Caboolture organisation shines in disability support
Tue 30 June 2009
Daniel Ackland, Journalism
With one in five Australians suffering from some form of disability, a Caboolture organisation called Better Together has taken on the initiative to set up an inclusion network.
Aimed at people with a disability, those from non-English speaking backgrounds, mum’s with prams and the elderly, Better Together aimed to help businesses support those with special needs.
Better Together, a part of the Caboolture Homelife Association, was a first organisation of its kind within Queensland and only one of a handful within Australia.
Better Together coordinator Donna Duncan said the initiative was there to support anyone that felt like they needed it.
“Better Together is about recognising the individual for the individual and not for the group they are associated with,” Ms Duncan said.
“Community feedback told us the most important three aspects of inclusion were being there, belonging and most importantly being missed when not there.”
The initiative targeted businesses to set-up infrastructure to help accommodate those who were disadvantaged, whether it was wheelchair access or simply helping an elderly person take their shopping to their car.
Ms Duncan said that there were six privately-owned businesses already supporting the network, as well as many libraries and council organisations on board.
“We have had significant responses from Sarina Russo, as well as 30 to 40 other community organisations,” Ms Duncan said.
Caboolture Physical Disabilities Network founder Matt McCracken understood the negative impact exclusion could have on someone’s life.
Mr McCracken, who had now benefitted from an electric wheelchair, spent nine years confined to his home.
“Without the support or services there, I had no choice but to be restricted to my own home,” Mr McCracken said.
“It was a very depressing period in my life. I spent nine long years, without the help or services needed for me.”
Mr McCracken has also had a large part to play in the creation of the Better Together network, working mainly as a volunteer.
Mr McCracken said the community had benefited massively from the program and felt more communities should adopt a similar approach.
“With what we have achieved I feel more communities should adopt a similar model,” Mr McCracken said.
“There is no doubt in my mind, programs and services like this can only benefit the community as a whole and not hinder it.”
Furthermore, Mr McCracken pointed out the community would struggle to grow if disadvantaged citizens were continually overlooked.
“As the old saying goes, a team is only as strong as its weakest link,” Mr McCracken said.
“And in this case the people so disadvantaged in the community have no opportunity to help the community grow without these programs.”
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