IOE NEWSLETTER – AUGUST

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

Read IOE enews

CARERS SAY THANK YOU!

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Following IOE’s recent inaugural Parent and Carers retreat, we received many messages of thanks from those who attended. Thank you to the Mezzalira family for sharing their thoughts.

‘We would like to thank Interchange Outer East, the management, sponsors and organisers for allowing us to attend the recent Carer’s Education Retreat at RACV Resort at Inverloch.

This was the first time my husband Roger and I have been away for more than one night from our son in 15 years!

It truly was a fantastic experience and a great opportunity for us to recharge our batteries. We had a wonderful time, we watched the eclipse of the moon at 5am, went for a scenic drive along the coast, had amazing breakfasts, relaxed in the lounge and went for a couple of scenic walks. We also met some really nice people, had wonderful food and had some hilarious fun at the Theatre Sports night. A fun night for sure.

Such a lovely venue, so suitable for this type of event. Loved the pillow menu too. Such a great experience and time away for all involved. We can’t wait for the next one, hopefully we can go again.

A truly rewarding experience for any Carer, so very much appreciated. Thank you again to all involved.’

Sue & Roger Mezzalira

 

…and a few more of the many comments received from parents and carers:

‘I just wanted to say thank you for a wonderful Carers retreat! The activities offered were fantastic, the location was wonderful and the laughs had were all soothing for the soul. I met some new carers, had the opportunity to chat with carers I have crossed paths with before but never had long enough time because of our caring roles and enjoyed quality time with Shane. I appreciate all your hard work going in to organising such an event and also the time over the weekend you spent giving yourselves to others.’ Hannah L

‘Thank you SOOOO much IOE for a fabulous weekend! We had such a relaxing time & not only had some much needed couple time but also had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with an amazing group of people. Feeling very grateful & blessed’ Megan B

‘Thank you so much IOE for a great weekend. I sooo needed some time to just stop and relax. I got to spend some time with great friends, in a beautiful location and with lots of laughs’ Heather R

‘We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who may the retreat possible!!! My husband and I had the first break together without the kids in 18 years!!! Having two special needs children and my husband with complex needs, makes life hard. But like all other families, we just keep swimming. Having time to reconnect with my husband and meeting others who find themselves in a position similar to ours, made for a brilliant weekend!!! Thank you’ Kerryn L

Inverloch Carers retreat boxing session

RETREAT FOR PARENTS AND CARERS

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IOE held its inaugural Parent and Carers Education retreat on the last weekend of July and the feedback we received has been overwhelming!

With the RACV resort at Inverloch as the destination it was an easy and leisurely drive for most people to arrive in time to greet and meet everyone on the Friday night.

A total of 95 people attended, a good indication of how needed this retreat weekend  was for parents and carers.

The mood of the camp for the whole weekend was sociable, upbeat, relaxed and happy. For many it was their first experience of a weekend away from their ‘carer’ role. With mental health a major issue for many carers and parents, one of the retreat’s aims was to provide an environment that motivated people to get active and involved rather than just sit and relax – though there was plenty of time for that too.

A boxing session proved very popular with old and young, fit and unfit donning the gloves – it certainly helped to have a local, very fit young man leading the session! Yoga was also on the activity menu – all that stretching, positioning, breathing and focusing resulted in some very ‘spaced out’ but relaxed participants. CEO Fred of course led the beach walk – probably a little easier physically than his usual family camp mountain goat hikes. An afternoon session of dancing on the tennis courts saw a group learning some salsa moves plus having fun with the old favourites, Macarena and Nutbush. It was all about getting active, both physically and mentally.

Post Saturday night dinner (delicious) – entertainment was Theatre Sports, definitely the highlight of the weekend. Sarah and Tom from Misfit Theatre group facilitated the activities and had even the most reticent challenging their comfort zones as teams play-acted, mimed and performed, taking on the fun and challenges of the activities.

