Latest News
Supported Living Fund – Information for people with disability, families and carers
To further inform people with disability, their families and carers about the Supported Living Fund, Family Advocacy in partnership with the NSW Council for Intellectual Disability have been funded to hold seminars [PDF 484KB] throughout NSW in February and March 2012.
The seminars will provide people with disability, their families and carers with detailed information about the Supported Living Fund and subsequent application process.
Seminars will be held at the following locations:
- Dubbo – Wednesday 15 February
- Bathurst -Thursday 16 February
- Kingsford – Monday 20 February
- Blacktown – Tuesday 21 February
- Burwood – Wednesday 22 February
- Hornsby – Thursday 23 February
- Lismore – Tuesday 28 February
- Wollongong – Tuesday 28 February
- Coffs Harbour – Wednesday 29 February
- Liverpool – Wednesday 29 February
- Armidale – Thursday 1 March
- Newcastle – Thursday 1 March
- Wyong – Friday 2 March
- Wagga Wagga – Monday 5 March
- Campbelltown – Wednesday 7 March
To register, or for more information contact Family Advocacy by phone: 02 9869 0866 or 1800 620 588 or email: enquiry@family-advocacy.com.
Contact information:
Katherine McLellan, Sector Development Officer, NDS New South Wales, Ph 02 9256 3137, katherine.mclellan@nds.org.au
Ability Options Wholesale Nursery’s huge end of year sale
If you’re keen to get your garden in order for Christmas, or are looking for some great gifts, why not visit Ability Options Wholesale Nursery on Saturday 17 December for its huge end of year plant sale? The nursery will be selling hundreds of varieties of quality seasonal blooms, herbs, perennials and hedge lines direct to the public. Plants from just $1.50!
Located at 279-295 Mamre Rd, St Clair, the nursery will be open from 8am – 2pm pending appropriate weather conditions. For enquiries, please call the nursery direct on 9670 2097.
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas, congratulates Ability Options on support of NDIS
On 5 December, as part of celebrations for the International Day of People with Disability (3 December), the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator The Hon Jan McLucas and Federal Member for Greenway, Michelle Rowland, visited Ability Options to congratulate its staff, families and people with disability assisted by the organisation for their commitment to the campaign for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
On 3 December, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced a new agency will be established to lead the Commonwealth’s work to design the launch of an NDIS. The agency will also oversee new projects to identify practical ways to prepare the disability sector and workforce, and people with disability, to move to a new ways of delivering disability services. The Gillard Government will provide $10 million for projects that examine how to deliver individual, personalised care.
Ageing with Disability – Research, Policy and Practice Forum
On Monday 21 November, the Futures Alliance & Australian Association of Gerontology (NSW Division) presented a forum on Ageing with a Disability – Research, Policy and Practice. Ability Options is an active member of the Futures Alliance is committed to helping to address issues faced by people with disability who are ageing. This event was held at the Max Webber Library, Blacktown and included service providers, people with disability, family members and carers. Guest speakers included:
- Andrew Constance, NSW Minister for Disability Services and Ageing
- Professor Christine Bigby, LaTrobe University
- Paul Sadler, Presbyterian Aged Care NSW & ACT
- Sue Findlay, HACC Transition Program Manager, Aged & Community Services Association of NSW & ACT
- Associate Professor Roger Stancliffe, University of Sydney
View event press release or visit the Futures Alliance blog.
Come to Ability Options Wholesale Nursery’s Open Weekend!
Ability Options Wholesale Nursery will be selling its annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetable plants direct to the general public at wholesale prices during its Open Weekend— Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 November, 8am to 2pm. An Australian Disability Enterprise, the nursery provides important employment and training opportunities for people with disability.
- Quality potted colour plants available at low prices!
- Hundreds of plant varieties available
- Wander around the facilities
- View the nursery’s water saving initiatives
- Help support people with disability through your purchases
Ability Options Wholesale Nursery, 279-295 Mamre Rd, St Clair Ph (02) 9670 2097
NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs meets with Ability Options Employment to talk about Indigenous employment issues
On Tuesday 1 November, NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Victor Dominello MP met with staff from Ability Options Employment, including with Aboriginal Elders, to discuss some of the successes and challenges of assisting Aboriginal people overcome barriers to employment. This meeting was held at Ability Options Employment’s Campbelltown office.
One of the largest Disability Employment Services in NSW, Ability Options Employment provides the only Indigenous specific Disability Employment Services in Western Sydney through its offices in Campbelltown, Camden, Mount Druitt and Seven Hills. It actively employs people from Aboriginal communities to work directly with job seekers to help them find sustainable employment.
