Moments That Matter - Spring 2021 Updated

MOMENTUM COLLECTIVE MOMENTS THAT MATTER NEWSLETTER SPRING 2021

MOMENTS That Matter

mymomentum.org.au | 1300 900 091 | [email protected]

Moments That Matter | Spring 2021 2 Front cover: Members of our Connections Centre in Tweed Heads

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CEO Welcome Salvage Shed Spring Clean Kicking Goals with Jess and Emma Homelessness Week Casino Affordable Housing Cultural Training Women with Heart Comedy Gala Enjoy the Moment

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CEO WELCOME

Tracey Mackie

Hello

and welcome to the Spring edition of the Moments that Matter. If there’s one thing, we have learnt during COVID, it is to be flexible. We have learned that exploring new and innovative client services is essential. I want to thank all Momentum staff for putting our clients first and finding new ways to make a difference. Here are a few things that we have achieved together over the past few months: • Our 3-year Strategic Plan was adopted by the board and introduced to our leadership teams. • We grew to 610 employees and are currently recruiting for 54 open positions. • CEO Award winners were announced under the new Bravo initiative. • Casino’s Affordable Housing project made significant progress and will be ready for completion by the end of Summer. • Mandy Nolan promoted and hosted a hilarious Comedy Night raising much- needed funds for The Ballina Women’s Refuge.

Looking ahead to the coming months, we have many projects in play, including: • NDIS services in the Gold Coast continue to grow with a new SIL Household opening in Pallara and Empower launching its In-home Domestic Assistance. • We are also investigating new premises • We will be implementing our Outcomes Framework and an Impact Measurement Tool to articulate and communicate how we are making a difference to our clients, families, and communities. • With the appointment of Aaron Horton as GM - Digital Solutions, we have developed a robust IT Roadmap that aims to improve our infrastructure, user experience and business applications. in the Gold Coast to support our flexibility and growth in this region. • The Recognition Awards have been moved to the end of the year, and a planning committee is being formed. Stay tuned for more details. As always, stay safe and connected.

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Congratulations Winners of the “Working Well Together” CEO Award

• Team Loganlea (Disability Assisted Living, Loganlea) • Team Temple Street (Mental Health, Ballina) • Eric Muhorana (Disability Assisted Living, Coffs Harbour)

• Chloe Bakes (Quality, Risk and Compliance) • Alan Whitehead (IT) • Megan Portors (Mental Health, Grafton) • Megan Parker (Mental Health, Lismore).

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SPOTLIGHT Salvage Shed Spring Clean

Recent COVID restrictions in Ballina meant that our Salvage Shed was unable to open to the public for approximately 5 weeks. However, the team approached the lockdown with positivity as this provided a perfect opportunity for them to get stuck into a spring clean and store revamp.

We also put in synthetic turf to create more of an inviting space outside.” When asked about the most popular items at the Shed, Adrian’s response was “That’s a tough one to answer!! We have so many varied items here, from sports equipment, clothing, kid’s toys, kitchen and bathroom items, basically everything for inside and outside of the house….including the kitchen sink!” Although being closed to the public was challenging at times, the team were fortunate for the unique opportunity to work together on this project and make a real difference to the store. Luke, a supported ADE worker at the Salvage Shed says “I enjoyed working with some of the staff I don’t usually work with and we had a lot of fun building the shelving racks in the shop. I also enjoyed what the end result showed after weeks of hard work”.

Working together, the Salvage Shed team decided to change up the floorplan by making some of the Shed’s most popular items more accessible. With this in mind, they were able to create additional space through the aisles to allow for greater wheelchair ease of access. Salvage Shed Manager Adrian Wilsem says, “We have put in additional shelving to maximize the space and showcase more items, we put in two large gazeebo marques out the front of the shop for shade and to cover furniture items from the elements.

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The Salvage Shed is now open 7 days, 9.30am – 3.30pm. 167 Southern Cross Drive, Ballina. Come and say hello!

