Summer 2016/17 hwns.com.au OUR PLAN FOR IMPACT SPECIAL EDITION

Plus WE LOVE VOLUNTEERS KEEPING YOUR SPIRIT STRONG SUPPORTING RURAL FAMILIES 2 ONE HOUSE

Welcome to the Summer Feature 13 2016/17 edition of One House. Keeping Your Feature This is an exciting time to be Spirit Strong serving and supporting people Supporting Rural with a disability! KAEDON SHARES HIS STORY Families The National Disability Insurance ABOUT GETTING IN TOUCH Scheme (NDIS) is creating a better WITH HIS ABORIGINAL ROOTS. OUR CHRISTMAS APPEAL TELLS THE STORY OF and more flexible national disability Page 4 PADDY AND HIS FAMILY STRUGGLING TO GET THE support system. By 2020, twice as SUPPORT THEY NEED IN RURAL AUSTRALIA many Australians will access the Page 13 funding they need to participate in community life and employment. This is a great step forward for the Feature human rights, wellbeing and dignity of people with a disability. We Love Under our new IMPACT plan, we Volunteers! are investing to improve how House OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE VITAL TO with No Steps (HWNS) operates OUR ORGANISATION. READ SOME so we can thrive under the NDIS and support more people in more OF THE RECENT HIGHLIGHTS. places. You can read about our first Page 10 steps into Victoria and Tasmania inside. HWNS has supported people with a disability in regional and rural Five of the communities for over 50 years, so Best it was great to focus our Christmas WE’VE SHINED THE 2016 appeal on the support needs of children with a disability in rural SPOTLIGHT ONTO GREAT TV Australia, where distance is just one ACTORS WITH A DISABILITY. obstacle to overcome. It’s not too Page 15 late to contribute! My very best wishes to every HWNS customer, employee and supporter for a truly wonderful Christmas season and a fulfilling and One House is the official housewithnosteps rewarding 2017. House with No Steps

magazine full of inspiring @HWNS news and stories.

@HWNSAU

Andrew Richardson Managing Director Subscribe at hwns.com.au/onehouse ONE HOUSE 3

NDIS roll out Continued roll out in: Continued roll out in: Central Coast Townsville Hunter New England Mackay QLD in 2017 Nepean Blue Mountains Toowoomba Northern Sydney South Western Sydney From 1 July 2017:

Southern NSW Ipswich After a busy year with the official start Western Sydney Bundaberg of the NDIS roll out, the scheme will NSW Rockhampton continue rolling out across the country in 2017. From 1 July 2017: The NDIS will be operating More than 40,000 Australians now have Illawarra Shoalhaven state-wide by July 2019. an NDIS plan, and 85 per cent of people Mid North Coast have rated their experience with the Murrumbidgee NDIS as either good or very good in the Northern NSW September quarterly report. South Eastern Sydney Sydney Western NSW Far West

The NDIS will be operating state-wide by July 2018.

We won!

We are thrilled and honoured to have been named the NSW 2016 Large Employer of the Year. We’ve worked hard to increase staff training delivered by our Education and Training Team over the past year to all our employees, including those with a disability. This includes accredited training, leadership development and customer service training. Great programs such as Workplace English Language Literacy (WELL) and Lean training have assisted staff across our organisation and ensures our employees have well-developed skills heading into the new NDIS environment. Congratulations and well done to our entire Education and Training Team for their continued hard work and commitment to quality training. ONE HOUSE 4 Keeping your spirit strong

KAEDON’S STORY

Kaedon, 20, is a budding artist and after reconnecting with his Aboriginal roots has gone from spraying graffiti tags to selling his own deadly paintings in a gallery. 5 ONE HOUSE

