{"id":7441,"date":"2025-04-08T10:33:24","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T00:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/?p=7441"},"modified":"2026-08-07T17:14:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T07:14:20","slug":"april-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/melba-community-news\/april-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"April 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Melba Community News<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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April 2025<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Welcome back to Melba Community News \n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Hi and thanks for letting us drop by!<\/p>

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It\u2019s been another busy month at Melba, as we\u2019ve been getting out and about across Victoria, capturing amazing stories, photos and videos that highlight the many ways we support people with disability.<\/p>

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From Supported Independent Living to creative arts and even important conversations about intimacy and identity, we\u2019ve been shining a light on the people we support, our dedicated support workers and other employees.<\/p>

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These powerful stories will be at the heart of our future campaigns. Watch this space!<\/p>

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If you\u2019d like to see more images, click below and see them full screen.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Kaitlyn & mum Lynne<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Joel<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Don <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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In other news, with the election looming, let\u2019s hope the disability community is part of the conversation. In a recent episode of Q&A featuring Shadow Assistant Minister for the NDIS Hollie Hughes and Health Minister Mark Butler, the subject of disability was not even raised \u2013 an alarming oversight considering the critical role of the NDIS and broader health issues impacting the community.<\/p>

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Our Leisure & Rec team takes on Thailand!<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A group from our Leisure & Recreation team recently embarked on an unforgettable adventure in Thailand, immersing themselves in culture, personal growth and pure enjoyment. This incredible journey not only introduced them to new experiences but also helped develop essential life skills that align with their NDIS goals.<\/p>

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In Bangkok, they explored iconic landmarks such as The Grand Palace and Wat Pho, cruised along the Chao Phraya River, and navigated the lively MBK shopping centre \u2013 practicing independence and social interaction along the way.<\/p>

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A visit to a reptile cafe added an extra element of excitement and sensory engagement! Then, in Phuket, they embraced island life with snorkelling at Phi Phi Island, relaxing at Karon Noi Beach and shopping in Old Phuket Town, gaining confidence and real-world skills in the process.<\/p>

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If you\u2019re eager to explore new destinations, achieve your personal goals, and create lasting memories, Melba\u2019s Leisure and Recreation Program is dedicated to supporting you every step of the way. Our tailored, fee-for-service options ensure that everyone can take a well-deserved break from the everyday, with scalable levels of support designed to meet individual needs.<\/p>

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Let\u2019s plan your next adventure together! Contact\u00a0engagement@melbasupport.com.au<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Meet Tristan<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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For Tristan, life has been defined by two profound journeys: coming to terms with his gender identity and adapting to life with quadriplegia. His story of resilience and self-discovery offers powerful insights for those navigating similar paths.<\/p>

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\u201cAs a kid, I always knew I was a little bit different, but I didn\u2019t really have the words to describe what that was,\u201d he says.<\/p>

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By the age of 10, Tristan had developed an understanding that would later crystalise into the recognition that he was transgender. \u201cI had these thoughts up until I was 11, 12 years old,\u201d he explains, \u201cand then I had an accident, which left me a quadriplegic.\u201d<\/p>

The accident dramatically altered Tristan\u2019s life trajectory. His exploration of gender identity temporarily took a backseat as he adjusted to his new reality as a person with quadriplegia.<\/p>

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However, as he\u2019s grown and adapted, Tristan has found unexpected benefits in this intersection of identities.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Kayel caught up with Rose from The Misfit Project for a fun and spontaneous theatre and dance session at Lilydale! We have arts and drama classes starting on 23 April for people with disability. If you know someone who\u2019d like to join in the fun we\u2019d love to see them! Contact Meg Charlwood at\u00a0meg.charlwood@melbasupport.com.au<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Liam, better known as Mr Rockdude, is living his dream as a performer, bringing joy to aged care residents across East Gippsland. Liam performs weekly at four different facilities, dressed in his signature gold rock \u2019n\u2019 roll jacket, guitar in hand, and ready to belt out Elvis classics. Performing is more than just entertainment for Liam \u2013 it\u2019s a tribute to his late mother, who always dreamed of seeing him on stage.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What\u2019s the difference between ISA and SIL?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When it comes to disability support, you\u2019ve probably heard the terms community participation and one to one support. At Melba, we call it Individualised Support Arrangements (ISA) and it\u2019s tailored just for you because at Melba you lead, we support. Whatever you call it ISA is sometimes confused with Supported Independent Living (SIL). While both help you live more independently, they offer support in different ways. But what exactly do they mean and how do you know which one is right for you?<\/p>

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In a nutshell, ISA is a flexible and personalised support plan designed around your unique needs, goals and lifestyle. It gives you greater control over your support, allowing you to shape it in a way that works best for you. It is typically delivered as a one-to-one support.<\/p>

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SIL is designed for people who need regular, ongoing support with everyday tasks. This type of support is often provided in shared housing, but it can also be arranged in a private home if that\u2019s what works best for you.<\/p>

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Choosing the right support can feel overwhelming, but you don\u2019t have to figure it out alone! At Melba, we can help you explore your options and find the best arrangement for your needs. Email\u00a0engagement@melbasupport.com.au<\/a>\u00a0or call\u00a01300 696 352<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A new report by the eSafety Commissioner has revealed a troubling increase in online hate targeting Australians from diverse backgrounds, with people with disability among the most affected.\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Inclusive meetings ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to engage, contribute and be heard. This fact sheet provides practical strategies to support people with a range of communication needs, from preparation and facilitation to ongoing engagement.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Share<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Hi and thanks for letting us drop by! It\u2019s been another busy month at Melba, as we\u2019ve been getting out and about across Victoria, capturing amazing stories, photos and videos that highlight the many ways we support people with disability. From Supported Independent Living to creative art\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":3494,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[79],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-melba-community-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nApril 2025 | Melba Support Services<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Hi and thanks for letting us drop by! It\u2019s been another busy month at Melba, as we\u2019ve been getting out and about across Victoria, capturing amazing stories, photos and videos that highlight the many ways we support people with disability. From Supported Independent Living to creative art\u2026\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/melba-community-news\/april-2025\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"April 2025 | Melba Support Services\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Hi and thanks for letting us drop by! It\u2019s been another busy month at Melba, as we\u2019ve been getting out and about across Victoria, capturing amazing stories, photos and videos that highlight the many ways we support people with disability. 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