Three day adventure for Yooralla clients
A group of seven locals with disabilities recently travelled to Queenscliff for a three-day adventure, supported by Yooralla.
Yooralla’s community inclusion manager southern region Tania Canidisech said for many people with disability going away without their parents was a “huge step”.
“For many of the customers who went on the holiday, it was only the first or second time they have ever been away without their families; and every single one of them had a fantastic time, asking, as soon as they came back to Drouin, when they can go on another holiday,” she said.
The trip was carefully planned by Yooralla’s community inclusion team in partnership with Yooralla’s Drouin Community Hub around each customer’s personality and interests, and offered through the Hub at 138 Princes Way.
Yooralla’s Community Hubs provide community-based supports for people with disability across Victoria, where every individual is encouraged to pursue their goals by accessing skillsbased learning, recreation and social activities.
The group drove from the Hub to Sorrento where they took a ferry to Queenscliff.
Josie Ferre, one of Yooralla’s Disability Support Workers who supported the group, said it was a perfect day for a ferry ride.
“It was gorgeous and sunny, so after enjoying a nice morning tea, everyone went outside on the top deck.
In Queenscliff, the group went out to dinners, played mini golf and did lots of sightseeing. They also took a road trip to Portarlington.
Maria Cutts, mother of Eric who went on the holiday, said the experience brought “Eric completely out of his shell”.
“He normally likes being on his own, in his room – he is normally not a big talker – but during the holiday he was a completely different person. He spent the entire time socialising and having a lot of fun. The support workers sent a lot of photos to us throughout the holiday,” she said.
Eric was a little nervous on the morning of the departure but as soon as he saw his Yooralla support workers, he was “smiling earto-ear”, said Maria.
“I think this is a real testament to the team at the Hub. I can’t speak highly enough of them. Eric absolutely loves going to the Hub because of the staff there,” she said.
Yooralla offers a wide range of recreational activities including holidays for adults, camps and youth groups for children and teenagers, school holiday programs and social groups for adults with disability, as well as other services.