Key issues discussed at the meeting included better access to transport for job seekers, the importance of cultural awareness within services supporting Aboriginal communities, improving the skills gap for job seekers, and the importance of increasing accessibility to services.
Ability Options first disability not-for-profit organisation in Australia to release sustainability report
In October, Ability Options was the first disability, not-for-profit organisation in Australia to release its annual and sustainability report in line with the international Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Guidelines at its 2011 Annual General Meeting.
Sustainability reporting requires companies and organisations to demonstrate their corporate responsibility by publicly reporting against economic, social and environmental — or people, planet and profit— values or criteria on an annual basis. With its roots in environmental reporting, which was established in the 1980s, sustainability reporting is a practice that is increasing globally.
By taking a proactive role to collect data on, measure and track specific issues through sustainability reporting, Ability Options aims to further improve the lives of the people with disability and their families.
Read the Ability Options 2010-2011 Annual and Sustainability Report
3 Spread the Word Week: November 27 – December 3
From November 27 – December 3, Ability Options will be participating in a week of action being held across Australian to grow the movement for an National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to 100,000 supporters.
A NDIS will, for the first time in Australia, assure lifetime care and support to people with disability. It will also give people with disability more choice and control over their supports.
You can help us ‘Spread the Word’ about the NDIS during this week , by doing one or all of the following:
- conducting a letterbox drop in your local area
- signing up 10 friends or family to the campaign
- holding a street stall in your local area
To register your support, please visit http://www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au/act_now/
Join the Western Sydney Carpool
Do you drive to work or study? A new online carpooling service, developed by Transport NSW and managed by the Western Sydney Community Forum has recently launched. Carpooling is when you share your vehicle with someone that lives close by you and travels to the same destination suburb. By sharing the driving just one or two days a week, you could save $50 a week in fuel and halve your toll and parking costs. Carpooling also helps the environment by cutting greenhouse gas and the numbers of cars on the roads at peak times. For more information, visit www.wscarpool.org
New Sign language videos to assist understanding workplace rights
The Fair Work Ombudsman has launched a number of online videos to assist employees with hearing impairment to understand their workplace rights. The short videos – available at: www.youtube.com/fairworkgovau – are presented in Auslan (Australian sign language) and are also captioned and narrated in English.
Read more information about the videos
Person-centred Approaches Summit Report released
National Disability Services (NDS) has released the Person Centred Approaches Summit Report. This report outlines the key findings from two-day ‘Living Life My Way’ Summit hosted by Minister for Disability Services, Andrew Constance, at Acer Arena in July. The Report indicates consensus support for a move towards more person centred approaches for people with disability, their families and carers. The Report covers the three key discussion areas from the Summit which have also been used as the basis for the state-wide consultations.
View the Person-Centred Approaches Summit Report
International Day of People with a Disability – Don’t DISmyABILITY campaign
International Day of People with a Disability (IDPWD) is celebrated annually in NSW during November and December with the Don’t DIS my ABILITY campaign. The campaign celebrates the diversity and ability of people with a disability. It is about promoting positive perceptions and building an environment that encourages active participation in careers, leisure pursuits as well as social activities. For more information about events and initiatives, visit www.dontdismyability.com.au or you can follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter.
Dress for Success and Dressed for Work
Dress for Success Sydney and Dressed for Work (run by the Metro Migrant Resource Centre) outfit disadvantaged men and women, free of charge, in high quality professional attire.Dress for Success’ showroom is located at 132 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville or contact info@dfssydney.org or 1800 773 456. For more information about Dressed for Work, visit www.metromrc.org.au/dress-for-work-2.htm
SPARK 2011 Creative Arts Festival
The 2011 SPARK festival, on Wednesday 26 October to Friday 28 October at the Tops Conference Centre in Stanwell Tops, is designed to allow people with a disability the chance to find their voice through the creative outlets of music, dance, art and performance. People with disability will work with professional and accomplished community artists. On the final day of the SPARK Festival the people with disability will have the opportunity to express their skills through a performance and presentation.
For more information and registration please visit: www.thejunctionworks.org/news-events/events/spark-2011-creative-arts-festival-0
Leaders for Tomorrow
Leaders for Tomorrow is a new national program which aims to develop the leadership capacity of people with disability. The $2.9 million program will provide up to 12 months leadership support for 200 people with disability to 30 June 2014. TAFE NSW Hunter Institute, leading a consortium with E-QUAL (Enhancing Quality), will work with extensive local and national networks of business, government, community and disability organisations to link participants with appropriate training, support and mentoring for up to 12 months . Leaders for Tomorrow is part of the Australian Government’s $11 million package of community participation initiatives to remove barriers and expand opportunities for people with disability and carers under the National Disability Strategy.
