{"id":7449,"date":"2025-03-21T10:40:34","date_gmt":"2025-03-20T23:40:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/?p=7449"},"modified":"2026-08-07T10:50:01","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T00:50:01","slug":"march-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/melba-community-news\/march-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"March 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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March 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 everyone and welcome to our first newsletter for 2025. We kicked off the year\u2019s activity by sponsoring and attending the VALID Having a Say Conference in Geelong and it didn\u2019t disappoint.<\/p>

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This is always a big event on our calendar every year, it is one of the only conferences organised by people with disability for people with disability and that really shows in the relevance and insights provided by many of the presenters.<\/p>

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The three-day event was packed with inspiring conversations, plenty of laughs and a real sense of community \u2013 and our stall was very popular (who knew people loved badges?).<\/p>

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Many people we support attended as delegates, adding their voices to important discussions about rights, inclusion and connection.<\/p>

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CEO Hayley Dean said her highlight were the workshops we hosted around intimacy. \u201cWhen it comes to intimacy and relationships, it\u2019s clear \u2013 people with disability want access, choice and support, just like everyone else,\u201d she said.<\/p>

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March is a busy month, it\u2019s International Women\u2019s Day this Saturday 8 March. We encourage everyone to explore what this year\u2019s theme \u201cMarch Forward \u2013 for ALL women and girls\u201d means to you.<\/p>

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Together we can continue working towards a gender-equal future that provides greater opportunities for all women and girls around the world.<\/p>

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Later we have Harmony Week running from Monday 17 March until Sunday 23 March. Be sure to keep an eye on our socials to see what Harmony Week looks like for Melba.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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We’ve partnered with a disability friendship app<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In a groundbreaking move to address social isolation in the disability community, Melba has announced a partnership with Spoony, Australia\u2019s leading friendship app designed specifically for people with disability.\u00a0

Launched in 2024, Spoony offers a safe, stigma-free alternative to mainstream social platforms, with unique features tailored to the disability community\u2019s needs. The app\u2019s distinctive name draws from the well-known \u201cspoon theory\u201d used within disability communities to describe daily energy levels.\u00a0

What sets Spoony apart is its innovative \u201cspoons status\u201d feature, allowing users to indicate their current energy levels and capacity for interaction. This thoughtful approach helps users better understand and support each other\u2019s needs, creating more meaningful connections.\u00a0

Melba CEO Hayley Dean said the disability community had been clear in its desire for modern, accessible ways to connect with others who understand their experiences.\u00a0\u00a0

\u201cBy joining forces with Australia\u2019s leading disability app developer, we\u2019re answering that call in a way that not only upholds people\u2019s human right to intimacy but also prioritises safety, dignity, and genuine connection,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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“I wasn\u2019t going to let the pain stop me from living”<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Inspiration is a word that gets thrown around a lot in disability circles. It\u2019s always well meaning, but it\u2019s often condescending.<\/p>

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You hear it a lot during the Paralympics, for example. An athlete with disability is \u201cinspiring\u201d simply because they are competing. Every athlete, with or without disability, has to overcome obstacles to compete at the highest level so why do Paralympians get labelled as inspirational so much more than able-bodied Olympians?<\/p>

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That\u2019s where the often unintended condescension comes in. Sometimes the label fits. Sometimes it\u2019s not condescending, it\u2019s simply appropriate and just. Sometimes a person does something that gives you reason to pause and reflect on your own life. And often that pause comes down to the adversity they\u2019ve overcome.<\/p>

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Ryan, for example, is an inspiration to those who come into his orbit. He doesn\u2019t see himself as particularly inspiring, and ironically that\u2019s part of the reason he is.<\/p>

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Ryan, 48, has cerebral palsy, which gives him curvature of the spine and a twisted foot \u2013 he also has ADHD \u2013 but, no, that\u2019s not what makes him inspirational.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Our special SIL extra benefit (and it’s free!)<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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For people with disability looking for Supported Independent Living (SIL), finding a provider that goes beyond providing basic support can be life-changing. Melba is setting a high benchmark in the sector, offering a tailored, person-centred approach at no additional cost to those living in their SIL homes.<\/p>