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SPOTLIGHT Kicking Goals with Jess and Emma

Jess and Emma, residents of a Momentum Collective Supported Independent Living property on the Gold Coast, recently signed up to play in the Titans Intellectual Disability Rugby League. The league was established in 2018 and is a fantastic opportunity for people living with disability to play the game of Rugby.

and has been a huge support for Emma. Emma says “I was really nervous at first but Georgia helped me out and I now just get in to it”. On the first weekend of September, the league played the curtain raiser for Titans vs Warriors at Cbus Stadium. The game went for 20 minutes and Jess ran the entire time, showing grit and determination by getting straight back up after a tackle to the ground. As the final seconds ran on the clock, Emma scored the final try just at the siren rang, bringing the teams to a tie of 20-20. An amazing effort and what a game! Jess and Emma had a huge support team of family and friends cheering them on from the stands. We would like to thank the Titan’s club, who generously donated tickets so that everyone could attend.

Jess and Emma began training earlier this year in May and they look forward to the fortnightly training together with their team. When asked for her favorite part of playing in the league, Jess says “I like to hang out with my friends and play footy with my mates. Especially Emma. I like tackling and getting tackled.” Jess’s Support Worker, Chris Swan, is proud of how Jess has approached the game. “Once she’s out there she doesn’t stop. It’s so nice to see that she is so involved and she really good at it,” he says. Emma puts in extra practice at home with the help of her Support Worker Georgia Hale. Like playing any sport, there can be some challenges to overcome. Georgia plays for the Titans women’s rugby league team

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Pictured: Thumbs up from Jess and Emma at the CBus Stadium in Robina

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SPOTLIGHT Raising Awarness during Homelessness Week

Momentum Collective, Social Futures and Grafton TAFE hosted an art installation in Market Square in Grafton today to raise awareness of the impact of homelessness in the local community and in Australia. Sarah Dybing, Service Director of Community Programs, said more than 116,000 people experience homelessness on any given night in Australia. “The Northern Rivers is among one of the highest regions in Australia to experience housing stress,” she said. “We are co-hosting this event in Grafton in partnership with Social Futures to raise community awareness of the issue and let people know how they can make a difference.” The ABS 2016 Census found 1,494 people were homeless in the Northern Rivers. A further 1,370 were found in other marginalised housing, including caravan parks, Ms Dybing said. “The highest

numbers were counted in Tweed (444), Byron (327), Lismore (390) and Clarence Valley (230). While the Northern Rivers only represents 4% of the NSW population, the region recorded 18.7% of the state’s total rough sleepers in the 2016 Census.” The installation in Grafton drew on resources provided by the national Everybody’s Home Campaign which aims to end homelessness by engaging community, government, business and philanthropy to increase the supply of affordable housing. The campaign identifies five core activities to address the nation’s housing system: 1. Support first home-buyers 2. Develop and implement a National Housing Strategy 3. A better deal for renters 4. Immediate relief for Australians in chronic rental stress 5. A plan to end homelessness by 2030.

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Affordable Housing in Casino

Do you live in Casino, NSW? Have you noticed some construction happening in Centre Street recently? The build for our affordable housing project in Casino is underway! With the ground and first floor slabs already complete, the property is set for completion in February 2022. Momentum believes that access to good quality, affordable housing is fundamental to people’s wellbeing and the future resilience of local communities. Importantly, one of the new properties proposed would be accessible for a person living with a disability. As a registered community housing and disability services provider, Momentum is acutely aware of the need for more

safe, secure and affordable housing for all members of our local community. This project is a commitment to the Casino community and also acknowledges the importance of meeting the housing needs of people with disabilities. We are a provider of community housing across the Tweed and Northern Rivers and have an expert property management team with many years of experience. In addition to building new housing stock in Casino, Momentum would like to invite local property owners to contact their housing team to talk to about managing rental properties – call 1300 900 091 and have a chat with our community housing team.

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SPOTLIGHT The Importance of Cultural Training

Jingeri hello, Momentum Collective are dedicated and driven to help close the gap, and have a vision of in the near future, working and walking together as Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal people, being as one mob. To do this, the first step is to be aware of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, to have an understanding of what culture is. To understand why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, think, act, and feel the way they do. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural training commenced in October 2019. With enrollment open to all employees, it has now been delivered in Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Casino, Lismore, Ballina and Tweed Heads. In order to work together as one, it is so important for non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees at Momentum to understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Together with our communities, Momentum are striving to achieve goals that have been in the past in Australia, near impossible. This has been mostly to a lack of education.

