In this edition
Welcome to Melba Community News!
Welcome to the first edition of Melba Community News, our new quarterly newsletter. We are excited to share what’s happening at Melba Support Services with you.
Yesterday, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten made an important announcement, revealing changes to what the NDIS will and won’t fund. Those changes take effect today. As a proudly registered NDIS provider, Melba supports any moves that make life better for people with disability. We have more to say in the story below.
There is a lot of excitement around Melba at the moment. Not only have we recently launched our new and improved website but we’re also running a campaign to share what Melba does.
The new Melba website is much simpler to navigate and makes it easier for people to find the information they need or request support. One of our favourite features is the improved accessibility options.
A priority of our new website was to make sure that it was a positive experience and that you could find the information you needed in a way that worked for you.
If you look down to the bottom right corner, you will see a wheelchair icon. Clicking this icon displays a range of accessibility considerations, you can select a range of adjustments that make the website easier for you. It makes such a difference, you can change the size of fonts and spacing, you can change colour contrasts and even change the whole website into a dyslexia-friendly font.
The new website was the perfect place to start sharing some of our new campaign images, this campaign features people we support doing things they love. Our campaign is all about showing people who we are and what we do.
At Melba, people we support are at the forefront of everything we do. Our purpose is to support people to live the lives they choose, achieve their personal goals and participate fully in their communities. We use the statement “you lead, we support“.
You lead, we support means it’s the people we support who are the decision–makers in their own lives. At Melba, we ask people what they want to achieve through our supports and then we work out how to do it! Our campaign features a dancer, an Elvis fan, a cyclist and pair of thrill seekers.
Hopefully over the next few months many of you will see our new campaign when you’re online, scrolling socials or perhaps travelling through certain areas like Lilydale and Ballarat. We urge you to like it, share it, ask us a question and start a conversation with someone because talking about disability is a conversation we should all be having!
If you or someone you know needs support, visit our Contact us page for a range of ways to get in touch. You can also request a call back at a convenient time and we will contact you shortly after.
Back To TopShorten announces revised list of NDIS supports
In a sweeping reform to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), outgoing NDIS Minister Bill Shorten has unveiled the first official list outlining what the NDIS will and won’t fund. The changes, set to take effect tomorrow, target the elimination of certain therapies, lifestyle purchases, and services that should be covered by other government systems.
Notably, the list explicitly rules out funding for drugs, alcohol, sexual services, rent, food and holidays. Lifestyle “treatments” such as tarot card readings, reiki, cuddle therapy, and wilderness therapy are also banned, along with mainstream services such as homeschooling and prescription drugs available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Back To TopMelba Spotlight: Andrew
Meet Andrew, a fun-loving adventurer, whose journeys often take place from the comfort of his lounge room, PlayStation 5 controller in hand. Whether he’s exploring the realms of ancient Norway or racing through the jungles of India, Andrew’s passion for gaming transports him into worlds of gods, treasure hunters and legendary battles.
On some days, Andrew becomes Kratos, a former Greek god of war, journeying through the frostbitten landscapes of Norway. In God of War: Ragnarok, alongside his son Atreus, Andrew faces off against powerful gods, demons and giants. He deftly solves ancient puzzles, builds mighty weapons and hones his magic skills as he trains for epic battles that could shape the fate of the world. Kratos’ journey is full of emotional depth, and Andrew loves getting lost in the thrill of battle and the bond between father and son.
But Andrew’s adventures don’t stop there. On other days, he becomes Chloe Frazer, a fearless treasure hunter navigating ancient ruins in India. In Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, Andrew, as Chloe, unearths hidden clues and solves intricate puzzles, all while on the hunt for the legendary Golden Tusk of Ganesh. Competing against rival treasure hunters and battling a ruthless warmonger, Andrew relishes the high-stakes chase for glory and the exhilarating sense of discovery.
When Andrew isn’t gaming, he dives into his favourite TV shows. From the time-travelling antics of Tom Baker’s Doctor Who, to the heroic battles in Power Rangers and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Andrew’s love for adventure extends to the screen. He also enjoys medical drama with All Saints and intergalactic quests in Stargate.