The following comment, just one of the many received, sums up the overall feeling of the weekend:

‘Thank you Fred, Frances & Kimberley for an outstanding weekend – you are the best! As we return home to our families, we have an extra skip in our step! An extra ounce of energy to tackle the week ahead! Many memories of wonderful new Carer experiences!’  – Joanne B, parent and carer

With the NDIS solely focusing on the person with a disability it is crucial that those responsible for their care, the parents, families and carers, are given as much support as possible so they can maintain their physical and mental well being. IOE will continue to provide this support.

premiers vol champion award logo

PREMIER’S VOLUNTEER CHAMPIONS AWARD WINNERS

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A team of young men and women who attend IOE’s adult service in Lilydale have good reason to celebrate. They have been selected to receive the Teamwork category award in the 2018 Premier’s Volunteer Champions Awards. They will be presented with their award at a formal ceremony at Government House on Sunday, 9 September 2018.

The group have been participating in the Planned Activity Group (PAG) program which has been running from the Lilydale adult site for the past two years. PAG evolved from the desire to involve participants in more community based programs where they could get a real understanding of what it is like to have the responsibilities that mirror actual employment. The skills they have learned at PAG are a great experience and a starting point for future opportunities.

Jessica D, who oversees PAG says ‘Every Wednesday participants cook a two course meal for a group of around fifteen senior citizens who meet together for social outings, games, arts and craft, bingo etc. This started as an Italian community group and has expanded to accommodate other members. Sometimes, there will be Italian music on in the background, people are speaking Italian and we are eating pasta and you can totally forget where you are for a moment.’

During the running of PAG over the past two years there have been a number of group member changes to accommodate various program timetable changes. Originally there were two groups taking part in the program but with staff and time changes this has reduced to the one group currently operating. Whatever the membership, participants have all really loved being involved and the senior citizens appreciate the effort that they put into the meals and have built special relationships with the PAG team members. Before the IOE group came along the elderly citizens were getting meals on wheels!

Chelsea and Sarah are two of the award winning team who have continued on with the program.

Chelsea says being part of PAG has given her skills in the kitchen she can use at home to cook for her mum. She is learning lots about different foods and cooking methods

Sarah’s skills are utilized outside the kitchen where she helps set the table and prepare the dining room. Even though she does not usually help with cooking she is still a valuable member of the team.

Other award recipients who were participating in the program at the time of the award selection are, Josh, Kaisha, Dominique, Ben, Briony, and Terry

Jess says ‘We love this program and the connections we have made through it. This is what day service activities are all about; experience for future employment and upskilling for life, being a valued member of our community, building relationships, being respected and working hard.

Congratulations also to our current team of Simon, Steph, Chelsea and April, who are continuing the valued work of the winning team.

SEEKING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

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DID YOU KNOW 55% of people will pay extra for products and services from companies committed to positive social and environmental impact.

In 2014, 3million+ Australians switched brands because the alternative brand supported a charity

At Interchange Outer East we are currently seeking to develop partnerships with local businesses to assist us to continue to provide a high level of peer and social support opportunities to families, despite the lack of ongoing government funding.

Individualised funding under the NDIS has been a welcome development within the sector. However, by definition, it does not provide funding to support carers and families – and families are missing out. Due to the lack of funding, parents and carers are forced to prioritise the day-to-day support needs of their child with a disability over their own wellbeing. This is why our family support programs are so important, and why we are seeking the support of our local community!

We are aiming to build sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships within the outer east to support a stronger, resilient and more connected community.

Being a locally based organisation the majority of the families IOE supports are local, as are our own team members, volunteers, casual workers and all their families. With such a local coverage and over 35 years of providing services, it is highly possible that the partners we are seeking will already have some personal connection to IOE. It is for these reasons that we believe that partnerships with local businesses will serve to strengthen the community on a far wider scale rather than solely support carers and families.While this support is vital and highly valued, it is not the only benefit!

