft. Projects aligned to our 5 priorities:
Living inclusion Build a diverse and inclusive organisation work over the year included:
developing a picture of what diversity looks like across the organisation, including staff, people we support, governance and leadership
commencing learning and development through a Cultural Competence Program to build and embed inclusion in the workplace
Social inclusion of people with disability:
Conducting research in collaboration with The Achieve Foundation into what social inclusion means for the people we support
Developing our definition of inclusion as a feeling of belonging
Developing a Marketing and Communications Strategy, including a customer value promise and employee value promise.
Elevating voices Support Achieve Australia to reflect client voices:
collaborating with The Achieve Foundation to develop an inclusive governance model to support recruiting people with lived experience to our Boards
using the Quality Champions program to co-design how the voices of the people support are represented
developing other voice of customer initiatives including a way to listen to people new to receiving services from Achieve y continuing our advocacy agenda, including activities with Alliance20, Inclusive Housing Australia (IHA), Ability First and others
co-design research exploring future services with school leavers and young people with disability and their families and carers.
Transforming services Tailoring service offerings for the people we support:
co-designing a new life skills program specifically for young people with intellectual disability called My life, My say
joining Inclusive Housing Australias (IHA) Disability Advisory Committee to explore new models of disability housing. Aligning the organisation to meet client goals:
developing a new business model to guide our organisational structure
designing a fit-for-purpose organisation with appropriate structures, redesigning workflows, and introducing new ways of working
refining corporate functions to better support frontline service delivery
embedding person-specific practice through the development and delivery of tailored clinical training by experienced clinical nurse educators that is aligned to an individuals complex health needs and goals.
Building capacity Building culture, service delivery and leadership:
implementing a continuous improvement framework
establishing a new leadership strategy and intentional culture program
creating a new employee recognition framework
further strengthening workforce capability and performance
developing a Practice Framework with sector experts and The Achieve Foundation.
Valuing resources Reinvesting through responsible financial management:
incorporating concepts of commercial and financial literacy and risk management into organisational design and roles
building competence of frontline staff for commercial and financial responsibilities and risk management
implementing a growth plan with IHA and other accommodation providers to leverage strengths in geographic locations and service markets.
Improving and aligning systems, processes, and technology:
investing in a Technology Strategy to implement a new Customer Relationship Management system, more accessible website and upgraded rostering Content Management System.
These strategic initiatives seek to deliver:
a strong and sustainable value proposition for the sector, people we support and employees
positive client experiences and achieve recognition for our impact
ongoing co-design of outcomesbased services for people we support
an organisational design and structure aligned to achievement of client outcomes
an attractive place to work where services are delivered, and employees are developed through a Practice Framework
services, processes and communications supported by innovative technology.
Service Delivery Highlights
The ongoing pandemic, national staff shortages and funding cuts did not stop our teams reaching new heights for people with disability this year.
Leading during COVID In December 2021, there were long wait times for COVID testing and results as well as limited resources available. Our teams worked hard to provide masks, testing kits and vaccines for the people we support and our staff, well ahead of government mandates. This meant we could distribute our extra stock to help other organisations in need. Achieve Australia also spoke out in the media about the overloaded system putting a strain on staffing levels, particularly in disability accommodation. As part of the NDIA Contingent Care COVID-19 Panel we took a stand to ensure people with disability were always top of mind in the governments planned response.
A focus on continuous improvement.This year, our focus has been on driving continuous improvement across all service delivery areas. In a series of internal quality and practice audits as well as feedback from the Quality Champions program, we identified 530 improvement actions that were completed and verified. This work continues to help us better understand what is working and where we can improve how we perform. We also started work on reviewing and improving our organisational policies and practices. The areas we have been working on include better healthcare planning and advocacy for the people we support, and a new response to palliative and end of life supports.
Part of this work has involved the delivery of practical clinical training in the following areas: y Palliative and End of Life Care y Medication Management y High Intensity Support Skills Descriptors (HISSD) y Accountability and Communication in Clinical. Social enterprises continue to thrive Despite COVID and taking steps to keep everyone safe, The Sewing Basket and AchievAble Enterprises continued to provide steady, meaningful work for 66 people with disability. The Sewing Basket expanded with a new shop at Caringbah in the Sutherland Shire to grow its inclusive community. And AchievAble Enterprises laid the groundwork to enable 14 of its employees to take part in an accredited training course in Certificate III Process Manufacturing in February 2023. Evolving our day program The Community and Lifestyle program team carried out significant work alongside the people we support to redesign our day programs. This research in 2021 explored what the future of group-based supports might look like. By taking on the feedback of people who use the service, a new improved model was developed for roll out. Another exciting co-design program, My Life My Say, will launch as a pilot in 2023. The new program provides practical, independent life skills for young people with disability who have left school and not yet decided whether to pursue further education or employment. The plan is for 4 courses to be created and tested for year one of the program. These are transport in the community, communication, self-advocacy and moving out of home.
