The return of the 12-volume Disability Royal Commission report provides an amazing opportunity to leverage this moment as a catalyst for change.

After four and a half years of hearings and brave testimony, the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability has made more than 200 recommendations.

These recommendations point a way forward to make a more inclusive society that supports the independence of people with disability, and their right be recognised, empowered and valued.

As an organisation that provides disability services, we wholeheartedly support the foundations of the final report, as centred on human rights.

Lutheran Services has a long history of supporting people with disability and their families. The origins of our disability support services are some of the first of their kind in Queensland.

Two of our Community Services leaders, both who have personal experience of living with disability, share their thoughts on the way forward here.

This is our chance to contribute to a more inclusive Australia. We’re committed to stand with the disability community to advocate to the government to enact the recommendations – and then partner with the government to do the hard work of change.

We want to be at the forefront of a workforce with a lived experience – and continue to listen to people with disability. Importantly, we will call out and proactively challenge disability discrimination.

We’re committed to new and better ways to support independence and choice for people with disability through our defined Model of Care and Service.

We have an opportunity to innovate and reimagine our future disability support services – where we evolve our approach to supported accommodation through use of technology, staff training and support mechanisms.

I really believe there is good in every day. I think the overall highlights though are the small wins we see each and every single day in YJET. Our young people are amazing and watching them learn something new or have success with different things, even the small things, keeps me motivated each and every day to keep on being the best I can to the young people. Our young people deserve to have a champion in their lives, a person who will never give up on them and will always be there.

What do you think is the success factors for the program?

I think the success of YJET is our small class size and the use of placement students to keep our student to worker ratio high. Students are able to work at their own pace at a level that they are at (that slightly challenges them). Our students have a say in most things from our class rules, to what they would like to learn in life skills, to the set up of the room.

What do you hope you can achieve in the future for the program? 

My dream for YJET is to have a larger space with lots of greenery and places for people to do hands-on activities (such as caring for animals, gardening, adventure-based activities) that push them out of their comfort zone. The dream YJET space would also include accommodation for those young people who need it.

What do you draw on for inspiration? 

This one is easy – our young people are who inspire my work each and every day. They are so insightful and honest and regularly provide feedback on what they want now and into the future.

Teena Ryder, Support Worker (middle) with Sarah Souter, acting Service Manager at Intercept (left) and Chris Seiboth, Executive Lead of Community Services (right)

Careful, measured meaning is mapped out by artist Billie Baxter before she loads up her paintbrush.

A compass, protractor and sometimes even a trusty nail, string and pencil to get a really big circle are the tools of trade for the Buderim artist.

Billie is the featured artist at the annual Graceville Art Festival, which runs from 22 to 25 June in Nambour.

The festival is a celebration of art and community connection. Local artists as well as people with a disability and/or mental health concern will be selling and displaying their works at the festival, as well as being a weekend packed with workshops and activities.

Graceville Centre is a mental health and disability service based in Nambour.

Billie will have several of her unique surfboard artworks on display. She also paints on recycled records and CDs.

The process of preparing and painting the surfboard surface takes careful work.

First you strip, sand and thoroughly wash the board to get rid of any oils.

“Then you paint and finish off with a top coat to make it super hard and really strong,” she said.

“I like working with acrylics, especially metallics and pearls. Gold is great to use because when you have it in the sun it looks one way but when you move it, it totally changes.”

Mandalas – which are symbolic shapes used in meditation practice – are a recurring motif.

“The process of setting out a mandala is all about measurement,” she said.

“When you are marking it out it can take longer than the actual painting because there is so much measurement involved.

“You have to work out how many mandala circles fit on your materials, every degree has to be measured or it just doesn’t look right.

“I use protractors and a compass and something called a stanley compass which gives me a bigger circle. If you want a really big circle there’s the good old nail and string with a pencil at the end. You just learn and adapt your methods.”

Billie has experienced two major health incidents that have really dictated the way she paints. A brain haemorrhage in her 20s and spinal cord damage more recently mean she has had to re-learn how to draw twice.

“So I moved to painting dot mandalas, the small movements and precision is actually really well suited to my limited range of movement,” she said.

“Mandala painting really gives you peace of mind because it is repetitive you get into a meditative state. It’s good for your mind. The world is such a busy, stressful place that it’s really calming for your mind.

“I love doing art, but it’s also my therapy.”

Billie ‘s art is not her only spiritual fuel. She is a keen community volunteer with the Dignity Circle at the Nambour Community Centre.

She is passionate about older women and homelessness.

“The Dignity Circle is a place of belonging and a place of achievement. Dignity Circle and the community centre support people to find housing options for older women. People my age are the fastest growing group of homeless people. Until recently my housing situation has been insecure so this is a really important area to contribute to.”

www.gracevilleartfestival.org.au

Smooth and refined, Graceville client Peter is making some beautiful chopping boards.

The keen woodworker will be selling his wares at the Graceville Art Festival in June and possibly even Eumundi markets!

For more info on Graceville’s own art festival, head to www.gracevilleartfestival.org.au

Early on Easter Sunday, women went to the tomb, where they were met by an angel. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” (Matthew 28:5)

Our clients at Keystone Centre, Woodridge are pictured with beautiful butterflies. Butterflies have been used by Christians as a symbol of resurrection and new life. A caterpillar dies, and is buried in a cocoon. But emerges later far more beautiful and powerful than before, as a butterfly.

   

An annual event of art, creative workshops and a mini market celebrating community inclusion kicks off on Saturday June 18.

The annual Graceville Art Festival will be held at St Luke’s Lutheran Church in Nambour and runs Saturday and Sunday June 18 and 19.

Graceville Centre in Nambour offers mental health and disability support, as well as offering onsite Supported Independent Living.

The theme of the festival is Create Together, Belong Together and embraces people from the wider community, Graceville clients and the local St Luke’s Lutheran congregation.

Sunshine Coast artist Deby Taylor is excited to see her work on display. About six years ago she had a stroke which prompted her to take a ‘now or never’ approach to painting.

“I had been doing art, dabbling for a few years … I’d had a stroke and just decided that now was the time, stop putting it off,” she said.

“My eldest sister was the artist in the family. So this will be a surprise for them to see me as an artist. My sister passed away quite suddenly and so that’s what’s behind the attitude to not putting things off. If I want to give something a go I will.”

Another keen artist at the event is Graceville Centre client Jason Rosendahl.

Jason has been painting for many years and loves to work in bold colours, drawing inspiration from what he sees around him and from his imagination.

He will be running an interactive mural workshop, where festival-goers can collaborate on a large scale artwork (9am-11, Saturday, free).

There are two sessions of the Paint & Sip Tea workshop (12pm-1.30 and 2pm-3.30, Saturday, $25/$10).

Sunday features Worship on the Green (9am) and a line dancing workshop (11am-12pm, free).

Click here for the program.

Phone 07 5441 4682 for more information.

Between COVID lockdowns and the floods that devastated South East Queensland, it’s been a very challenging time for all of us.

Our staff have gone above and beyond to ensure our clients and residents have felt safe, supported and comfortable during the last few months.

We celebrate our staff and the commitment they’ve shown.

Every staff member will receive a special gift pack full of goodies, including some lovely baked treats made and packed by Lutheran Youth Queensland.

Thank you to all our wonderful staff! We couldn’t do it without you.

Bridges Reconnect Team Leader Remi Kamo (pictured) is adding valuable insights to a project that maps the care systems supporting young people and their families in Logan.

Remi, who is completing her Masters in Psychology, was thrilled to contribute to the project, called Pathways in Place: Co-Creating Community Capabilities, with Griffith University.