It’s not surprising that so many young people who volunteer with IOE receive well deserved community recognition for their work.

The most recent to receive an accolade is Georgia Read who became Maroondah’s Young Citizen of the Year in early February.

Georgia first started volunteering with IOE in 2015 and has been a regular on rec programs since then. Her work for the community isn’t just limited to her volunteering at IOE. She’s been involved in her church since her early teens, helping out with the children and running Sunday school. At the age of fourteen Georgia became involved in school wellbeing and joined their equality group. It was one of her teachers at her school who nominated her for the Maroondah award in recognition of all she puts back into her local community and because of how hard she works to fit her volunteering commitment into her demanding school regime.

Georgia says ‘My community work has made me realise how different the world is from different views. Being able to be part of so many amazing communities with so many amazing people has made me realise how wonderful all ability is in the world. Helping someone achieve something they did not believe they could achieve is thrilling. The smiles and love that I get from the kids I work with motivate me to keep going because it’s so wonderful to see their happiness and enjoyment.

Volunteering can change the course of your life and change how you see the world. Everyone should try volunteering in an area they are passionate about.

I could never imagine my life without interchange and all the beautiful kids I get to look after, work with and learn from. I’m so grateful IOE is part of my life.’

Well done Georgia on your award … and a huge thank you from the entire IOE community.

IOE’s Myrtleford Rural Intensive Program has gone from strength to strength since its inception in early 2017, and has already reached new heights  in 2018.

The team, consisting of one support worker and eight young adults with disability, has made incredible connections within communities in north eastern Victoria over the past year. They’ve worked hand-in-hand with many parts of the Myrtleford, Whorouly and Everton communities, including schools, farms and businesses, developing their skills and independence and making a positive and lasting contribution.

One of the highlights is the work that the group does at the small Whorouly and Everton Primary Schools. The students had never met anyone with disability before and were apprehensive at first, asking questions about how to interact with someone who has a disability. Now, they have formed the most amazing ‘buddy’ relationships and work on projects side-by-side to improve their schools. In February, the group even featured on The Today Show for the connection and contribution they have made at Everton Primary School. Parents of the children have remarked that they are so happy with the program, the connections that their children have made and what they are learning about acceptance and inclusion. One teacher, together with a local parent, commented that ‘this program is the best thing that has happened for our kids.’

A few comments from the group:
Kent – ‘Now I make my own bed from scratch. I also train with the Whorouly Hawks when I miss my own footy training.’
Adele – ‘Working on the kiwifruit farm we learnt all about farm irrigation.’
Rob – ‘We go fishing and we learnt that we can’t throw carp back into the Ovens River because it is not good for the river.’
Lee – ‘I started helping out with meals on wheels and I also walk into town by myself and get to know lots of people.’
Morgan – ‘We celebrated my 30th birthday at the function centre and had a huge cake for everyone to share!’

We are so proud of the group for contributing in such a meaningful way, developing their skills and independence, and building some amazing connections throughout the region. They have done so much to break down barriers for people with disability in the community and show the importance, and possibilities, of acceptance and inclusion – and had a lot of fun along the way!

by Faye Lougheed

Interchange Outer East is offering another round of exciting trips to memorable destinations throughout the world during 2018.

Read on to give you an idea of what to expect!

‘Last September a group of 19 of us set off for a European adventure. And what an adventure it was!

Our’s was a fairly fast paced trip that, on a daily basis, brought with it new places to explore and navigate, multiple new experiences, different languages and a multitude of people. We traveled through 5 countries, stayed in 10 cities and stopped in numerous little towns. First stop was Berlin, where we stayed for a few days before traveling on to Prague, then to Salzburg, Fussen, Rothenburg, Koblenz, Basel, Lucerne, Lyon and finally Paris, all in 22 days. We traveled by planes, trains, trams, buses, taxis, boats plus a few gondolas. Between us all we visited many places, some popular tourists sites and some not so well known.

Sites visited included Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Cathedral, a concentration camp outside of Berlin, the exquisite old town of Prague and the medieval village of Cesky Krumlov. In Salzburg we joined the Sound Of Music tour, singing about nuns, children and edelweiss while visiting the places of the original production. We visited Neuschwanstein Castle, the castle that inspired Disney, car museums, Mozart concerts, more castles, Rhine falls, wineries and we even scaled Mt Titlus in the Swiss Alps which was breathtakingly majestic. We took a Rhine River cruise, went to Euro Disney, the Eiffel Tower, Mona Lisa in The Louvre, Moulin Rouge and so many more places, I honestly can’t list everything.

We walked, talked, ate all sorts of food at a wide range of places, looked for good coffee and beer, shopped, went to shows and even managed to fit in a soccer match. It was an action packed 22 days, packing, unpacking, loading and unloading buses, We were very grateful for having engaged Martin, our Belgium bus driver, for part of the trip. He got us to some smaller lesser known places off the tourist track. It was a great experience and I am sure everyone learnt and experienced something new.

As a staff member on this trip it was great to be able to share the opportunity of seeing so many amazing sites with families and participants that were also enjoying new sites and negotiating new experiences abroad. All part of the ‘learning and adventure’ for all I believe. It was great getting to know everyone and to see the group rally together in true Interchange style supporting each other to get the most out of every day .

We are about to launch into our 2018 Overseas and Interstate holidays. These trips offer more than a break or something new to see, they offer new experiences, learning about the world around us and a chance to engage with some familiar and new people. If you’ve missed out on this year’s travels make sure you get in early for our 2019 offers. They are a blast.’

Ellen Clacy

Last Friday I had the privilege of joining our Sibling Program coordinator, Jenna, on a sibs activity. My first thought was one of sheer horror when I realised that I would be spending the evening with 16 teenagers and mostly boys! After having my own teenagers they are sometimes my least favourite creatures!

Off we went, Jenna with a bus full and me with the few that didn’t fit in Jenna’s bus. It was immediately clear the great relationship that Jenna has developed with these kids.

I could see that Jenna has not only fostered a trusting friendship with these teenagers, but has successfully nurtured relationships between the kids themselves. Sibs from very different ways of life, with different interests have built friendships based on the common experience of having a sibling with a disability.

The night was great, the teens were awesome and Jenna was inspiring.

As a sibling myself, growing up I didn’t know another person that had a brother or sister with a disability, let alone someone my age.

What a wonderful program, giving young people an opportunity to build friendships, resilience, and normalise the ‘crazy’ that sometimes comes having a child with a disability in the home.

These teens were wonderful and it was great to have the reminder at the end of the busy week what IOE means to both them and their families!

by Cathy Handy