The Centre’s Ability Me program fosters independence and life skills in Benalla

It was designed and planned by Abillity Me participants as part of a Certificate I in Work Education and Certificate I in Transition Education.

Ability Me helps participants build essential life and work skills, gain confidence and explore employment or further education pathways.

The program runs two days a week and includes creative projects, excursions and plenty of real-world, practical learning — all fully funded through the Skills First program, with no costs from the NDIS.

Whether it’s improving communication, learning to manage money, or building connections in the community, Ability Me is about giving people the tools to thrive.

The Centre CEO Sue Geals said it partnered with Living Goals (a disability support agency) to provide this training to their clients.

“We, with Living Goals, deliver a program here in Benalla for people with intellectual disability,” Sue said.

“The event today is one of the programs they design within their learning. So they've invited the staff from Living Goals and from The Centre to come and join them today.”

Participants had designed the day, which included some fun games and an obstacle course, with health and fitness in mind, and a barbecue lunch.

“They chose what equipment they wanted and the sorts of sports that they wanted us to have a go at,” Sue said.

“They’ve chosen the menu for lunch, whatever that might be. We’ll find out soon.”

Sue said the concept was driven by self-determination.

“It’s all about choosing what they want to do, and supporting each other,” she said.

“Some of them require support workers who are with them, others have a degree of independence.

“But, for all of them, being able to make their own decisions, learning how to work together, teamwork and life skills is what it's all about.

“It helps them be that little bit more independent and able to do things on their own.”

Living Goals Director Naylan McDonell said the event was all about staff and managers coming together, getting out of the office and seeing what participants had organised for them.

“For participants, it’s all about choice and control,” Naylan said.

“Studies show that we all create better lives and more fulfilling lives when we're in control of the little things as well as the big things.

“Plus the amount of learning that goes behind putting a menu together, making sure you've got enough numbers and doing the calculations to make sure everything can be turning up and on time is very beneficial.

“They're loving being able to showcase, particularly to the managers in the back office, and those sorts of things, showing us what they actually get up to. I think they find value in that.”

The day was underpinned by training undertaken with Open Door Neighbourhood House in Wangaratta.

Gady Parker from Open Door said it was involved in training on literacy and numeracy, before participants take part in the Abilities Me class.

“We have modules that we set out quite specifically that involve, for example, living skills and under the living skills banner you have different components of literacy and numeracy being used.

“So for instance, with the obstacle course, they’ve learned about how far things should be apart and learning about how many things they need.”

Sue said the participants had been enjoying the day.

“One of them in particular, Graham, he's saying can we do this all the time?

“For him, today represents just the epitome of what's going on in the class, and he’s really enjoyed it.”

Sue also shared that The Centre will soon have a new campus in Benalla. Keep an eye out in the pages of The Ensign and www.benallaensign.com.au for more on that.