COME PARTY WITH US

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Head to Chesterfield Farm with IOE for a fabulous fun evening to celebrate the end of 2018 and the start of the festive season.

Save the date and time! Saturday 8 December 5pm-8pm

It’s after the usual closing time so the farm will be just for us to enjoy. As well as all the animals, big and small, there will be special face painting, jumping castle, balloon creations, games and activities, including the famous tractor ride around the farm. Of course Santa will be there for ‘sensitive’ Santa Christmas photos (numbers limited).

EVERYONE IS WELCOME  Families – waiting for services, fully or partially registered with us – all families ; volunteers; staff and their families.

LET’S CELEBRATE AND PARTY TOGETHER AT THE FARM!

Registration is essential; online https://bit.ly/IOEXmas2018 or contact IOE 97585522 or ioe@ioe.org.au  And … remember to notify us of any dietary requirements for the BBQ.

View and share flyer

 

CALLING ALL GRANDPARENT CARERS

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After a bit of a break our support program for Grandparent Carers is up and running again.

Being a grandparent and caring for someone with a disability is a demanding double role and comes with unique challenges. IOE’s Grandparent Carer Program’s offers support by providing opportunities for older carers to socialise, network and share experiences with others in a similar care situation.

So … come along for a chat, a cuppa and a game of lawn bowls at the Yarra Junction Bowling Club on Wednesday 14 November from 10am – 12 noon. For $5 you’ll get a game of bowls plus a delicious morning tea.

Then, dig out those Christmas earrings and get ready to ho ho ho at the fabulous Zonzo Estate winery in the beautiful Yarra Valley on Wednesday 5 December from 12.30pm-2.30pm. Eat wood fired pizza, slow roasted lamb, potatoes and salad while taking in the stunning surrounds of the estate. All for just $25. What better way to celebrate Christmas and the end of the year!

Planning is already underway for next year and, starting in February, a re-vitalised program will bring even more interesting and relaxing outings to give our grandparent carers a welcome break and some time for themselves.

Take a look at the flyers for the remainder of the year’s activities, share them with others and don’t forget to rsvp to IOE 9758 5522 or family.support@ioe.org.au  Anyone who is a grandparent and caring for someone with a disability can join in the fun.

Grandparent Carers Nov/Dec

THANK YOU FREEMASONS FROM SIBS

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Where would IOE’s Siblings Program be without the generosity of Freemasonary. Certainly it would not be flourishing and providing the support to so many siblings in the way that it now does.

Once again Freemasons Victoria and Freemasons Monash Gully  have come to the fore and today presented IOE with a cheque for an incredibly generous $50000, ensuring the continuity of our Sibling Program for the coming year.

The need for support for siblings is increasingly obvious with all IOE’s sibling activities and camps fully booked well ahead of time. Today’s substantially increased funding from Freemasons will allow the program to expand, offering more opportunities to even more siblings of people with disabilities.

At today’s morning tea and presentation, Cath and Jodi, whose children access the sibling program, described the difference  being involved in the program has made to the lives of their children and their families as a whole – how much positive support, friendship and enjoyment their children have derived from getting together with other siblings who understand their situation. It was a message well understood by Freemasons who have continued their support of siblings for the past nine years!

Thank you to Freemasons Foundation Victoria and Freemasons Monash Gully for sharing our vision and our passion for the Sibs Program. Thank you for your tremendous fundraising efforts. We are incredibly grateful for your support!

Take a look at our Sibs video – none of this would be possible without the support of our good friends at Freemasons.

IOE NEWSLETTER – OCTOBER

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Keep up-to-date. Read the latest news from IOE with the October edition of our monthly enewsletter.

Read IOE news

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2018

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The past year has presented plenty of challenges and surprises. Overall, with most families now transitioned to the NDIS, we are satisfied with the way in which we, as a community, have responded and adjusted to the new and still developing systems and requirements. Whilst this has been a far from smooth process, the ability and capacity of the to adapt and develop new processes has been the silver lining.

We invite all members of the IOE community to join us at the agency’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) where we will discuss the year’s challenges and successes, hand down the 2017-18 Annual Report and elect the Board of Management for the coming year.

When: Tuesday 30 October from 7pm onwards
Where: IOE Keith Thornton Room  5-7 Yose Street Ferntree Gully
RSVP: to IOE 97585522  or email ioe@ioe.org.au
Supper provided so please advise any dietary requirements.

The AGM is an opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of the agency, to meet the Board of Management and to be further involved in what is a wonderfully supportive and welcoming community.

All welcome! 

Fred Brumhead   CEO Interchange Outer East

view & share the AGM flyer

CARERS NEED SUPPORT TOO

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National Carers Week is a time of mixed emotions for many carers of people with disabilities. On the one hand the NDIS has opened up many opportunities for the people who they support. Others are finding the NDIS has left them with fewer supports.

Carers are often financially disadvantaged – many are single parents (an all too common situation where disability is concerned) or have been unable to participate in the workforce because of their care responsibilities – plus they have the added financial strain of extra medical and specialised equipment expenses.

Carers/parents are the lynch pin that holds everything together in the care of a person with a disability. They need to feel supported. They need some time out to rejuvenate and de-stress. Their mental, and physical, well-being is crucial to ‘keeping it all together’. By cutting them out of the system their contribution is receiving no recognition or validity and we are leading to the possibility of breakdown in those care relationships.