For information about the Leaders for Tomorrow program, please phone 1800 887 624 or e-mail cath@leadersfortomorrow.com.au.
Spring Able Cable out now!
Ability Options publishes a quarterly organisation-wide newsletter, Able Cable, featuring articles about what is happening across the organisation and our various programs and services. It is one of many important ways we communicate with the people we support, their families, our employees and people who provide invaluable support to the organisation. The September (Spring) 2011 edition is now available to read online as a PDF document.
NSW Person-Centred Consultations
The NSW Government is currently holding consultations with people with disability, carers and families across NSW to hear their ideas and suggestions on the best way to implement more person-centred approaches and supports. A complete list of sessions, locations and times is available at www.nswpcaconsult.net. You can register for sessions on this site or by calling 1300 550 913.
If you are unable to attend one of the consultations, you can have your say by making a submission via email at pcaconsultations@dhs.nsw.gov.au, or by mail to: Person Centred Approaches Team, Ageing Disability and Home Care, Level 5, 83 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000.
If you require assistance to make a submission or would like further information, please contact 1800 605 489.
Current Consultations
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12 September, Hornsby RSL, 4 High St, Hornsby, 10.30am – 12pm
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13 September, Catholic Club, Phillip Room, 20-22 Camden Rd, Campbelltown, 10.30am – 12pm
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14 September, Dee Why RSL CLub, 932 Pittwater Rd, Dee Why, 10.30am – 12 pm
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15 September, South Sydney Juniors, 558a Anzac Parade, Kingsford, 10.30am – 12pm
Ability Options Employment encourages better inclusion during Hearing Awareness Week
This Hearing Awareness Week (21-28 August) Ability Options Employment is calling on more organisations to follow in the leadership of My Size at Parramatta Westfield when considering hiring an employee with hearing impairment. My Size recently employed twenty -nine-year-old Sally Keyrouz from North Parramatta who is profoundly deaf
Come to Ability Options Wholesale Nursery’s Open Weekend!
Ability Options Wholesale Nursery will be selling its quality potted colour, herbs and vegetable plants direct to the general public at wholesale prices during its Open Weekend— Saturday 27 August, 8am to 2pm AND Sunday 28 August 8am to 12pm. An Australian Disability Enterprise, the nursery provides important employment and training opportunities for people with disability.
- Quality potted colour plants available at low prices!
- Hundreds of plant varieties available
- Wander around the facilities
- View the nursery’s water saving initiatives
- Help support people with disability through your purchases
Ability Options Wholesale Nursery, 279-295 Mamre Rd, St Clair Ph (02) 9670 2097
Ability Options celebrates 2011 Ability Awareness Day
On Friday 5 August, more than 200 people with disability, their families, staff and community members, including the NSW Minister for Disability Services, The Hon Andrew Constance MP, attended Ability Options’ 2011 Ability Awareness Day at Fairfield RSL Club. Ability Options’ Chief Executive, Matt Donnelly, said, “Through Ability Awareness Day, we aim to celebrate equality and independence, fostering understanding and acceptance of people with disability to build a stronger connection between people with disability and their own community.”
Ability Options Employment Mount Druitt say ‘Count Us In’ during DisabiliTea
Staff from Ability Options Mount Druitt and community members enjoyed a ‘DisabiliTea’ on August 2 to say “Count me in” in support of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). This event was one of more than 900 ‘teas’ across the country where individuals and organisations, like Ability Options, encouraged their friends, family, colleagues and politicians to join the Every Australian Counts campaign to revolutionise disability services in Australia.
Ability Options Family Seminar Program presents Jane Sherwin
As part of Ability Options’ Self Managed Programs, which assists people across NSW to plan and purchase their own activities, the Family Seminar Program provides opportunities for families to jointly discuss their programs and hear innovative speakers from the field. On Tuesday 6 September, 5.30pm – 9pm at the Burwood RSL Club, Jane Sherwin from consultancy Sherwin & Associates will discuss role-based planning during her session ‘A diary full of valued roles, not a week of programs.’ This event will help families identifiy roles that are more likely to lead to community participation. The session will be free for families on the Ability Options Self Managed Program or $30 for other who would like to attend and will include a light supper.
View more information about this event
Come to Ability Options Wholesale Nursery’s Open Day!
