annecto held a landmark community-inclusion workshop last Friday, leading the way in recognising the need to change the way support is provided to people with disabilities, older people and their carers.
The consultation involved a broader group of more than 160 people from all walks of life and from diverse experiences including the carer, disability and aged care environments, government, business and education to discuss what community inclusion means to them and how annecto could emerge into a community-inclusion organisation. Support organisations such as annecto are reorienting their approach in supporting people to align with the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. Community Inclusion indicators has emerged as the vehicle to make this change.
While there has been much discussion about the relevance of Social Inclusion as a government portfolio, for organisations like annecto, inclusion is paramount to successfully improving the lives of many Australians.
annecto CEO Estelle Fyffe believes community inclusion is the backbone of social inclusion as a policy.
“Community Inclusion holds many meanings for different people, and the conversations we had around how annecto can answer this need were powerful. It is apparent that one of the main indicators for inclusion were in the way support organisations and community can come together to work more effectively”.
She believes full inclusion will only be felt when the rights of people with disabilities and older people to fully participate in the community are recognised by society.
Yooralla CEO Sanjib Roy believes it is inevitable organisations within the sector will work more closely together to support change for the better and implement the push for human rights.
“It is terrific that annecto is taking active steps toward the realisation of an inclusive society. Their support for the NDIS is a visible step. No single organisation has the monopoly on words and ideas in this sector – every organisation is a droplet – together we can make an ocean”, he said.
The decision to change from a traditional service provider to a community-inclusion organisation began when annecto in its current form was established six years ago.
Bendigo Graphic Designer Daniel Giles articulated what is for many, at the heart of community inclusion.
“People with disabilities have strengths and weaknesses like everyone else. People should not focus on our differences but focus on our common friendships and interests”.
While many take the opportunity at Christmas to catch up with family and friends, others can be isolated or unable to participate in celebrations. Community inclusion organisation annecto, is encouraging people to “check-in” with people in their community this Christmas and over the holiday season.