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There are two phases of the cultural training. Phase 1 was developed by a Bundjalung Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elder and is designed to: • Share an understanding of what culture is • Highlight some significant Australian historical events and their impacts • Inform managers on why managing Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples might be different • Provide tools for building relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and communities • Give an overview of Indigenous health and wellbeing • Teach the meaning of sorry business and how it may affect Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples • Share the importance of land and connection to Country.

After completing phase 1 of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural training, employees are able to enroll in phase 2. This is where, with permission from elders in the area, we will walk on land, walk on a significant site. On the walk we will be accompanied by an elder from the land we walk on who can share the stories. Respect Garry Yoway

“It is essential and productive learning for Momentum employees, to have this fantastic opportunity to learn local and national knowledge from a respected indigenous elder and colleague. Thank you.“ Wayne, Community Support Manager

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SPOTLIGHT Women with Heart Comedy Gala

On Thursday 16th September, some of the country’s funniest women gathered to laugh it up and raise money for the Ballina Women and Children’s Refuge who lost their funding on the 1 July. Ambassador for the Refuge is Mandy Nolan, a comedian and a DV survivor. “I have lived through domestic violence and I have come out the other side. I know how important it is to have good support around you. To have a safe space where you can find yourself again and work out how you are going to go forward. The Ballina Women and Children’s Refuge is extremely important for women and children who are getting away from violence and reclaiming their lives!” The show was originally set to be held at the Ballina RSL, however due to lockdown it was moved online. “The benefit of doing this” Mandy says, “is that under restrictions we were already sold out at 150 people. Now everyone can come! It’s good for the Refuge, good for the women and children who depend on it and its good for the wellbeing of people in lockdown looking for something to do that feels like ‘going out’.”

Headlining the Women with Heart Comedy Gala was Steph Tisdell, a luminescent presence who has had a stellar rise to fame on the comedy circuit. As a ydinji woman she has a formidable intelligence and sense of social justice that permeates her material. Her ability to command a stage is inspirational. Mandy and Steph were also joined by some of the strongest and most in-demand feature acts in the country: Ellen Briggs, the other half of Women Like Us, show stopping Kat Davidson, the musical comedy genius of Jenny Wynter and the wry wit of natural born story teller Fiona McGary. Alongside the gold star women of comedy were three of the most exciting emerging talents on the comedy scene, Ting Lim, Vanessa Mitchell and Alex Hudson. The virtual comedy show was a huge success, with over 220 tickets sold and over 10k raised for the refuge. On behalf of Momentum Collective and the Women & Children’s Refuge in Ballina, we would like to thank Mandy Nolan, Ballina RSL and all of those involved in putting this fundraiser together.

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• Alstonville Rotary • Ballina RSL • Country & Coast Magazine • CS91 Active • Dog & Parrot Tavern Robina • Gold Coast Titans • Grace Communion Bible Study • Little Wise One • Mandy Nolan • Soroptimist International Gold Coast Inc. • Tweed Seagulls A special thank you for your recent donations and support: We are grateful for the ongoing support of our partners, providers, employees and volunteers.

Interested? Call us today 1300 900 091. Visit our website for details and other availabilities mymomentum.org.au

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ENJOY THE MOMENT Out & about, or at home. Your moments, your life.

Scones & Sunshine David and Viktoria enjoyed a lovely morning at the River Mill in Mount Nathan. #NDIS #CommunityParticipation

Wear it Purple Day Members of our Grafton team wearing purple in support of LGBTIQ+ young people.

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Listen to Your Art Getting creative with the art group at our residential rehabilitation in Coffs Harbour. #MentalHealth

Hook, Line and Sinker Jess and Adam enjoying a day out fishing in Tweed Heads. #MentalHealth #Outreach

Friday Night Footy One of our Empower! #NDIS Clients snapped at a Titan’s game with the Titan Mascots. #Empower!

Team Work Makes the Dream Work! Some of the amazing team at our Specialist Disability Accomodation in Loganlea. #NDIS

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Send us ideas on what you’d like us to include in our next newsletter. Whether you are a client, community member, family, friends or working in the industry - we want to hear from you! Email [email protected] We want to hear from you!

@MomentumCollectiveAustralia @MomentumColl E: [email protected] T: 1300 900 091 W: mymomentum.org.au

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