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From homebound to outward bound
Nicole was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in December 2009. She tells her story in her own words: I went to the doctor because I had three cold fingers and that's when I got the diagnosis. It was devastating. I was a full-time working mother and it seemed like...
Tailored care helps Joseph spread his wings
Joseph's birthday in November last year was a double celebration - turning 40, and spending his first year as a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant. He marked the occasion with a concert in front of 80 invited guests, singing covers of his...
Opportunity Pathways supports access to study and work
Social Futures is offering a new program called Opportunity Pathways for Rent Choice recipients and social housing clients to help them access education, training and work in the Northern Rivers region. The program offers flexible, personalised support to people who...
Auslan signing comes to Byron Writers Festival
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6oelxtWYyQ&t=31s This year the Deaf Community will have more access to the Byron Writers Festival, beginning with an Auslan-signed promotional video developed in collaboration with Social Futures’ Far North Coast (FNC) Ability Links....
‘Fight like a girl’ self-defence class sure to be a hit
Fight Like A Girl self-defence has come back to B-Space in Ballina for a six-week course starting 23 May 2019. This is a girls’ only class that builds confidence and empowers participants with useful skills in a safe and fun environment. The course is being taught by...
Remembering Sorry Day …
... and the impact of the Stolen Generations on all Aboriginal people in Australia. Our thoughts are with our staff, our participants, our wider communities and their loved ones. We remember and honour Elders past, present and those who are yet to come. Sorry Day has...
Patricia puts the circus behind her
The circus in Patricia's head started when she was a small child growing up in Sydney. “Even before I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder I always knew something was wrong,” she says. “When I was very young I used to take days off school because I felt unwell, and...
Right Support. Right Time. 2019 Better Chances Regional Forum
The Right Support. Right Time. 2019 Better Chances Regional Forum held on 13 June 2019 at Lennox Head Cultural and Community Centre focused on and explored the question, can children, young people and families we work with get the right support at the...
From hobby sketching to the Archibald Prize
When Zion Levy Stewart first started sketching people who visited his family home at age 20, everyone thought it might help him pass the time. Twenty years on, this National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant was an entrant in this year's 2019 Archibald...
Social Futures joins Everybody’s Home
Social Futures is now an Everybody's Home Campaign partner Everybody's Home is led by leading housing associations and homelessness providers. It is calling on governments at all levels to: Support first home buyers Develop a National Housing Strategy Ensure a better...
There’s no place like home
Just a few years ago, Tammy had reached the point of considering moving into supported accommodation due to the impact of her disability. The long-term Forbes resident was increasingly isolated and incapacitated by Devic’s disease, caused by the inflammation and...
Free skate, scooter and BMX clinics in GRAFTON
Get OFF THE WALL this week with FREE skate, scooter and BMX clinics at Grafton Skate Park! WHEN? FROM 2-4.30pm on Tuesday 16 April - BMX Wednesday 17 April - Scooter Thursday 18 April - Skate WHERE? Grafton Skate Park Limited spaces, book your places! Call Sonya 0427...
Fifteen fabulous young songwriters will battle it out for prizes
Fifteen young songwriters have been chosen to perform live at this year’s Lismore Young Songwriters Competition Finalists Showcase on Friday 12 April [tomorrow] at Studio One29, Southern Cross University. The young songwriters hail from Byron Bay, Mullumbimby,...
Zac’s change of scenery pays off
When Zac Oatley moved to Yamba on NSW's North Coast with his family two years ago it was the start of a new life in more ways than one. Not only was it a change of scenery from his native Queensland, it was also the start of his National Disability Insurance Scheme...
Budget underwhelming for Northern Rivers residents
Social Futures CEO Tony Davies has welcomed the Federal Budget announcement that $527.9 million has been set aside for the proposed Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People With a Disability – but says there is little else to celebrate...
Katy blossoms as independence grows
Katy is the apple of her parents' eye but they don't shy away from the tough times they have experienced in raising her. Now 30 years old, Katy has a significant intellectual disability and other medical issues and has required 24/7 care for her entire life....
Nathan’s night of nights
Nathan Johnston is a born performer and artist. Raised and still living with his family in NSW's Tweed Heads region, he has always loved acting, painting and singing. Since leaving school 10 years ago he’s taken his talent to the next level, and with the...
Jacqui overcomes the odds
Jacqui and her father Don (pictured here with LAC Cindy at left) have overcome the sorts of odds that would have defeated most people many times over – and still come up smiling. The story begins in 1980 when, as a 15 year old, Jacqui was a passenger in a car...
Opportunity Pathways … a new route to housing independence
Opportunity Pathways is a new program that is designed to break the cycle of disadvantage for social housing recipients. It will also reduce their reliance on government-funded social housing or Rent Choice subsidies. Anita Mansfield from Social Futures, says “This...
Housing Crisis: NEW STUDY SHOWS ONE MILLION HOMES NEEDED
New national research backs the Northern Rivers community’s call to address the housing crisis in our region, where over 12,000 households are experiencing rental stress and more than 3,000 households are on the social housing waitlist. The research is contained in a...
$11.5K Prizes for young songwriters
Entrants in the Lismore Young Songwriters Competition this year are in the running to win $11,500 of prizes. Deb Hall from one of the organising partners Social Futures hopes young people will be encouraged to enter and help fire up their musical careers. “Our two top...
Jordan swaps Struggle Street for a social whirl
When Denise gave birth to her son Jordan, the main concern was that he was three months premature. “He was born early due to an infection but beyond that he was just a normal, beautiful baby boy,” she says. But shortly after Jordan returned home with his...
Pre-election Housing Forum BALLINA 5 March
On Tuesday 5 March, Homelessness NSW and the New South Wales Council of Social Service will provide an opportunity for Northern Rivers residents to put their questions about housing to candidates standing for the NSW Elections on 23 March. The Northern...
So many plusses to Northern Rivers buses
A local bus devotee is on a quest to change people’s perception about catching public transport just in time for #CarFreeFeb. Ballina local, Jacqueline Alinaitwe has been catching the new Ballina – Byron – Lismore commuter bus since the trial route began in December...