When I was a kid I didn’t know much about I failed Japanese at school so I thought, well, I might Aboriginality and all that, not until later in life. I’m from as well master my own language. I was amazed to find the Kamilaroi clan, I was born and raised in Newcastle out that there were over 700 Aboriginal languages and I live with my Mum. I have nine brothers and nine spoken before European settlers came. I wonder sisters but they now all live on their own. why we should learn French and Japanese in high I didn’t like school at first because I was one of the school when we’re not going to use that later in life, only Indigenous people around. There were a couple why can’t we learn Aboriginal? Because the Maoris of us, about four or five kids who were Aboriginal and at school in New Zealand, they get to learn their I hated it. I got suspended for punching a guy because language, so how come we don’t have that? I think he called me a “filthy abo”. that’s really important to connect to our culture and our land. It’s just sad that in history we’re only taught When I came to HWNS they found out a bit more a small section of Aboriginal culture and the rest of it about my Aboriginality. I got to make my first is about King Henry or Hitler. boomerang and didgeridoo, and I can now actually speak the Aboriginal language and do Aboriginal painting. BUT IF IT WASN’T FOR HWNS I’D HAVE NONE OF THIS, Before then, I never thought I could be an artist, I couldn’t do anything except for graffiti tags and I NONE OF THIS ABORIGINAL CULTURE STUFF. I WOULDN’T didn’t really know how to paint. Now I can paint, make didgeridoos, make boomerangs, spears, speak my HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PAINT AND SELL language, and actually tell people what my culture is PAINTING OR MAKE MY OWN DIDGES. all about. Pete from HWNS took me to all these mad Aboriginal I’m slowly learning more dreamtime stories. There’s places. I made my first didge with him, he took me this mountain that’s really cool, it’s called Mount out bush and also taught me how to say good bye Yengo and you know how most mountains are pointy, and hello in my language. I got to chop down my own well this one’s straight flat. It’s where our ancestor spear in the bush, I get to talk about songlines. It’s Biami, the sky father stepped back up into the sky. At just awesome, I love going out bush and seeing rock night time you can point out where he is, and it also carvings and sacred sites. tells you the seasons and when it’s time to go emu And some of these rock carvings, if you follow a line egg hunting because you can see an emu in the sky. it will point you to another carving, then that carving But if it wasn’t for HWNS I’d have none of this, none will point you to another carving and then so on. One of this Aboriginal culture stuff. I wouldn’t have had of my elders told me if you go out to the site at night the opportunity to paint and sell painting or make my time you can get some fire and hold it under a carving own didges. It’s so cool that I can go to caves and see rock and it dances and actually moves. I’m going to where my ancestors told stories and it’s cool getting try it one time. It’s awesome! told these things by my elders. I’ve got a job at Aunty Elsie’s Gallery in Newcastle. I help with maintenance and I’m also an artist there and sell my own artwork. I sold my first painting ever the other day which was sick! In Aboriginal culture, each state has their different style of painting. The dotting comes from the outback and in NSW we have spirals. At the moment I’m trying to blend in graffiti with Aboriginal and I’m also starting to learn more about Polynesian work so I want to blend some of that into my artwork as well. I paint when I can and sometimes I get so focused on a painting that I forget when I’m supposed to be going into the gallery for work. I’m proud to be Aboriginal, proud to be Samoan, proud to be French Polynesian, and proud to be Vanuatuan and African American. I love my culture and I think we should all try and connect to our cultures no matter what.

ONE HOUSE 6

AROUND

Did you know HWNS has more than 200 sites across NSW, Qld and the ACT? Here are some of our exciting regional highlights.

caloundra townsville Port Macquarie

Sausages were sizzling, balloons were Our Townsville team hosted the first Recently, Riley a customer from Port twisted and faces were painted at the ever disability conference in the North Macquarie was appointed a guest Caloundra Community Choice Open Queensland region in December. journalist for Port Macquarie news! His Day in October. Students from the More than 200 people attended to first gig was to interview Paralympian local Currimundi Special School came learn more about the NDIS, assistive and Australian Steelers wheelchair along with our customers to enjoy the technologies, community issues, rugby powerhouse Ryley Batt. sun, music and festivities. inclusive education and more. Riley joined Ryley for a pre-Rio The crowd also had the chance to Guest speakers included Mayor of training session in his hometown of decorate the new woodwork and Townsville Cr Jenny Hill, the Hon Port Macquarie and got a taste of craft annex which needed a bit of a Coralee O’Rourke, Dr Abraham Francis what it takes to be an elite athlete. makeover. Judging from the smiles and HWNS EGM Qld & Northern NSW What a great opportunity – Well done and laughter we’d say everyone had a Scott Sheppard. Workshops were also Riley! great time and enjoyed making some held by the Community Resource Unit new friends. Inc and many other local groups.

