WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT INTEWORK
SOUTH WEST

It is not the personalized service it provides, or even the ability to overcome barriers such as lack of transport. It is their ability to empower not only it’s participants but enable the local community to welcome people with different abilities.  The team in the South West has worked intentionally to develop an identity in the community.  This in turn has created an entry point where people with disabilities have consistently been invited to have a voice in their community.  Inteworks presence has created a link with the community to facilitate the voice of people with disabilities to be involved in community consultation, reaffirming the notion that people with a disability are a valued part of the community. 

Intework also provides opportunities for people to develop citizenship roles.  Through the involvement in the Community Garden, Taroga Blue Beach Clean Up, volunteer work at animal hospitals, assisting the elderly to take care of their gardens and sitting on the Access and Inclusion forum Intework has worked to ensure that the valuable contributions that people with disabilities have to make to community do not go unnoticed.

Intework South West was successful in tendering for respite services in 2008, this enabled Intework to obtain a fantastic new centre.  With the implementation of the new centre Intework shared its vision with others and have stimulated thinking around how the centre can have an ongoing benefit to the whole community.  For example in collaboration with the Local Area Coordination we are developing opportunities for people living in isolated areas to come together to continue and maintain their friendships and networks by utilising the centre as a meeting place.  Intework provides skilled staff to empower those people to continue those relationships independently either within the centre or in their local communities

Intework has a can do approach and works around obstacles to provide an individual service generating opportunities that draws on the capacity of the community.  Using our resources to create better lives and enabling, and empowering not only service users but all people with disabilities, keeping the person at the hub of everything we do.

WHATS HAPPENING IN THE SOUTH WEST

Community Garden

BUSSELTON Community Garden and the Eco-house which is located in the Community Garden is to incorporate a café that will be run as much as possible by people with disabilities. It is anticipated the project will highlight the valuable role that people with disabilities can play in the wider community and that it will provide a much needed opportunity for individuals to make a valuable contribution to society.
Busselton Intework are actively involved in the Busselton Community garden. Penny Robinson gave the clients of Intework some pointers to ensure the soil in there garden plot had the right nutrients. They turned over the plot and added the fertiliser, then put lucerne hay on top. They planted the new vegies., which were used in the cooking classes. They planted beetroot, onions, lettuce, garlic and peas.  

 The Healthy Me

The ‘Healthy Me’ participants completed a 6 week course (Facilitated by Jobs South West) with a certificate presentation and healthy BBQ was held at the end to celebrate their completion and successes during the program.  The health and life-style programme was a FREE educational fun and interesting course developed for people with disabilities. The program ran 4 hours per week for 6 weeks and taught valuable skills in the following areas:

−    Exercise and general health activities
−    Dietician and supermarket tour
−    Personal presentation
−    Dental hygiene
−    Sun safe education
−    Sexual health
−    Healthy cooking class
−    Community cook off 

Intework South West next venture in partnership with Jobs South West starts in April 2010. Six Intework South West participants have been selected to undertake the “Making It Real” course. This course is designed to assist participants to develop the skills necessary to get and keep a job. There is 10 weeks of structured learning and a two week work experience placement included.

Keys for Life

Road safety is an important issue for young people. Every year in Western Australia approximately 600    people aged 17 to 25 are either killed or seriously injured in road crashes. 

‘Keys for Life’ is a pre driver education programme aimed at promoting supervised driving experience and safer attitudes amongst young people, prior to them obtaining a learners permit and drivers license. 

In order to increase students’ awareness of the risks associated with driving, the ‘Keys For Life’ pre driver education programme has been developed as a Government funded initiative. rights reserved

Intework Busselton has partnered with SDERA to ensure that people with disabilities in the South West have access to Keys for Life Program. Two Busselton Skills Trainers have received training to become facilitators of this course.  It is being delivered regularly in individual and small group support settings.

 “Keys for Life” resources are easily adaptable to be delivered to people who learn in various ways.  One of Intework’s program outcomes is for people to live independently and this program assists participants in achieving these goals, enabling them to move safely around their community.”

Busselton Shire Council

 Busselton Shire Councils  first Corporate Volunteer Event, staff from one of the Busselton Shire Council Directorates  ditched the business attire, pulled on the overalls and boots, primed their paint brushes and headed off to the recently opened Intework agency to assist staff and clients brighten up their new premises. Over the course of two days three rooms were prepared and painted, transforming the spaces and lifting the interior. 

 Cow Parade Margaret River

The Clients of Busselton recently made a start at finding some of the cows in Cow    Parade ‘grazing’ at iconic attractions and public spaces across the region. Cow Parade is the world’s most famous public art event. There are 84 cows in total to find. Cow Parade has been held in over 60 cities around the world and the Margaret River region is proud to have the rights to host ‘Cow Parade’.

 Community Spirit

Laura and Tim raring to go with ‘Meals on Wheels’ at the entrance to Cape Care (Amy was absent on this day). Laura, Amy and Tim volunteer each fortnight delivering “Meals on Wheels” to senior residents in the community.  On the alternate week, they volunteer at the Red Cross shop, helping with various tasks. Recently they were invited to a morning tea hosted by McKillop Catholic College as a volunteer from the Red Cross shop

Sail into Life

This program is linked into Sailability which is an international organisation with a key objective to encourage and facilitate sailing and boating for people with disabilities in social, recreational and competitive activities.

The Rotary Clubs of Busselton – Geographe Bay, Busselton and Margaret River with a grant from Lotterywest and locally raised funds to purchase two Access Dinghies, a safety boat and trailer.  

Participants generally sail with a support crew or skipper until they are proficient   Intework clients (Picture) Patrick Vickery                              have had the opportunity to try their hand at sailing in a fun and safe environment.  It’s open to people of all ages and abilities and no sailing experience or swimming ability is required.  Our clients have been sailing with a support crew or skipper over the past 4 years.  We have a couple of clients who are now proficient enough to consider sailing independently of their skipper and are looking towards the possibility of sailing competitively with their sights set on competing in the Local Access Dinghy Championships.