There are many ways to partner with us to ensure that your contribution directly supports the families of children and young adults with disability, living in our region. Depending on your intended level of commitment, we will work with you to implement the partnership that works best for your business. Some options include:

• Workplace payroll giving – This is the easiest way to make a substantial contribution – even the smallest amount each pay adds up quickly! Your staff will hardly notice the small amount each pay but will be amazed at the difference it makes over the year. Each team member will receive a letter at the end of each financial year for their records. Consider matching their contribution to encourage maximum participation.
• Annual event sponsorship – sponsor an annual Family Camp; the highlight of the IOE calendar. Family Camp brings around 40 families together for a weekend of fun and social connection in a supportive environment that is free of judgement. For some families, it’s the only chance they have to get away together for some R&R. Each Family Camp costs IOE around $50,000 but we are determined to keep costs low for families. Some of your staff could also have the option to volunteer on camp or even bring their families along to be part of the fun!
• Hold a fundraising event for us – we can support your event by attending, making a presentation, or something else. Consider holding an annual trivia night, raffle, gala dinner or shopping tour. Let’s work together to make it work!
• Round-up at the register – ask your customers to round-up or top up their purchase by a set amount. We can let your customers know how their donation has made a real difference to children and families living in their own neighbourhoods. Consider matching the amount raised to encourage participation.
• Corporate annual major partner – commit as our major corporate partner for the year or longer! Let’s negotiate a tailored partnership that mutually benefits our socially conscious organisations and works well for our stakeholders.

We believe that any partnership should be mutually beneficial. We are not looking for a handout, we are looking opportunities in our community that will bring the for-profit and for-purpose sectors closer together and make our community stronger. Here are some benefits to partnering with us:
• Feature in our annual report and website
• Regular content for your social media channels, website and/or newsletter showing the affect that your contribution has had
• Paper or electronic newsletter for your stakeholders (staff and/or customers, etc.), or contribution to your existing newsletter
• Dedicated presentation by our volunteer coordinators with your team and their families to discuss volunteering options to be further involved
• Invitations to events and family days for your team and their families
• We can help you reach your target market. We have an online community of 3000 people living within the region and a client base of over 800 local families
• We will encourage you to publicise your support of IOE to your stakeholders, whether that be on your packaging and marketing materials, website, social media, etc., depending on your priorities.

To suggest a business contact, to find out more or to request an information pack for your workplace, contact Faye Lougheed on 9758 5522 or faye.lougheed@ioe.org.au

We’ve created a short video for you to view and share with your team and other potential IOE partners.

LISTEN OUT FOR SUPERNATURALS

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Over the years the Supernaturals have had their fair share of change.  Since the band’s formation in 2008 through Interchange Outer East, there have been some major personnel changes and the music itself has gone down a number of different paths. One thing has stayed the same over the years, the passion for music that all the various band members have shared.

But the band has settled now and has been very hard at work writing a new batch of songs.

Time has flown by over the last 2 years or so, to the point where we have realised we’ve got enough new songs to fill three Olympic sized pools. It has been amazing to watch the gang find their creative spark, whether it be coming into band practice with some new guitar chords or experimenting with writing lyrics. There has been a real sense of the group working as a team, which can’t always be said for some of the biggest bands in the world (Liam and Noel Gallagher, I’m looking at you!).

So naturally, because the group work so well as a team, they’re showing no sign of slowing down, which can only be seen as a good thing.

We can almost see the finish line to the recording process to our newest 12 track album called ‘Creepy Crawlies’. Truth be told, we actually started recording drums for this album quite a while back. But as fate had it, we had some new members join the band, so the focus of the group turned towards learning the bands whole catalogue and developing our sound. So for a little while, the recording side of things stopped. But we’re back on the recording bandwagon and I think it’s safe to say this album is going to be rather epic.

We’re pretty excited as a group as we can’t wait for these songs to be heard. Keep your ears and eyes peeled as we will have lots of exciting news coming before the year is out.

Check out our Supernaturals facebook site, take a look at what we’ve been doing over the years and listen to some of our tracks.

Peter Carr – Supernaturals manager

A TIME FOR KINDNESS

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Too often there is a lack of inspiration, of humanity and of goodwill in today’s world.

