SPRING EDITION 2014

Roy's journey of recovery

7 Focus on Independence

Welcome to the latest edition of Focus on Independence.Firstly, thank you for donating to our recent tax appeal. Your kind gift will go a long way in helping people like Sharon and her daughter Lucy lead the lives that they choose to. Sharon was born with cerebral palsy and by accessing Independence Australia’s Psychology and Counselling services, Sharon has been able to ensure that Lucy has a happy normal childhood. Your continued support will ensure these essential services can continue for people like Sharon and Lucy.I am delighted to share with you news that Independence Australia recently opened a new office in Geelong for our training division, Community Workforce Innovations (CWI). This is the first regional office presence for Independence Australia and recognises the importance of the NDIS trial site in the Barwon area, which is at the forefront of change in the Victorian disability sector. The new office also acknowledges the importance of training disability support workers to ensure that NDIS clients receive quality, safe services.Also in this edition of Focus on Independence, you will find details on our 2014 Christmas card range. By purchasing these fantastic cards you will be supporting Independence Australia in continuing to improve the quality of life for people with a disability or other physical need.Finally, from everyone at Independence Australia, I’d like to thank you for your ongoing support.

Regards,Peter Turner Chief Executive Officer.

FROM THE CEO

Breaking down the barriersAustralia’s Indigenous community has nearly twice the rate of disability than the non-Indigenous population (ABS, 2013). Yet few Indigenous people with disabilities are accessing basic services that can improve quality of life and help ease the stress on families.

Project worker Robbie Ahmat explains. “Indigenous culture has a very different view of disability. As a community we have looked after our own family members for many generations, and in the many different Indigenous languages there isn’t a designated word for disability. So this concept of disability is something that needs a little more education and information within the Indigenous community.”Independence Australia’s new project Breaking Down the Barriers seeks to better support Indigenous families with disabilities.Since Robbie joined us last February, he has been busy meeting Indigenous families and organisations. Robbie says “My job is like a broker. I link families with the people or services that can help them.”Some parents of children with disabilities are unaware of assistance they are eligible for, like mobility aids, respite, and more. “I help them fill in the forms, break through the jargon, and introduce them to the right person who can help,” says Robbie.Robbie is also recruiting Indigenous people to do Traineeships with Independence Australia in Disability Support Work and Aged Care, working with Independence Australia and other service providers.More Indigenous workers entering the disability sector will help service providers become culturally ‘safe places’, where Indigenous people can confidently access vital services.“Our first indigenous Trainee starts next week,” says Robbie, proudly. “Once he has a bit of experience on the job, he’ll be able to share that with other young Indigenous people who are considering training as Disability Support Workers.”We gratefully acknowledge the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, Ian Rollo Currie Estate, and Collier Charitable Trust, for supporting this project.

Robbie Ahmat is helping Independence Australia improve its services to Indigenous people with disabilities.

8Focus on Independence

Roy’s journey of recoveryRoy is a happy, healthy and busy 35 year-old. He is a cricket bowling coach, a business owner, and has a 3-year old son to keep up with. Together he and his fiancée Michelle are also preparing for the arrival of a new baby – all while building a new family home.

But life hasn’t always been so good for Roy. In 2009 Roy injured his spinal cord in an attempt to take his own life.Roy’s injury is just below the brain stem – a C1/C2 incomplete fracture. “At first I had no movement at all on the left side of my body.” he says.

“The motor function on the left had been affected. However, because I’m left handed I pushed especially hard to get function back in my left hand.” Roy’s journey of recovery began with just a tiny movement in the top of his finger. “I worked hard so that I could still hold things in my left hand, still write and type on a keyboard. I still have no feeling on my right side, though I use it every day.”

Roy’s journey of recovery has been far more than just physical. Two years after his injury, Roy came to Independence Australia’s unique Psychology and Counselling service for people with disabilities, where he began working with Dr Andrew Sinclair. “The Psychology service has been fantastic,” says Roy.

“At first I couldn’t stand being there. I’d had counselling when I lived interstate, but they’d given up on me. Andrew stuck it out and eventually I started to open up a bit more. It took time though.”

“Talking to Andrew allowed me to have that opportunity to meet someone like [fiancée] Michelle.” Roy says meeting his fiancée also made him realise he had more work to do. “There was still some underlying anger and things I needed to work out, now that I have a family.”

Andrew worked with Roy on being mindful and focusing back on life rather than on his injury. “It helped a lot” says Roy. “Life doesn’t just end because you’re in a wheelchair or you’ve got a spinal cord injury. With everything I’ve got going on – getting back into cricket coaching, growing my online business and doing things that I love – I feel like there’s nothing that can stand in my way anymore.”

Reflecting on his personal growth since his spinal cord injury, he says “At the time you feel like your life is over. But going through the counselling and dealing with what I dealt with was probably the most beneficial thing I’ve done.”

Independence Australia is

Victoria’s only free and low-cost

provider of psychology services

specifically for people with

spinal cord injuries and other

physical disabilities.

Some clients don’t have insurance

or medical funding for their injury

or disability. When funding is

available, it is often restricted to

just a few counselling sessions.

