|
“I was looking for my father, but Life Without Barriers helped me find my family, my place, and my peace of mind.” Aiden, Portland, Victoria. |
At Whittlesea, north of Melbourne, Life Without Barriers began preparations for its new supported accommodation service developed as a partnership with Active Community Housing Ltd. The property was established by Active Community Housing through capital funding from the Australian Government‘s Supported Accommodation Innovative Fund and will be managed by us for the next three years through operational funding from the Victorian Government. Developed as a rental property for young adults with a disability, the residents will have 24-hour support on site while they transition from living at home and develop the skills to lead independent lives within the community.
“I congratulate Active and Life Without Barriers for the important work they do in helping to break down the barriers to independence that people with disability often face. It is projects like these that help to ensure people with disability can receive the support they need to more fully participate in economic and community life,” Senator Mitch Fifield, Assistant Minister for Social Services, Australian Government.
One hundred Grade 1 and 2 students from Hartwell Primary School joined Life Without Barriers at the Royal Botanical Garden’s Cranbourne Annex in Victoria. This is Boon Wurrung Land and this, along with the opportunity to understand the importance of the land in Aboriginal culture, was explained to the children. Elder of the Kulin Nation, Aunty Fay Muir, has been instrumental in establishing the Koori Kinder program, and she will be working with us to grow our Aboriginal Language Bush Playgroup. Like other kinder programs, our aim is to establish a group predominately for preschool-aged children and their families to learn together about their culture in a bush garden setting. The focus is on language and art and how these form the connection to land and culture.
In Victoria, Life Without Barriers and Training Unlimited joined forces to provide accredited training for our Disability Support Workers, who are being encouraged and supported to attain their Certificate IV in Disability qualifications. This timetable of training was a mixture of accredited units from the Certificate IV in Disability qualification as well as other professional development opportunities, facilitated by LWB and external subject matter experts. In October 2013, we expanded the training to other staff seeking to complete a Certificate IV in Disability.
Staff recognition awards 2014
| Excellence in Service Award: Supported Accommodation team , Hadfield, Victoria – for their delivery of compassionate services. |