Challenges and Opportunities
A National Disability Employment Strategy developed by the Department of Social Services was launched in February 2022. Achieve takes a look at why Australia needed a new strategy.
Employment is not only about having an income and financial security, but it also links closely to many aspects of a persons wellbeing. Steady employment can add a sense of belonging and purpose, stability in a regular routine as well as the opportunity to develop new and existing relationships.
According to the Australia Bureau of Statistics (2019), the unemployment rate for working-age people with disability has increased in recent years. While it remained steady for working-age people without disability (around 5% between 2003 and 2018), it increased for people with disability (8% to 10%).
We know based on current research that Australia is behind other western countries when it comes to disability employment. People with disability are significantly underemployed, says Operations Executive at Achieve Australia, Daniel Kyriacou. The real challenge for us as a nation is about changing community attitudes and expectations to provide more opportunities for people with disability to be employed.
So, how can we do this?
At a national level, the Department of Social Services is developing a National Disability Employment Strategy to increase employment opportunities for people with disability.
The Employment Strategy will focus on five priority areas:
Lifting employer engagement, capability and demand
Early intervention transition from school to work and return to work
Driving better performance and quality from employment service providers
Making the system simpler for jobseekers with disability and employers
Changing community attitudes.
Alongside the development of the Employment Strategy is a new Disability Employment Advisory Committee (DEAC), which will inform the strategy and address the barriers faced by many people. Members of the committee include f people with disability, employers, service providers, and peak bodies.
Operations Manager at AchievAble Enterprises, Leanne Larche, knows firsthand the challenges people with disability face in finding and keeping work. Leanne says that many of the 65 employees, who currently work at the local Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE) in NDIS supported employment, could do more.
One of the biggest challenges people with disability face when looking for work is around a lack of support and understanding in the workplace, explains Leanne. A person may go to find work in a local coffee shop where it might be fast paced, but then they are left alone with no support. Sometimes people are also given less opportunity to learn new tasks and take on more responsibility because they have a disability.
At a local level, further education and supports for the business community, and their staff, about how to create more inclusive workplaces would be a step in the right direction.
Everyone should have a right to work where they want to with the right supports in place, Leanne says.
Achieve Australias social enterprise The Sewing Basket, has grown to allow for an additional 25 NDIS supported employment positions at its newest location on the Central Coast. The ongoing training, supportive team environment and welcoming community are something that sets ADEs like The Sewing Basket and AchievAble Enterprises apart right now. [Reader's should note, in March 2022, The Sewing Basket opened yet another new store in Caringbah].
However, as the new National Employment Strategy gets underway, there is new hope. As more businesses across the country are better supported to create diverse and inclusive workplaces, greater employment opportunities will be available for people with disability into the future.
Disability in Australia at a glance
About4.4 millionpeople or 1 in 6 Australians have a disability.
About340,000people with disability are active NDIS participants.
68%of people aged 15-64 with disability have 1 or more employment restrictions.
48%of people with disability are employed compared to80%of people without disability.
1 in 10 people(15+) with disability experienced discrimination in the last year.
93%of people aged 15-64 with disability experience difficulties in finding employment.
People with disability aretwiceas likely to be unemployed than people without disability. (Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare)
Staring down stereotypes we all need to #BreakTheBiasThis year the theme of International Womens Day is#BreakTheBias. This theme is very important for women because lots of women get affected by bias,stereotypes, and discrimination. At one point in a womans life, they will face stereotypes, and discrimination in workplaces, communities, schools, colleges, universities, and more.
Women just want the world to be diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
International Womens Day is an incredible way to share stories from amazing women from around the world who have faced all types of challenges and adversity. This years theme, #BreakTheBias, means to me personally that women with disabilities can live without fear of judgment of people saying something or looking at them weirdly.
I have been discriminated against many times when seeking employment, especially in the arts field because of my disability. One time, I had an interview at an art gallery when I told them that I had a disability they immediately told me that I was not suitable for the job. I asked them why, and they responded by saying that my wheelchair wouldnt fit into the art space. I was disappointed at the company as I would have been great in this role and a dedicated employee. Initially, they looked at my credentials and saw that I was fully qualified for this role, however, they couldnt look past my disability. They missed out on hiring a great employee.
My hope is that future generations of women with disabilities do not face the same discrimination that I have. And that employers learn to see past peoples disabilities and see them for who they are. I have been stereotyped by others as unequal because of my communication aid and peoples incompetence to understand my speech. There are lots of myths about people with disabilities, such as we cant have sex, relationships or live by ourselves, or that we are not into contemporary fashion, or enjoying cocktails. These myths are very wrong because people with disabilities can do basically everything that other people do.
