Social Futures LAC program staff were thrilled to work with the Murwillumbah Show Society and Tweed Shire Council to make sure people of all abilities had equal access to be part of the Murwillumbah Show. Watch our video discussing inclusion.
Everyone benefits when communities are inclusive.
Follow the below link to read about more stories from our NDIS program participants.
Or fill out the below form to connect with one of our local area coordinators to discuss how Social Futures and the NDIS can support you.
The Dirty Laundry Day Project is a powerful community education campaign to raise awareness of domestic and family violence in our communities.
During the last ten years, the Dirty Laundry Day Project has provided a voice for hundreds of people who have experienced domestic violence. It has also engaged local businesses; community organisations; education bodies; our local police and health services. It has been promoted in the media and it’s success has been mentioned in the NSW Parliament. We believe it has truly shone a light on a difficult topic.
Raise awareness and challenge long held beliefs in our communities about domestic and family violence.
In 2019, The Dirty Laundry Day Project will take place all over the Northern Rivers in partnership with Summerland Credit Union, in Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Kyogle and Forbes. If you would like to run The Dirty Laundry Day Project in your area, contact Amanda Shoebridge for more information.
Dirty Laundry Day at Summerland Credit Union
In 2019 Dirty Laundry Day Project will take place in partnership with Summerland Credit Union with displays in branches right across the Northern Rivers.
Click here to see the branches involved: https://summerland.com.au/find-us
In September 2019 Summerland Credit Union joined Social Futures in becoming an accredited workplace recognised for leading social change to prevent and respond to violence in our communities.
At Summerland we uphold good governance and role model the standards of decency, respect, and accountability. As a financial institution, we provide ethical banking and take steps to prevent the financial abuse of vulnerable customers, including elder abuse, domestic violence and disability bias. We promote equality across the board, regardless of gender or any other attribute – when people are represented equally, respect follows. We welcome and celebrate diversity – our communities are richer when people are valued and free to be themselves.
Summerland are proud to be supporting Social Futures’ Dirty Laundry Day Project. Visit one of the Summerland Credit Union branches to see the powerful displays of t-shirts with messages by people in our own communities who want their voice heard.
Dirty Laundry Day in Coffs Harbour
The Dirty Laundry Day Project will also be rolled out in Coffs Harbour in partnership with Warrina Domestic & Family Violence Specialist Services. The launch will be held in the Coffs Harbour CBD on the 22/11/2019 with Dr Angela Jay, an inspirational survivor / advocate as guest speaker.
A number of workshops will be held with women who have experienced violence, including Aboriginal community members, young people, people experiencing ongoing homelessness (sleeping rough) with a history of trauma and representatives from the CALD community. These workshops will run over the 16 Days of Activism and the T-shirts will be displayed in the CBD of Coffs Harbour.
The C.EX (Coffs Ex Services Club) has kindly provided support through the free lease of a shop they own in the CBD for the duration of the event. They will also support us through the display of messages against violence against over the 16 Days of Activism.
With thanks to Warrina Domestic & Family Violence Specialist Services; The C.EX (Coffs Ex Services Club); and Mid Coast Communities.
Dirty Laundry Day in Kyogle
The Kyogle Domestic Violence Committee, in partnership with Ritchies IGA Kyogle will have a Dirty Laundry Day Project display in the main street of Kyogle.
You can view the display from Friday 8 November 2019 in the old Richies IGA site, 115 Summerland Way Kyogle.
click here to watch our clip: https://vimeo.com/374568509
Dirty Laundry Day in Forbes
Dirty Laundry Day will be rolled at the Forbes event on 25 November 2019. There will be stalls with activities at Lions Park in Forbes and a march will take place through the town beginning at Cross Street. Please gather at 10:10am to march from 10:30am toward Lions Park.
Social Futures Local Area Coordinator, Belinda, will be on hand at Lions Park with a Dirty Laundry Day Project where you can paint and display messages onto t-shirts.
With thanks to The Forbes Domestic and Family Violence Committee.
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence ( Nov 25th until 10 December 2019) is the time we run The Dirty Laundry Day Project.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, up to 80% of women who have experienced intimate partner violence or sexual assault do not report it to the police. Participating locations hand Dirty Laundry Day t-shirts in their shop windows to raise awareness and start conversations about this challenging topic.
The Dirty Laundry Day Project is grateful for the contributions and support of:
THANK-YOU all and the other staff, family and volunteers who make it possible.
Regional communities in NSW are doing it tougher than their city dwelling counterparts. That’s the message from new research mapping social and economic disadvantage across the state released by the New South Wales Council of Social Services (NCOSS) today, echoing Social Futures concerns for the rural and regional communities we support.
With 888,000 people living in poverty in NSW, no community is immune to hardship, but our rural and regional communities are doing it particularly tough explained Chief Executive of Social Futures, Tony Davies.
“While only 30 per cent of the population live outside the metro areas in NSW, our regional communities are home to more than half of the people living in poverty across the state.
“There is a myth that our regional coastal communities in particular are an oasis of paradise but low incomes and high unemployment rates, coupled with high rates of housing stress, mean that many of these communities have significantly higher rates of poverty than the rest of the state. In Nambucca Heads for example, almost 1 in 4 people are living below the poverty line.