THANK YOU! A big thank you to the Qld Department of Communities, Child Safety & Disability Services as well as all our wonderful sponsors and guest speakers! 7 ONE HOUSE

new england newcastle sydney

Congratulations to Alison Williams, A big congratulation to Melissa Jarvis Trent from our Facility Services the winner of our first Aboriginal who recently competed in the Special Team has just finished a busy season art competition in the New England Olympics Trans Tasman Games in New competing in skiing with Disabled North West region. Zealand. Wintersport Australia. Our team in the New England and Melissa has been swimming since she Skiing is Trent’s passion - he just North West region has been working was 12 years old and has competed in loves it. Trent started skiing in his hard the past few months on making numerous events over the years. early teens for fun and has been connections with the local Aboriginal In the recent games she competed in very fortunate to travel with his communities. To officially recognise the 100 metre backstroke, 200 metre skiing loving family to many exciting the significance of the Aboriginal backstroke, 50 metre backstroke and destinations such as Switzerland, and people and their deep cultural the relay event. What an amazing the USA. heritage in the area they hosted effort! It’s only in the last 10 years or so that an inaugural Aboriginal Artwork he’s been competing, and has been Competition. doing really well competing many Allison’s beautiful piece of art will be times with the Special Olympics. Well used by our New England North West done Trent! team on their signage, corporate clothing and promotional items.

Residents of one of our accommodation services are enjoying some delicious new meals thanks to a generous donation of an Optimum 8200 blender from Froothie Australia. When some of the residents were Congratulations to our New England placed on a soft moist food eating North West team on their win at plan there were a few concerns from the ‘New England North West both residents and staff. After looking Business Awards Regional Finals’ at their mushed up meals, all of a in October. HWNS was recognised sudden, the residents were no longer for it’s commitment to supporting hungry. customers with mental health issues and embracing strategies and training So staff began trying to think outside for its staff to develop skills, tools and the box to figure out how to present mental health knowledge. meals that are both pleasing to the eye, as well as the palette. With the help of their new blender, staff started experimenting with different cooking methods and presentation of meals, and what a difference it has made! Thanks to the Optimum 8200, appetites have definitely returned! 8 ONE HOUSE

OUR NEW

PLAN

We’re excited to announce the launch of our Our strategic plan is called the IMPACT plan. It has six new 2016-2019 strategic plan! The NDIS is key goals: creating many exciting opportunities for our I – INNOVATION: We try new stuff and we are ready customers, families, employees, and service for the future. providers like HWNS. We are in an exciting M - MARKET STRENGTH: We’re a leading Australian period of change where technological provider of quality disability supports. advancements are also opening up many new P - PEOPLE: Our employees and volunteers are life-changing possibilities. engaged, effective and passionate about their work. A – ACCOUNTABILITY: We do our jobs well and hold We welcome and embrace these changes. HWNS ourselves accountable for actions and results. is evolving to seize new opportunities and address the challenges they bring, while staying true to our C – CUSTOMERS: Our customers drive the things we organisational Vision and Values. Of course, we will do and the way we do them. continue to focus all that we do on helping people T – TRANSFORMATION: We make smart use with a disability live great lives. of technology enabling excellence, growth and profitability.

To learn more check out www.hwns.com.au/ IMPACTPlan ONE HOUSE 9

”CONTINUING TO MAKE DONATIONS WHEN YOU’RE NO LONGER AROUND IN THE FORM OF A WILL HAS BEEN A VERY EASY AND HAPPY DECISION ON MY PART”–PAUL.

respect and appreciation for those who, through no fault of their own, had to face great challenges in life. He has personally seen the great work that House with No Steps does in support of people with a disability, and has been donating to us for many years. For Paul it was an easy decision, and a show of his commitment for people with a disability, to include a gift in his Will A loving gift for House with No Steps. Born in London, Paul came to Sydney in 1969 In this way he feels he can honour his lifelong searching for work after a neighbour informed him commitment and continue his mission of looking after there was a shortage of teachers in Australia. those who have been disadvantaged in life. As a Geography Teacher he quickly found a job upon Thank you, Paul, for your thoughtfulness and desire his arrival and went on to spend about 20 years in that people with a disability live a life of dignity and of country NSW, mainly in the Riverina area. dreams achieved. Paul loves it here, has now retired and calls Australia Find out more about leaving a legacy at home. Throughout his life he always had a great www.hwns.com.au/giftinwill.