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This key difference putting Melba streets ahead of many other SIL providers is the commitment to Personal Outcome Measures Planning (POMS). This initiative ensures that people are not just receiving support but actively shaping their own futures through structured, goal-oriented planning.<\/p>

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\u201cSupported Independent Living is about more than just meeting people\u2019s basic needs,\u201d says Anneke Jurgens, General Manager, Practice, Quality & Safeguards at Melba.<\/p>

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\u201cPOMS gives people we support the opportunity to identify and pursue personal goals in a meaningful way. It is really all about people living the life they choose and reaching their own chosen potential.\u201d<\/p>

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Melba\u2019s POMS team meet with people where they live. Together with the person\u2019s support team they conduct in-depth planning sessions, that reveal their wants, needs and aspirations. Goals are set and reviewed annually to keep focus and track progress.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Max, John, Ashley and David visit Ararat\u2019s Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Thomas catches a wave to beat the summer heat at Inverloch, while Elvis bumps into Phil and his group from Community Connections at a 7-Eleven and gives an impromptu performance! If only Phil brought his blue suede shoes!<\/p>

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Australia’s healthcare system is failing people with intellectual disability, with advocates calling for urgent reforms to address systemic neglect, discrimination and inadequate medical care.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A Victorian woman with disability claims she was denied service by rideshare giant Uber an astonishing 32 times in less than two years \u2013 simply because of her guide dog. Now, she\u2019s calling on people with disability across the country to unite and push for change.<\/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 everyone and welcome to our first newsletter for 2025. We kicked off the year\u2019s activity by sponsoring and attending the VALID Having a Say Conference in Geelong and it didn\u2019t disappoint. This is always a big event on our calendar every year, it is one of the only conferences organised by peo\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-7449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-melba-community-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMarch 2025 | Melba Support Services<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Hi everyone and welcome to our first newsletter for 2025. We kicked off the year\u2019s activity by sponsoring and attending the VALID Having a Say Conference in Geelong and it didn\u2019t disappoint. This is always a big event on our calendar every year, it is one of the only conferences organised by peo\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\/march-2025\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"March 2025 | Melba Support Services\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Hi everyone and welcome to our first newsletter for 2025. We kicked off the year\u2019s activity by sponsoring and attending the VALID Having a Say Conference in Geelong and it didn\u2019t disappoint. This is always a big event on our calendar every year, it is one of the only conferences organised by peo\u2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/melba-community-news\/march-2025\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Melba Support Services\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/melbasupport\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-03-20T23:40:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-07T00:50:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/mcn-april-002.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"940\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Randy\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Randy\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.melbasupport.com.au\\\/melba-community-news\\\/march-2025\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.melbasupport.com.au\\\/melba-community-news\\\/march-2025\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Randy\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.melbasupport.com.au\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/41e55a81c0abc78ce704c30ed8fa2c30\"},\"headline\":\"March 2025\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-03-20T23:40:34+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-07T00:50:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.melbasupport.com.au\\\/melba-community-news\\\/march-2025\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":965,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.melbasupport.com.au\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.melbasupport.com.au\\\/melba-community-news\\\/march-2025\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.melbasupport.com.au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/mcn-april-002.png?wsr\",\"articleSection\":[\"Melba Community News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-AU\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.melbasupport.com.au\\\/melba-community-news\\\/march-2025\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.melbasupport.com.au\\\/melba-community-news\\\/march-2025\\\/\",\"name\":\"March 2025 | Melba Support Services\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.melbasupport.com.au\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.melbasupport.com.au\\\/melba-community-news\\\/march-2025\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.melbasupport.com.au\\\/melba-community-news\\\/march-2025\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.melbasupport.com.au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/mcn-april-002.png?wsr\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-03-20T23:40:34+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-07T00:50:01+00:00\",\"description\":\"Hi everyone and welcome to our first newsletter for 2025. 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