“Most concerning, children are the most likely age group to be living in poverty with one in six children live below the poverty line. In some parts of Northern NSW this figure is closer to one in four.
“With many communities facing the additional bite of the drought it has never been more important for government to take real action to address the inequality in regional communities.
“We urgently need the government to invest in social housing, early childhood education and to raise the Newstart Allowance in order to break the cycle of poverty,” he said.
This report provides a detailed picture of the extent of disadvantage across NSW with interactive maps allowing users to explore how poverty impacts people in their region.
View the interactive map and read the full Mapping Economic Disadvantage in New South Wales report.
The world is making much more sense to Catherine Ryan since she was accepted onto the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Now her NDIS-funded support worker, Debbie, is teaching Catherine a skill which is opening up her world and changing her life.
“I had to learn how to trust and everything with her (Debbie). She taught me how to read and write. I can read children’s books now. I can pretty much do what I’ve always wanted to do,” Catherine says.
She especially likes being able to write birthday cards to her daughter.
“I’m real happy with myself that I can actually do that!” she exclaims. “It’s helped us to have a better relationship, now we can read bedtime stories together. She asks for a bedtime story every night.”
Catherine has been supported through her NDIS journey by Orange-based Social Futures Local Area Coordinator, Frank Sheehan.
Prior to her NDIS funding Catherine struggled to get around. It wasn’t possible for her to understand bus timetables and not being able to read street or shop signs made the world a daunting place.
“Before the NDIS I struggled a lot with understanding and reading,” Catherine says. “I had to ask my mum for a lot of help with all that. I had to ask ‘mum, what does this mean? What does this say?’ I couldn’t do anything by myself. I feel more capable now.”
Being able to read signs as she goes past is life changing. “I now don’t have to ask people at the big stores, ‘what does that say?’ Because when I would ask them, they used to laugh at me. So that was sort of embarrassing. Now that I know what it says I don’t have to ask anymore.”
“It has helped me with just normal things in my daily life, like shopping. Debbie’s also teaching me how to shop and choose cheaper stuff. I used to get my dad to write down my shopping list and read it out when I went shopping. And now, I can write my own shopping list. I go through the catalogues, write it down, then I can go and do it. It makes me feel good. I feel proud of myself,” Catherine says.
Her increased confidence is also helping Catherine to connect with community: “Now I can go out in a crowd with Debbie. I’m not ready to go out on my own, but I feel pretty safe with Debbie. But on my own, I probably won’t feel safe. I’ll probably hide in a corner like I usually do.”
Catherine loves clothes shopping and especially loves her boots: “I have that many boots at home, half of them I haven’t worn! They’re all my favourite. Dad would get embarrassed ‘cause he had to walk into Crossroads clothes shop with me. Now I can go on my own.
“This year Debbie’s teaching me how to do maths and my timetables. She’s also helping me learn how to trust and communicate with other people better. The big problem at the moment is trust issues. I feel like if I could trust people more, I could go out into the community, I could probably be able to do other things. And reading and writing will be helping with my trust issues, because now I can communicate with people.
Catherine’s NDIS supports have helped her:
Social Futures is a National Disability Insurance Scheme Partner in the Community.
Our Local Area Coordination services connect participants to the NDIS in regional New South Wales.
To contact your nearest LAC call 1800 522 679
“She always wants to hug you! She hugs you 10 times in 10 minutes!” exclaims Broken Hill Local Area Coordinator Angela Turner, speaking of her National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant Marg. Marg often drops by the Social Futures Office in Broken Hill...
The world is making much more sense to Catherine Ryan since she was accepted onto the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The 33 year old lives in Orange and has experienced schizophrenia for as long as she can remember, disrupting her education and...
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...
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...
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...
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 my world had collapsed.
The MS soon progressed and I was living permanently in a chair. This left me homebound and financially it was a disaster. My husband could only work three days a week on reduced hours so he could look after me. Our combined income was reduced to just $30,000.
I couldn’t afford to ever get out, I couldn’t get a wheelchair, couldn’t see my friends. It was just depressing and that’s what I thought life was going to be like for me from then on. Before too long I developed anxiety.
Then the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) arrived. I had my first meeting with Local Area Coordinator (LAC) Katrina from Social Futures in March 2018 and from that moment my life and my family’s life has changed, out of this world. Just amazing.
With assistance from disability services provider Breakthru I was able to hire transport and a support worker to take me out. My first trip out was to Bunnings – can you believe it? Bunnings! And I loved it!
My friends can now come over and take me out for lunch, I have a support worker so my husband can get a break and play golf once a week. I have a cleaner and my kids don’t have to come and look after me. I can go to physio myself in my new powered wheelchair.
Now I’m just so happy and so shocked all at the same time. The NDIS has been life changing. Before the NDIS I couldn’t afford anything, I was sitting in a chair, I was so depressed. I used to do art therapy, I did it for hours and hours and hours. And I thought, that’s all there was. That’s now my life. And that’s all it’s going to be from now on.
