Melba Community News

Welcome to the September edition of Melba Community News!

It’s been a busy time at Melba and across the sector. You may have read a recent news story about the future of Supported Independent Living (SIL) in Victoria and the financial viability of providers like Melba Support Services. Melissa Webster, Acting CEO, released a statement in response that can be viewed here.

While the article raised points we agree with, we would like to reassure everyone in the Melba community that people always come first and no matter what the funding challenges are, nobody we support will be left without a place to live on 1 January. Stable, appropriate housing that meets people’s individual needs and preferences is – and always will be – our priority.

On a brighter note, we’re excited to share that the Ballarat Community Hub is back! The Hub is a welcoming hangout space for people we support to enjoy movie days, bake-offs, games of pool, or just somewhere to catch up with friends. The Hub closed during the pandemic, but thanks to the ongoing work of the local ARROW group, the doors are now open again. If you’re not familiar with our ARROW groups, they are made up of people we support who advocate to our Board and the broader community on behalf of their peers. ARROW stands for Advocacy, Rights, Representation, Outcomes and Worth and we have a group in each of our four regions.

In other news, Artists from Melba’s Arthur Creative are showcasing their photography in the Up Close and… exhibition, part of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale.

And, last but not least, CEO Hayley Dean spoke at a national symposium in Canberra recently, calling for reforms to the NDIS funding model to help ease pressures on the disability sector. You can read an extract from Hayley’s speech here.

Occupational therapy can help you develop new skills, access equipment, or tackle specific challenges. This might include day-to-day things like cooking, workplace assessments or supports to help you get out and about in your community.

Occupational therapy can also make assistive technology recommendations and arrange things like equipment trials, home modifications and accessibility assessments.

Our focus is on working closely with you to see how we can support you to do what matters most to you. We are taking on new referrals, so reach out today at engagement@melbasupport.com.au or 1300 696 352.

Photographers from Arthur Creative are urging everyone to see the world differently with their exhibition Up Close and…, now showing at Unicorn Lane, Ballarat. The free exhibition opened last month and runs until Sunday 19 October.

Crowds have been stopping by to take in the striking images, each one offering a fresh perspective through the eyes of the individual photographer.

Arthur Creative’s Senior Studio Coordinator, Gabrielle Hingston, said Unicorn Lane was the perfect stage for the exhibition. “It’s so important for every artist to be able to exhibit in their local community,” she said. “The photographers I have spoken to have been thrilled with the response.”

The Gippsland ARROW self-advocacy group recently stepped behind the scenes at Bairnsdale Police Station, meeting with Senior Sergeant Mitch Capodiferro, the station’s Disability Liaison Officer.

Susan, Hannah, Kelly, Daniel, Jacinta and Shiona learnt all about what police officers do to support people with disability in their communities. When discussing emergency situations, Kelly confidently identified when to call triple zero: “When you are in danger.”

The visit was a peek behind the curtain into police operations while reinforcing the important message that emergency numbers should only be used in genuine crisis situations.

This community connection helps build stronger relationships between police services and disability advocates and helps and reduce fear and uncertainty.

Australian children’s picture books are overwhelmingly failing to represent children with disability, new research has found. The findings highlight the risk of marginalising children with disability.

Melba’s commitment to building a more inclusive and supportive environment for our LGBTQIA+ community has been recognised with a Bronze badge in the annual Pride in Health + Wellbeing Awards.