Leading the way

Thank you to everyone who attended our official Shepparton office opening on Tuesday afternoon last week. It was a special occasion for our dedicated staff as well as the wider community.

Some highlights of the afternoon included the ‘cutting of the cake’ by National Disability Insurance Scheme participant Nadia and Intereach chair Pat Fogarty and a traditional smoking ceremony performed by Yorta Yorta man Corey Walker at the office entrance outside.

About 60 people attended the event, including Federal Member for Murray Damian Drum and Greater Shepparton City Council representatives. All guests were treated to a delicious afternoon tea.

Intereach partners with the National Disability Insurance Agency to deliver National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Local Area Coordination and Early Childhood Early Intervention services in the NDIS Goulburn area.

Our Shepparton office is located at 1 Sobraon St and is open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm (excluding public holidays).

For more information or to arrange an appointment contact the office on 1300 488 226.

Two of our ‘Linkers’ – Ben and Suzanne – partnered with Lockhart Council to host an inclusive sports day, which was attended by more than 100 students and their teachers.

Our Ability Links program put forward the funding to make the Sports-Ability Fun Day possible, while the day was facilitated by development coaches from Cricket NSW, Wheelchair Sports NSW, Riverina AFL, NRL and Hockey NSW.

The students ranged in age from 11 to 18 and enjoyed playing each discipline at the Lockhart Recreation Ground. They also enjoyed a sausage sizzle and fresh fruit for lunch and received a free water bottle donated by Riverina Water.

A survey conducted at the conclusion showed 86% of students had an ‘awesome’ day. The success was also confirmed with several schools saying they would like this to be an annual event.

Intereach is inviting community members to join with staff in launching the organisation’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2018 to 2020, as part of National Reconciliation Week.

The launch of the plan is the culmination of 12 months’ work from our Executive and Community Engagement and Capacity Development teams, working in partnership with Reconciliation Australia. Reconciliation Australia was established in 2001 and is the lead body for reconciliation in the nation.

“We share Reconciliation Australia’s vision of national reconciliation, which is based on five critical dimensions: race relations, equality and equity, institutional integrity, unity and historical acceptance,”  Intereach CEO Keryn Fox.

The launch is being held in the Intereach Neighbourhood Centre, on the corner of Napier and Trickett Sts, Deniliquin on Friday, May 31 from 11am-1pm and will include a Welcome to Country and a free barbecue ‘bush tucker’ lunch and refreshments. For more information or to RSVP, please contact our Community Engagement and Capacity Development Project Officer Guy Hussey on 1300 488 226, 0418 649 190 or guyh@intereach.com.au. RSVP closing date is May 28.

This is our second Reconciliation Action Plan, following on from the 2015 to 2017 plan which aimed to develop staff capacity in working with Aboriginal communities throughout the local area. The 2018 to 2020 plan continues with strengthening staff development but also focuses on developing existing community strengths about reconciliation in partnership with Aboriginal communities.

Caption: Intereach staff members Keryn Fox (left) and Mikayla Williams with a copy of the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2018 to 2020.

Last week children, educators and families from the Deniliquin area celebrated National Family Day Care Week with a nature play session at Deniliquin’s Island Sanctuary.

The children enjoyed connecting with nature – climbing trees, balancing on logs, finding sticks, examining bugs and exploring their natural surroundings.

Those who attended also enjoyed a delicious morning tea.