World leaders lying – or at best obfuscating; the normalising and acceptance of human rights abuses; the climate going nuts yet the denial sycophants say nothing is wrong; un-civil wars creating massive humanitarian crisis; xenophobic rantings about people who are different … the list goes on. The template is that to get ahead in the world you have to beat down all opposition and appeal to the lowest ebb of thought. You have to be tough, yell and bully your way through or else ‘they’ will take advantage of you. We seem more and more willing to accept this behaviour and irrationality from people in the spotlight and each other.

So where do we turn to shed some hope and light?

Japan’s world cup soccer team.

Not only did they do really well on the field, they attracted world wide acclaim when, after they lost in the knockout stage, they tidied up their change room and left a note – in Russian – to say thank-you. The Senegalese team did the same through the group stage. After their group stage match both Japanese and Senegalese supporters were also seen picking up rubbish from the stadium terraces before they left.

It was a simple act of respect, yet it was reported across the world as some kind of quaint, strange thing to do. When doing something thoughtful, kind and pleasant is being seen as being exceptional we must stop and question what is going on. It is readily noticeable that people are more intolerant and less willing to accept mistakes or omissions. Yet this time of significant change and disruption is exactly the time to practice more random kindness. We should all take a lead from the ‘Blue Samurai’ and be thankful and kind to each other even during times of stress.

Cheers

Fred

SUPPORT WORK … EVERYTHING TO GAIN

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My name is Wendy and I am a married mum of two awesome teenagers, Jordan 16 and Hannah 14. My husband Danny has been an incredibly hardworking man, working two jobs since Jordan was a toddler in order for me to be a stay at home mum and be there for our kids through all their endeavours, and boy there have been a lot!

This year Hannah started year 8 at secondary school and seeing her so connected and settled and with Jordan moving from strength to strength at school and working at McDonalds, I found myself looking for that something extra to fill my time. I heard a comment once that ‘everyone needs someone to love, something to do and something to look forward to’ and seeing I had my loving family and plenty to do, it was time to look forward to something new.

I happened to be scrolling through my Facebook news feed when a post from Interchange Outer East appeared with ‘JOIN OUR TEAM’ heading up a call for the next round of casual support workers. It grabbed my eye as I have always been in awe of the families and the people who live with disabilities and thought perhaps it was my time to give. I took the step and commented on the post and from there it has been a whirlwind.

I attended an information session where I felt at home immediately. The support that was offered to potential support workers was very evident from the beginning. I had no hesitation submitting my application at the end of that session and the rest is history. I was interviewed and once offered a position I set the wheels in motion to obtain the necessary requirements as soon as possible. I wanted to get started as soon as I could. My employment was activated on 23 June and I have not looked back. It has been a steep learning curve to say the least, but the support of all the staff has made that a much easier task to tackle. They have been patient and answered my hundreds of questions, emails and phone calls without hesitation.

I have been as active as possible in getting shifts booked and have had such a variety of people to ‘work’ with (I find it hard to call what we do work when it’s actually so fulfilling and enjoyable). I have already had a number of ongoing shifts booked in to my week and have picked up one-off shifts wherever possible. I have had the pleasure of meeting so many awesome individuals, each of whom have taught me so much already in my short time with them. I certainly take home so much more than I thought would be possible.

I have had so many firsts from going to the gym with a super spunky natured young lady using public buses, to running through the playground being superheros with a young man who made my day when we danced to the Village People’s YMCA in the middle of Wally Tew Reserve. I have chatted for hours with a lovely lady over hot chocolate and been asked how my nacho making skills stack up. Every shift has something different and new. I have even now cooked vegetable byriani with flat bread from scratch for a lovely family when mum had hurt her arm, and braided her daughters hair which is some of the longest hair I have ever seen! To say I go home feeling fulfilled is an understatement.

I feel incredibly humbled to be allowed to be part of the lives of so many families and wonderful people and feel I now have a super huge extended family, so much so that my kids have signed up also as volunteers and have both attended their first full day shifts over the school holidays. I am so happy that I took the first step in this incredible journey and I would encourage anyone who has ever thought of making a difference to attend one of our information sessions… you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Check out the dates of our upcoming casual support worker recruitment sessions here