Growing into Victoria and Tasmania We’re very excited to announce that HWNS has recently started expanding into Victoria and Tasmania. ​ In Victoria, we are amalgamating with a small local provider, Interchange Northern (ICN). In Tasmania, we have already started our operations through the NDIS School Leavers Employment Support program. Increasing our geographic coverage is an important part of our new strategic IMPACT Plan. Growth means we help more people – which is what we’re all about – and lets us generate enough income to invest in being a quality service provider in the NDIS world. Of course, we will keep growing in NSW, Queensland and the ACT, but decided it was time to look to other staff. Following an extensive evaluation process, they states and territories for even greater impact. decided to join forces with HWNS. Our office in Hobart is now open and is supporting Our partnership brings benefits for both organisations young people with a disability to develop the necessary - stability, additional resources, knowledge, experience skills to be able to enter the workforce and maintain and opportunities for expansion. Our experience employment. operating in the NDIS world will be invaluable as ICN’s North East Melbourne service provider, ICN recognised customers and families start to transition to the new they needed to join forces with another organisation scheme. to continue providing high quality services to their While for now nothing much will change for ICN customers and families under the NDIS. They looked customers and families, we will grow by supplementing for an organisation that shared their values and ICNs service with the broader range of HWNS services would increase opportunities for their customers and as the NDIS continues to roll out across Victoria. 10 ONE HOUSE

In 2015-16 our individual volunteers dedicated more than 20,000 hours of their time, and corporate groups volunteered an additional 2,477 hours. What an amazing contribution!

Our corporate volunteer program continues to grow and we’re seeing many different groups wanting to lend a hand in our packaging businesses or help out at our accommodation services cleaning up gardens, painting or de-cluttering.

We are so thankful for all of these generous people who play a big part in helping our customers live a great life. Here are just a handful of our great volunteer stories from the last few months.

The great team of corporate volunteers from Equinix ONE HOUSE 11

Holly and Kate have become great friends The overgrown garden before the Equinix team got to work.

Holly and Kate Equinix Holly is a lovely young lady who was looking to In August a team of 14 corporate volunteers from volunteer with HWNS to help support someone with a Equinix, a global data storage company, donated disability in any way possible. She was matched with their time to help clean up the gardens at one of our customer, Kate who wanted to start going for short Sydney group homes. walks to increase her physical fitness and lose weight. Equipped with great attitudes and smiling faces, the group was ready to tackle the overgrown mess of a ”I AM STILL MEETING KATE FOR OUR WEEKLY garden. They certainly weren’t afraid of getting their hands dirty and completely transformed the space, AFTERNOON WALKS. SHE IS A LOVELY PERSON TO SPEND clearing out all the over growth and replacing it with TIME WITH. SHE WANTED TO GET INTO THE HABIT OF beautiful new plants. The residents were overjoyed with their new garden REGULAR EXERCISE BUT ALSO ENJOYS THE COMPANY with the support manager even remarking that the AND HAVING SOMEONE TO CHAT TO” fantastic result will encourage the residents to spend more time outside. A few have already put their hand up to maintain their lovely new space. We never run out of things to talk about”, said Holly. Kate said she really likes Holly and they always have fun together plus she is much faster at walking now. “Kate has made a lot of progress since we first started walking and we have significantly reduced the time it takes for us to walk our regular route. Kate’s positive attitude has given me a lot of perspective in my own life and she teaches me new ways of seeing things every week I see her. We spend a lot of time laughing. (It's good for the core muscles as well!)”, said Holly.

The team from Ashurst ready to get started.