That is why IOE has pledged to continue to provide, and build on, our programs that support all family members, not just the person with a disability. Unfortunately IOE has never received any government funding to run these programs.

Before NDIS, carers could apply to various organisations for funding to enable them to participate in IOE’s family and carer support programs. However, once transition to an NDIS plan has been made, this funding avenue is no longer available, leaving many carers with the dilemma of whether they can afford to pay for respite for themselves.

The lack of Government support for carers has become of increasing concern for Carers organisations across Australia – and they are mounting a growing push to get governments to recognise the plight of carers and to take positive action to support them.

The message may be getting through – there may be some light ahead – at least for Victorian carers.

Recently the Victorian Andrews Labor party announced that if re-elected they intend to allocate $49.5 million to fund an extra 100,000 hours of respite care each year through the Support for Carers program, and expand eligibility to include carers of people with a mental illness.

This will allow an extra 5,000 Victorians to access respite care, giving carers the peace of mind that their loved one is receiving high quality care, while they get a break and take some time to look after themselves. They will also provide $4 million in grants funding for carer support groups and projects across the state. The announcement was made at the home of Interchange parent and carer, Hannah Lee, who is passionate about carers’ rights and heavily involved with Carers Victoria. Labor’s announcement was made by Gabrielle Williams M.P., State Member for Dandenong and the Parliamentary Secretary for Health, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Carers and Volunteers. Also present was Interchange parent and co-founder of the Different Journeys ASD groups, Mel Spencer who reported on the concerns of the many carers she come in contact with and Carers Victoria CEO, President and General Manager.

‘For thousands of Victorians caring for a loved one is 24/7 job – and they deserve a hand. Only Labor will ensure they get the time out and practical support they need.’ Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria.

Definitely food for thought as we ‘celebrate’ National Carers Week 2018. We now need to give carers themselves, something to celebrate!

Read the full media release HERE

FINER POINTS OF BREWING

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IOE’s Adult Recreation program certainly encompasses a range of different experiences and opportunities for participants.

Last month four young men who take part in the program, headed to the Public Brewery in Croydon for the first part of their brewing adventure. Supported by the breweries’ amazing and passionate staff,  Tim, Dylan, Josh and Jason were taken through each step of the brewing process at this little local micro brewery. The process began with them choosing the type of beer they wanted to brew and included tasting and smelling the ingredients. They then measured, added each ingredient, stirred and timed the process with precision. They also learnt about the history and processing stages of each ingredient.

In the down time between each step, the guys enjoyed a pub meal and a brew together, while discussing the design of the logo for their beer labels. They  decided on ‘The Topaz Four’ as they had chosen a Topaz Pale Ale and chose their image, colours and font accordingly.

Fast forward a month. Time to return for the bottling, tasting and labeling of the beer!

Again, supported by the great staff at the brewery, the group were taught each step, from cleaning out the bottles, using the machines that fill the bottles, capping and labeling and of course, tasting and critiquing their brew. The guys smashed the process out in record time to managed to squeeze in another pub lunch before it was time to go home with their very own slab of home made craft beer.

This was such a great experience and the brewery’s service and support was exceptional and the atmosphere and food were both great. A special shout out to staff Logan and Chris for making this such a memorable experience for our participants.

A highly recommended experience!

 

END OF AN ERA!

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It’s the end of an era.
After 35 years of having Brendon come to stay at their home in Belgrave, Mia and Evert Jansen’s hosting arrangement has finally come to an end.

The Jansen’s first started hosting in 1983 when Brendon was aged nine – the same age as one of their own two boys. Evert remembers becoming aware of the Interchange voluntary hosting program probably through an advert or from someone talking about it. He also remembers knowing a family in his youth who had a son with a disability who was always ‘locked away’ when they came to visit – something that was common in those days. He and Mia wanted their boys to grow up accepting of differences in people and being exposed to life on all different levels. So the thought of hosting a young boy with a disability through the Interchange program was attractive to them as a family.

Brendon, who has Prader Willi Syndrome, was a regular visitor at the Jansen’s, staying for a weekend each month for almost 15 years. In spite of Brendon’s condition requiring almost constant supervision, Mia and Evert had no issues with including him in their family life –there was unconditional love all round! And they were reassured by the fact that Brendon’s parents were able to take a well-deserved break.

Brendon’s family then moved from Ferntree Gully to Cowes in Phillip Island. Despite the distance the visits continued, though not with quite the same regularity as when the families lived closer. Over the years Brendon has formed a close relationship with both Mia and Evert and their boys and extended family, including grandchildren, plus friends. Mia says ‘Brendon is really a part of our family and the whole family accepts him.’

It is not only Brendon who has benefited from the relationship. Brendon’s parents, Jenny and David, and the Jansens have become firm friends with an enduring friendship and mutual support that extends beyond the original hosting situation.

Earlier this year both families discussed the match situation and decided that, as Mia and Evert are no longer ‘spring chickens’, they would continue to keep in touch and be a part of each other’s special events, as good friends do, but Brendon would no longer stay over .

Mia and Evert have never sought any accolades for their contribution to others but, in 2016, they were awarded a Volunteer for Knox Long Service Award for their 33 years (at the time) of commitment to IOE’s hosting program.

Their joint contribution to community still remains as strong as ever with their continued voluntary involvement in various community charitable organisations for which they have also recently received awards.

Thank you Mia and Evert Jansen from all at Interchange Outer East – your 35 years of hosting have been much appreciated.