Thanks to the generosity of

our supporters, Independence

Australia can continue to provide

an affordable Psychology and

Counselling service to people with

disabilities in need, like Roy.“I feel like there’s nothing that can stand in my way anymore.”

9 Focus on Independence

Holiday timeThanks to support from our wonderful donors, Independence Australia has been able to take several clients with physical disabilities away to enjoy a much needed and long awaited holiday.

In October a small group went away together on a short break to Lorne and from all accounts it was an amazing trip. For some it was their first holiday in years and a dream come true.

More recently, in March a small group of clients and support workers enjoyed a seaside escape on the Mornington Peninsula.

Strong sea breezes couldn’t keep the hungry seagulls away as the group enjoyed a fish and chip lunch on the first afternoon. With full bellies (both the group and the seagulls), the next stop was Sorrento surf beach.

As surfers rode the waves, the group watched on from a cliff top cafe. It wasn’t long before the group headed down to the beach themselves to feel the sand on their toes, build a sandcastle and enjoy an afternoon on the beach.

Over the remaining two days of the trip, the group made the most of their time with an adventure to Queenscliff on the ferry, dinner in Rosebud and souvenir shopping.

Both holidays were truly fantastic and were greatly appreciated by our clients, so thank you for helping us to make a difference.

“Being on the beach at Lorne brought back a lot of my honeymoon memories. Oh my...it was a lovely trip. My wife and I are extremely grateful to have been chosen to come along to this well organised holiday.”

Working beesEmma RoadIn March residents at Independence Australia’s Emma Road house in Croydon were joined by a team of volunteers from Bunnings Warehouse and RACV for a gardening bee.

The garden at Emma Road had become overgrown and was in much need of some TLC. Emma and Janice from Bunnings Warehouse in Croydon volunteered their time for the gardening blitz and also very kindly provided all the plants, tools and mulch for the project.

From clearing and pruning to planting and watering the Bunnings team, alongside Simon, Joe, Ann and Michael from the RACV Mulgrave claims office got stuck in and really did a great job.

WilliamstownBack in May, as part of the Bunnings Warehouse ‘Paint Your Community’ initiative our Williamstown residential house also had a bit of a makeover.

Paula, Patrick and Rob from Bunnings in Altona spent the day repainting the hallway and all the doors at the house, and it looks fantastic.

More recently in July three wonderful corporate volunteers from NAB continued the painting in the living room and the kitchen/dining area. Thanks to Jacqueline, Michelle and Cheryl from NAB for brightening up the house for the residents. Thanks also to Bunnings Altona for donating the paint and equipment.

10Focus on Independence

Hello Geelong!Independence Australia and our Community Workforce Innovations (CWI) division were excited to open a new Geelong office in June.

CWI delivers Independence Australia’s training services, including Traineeships, where individuals with a disability and their families can directly employ a support worker (through the NDIS). CWI also provides workforce planning and development support to the wider community sector.

Our Geelong office is shared with Carers Victoria and Mobility Aids Australia. We look forward to serving more clients in the Geelong region, and helping to build a stronger disability workforce to support the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Independence Australia sincerely appreciates your generous support of people living with disabilities.

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Giving worth its weight in goldOur Supporter Appreciation morning tea was held in June to thank staff, donors, bequestors, and corporate supporters for their generosity during the first half of 2014.

As well as the continued generosity of our wonderful donors, this year more Independence Australia staff have made small fortnightly donations by payroll deduction. These donations go to The Independence Fund, which supports individual clients with unique needs or in urgent hardship.Manager of In Home Services and Information Services, Deanna Varney, described just a few ways The Independence Fund has made a difference this year. These include assisting a couple who have disabilities to more easily care for their children,

purchasing a high-low bed for a client in need, and providing a computer and internet access for another client so she can keep in touch with her son.No matter where you work, you can also give conveniently by payroll deduction through workplace giving. Many employers also match individual contributions, contact us to find out more.Josh Hose, a SpinChat speaker with Independence Australia, then shared the story of his spinal cord

injury in a road accident at the age of 19. His amazing journey through rehabilitation led to him becoming a gold-medal winning athlete with the Australian wheelchair rugby team at the London Paralympic Games.Some lucky attendees enjoyed the rare opportunity to hold a real gold medal! Josh and his team-mates have just visited Denmark where they won gold at the World Championships. They now have their sights set on the next Paralympic Games in Rio.

Business gets on boardIndependence Australia is thrilled to welcome the support of our new Corporate Partner Atlas Equipment Finance. Atlas provides finance solutions to businesses purchasing or leasing machinery and equipment.

Jason Barrie, his wife Patrice and David Harkness attended our supporter appreciation morning tea on behalf of Atlas. Jason shared the remarkable story

of his own spinal cord injury and recovery, and how this motivates him to support others whose lives are impacted by spinal cord injury.

Atlas is partnering with Independence Australia to support SpinChat during 2014, which educates teenagers about the risks of spinal cord injury and promotes prevention. Thank you to all at Atlas Equipment Finance for your support!

Jason Barrie of Atlas Equipment Finance and his wife Patrice pictured with Josh Hose.