Celebrating with The Cassidy Crew

The Cassidy Crew in Warragul celebrated International Day of People with Disability on Tuesday inviting many in the region to visit and take part in numerous in house activities throughout the day.

Santa also arrived to take some photos and some also had the opportunity to walk some GAP greyhounds that came to visit before the Warragul Specialist School also dropped in to join in the fun.

The Cassidy Crew was initiated in 2015, when Pauline Luchetta was looking to continue working in her various businesses but was unable to find carers to look after her husband’s daughter, Cass. So, she decided to employ her own carers.

Now, The Cassidy Crew has grown to more than 50 employees, who assist more than 150 clients throughout region each week at a crew house in Albert St, Warragul, as well as various other locations from Pakenham to Morwell.

Pauline saw a need in the community and realised she could be someone that could help fill the need firsthand, not just for Cass, but for others who were looking for care.

Three years on, the Cassidy Crew has developed its own way of positively caring for those in need.

“We are really all about positive, person centred care here. Basically, if someone wants to do something we say, let’s do it, and we help them along in that journey,” she said.

Throughout the past three years, Pauline has noticed gaps in the area of disability care and is hoping The Cassidy Crew can pave the way to bridging them.

“We’ve found from the four-year-olds to the 18-year-olds, there isn’t a great deal out there, plus there are some who aren’t going to day services and are looking for more meaningful activities to do. So, we are working towards providing more services,” she said.

Events coordinator Sam Gardiner said that she’s always had the view that those living with disability can participate in any event and enjoy each activity they take part in.

“I love to organise things that I know they will enjoy and are inclusive. Yesterday we had a group go to Melbourne, so we supported them in their trip, they visited the Myer windows and the gingerbread house, we love being able to help with these trips,” she said.

Sam said seeing clients grow with confidence had been rewarding.

Oscar Sceney, who has been a support worker for two and a half years, said the day was a fantastic way to celebrate and support people living with disability.

“I absolutely love it, it’s really about celebrating the people who use our services and making their day the best it can be, there’s so many activities to enjoy, it’s great” he said.

“Seeing the difference that we make, that’s very cliché, but seeing people grow and achieve their goals, that’s the biggest reward for me” Pauline said.