Our disability inclusion project was funded by the Department of Human Services. The aim of the program was to promote and increase the participation of people with disability particularly from those migrant backgrounds in the LMCC and other Neighbourhood Houses’ activities. LMCC has been assisting migrants and refuges to settle in Australia for a long time and understands the barriers and obstacles they experience. With this in mind the MAC-Fusion program’s objective was to empower participants with disability through skills development and provide socialising activities with relaxing and caring atmosphere.
1. Skills Development
Basic Customer Service Training “Workplace and Community Interaction”
The program was delivered by Graeme Gordes, a well experienced life couch volunteer for the MAC-Fusion project. The focus of the program was to provide the participants with the skills and knowledge to deal and engage with people and communicate with confidence. These skills allow them to articulate their needs and demand better services when their needs are not met.
Skype for Migrants with Disability
The focus of the program was to teach the participants the skills to navigate the Skype program and to make free video calls to connect with family and friends both in Australia and oversees. Participants learnt how to create their accounts and make free video calls to friends and families.
2. Socialising Activities
Nia Holistic Movement Class
The Nia Holistic Movement is a combination of different forms of movements such as healing arts, jazz music and movements from martial arts packaged under the motto of “Love your body Love your life”. It was a four weeks class and there were total of 20 participants in this class, 11 of them were people with disability. At the end of the four weeks class many participants with disability indicated that although they were a bit hesitant at the beginning, they had thoroughly enjoyed the activity and valued the experience.
Excursions
LMCC students went to Tutankhamun Exhibition and eight participants with disability from Nadraska joined with them to see the Tutankhamun Exhibition. Both groups indicated that the trip was fun and a life time learning experience.
Festivals
At the end of the last year LMCC held a big Mask festival. The aim of festival was to unmask respect for diversity. About 45 participants with disability and their carers participated in this activity. Many of them made their own masks and competed for prices. Two participants with disability won for prices. Over all, participants with disability had enjoyed the festival.
In addition, through the MAC-Fusion project more than eighty people with disability participated in various activities at the LMCC centre and by developing its own disability action plan the centre is committed to welcome people with disability to participate its different activities.
I would like to say a big thank you for all the people that made possible for this project to be successful one including retired Centre Manager Cynthia Shaw, current Centre Manager Klaudia Lozo, Administration/Program Coordinator Cindy Kung, all the tutors and their students and other volunteers of the LMCC centre, Graeme Gordes a life coach volunteer for MAC-Fusion project, Melinda Brown from DHS, Maureen D’Arcy from Whitehorse Metro Access Officer, Denise Shaw from Burke and Beyond, Ronda Hussey from Nadraska, Stephanie and Helen from Yooralla, Nia instructor Sabine Wither and last but not least, all the wonderful people with disability who participated in this project.
Abdi Moalin.
