Disability
Disability means opportunity
Disability means opportunity in the Northern Grampians Shire. We have traditionally offered many options for employment, education and care for people with a disability. Our renowned Skene Street School in Stawell provides quality educational opportunities for children with a learning disability or physical impairment.
Intertwine Services, also in Stawell, offers vocational, social and living skills, training, employment programs, community access programs and prevocational skills training. It provides employment personnel to various local businesses. Murdoch Community Services Inc in St Arnaud provides disability employment support, residential and respite services, accommodation services, independent community accommodation and living skills and high dependency specialist programs.
Community Access Advisory Group
Northern Grampians Shire Council facilitates a Community Access Advisory Group (CAAG) that monitors and improves accessibility for all across the Shire. There are currently positions on the committee for new members. We would love to receive interest from people in rural communities such as Great Western and Halls Gap. If you would like more information on how to become a member, please download the application form.
Tri-State Games
The Northern Grampians Shire co-hosted the Tri State Games in November 2009 and 2010.
The Tri State games are for athletes from regional areas in New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria who are over the age of 18 and have a disability. The Games are an annual event, held in the second week of November.
The Tri State Games have grown and developed over the years to become Australia's largest 'grass roots' athletics carnival for people with a disability. Now, around 250 athletes, with the support of up to 250 coaches, carers and volunteers across three states, compete both individually and for their team during the week long carnival.
One of the main attractions of the Tri State Games is that it offers an opportunity for people with a significant/profound disability to participate in sporting activities that may generally not have been accessible before.
The Tri State Games also provide disability awareness opportunities to the community hosting the games. This is generated through the training and inclusion of local volunteers, sports and service clubs. Volunteers will be required throughout the games in roles such as event judges, recorders, scorers and time keepers.
A big Thank you to Intertwine Services, Murdoch Community Services and the host of volunteers who made these games possible.
Contacts:
- Skene Street School, 5358 2448
- Intertwine Services, 5358 3394
- Murdoch Community Services Inc, 5495 1566
- Grampians disAbility Advocacy Group, 5352 2722, M 0407 592 090
- Department of Human Services, Disability Intake Line 1800 783 783
- Companion Card, 1800 650 611