But one of Andrew’s greatest passions is music, and he’s an ardent fan of the rock band KISS. He’ll gladly travel down to Melbourne to catch a concert at Rod Laver Arena, singing along to his favourite songs, especially the iconic I Was Made For Loving You.
Whether in the car or the concert hall, Andrew can’t help but get swept up in the energy of KISS, living each moment to the fullest.
Back To TopDay to day support at Melba
Melba’s day to day support includes individualised support arrangements (ISA) and a range of day programs.
Our day programs focus on building skills, capacity and achieving goals. We are proud that our day programs offer meaningful activities and provide people with opportunities to engage with their chosen communities.
Community Connections is based in Lilydale and offers a range of activities for people, ranging from 1:1 support through to 1:4 support. Days are tailored to individuals and cover things such as work and volunteer skills, art, music and dance, cooking and a host of food and cooking–related activities.
Melba volunteers from Community Connections do a lot of work up at their local ECOSS garden in Warburton. Recently, Costa and the Gardening Australia crew came to visit, and Muray was on hand to show him around and put him to work. You can read more about the visit and watch the episode here.
Arthur Creative is an arts-based day program in Ballarat, offering artist–led workshops such as visual and studio art, ceramics, photography, theatre and film skills. This program provides options for both beginners and established artists with disability.
The studio is a warm, inviting collective that nurtures artists on their exploration of their creative side. In addition to workshops, artists from Arthur Creative are provided regular opportunities to display and sell their work. The tote bags from the screen printing workshop are always popular!
The year wraps up with an end–of–year performance featuring collaborations between different workshops and groups. Learn more about Arthur Creative on our website.
Our day programs are based at a variety of locations across Victoria, including Lilydale, Ballarat, Mt Evelyn and Mount Martha and there’s always room for more, you can contact us by email at engagement@melbasupport.com.au
Back To TopBrand new SDA apartments in Prahran
Looking for fully accessible, comfortable and modern accommodation in a prime location? We have brand new apartments available in Prahran. These two bedroom, two bathroom apartments are built to meet High Physical Support and Fully Accessible standards.
Nestled in the heart of Prahran, the apartments offer a taste of inner–city living with access to the support you need to live independently. Melba can provide you with the necessary support, known as supported independent living (SIL), to make one of these apartments your new home.
Prahran not quite what you’re looking for? We partner with developers and specialist disability accommodation providers who are equally committed to improving the lives of people with disability. We are currently working on another apartment building in Kensington and also have other vacancies available across Victoria. Visit our website to view current vacancies or visit our Contact us page to discuss what you’re looking for.
Back To TopUpskill with our new microcredentials
Want to boost your career with some new skills?
We’ve partnered with RMIT Online to develop and deliver our engaging and flexible microcredentials. We’re excited to share our 50 years of experience in the disability sector with people looking to upskill and create authentic social impact.
Based on in-depth industry knowledge, this self-directed learning is delivered through engaging videos, real world case studies and interactive assessments. Our microcredentials are 100 per cent online and can be completed in 4–8 hours.
To celebrate the launch of our microcredentials we are offering a 20 per cent discount on enrolment; all you need to do is choose which course you’ll do first and follow the prompts to enrol using the code MELBAFIRST2024 for your discount.
Foundations of Accessible and Inclusive Workplaces
Are you interested in the role you can play in creating workplaces that champion accessibility and diversity? Enrol in our Foundations of Accessible and Inclusive Workplaces microcredential and learn how to promote inclusion, implement best practice and communicate more effectively.
Human Rights in the Support Context
Maybe you want to define, explain and integrate human rights principles into your organisation. Gain an understanding of legislation, how to break down barriers and improve leadership by enrolling in our Human Rights in the Support Context microcredential today.
Back To TopIn the news
Understanding disability acronyms: A guide to navigating the terminology
The world of disability services and support comes with a lot of acronyms. Whether you’re a person with disability, a family member, a service provider or an advocate, knowing these acronyms is essential for navigating conversations, paperwork and policies effectively. We break down the most common ones to help you understand what they mean and how they are used.
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