Currently, however, I am working for Achieve Australia, and I love it! They dont discriminate or stereotype my disability, instead, they highlight it. Working for a company that doesnt stereotype or discriminate against my disability greatly improves my self-esteem and self-confidence.
My hopes are that in the next generation, we look past a persons disability. This will allow us to see who they really are and enable them to succeed. Women are inherently very strong, especially women who have a disability, they have to overcome challenges on a daily basis.For the next generation of people with disabilities I would like to send you a message that you have got the power to do everything in your hands and you have got the choice and control over your life without people telling you what to do.
Benefits of animal companions to people with disability
The companionship of animals has been cherished for centuries and dogs have proven to be especially beneficial for individuals with disabilities.
I know the joy of growing up with dogs as valued members of my family who offered unconditional love and support. Each dog provided me with a profound sense of companionship, diminishing feelings of isolation. During moments when a human presence was lacking, these remarkable creatures remained by my side, offering unwavering support.
The remarkable aspect of animals is their ability to perceive beyond my disability, connecting with the depths of my heart, understanding my emotions, and consistently displaying unconditional love.When I was a teenager and things got hard, my dog was my support and my friend. My loving canine made me feel less lonely in what seemed to be a strange world.
Now, in my adult years, my loyal companion Oliver is my sanctuary during moments of stress, providing comfort and alleviating my worries. The simple act of stroking his soft, fluffy fur is enough to instantly uplift my spirits. He is a Moodle (Maltese cross poodle) with an incredible personality. His ability to bring laughter to my mother and me is a constant source of joy in our lives.
For those facing challenges in getting out and engaging with the world, dogs are a remarkable source of motivation, encouraging daily physical activity. Embracing this opportunity not only benefits your own well-being but also deepens the bond with your furry companion, who will undoubtedly cherish the shared moments.
Plus, through socialising with fellow dog owners, you might discover new friendships and connections to expand your social circle.
Professional assistance dogs
Certain dog breeds such as Labradors and Golden Retrievers possess remarkable trainability making them ideal support dogs for people with disability.
Well known non-for-profitsAssistance Dogs AustraliaandGuide Dogs NSWtell the stories of dogs assisting people with a great range of disability. Dogs can be taught to open and close doors, switch off lights, guide individuals with disabilities safely across roads, carrying objects, or alerting others when attention is required.
Training of a puppy can take up to 2 years and cost tens of thousands of dollars. While the process of obtaining an assistance dog may be lengthy due to the rigorous training involved, the rewards are truly worthwhile. Having an assistance dog fosters independence and confidence, enabling people to actively participate in various aspects of personal and public life.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) does recognise dogs as a reasonable and necessary support in some circumstances. You can read more onthis page of the NDIS website.
Dogs have a long history supporting people who are vision impaired, or blind, engage with the world. Dogs are also well known for playing a pivotal role in establishing a structured daily routine to benefit people on the Autism Spectrum who thrive with consistency. Engaging in manageable tasks to care for an animal companion such as feeding, walking, and grooming can benefit those with depression and mood disorders. These small yet meaningful responsibilities also contribute to a sense of purpose and well-being for people helping to foster positive outcomes.
Where owning or caring for a non-professional dog might pose challenges for some people due to the level of disability, a therapy dog can be considered. Therapy dogs are primarily trained to offer companionship and emotional support. Depending on your preferences and requirements, these dogs can either become a cherished part of your family or provide short-term support tailored to your specific needs.
Therapy dogs come in all shapes and sizes. As well as Labradors and Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, French Bulldogs, Bichon Frise, Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians, and Beagles and many more have served as support dogs. And Moodles of course!
My fabulous friend Oliver
Let us return to the center of my life, Oliver. He holds an unparalleled place in my heart. My love for him knows no bounds. His awareness of his undeniable cuteness occasionally becomes a charming tool he deploys to his advantage. Oliver is not only my loyal companion but also my best friend.
Despite his inability to speak, he possesses an exceptional ability to listen attentively. I firmly believe that Oliver entered my life with a purposeto guide me away from negative thoughts and illuminate the path towards a more positive outlook.
One of my greatest joys is taking Oliver for walks in my power wheelchair. We both relish the invigorating fresh air and exploring the neighbourhood together.
Olivers presence never fails to bring a smile to the faces of my support workers, who have developed a fondness for him. To my mother, Oliver is like a beloved grandson she adores him. He has seamlessly become a cherished part of our family. I can't imagine life without him.
My hope is that this blog may inspire you to consider adding a new furry member to your own family, so you can experience the profound love and companionship I am fortunate to have. Trust me, you will not regret it. Perhaps we'll even cross paths at a dog park someday!