Ashurst Volunteering truly does bring out the best in International law firm, Ashurst visited our Head Office people! Giving back to your local community in September and got to work painting the outside of and doing something you don’t normally our Belrose Support Services Hub. They arrived ready do can fill people with a great sense of accomplishment and self worth. So really, it’s for anything and quickly made a plan, designated a a win-win situation! leader and got stuck into it. The finished product was amazing and gave the hub www.hwns.com.au/volunteer a really fresh and modern feel. Staff, families and customers have all commented on how much they love the new look of the space. 12 ONE HOUSE

Colin patrick

HWNS provides support and a bridge for my Hello my name is Patrick and I live in Port colleagues and I. HWNS is in its 54th year and it Macquarie. has supported me for over thirty years! In Port Macquarie we have a hospital for sick or In that time I have seen HWNS link its services injured koala’s. to my friends and I in a spirit of cooperation and Some have been hit by cars, attacked by dogs, responsibility to produce product that has value hurt in fires or suffer from chlamydia. for the wider community. Loss of habitat is another issue that causes koalas Now the NDIS also acts as a bridge between to cross roads when they lose their homes and organisations like HWNS and better social services have no food. for the less fortunate citizens of our community. I was lucky enough to work with the koalas at the If these bridges fail then they have to be rebuilt hospital two days a week. better and stronger. I did things like feed the koalas, changed their I have long been interested in bridges and have leaves and clean their pens. taken many photos both here and abroad. These show how extraordinary the engineering is. I I worked with some really nice people who taught know that many teams were needed to construct, me lots about koalas. manage and maintain them. The benefits of Thank you HWNS for making this possible. teamwork then extend to the population at large. Bridges have often broken down barriers just as HWNS seeks to do. HWNS requires a series of teams to manage and support their community, and as part of this its links to its customers and supporters. Some early bridges were built at high human cost. HWNS takes extraordinary measures to ensure that safety for all its people is the major priority. Bridges make what was not possible…. possible!!! ONE HOUSE 13

SUPPORTING RURAL FAMILIES

Country Australia is a beautiful place to live. Patrick is now 14 and these days, a lot of water has But for Jane and Rowan O’Brien its beauty washed under the bridge but for Jane and Rowan, the has been obscured by the challenges of what hardest thing of all has been the fact that they have mostly had to deal with their difficulties alone. they describe as “a long journey”. “I’ve certainly been through some really hard times, Their days in Inverell, in regional NSW, were already some really heavy times; quite resentful, quite sad that frantic with the stress every parent knows. They had I lost what I had and what I used to do, and I certainly three kids under 7 and then discovered that their lost all my confidence and self-worth through some of eldest, Patrick, had autism. Struggling to relate to these experiences”, said Jane. others, this frustration led to angry outbursts and The family was referred to HWNS and linked with behaviours that Patrick found difficult to control and Chantelle, one of our fantastic Behavioural Support sometimes overwhelmed his family. and Practice Coordinators. Chantelle is based in Tamworth and made the five-hour round trip to Inverell for her initial assessment visit at their home JANE CONTINUED, “IT’S REALLY TOUGH TO HAVE A and Patrick’s school. CHILD DIAGNOSED IN THIS AREA WHERE THERE’S Since then she has provided phone support, especially for Jane, and is working on a plan to remotely assist LIMITED SUPPORT. BUT I DO FEEL LIKE IN THE LAST the family through their biggest issues. This includes innovations like the use of a Fitbit device so Patrick 12 MONTHS I’VE STARTED TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF can learn to monitor when stress is affecting his pulse LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL”. rate, and be alerted to go outside for a walk or take deep breaths to get control of his reactions.

To read more about our Christmas appeal or to make a donation visit www.hwns.com.au/ruralfamilies. 14 ONE HOUSE Sensory play For kids

