IMPACT Community Services is excited to offer four new NDIS services to assist the Bundaberg community.
The new services include Psychosocial Recovery Coaching, Support Coordination, a Dungeons and Dragons group, and the Lights, Camera, Action film and photography group.
NDIS Manager Sorelle Mackinnon said the programs would provide a level of support that will fill a gap in the community.
“The Psychosocial Recovery Coaching offers a recovery-oriented practice and life coaching,” Ms Mackinnon said.
“The focus is based upon building meaning in people’s lives, working collaboratively to assist participants with a psychosocial disability to uncover resourcefulness, resilience and reconnect with their strengths and capabilities.
“The goal is to provide support to participants in recovery to increase social and economic independence through capacity building, build respectful relationships and facilitate essential day-to-day assistance, coaching and support.
“At the moment this service is not offered through any other NDIS provider in Bundaberg even though it is so greatly required, and we are thrilled to be able to provide this for our community.”
The program will also offer support coordination.
“For over 20 years we have provided disability supports to the community, but coordinating services specifically designed to fit a participant’s needs is a step in a new direction for IMPACT,” Ms Mackinnon said.
IMPACT staff will consult with participants, assess their NDIS plan and goals and connect them to varying services available within the broader community, providing comprehensive service provision.
Ms Mackinnon said it had been identified that services tailored to the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the community were heavily underrepresented.
“In light of this our talented support staff have created two group-based activities to facilitate a level of social interaction people with ASD might be comfortable participating in,” she said.
The new Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) support program is currently taking expressions of interest, with a very keen NDIS participant eager to begin their role as the IMPACT Dungeon Master.
D&D is a fantasy storytelling game where players can take on roles and complete mystical battles against creatures to get themselves out of trouble.
While there are many online gamer options available to D&D enthusiasts, playing the game in-person provides a unique experience and creates an opportunity for social interaction between players.
“It’s a game that a lot of people already play online, and we will be providing a supported safe space to participate in this in-person table-top game experience,” Ms Mackinnon said.
The second support program called Lights, Camera, Action will teach photo and videoing digital skills to participants to help them connect better with not only themselves but with others.
Expressing individual creativity and exploring different visual mediums can be a communicative experience for an artist who may struggle voicing their thoughts, emotions, or views verbally.
Photo and video creation can also allow for others to connect to the work and feel seen or understood as well.
The Lights, Camera, Action program encourages social media to be used as a positive tool to express oneself while teaching safe use of the online platform.
“These group-based services have been adapted to include people who might normally avoid social situations,” Ms Mackinnon said.
“Both groups provide a foundational common interest, which provides a potential talking point and effectively removes the first barrier of communication.”
If you or someone you know could be interested in the services on offer, visit IMPACT at 108 Bargara Rd, East Bundaberg or phone 4153 4233.
Alternatively, visit impact.org.au to register your interest.
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