My husband – he had to do everything. He was a man trying to style my hair! Now I have help. And now I have a life. I almost have to have a booking diary I am so busy these days!
The physio has also been great. My legs are a bit better now and she has me up doing a few steps. That has helped with my anxiety too.
I was a barmaid for 26 years, I was a really social person. After my MS diagnosis I didn’t visit the supermarket for years, but the other day I went down in my power chair and it took me hours to do the shopping with all the people stopping me to say hello.
I’ve just had home modifications approved for a deck and a ramp so I’ll soon be able to get out my front door for the first time in six years. With help from Reita (my new LAC from Social Futures) I’m going to apply for bathroom and laundry modifications so I can even do laundry. We’re looking into car modifications too so I can get my power chair in the car.
It was a rough start with the NDIS because I didn’t understand it. And letting people into my home and my life was challenging, but it’s been lifesaving.
Now I’m sitting on a cushion that’s helping my pain from sitting all the time and that’s also funded by the NDIS. What can I say, other than I love it.
“My first trip out was to Bunnings – can you believe it? Bunnings! And I loved it!” (Nicole)
Social Futures is a National Disability Insurance Scheme Partner in the Community.
Our Local Area Coordination services connect participants to the NDIS in regional New South Wales.
To contact your nearest LAC call 1800 522 679
“She always wants to hug you! She hugs you 10 times in 10 minutes!” exclaims Broken Hill Local Area Coordinator Angela Turner, speaking of her National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant Marg. Marg often drops by the Social Futures Office in Broken Hill...
The world is making much more sense to Catherine Ryan since she was accepted onto the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The 33 year old lives in Orange and has experienced schizophrenia for as long as she can remember, disrupting her education and...
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...
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...
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...
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 favourite songs with his sister Lara.
“People loved it, in fact we all loved it,” his mum Robyn says. “It was wonderful to see all of his self-confidence shining through, and just knowing that he now has the support to keep exploring his potential and growing as a person.”
Joseph has Down Syndrome and, despite living independently for the past 12 years, until he received his first NDIS plan he had never been anywhere on his own away from his family in Mudgee.
“NDIS support allowed him to go away on a camping trip to Bowral for two weeks last year,” Robyn says. “It was such a big thing for him, giving him the opportunity to boost his wellbeing and engage with people and activities outside his familiar home environment.
“He came home just beaming.”
Joseph and his family were supported through the planning process by Bathurst-based Social Futures Local Area Coordinator Jodie. The family opted to manage Joseph’s plan on his behalf, and they have used the opportunity to employ support workers who know him and know what he likes doing.
“They’re much more attentive to what he wants to do in his life and they’re consistent in what they do,” Robyn says. “It’s a lot more personalised.
“They provide in-home support three afternoons a week, helping Joseph with meal preparation and making sure all his washing and cleaning gets done.
“Outside the home they take him swimming (which he loves), to gym training and out to afternoon teas with his friends.”
Joseph also works four days a week at the Mudgee Shire Council’s recycling centre and one day a week doing coffee deliveries around town for a local café.
His active work and social life meant that even after he moved out of home his family had to do a lot of the drop-offs and pick-ups.
“We live on a property out of town and we both work, so to run backwards and forwards into Mudgee was always a bit of a drain,” Robyn says.
“Now it all gets sorted by the support workers. Joseph is so busy that we have to make appointments to see him!”
If there is one thing his family would like for Joseph, it would be for him to meet someone he could have a long-term relationship with.
“He’s very happy with where he is right now but it would be great if one day he finds someone he can share his life with,” Robyn says.
“Joseph is so busy now that we have to make appointments to see him!” (Robyn, Joseph’s mum)
Social Futures is a National Disability Insurance Scheme Partner in the Community.
Our Local Area Coordination services connect participants to the NDIS in regional New South Wales.
To contact your nearest LAC call 1800 522 679
“She always wants to hug you! She hugs you 10 times in 10 minutes!” exclaims Broken Hill Local Area Coordinator Angela Turner, speaking of her National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant Marg. Marg often drops by the Social Futures Office in Broken Hill...
The world is making much more sense to Catherine Ryan since she was accepted onto the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The 33 year old lives in Orange and has experienced schizophrenia for as long as she can remember, disrupting her education and...
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...
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...
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 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 want to improve their employment options. Participants will have access to pre-employment training, employment support, post-employment support and housing independence services.
Anyone interested in the program can contact Jason McDonald, Program Manager on 0428 856 546 or by email [email protected].
Opportunity Pathways is a new initiative under Futures Directions in Social Housing NSW.
Read the FULL MEDIA RELEASE
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.
The video features FNC Ability Links Co-Manager Sigrid Macdonald introducing the event and explaining the Auslan interpreting services that will be available during the festival, which runs from 2-4 August at Elements of Byron Resort. “It’s great to see Byron Writers Festival in the vanguard of public events realising the need to make themselves more accessible to people with disabilities, including members of the Deaf Community like myself,” Sigrid said.
Download the media releaseIn collaboration with:
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 Sensei Rachel Whiting, who has over 30 years’ experience teaching martial arts and self-defence. She is passionate about teaching girls the skills they need to keep themselves safe as the situation arises.
Download media release