Ability Options Wholesale Nursery will be selling its quality potted colour, herbs and vegetable plants direct to the general public at wholesale prices during its Open Day— Saturday 30 July, 8am to 2pm. An Australian Disability Enterprise, the nursery provides important employment and training opportunities for people with disability.
- Quality potted colour plants available at low prices!
- Hundreds of plant varieties available
- Wander around the facilities
- View the nursery’s water saving initiatives
- Help support people with disability through your purchases
Ability Options Wholesale Nursery, 279-295 Mamre Rd, St Clair Ph (02) 9670 2097
Ability Options celebrates providing employment opportunities to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people with disability during NAIDOC Week
Ability Options Employment Mt Druitt and Campbelltown offices celebrate achieving quality employment outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people with disability during 2011 NAIDOC week (3-10 July).
Michelle Rowland and Ability Options leading the charge for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
Federal Member for Greenway, Michelle Rowland has become the first Sydney Federal representative to get behind the Every Australian Counts campaign, calling for the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) during a visit to leading disability service provider, Ability Options in Seven Hills.
Ability Options co-hosts Penrith event in support of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
On Thursday 16 June, more than 50 people with disability, carers, service providers, professionals and disability advocates showed their support for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) at the ‘Every Australian Counts’ Penrith Roadshow. Held at the Penrith RSL Club, this event was co-hosted by Ability Options, one of 10 NSW organisations supporting the scheme in the interests of a better future for people with disabilities.
Read full story or Read Joy and Garrick’s story from the Penrith Press newspaper
Ability Options helps aspiring chef, Josh Seigel, to rock Kazbah
Twenty two-year-old Seven Hills resident, Josh Seigel, is passionate about food. With the help of staff at Ability Options Employment, Josh, who has learning difficulties, is now on his way to becoming a chef after recently securing a job at Sydney’s award winning Moroccan restaurant, Kazbah in Darling Harbour.
Ability Options makes tracks with campaign for a NDIS
On Wednesday 15 June, volunteers from Ability Options were encouraging morning CityRail commuters at Seven Hills and Penrith stations to sign up to ‘Every Australian Counts’, a national campaign, urging community support for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in the interests of more than 300,000 Australians with a disability. Ability Options, based at Seven Hills, is one of 10 organisations who campaigned to commuters at 15 railway, bus and ferry stations across Sydney.
Read full press release or read story from the Blacktown Sun newspaper
John Aquino secures RailCorp traineeship with the help of Ability Options Employment
Eighteen-year-old John Aquino is on the way to achieving his career goals after he was offered one of five 2011 traineeships provided by NSW rail service provider, Railcorp, to people with a disability. It is estimated approximately 6 per cent of RailCorp employees have a disability. Staff at Ability Options Employment, Mount Druitt, helped John, who has learning difficulties, find and apply for the position and they continue to support both him and his new employer on the job.
Read full press release or read story from the Mt Druitt Standard newspaper
June Able Cable out now!
Ability Options publishes a quarterly organisation-wide newsletter, Able Cable, featuring articles about what is happening across the organisation and our various programs and services. It is one of many important ways we communicate with the people we support, their families, our employees and people who provide invaluable support to the organisation. The June 2011 edition is now available to read online as a PDF document.
Ability Options supports the NDIS and ‘Every Australian Counts’
In the interest of a better future for people with a disability and support for individualised funding, Ability Options is actively campaigning for the introduction of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), via the ‘Every Australian Counts’ campaign. On Thursday 16 June, 10:30am at the Penrith RSL (8 Tindale Street, Penrith NSW), Ability Option will co-host an NDIS community information/support session as part of the Every Australian Counts National Roadshow. This will include information about the proposed scheme, how to support it and an opportunity to ask questions. If you would like to attend, please send an email with your name, contact number and ‘Penrith Roadshow’ to NSW Campaign coordinator, Daniel Kyriacou, daniel.kyriacou@ndis.org.au, or call Daniel on (02) 9256 3106.
In addition, you can show your support for the NDIS by:
- Signing the online petition at www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au
- Joining the Facebook campaign
- Following the campaign on Twitter
In Control’s Big Event speaks out about self-directed support
On Tuesday 10 May and Wednesday 11 May, more than 250 people with a disability, carers, and members from peak bodies, disability and government organisations attended the In Control ‘Big Event’ conference to discuss strategies for giving people with disabilities and their carers more control and choice over service delivery. Held at the Ryde-Eastwood leagues club, this inaugural event was presented by the NSW Chapter of In Control Australia – a group of individuals and organisations aiming to effect systemic policy change in Australia to enable individuals with a disability and their families to self-manage their support. Ability Options CEO, Matt Donnelly was one of 32 guest speakers and Ability Options research officer, Nicola Hayhoe was part of the NSW organising committee.