Did you know that sight, sound, smell, touch, preferences is through firsthand experience! Through and taste all play an important role in helping sensory play, kids can explore and communicate our brains develop? how they feel, and learn that their feelings are valid – whether they love the smell of lemons or hate the That’s why sensory play is so important for all kids feeling of slime. This leads to a greater sense of self. but especially those with a disability. It actually Physical skills. Sensory play involves lots of action, strengthens the neural pathways in kids’ minds, laying from lifting and throwing, to splashing and shaping. strong foundations for future learning. While these actions may seem small, they all support While every child will respond differently, most find it the development of different muscle groups and help both fun and therapeutic – and in the process, it can kids to build their fine motor skills – this strength and help their development in a whole range of ways. coordination comes in handy in day-to-day life such as using a spoon to eat. Benefits of sensory activities Emotional development. For kids, sensory play Cognitive development. Kids learn about the can often be very calming and can help them to world around them and having plenty of sensory work through troubling emotions such as anxiety experiences gives kids the chance to share what and frustration. Working with materials that require they’ve seen, heard, smelled, touched, or tasted. And pressure and manipulation, such as play dough, can each time a child explores a texture, they start to help kids release physical energy or tension – and identify things that are similar or different. Sand for other materials can trigger positive feelings like joy example is dry and gritty, and in time, they will notice and excitement. other materials, such as sugar, feel similar - supporting their cognitive development. Communication. Kids have no shortage of opportunities to communicate during sensory play, Social skills. Sensory play is most fun when it’s both verbally and non-verbally – whether they done with friends – and it’s also a great chance to describe what they are feeling, squeal in delight at a learn! When kids play together, they see how other new sensation, or share a moment of surprise. After kids handle the materials, share their own ideas and all, who doesn’t like having exciting new stuff to talk discoveries, build their social skills, and make friends! about?!

Sense of self. We all like and dislike different things Like to know more about sensory play? Why not check out – and a great way of finding out your own personal our videos at which will give you some ideas to try at home www.hwns.com.au/sensoryactivities. ONE HOUSE 15 FIVE BEST Traditionally film and TV characters with a disability have been played by able-bodied actors despite the wealth of talented actors with a disability out there. However, in the last few years we’ve seen a shift with more and more TV shows featuring actors who live with a disability.

STRANGER THINGS AMERICAN HORROR Gaten Matarazzo STORY RJ Mitte Jamie Brewer Playing the loveable RJ Mitte was cast Dustin in the American actress in the cult TV series hit show Jamie Brewer played three “Breaking Bad” in 2008 playing , Gaten recently different roles over the course Walter White, Jr., who also lives opened up about cleidocranial of the Emmy Award winning with cerebral palsy. After the dysplasia, a condition he was born American Horror Story anthology. series wrapped up, he went on with that affects the development Her impact on visibility for people to land his first presenting job - of bones and teeth. with Down syndrome has now fronting the Rio 2016 Paralympics Sadly Gaten was rejected for gone far beyond the TV screen TV coverage in the UK. acting jobs for two years because and in 2015, she became the first “We know lots of progress is being of his disability but despite woman with Down Syndrome made but the industry must do this says, “I just want to raise to strut the catwalk at New York more to help disabled people awareness for it and let people Fashion Week. work both in front of and behind know that it’s not something that Her message to other young the camera. I would love to switch you should be afraid of showing”. aspirings actors and actresses on my TV and see a disabled with disabilities – “Never be afraid, person talking about something let your voice be heard. Use your they are genuinely interested in or voice!” acting out a part that doesn’t just focus on their impairment”. SPEECHLESS Micah Fowler

Acting since he was five years GLEE old, Michah found out he won the Lauren Potter role of JJ in new comedy series It seems like Lauren Speechless on his 18th birthday. Potter was born for show biz. While his character JJ also lives Having studied dance since age with cerebral palsy, unlike Micah three, her love of singing landed he is unable to speak and uses a her a major role playing Becky in If you have a Five of the Best, communication board. the hit musical TV show “Glee.” of absolutely anything at all, we “Actors with disabilities face She has now gone on to do a would love to hear about it at [email protected] typecasting and a lack of range of other things including auditioning opportunities, but being an advisor on Down I don’t let [it] define me. I see syndrome on President Obama’s those things as challenges and not Committee for People with barriers.” Intellectual Disabilities.

ANNUAL RI

We’re excited to share our 2015/16 highlights with you. This year we’ve ditched the paper and gone digital!

Head to the website below to get stuck into our 2016 Annual Review. www.hwns.com.au/annual-review/2016

www.hwns.com.au 1300 LETS GO (1300 538 746) [email protected]