We hope you shared a smile with a friend on Saturday! The United Nations deemed this day (July 30) International Day of Friendship in 2011 to reflect on friendships worldwide and their role in encouraging peace, happiness, and unity. It’s also a day committed to celebrating diversity and inclusion by connecting people regardless of their differences.
In our 70-year history, we’ve built a caring community, connecting thousands of people with disability to support each other on their journeys. This has resulted in powerful friendships being made, which provide an array of benefits including increasing confidence, providing a sense of belonging and reducing feelings of isolation.
As part of our Thrive program, we offer modules tailored to people we support on key topics such as goal setting and relationships. In March, Ipswich and Bokarina L&L hubs trialled weekly digital sessions of Thrive, to connect people across both locations and test what the experience would be like for everyone involved.
Bokarina L&L Site Manager, Jaime Lyons, said that adding an interactive element to these sessions by facilitating group learning with other hubs has supported participants to learn, improved their conversation and listening skills, and helped them get out of their shells. Friendships have also blossomed between the sites with participants looking forward to catching up each week to share what they’ve been up to and any exciting news they have.
The digital meet-ups give the two L&L hubs the opportunity to connect with people outside of their centre which has made them more confident in talking to people they don’t interact with daily,” said Ipswich Support Worker, Amber Kaatz. “The different ideas and answers that are bounced between Ipswich and Bokarina also help the people we support to have a better understanding of the modules they are learning about.
With lifelong connections made in only a few short months, staff organised a special day for their crews to meet face-to-face in July, halfway between the sites at Blakes By The Bay café. The group enjoyed a hot beverage before heading to a local park overlooking the ocean for a BBQ lunch.
Everyone had a blast and staff have already committed to continuing these digital sessions and in-person meet-ups because of the personal development opportunities they provide to the people they support. And their smiles say it all. That is the power of friendship!
A huge round of applause goes to Service Design and Implementation Partner, Chris Beaumont for pitching the initial idea, and to Talent Partnerships Advisor, Aaron Rose and Support Workers, Amber Kaatz, Alex Holmes, Shane Donoghue and Chantele Murren for bringing the Thrive digital sessions to life! Also shout out to leaders, Ceri Stephens and Jamie Lyons for their constant support.
Read more stories about how people in our community are living our values!
Workplace Giving
Exciting, life-changing programs just like these ones at Bokarina and Ipswich are funded in part by the #TeamPossible Workplace Giving program. With every pay cycle, you can help these programs grow and ensure that the people we support can learn the skills needed to live, learn and work on their own terms. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s a great way to fuel the work we do. Sign up today for as little as $5 each pay cycle.
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