Find out more about In Control or view full presentations from the Big Event (NB: you must join In Control as a member (free) to view some content)
Futures Alliance presents ‘blue print’ on disability and ageing
On 2 and 3 May, The Futures Alliance talked about issues relating to ageing for people with disabilities as part of the 25th NSW Home and Community Care Conference at the Sydney Exhibition and Convention Centre, Sydney. Ability Options is an active member of the Futures Alliance – a cooperative of community representatives from disability and aged care providers, academics and peak bodies aiming to remove boundaries and to maximise community resources to deliver improved options for people with a disability who are ageing. Presenters included Helen Parkes (45) who lives with intellectual disability, suffers various health complications due to a back injury and resides in a nursing home. Helen is supported by Ability Options Self Managed program which helps her manage her day activities. The Futures Alliance presented it Blue Print on Ageing with a disability.
Read the Futures Alliance Blue Print or visit the Futures Alliance website.
Nominations open for 2011 National Disability Awards
The National Disability Awards are part of the Australian Government’s celebration of the International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPWD) on 3 December. These awards recognise people with a disability who have achieved something remarkable or made a significant contribution to their community as well as people and community groups who have contributed to the disability sector or improved access or inclusion. There are award categories for individuals, businesses, projects and services. Nomination forms are available on the IDPWD website and must be submitted by 5pm AEST, Thursday 30 June.
NSW Campanion Card now available
The NSW Companion Card is available to NSW residents with significant disability requiring carer’s assistance when they use public transport or attend functions. This card gives accompanying carers free access into more than 2,000 participating organisations across the state including fitness centres, museums, cinemas and popular festivals such as Bluesfest and V8 Supercars. Eligibility is based on a person’s physical needs and is not means-tested. Further details can be obtained from the Companion Card Information Line on 1800 893 044.
The Specials – internet series portraying people with disabilities
The Specials is a reality internet documentary series about a group of young people with intellectual disability living in a goup home in the UK. It depicts the lives of Hilly (20), Lewis (19), Sam (22) and Megan (19) all college students, and Lucy(23) who works fulltime. This series showcases the various issues and challenges faced by young people with disability and can be viewed online at www.the-specials.com or purchased as a DVD from this site.
Eden Gardens Profiles Ability Options Nursery
Ability Options Nursery was recently profiled in an online video produced by leading Sydney retail nursery, Eden Gardens. Established to provide quality employment for people with disabilities, Ability Options Nursery currently employs 26 people, of which 19 have disabilities, and has a growing capacity of more than 1 million plants per annum. Ability Options Nursery’s quality, reliability of supply and customer service has made its “Hylites” potted colour a regular product range in NSW retail outlets and nurseries, such as Eden Gardens.
View the Eden Gardens video through the Eden Gardens website or on You Tube.
Ability Awareness Week 2-8 August 2010
On Monday 2 August, Ability Awareness Week (a community awareness initiative) will be launched at ANZ Stadium by Federal Minister Bill Shorten MP Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities to celebrate the fact that everyone has ‘abilities’ and to promote equality and independence for people with a disability while at the same time fostering understanding and acceptance of disabilities throughout NSW.
An initiative of Ability Options, Ability Awareness Week is designed to encourage everyone in the NSW community to join in creating a level playing field for people of all abilities and help break down the barriers faced by people with a disability by acknowledging that we all have strengths and weaknesses, goals, dreams and abilities too.
Download Poster Download Flyer
Ability Awareness Week Community Service Announcement
South Sydney Rabbitohs Souths Cares program is the principal campaign partner for the inaugural Ability Awareness Week. South Sydney Rabbitoh Beau Champion and Ability Options client Adam Budzinski recorded the community service announcement which will be aired across NSW radio stations.
Souths Cares, the charity arm of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, has established workplace mentoring programs throughout the South Sydney and Coffs Harbour regions by way of the Souths Cares Workplace Mentoring program. Players and staff involved in the program deliver sessions to jobseekers highlighting strategies to overcome barriers to work, peer pressure, self-esteem building and making better life choices. Players deliver key messages through their own life experiences with their input forming part of a structured approach to provide information and get participants to commit to and complete job seeker training.
People with disabilities who are ageing
An options paper completed in 2008 is available for download. This paper seeks to identify strategies to continue to support people in their community and home of choice as they age.