Ian Wood suddenly became vision impaired at the age of 81 back in December 2022 requiring the assistance of support staff to assist him in day-to-day activities where he was once independent. Ian currently receives Social Support services from Interchange Australia which he uses to maintain his independence with physical activity by going for walks with support worker Cherie.
Sally is one of the happiest people you will ever meet, loving everything about life and all it has to offer. Sally is a true inspiration to everyone at Interchange Australia, with her smile lighting up Lagoon House in Goulburn every single day.
In celebration of International Day of People with Disability this year we would like to recognise Interchange Australia participant Lexi Wear whose drive to achieve and excel at everything she desires in life is simply outstanding.
Janice was born in the UK and met her husband Ken in their late teens, it was love at first dance! Together they loved travelling; Bermuda, Spain, Portugal and finally decided to call Australia home in 2003. Together they have one daughter, who lives locally and is a wonderful support for them. Janice started her aged care journey in 2017, not long after moving into their retirement villa in Bowral as Ken fractured his femur and was unable to drive until he recovered. Janice contacted My Aged Care originally seeking some transport, where it was also identified, she also needed some assistance with the heavier household chores that she couldn’t do on her own.
A person can change their future by changing their attitude. Since a young age we have been taught to “be positive”, but, it is more than a useful thought. Positive thinking is an emotional and mental attitude that focuses on the bright side and anticipates positive results. A positive outlook is an incredibly powerful asset to have, as positive thoughts breeds positive results.
I started at Interchange Australia as a support worker, so I believe that it has helped me to approach my role as an Aged Care Consultant from a very different perspective. I find myself looking at assessments from both the support workers view as well as the clients, and really try to make sure I get it right from the start for everyone involved.
Helping others in need is second nature to Alice, when we asked her what she enjoys doing most her response without doubt was the volunteer work she does with the Red Cross and hopes that she will be able to continue to do this work for many years to come!
Cherylann has been receiving in home services from Interchange Australia since 2020, mostly just to assist with maintaining her gardens, while she continued to grow and harvest some delicious fresh produce. Cherylann has a large family with two brothers and two sisters. She lives at home with her husband, she has a son and a stepdaughter as well as a dog and loves to spend time doing things with her family, they often help with making things like Chutney and other delicious foods.
I spend my days surrounded by good people who I call my friends at Springett House. While my disability might limit me from being able to travel long distances I still get the chance to experience new things and discover places through Interchange Australia’s wonderful Day Options programs.
My name is Sarah and I am a CHSP Coordinator for Interchange Australia in Bowral. I am 30 years old and have been at Interchange since 2021. I was initially hired in a Support Worker role where I worked in the community and then last year I made the transition into a reception role in the Bowral office. Shortly after starting at reception, I was offered a position as part of the Aged Care team.
A very warm welcome to Karlie joining us at our Narellan Day Options campus! Karlie lives at home with her parents and sister and owns two very cute rabbits named Hamish and Harry.
With aspirations to become a sound technician, Matty Lucas is taking all the right steps to make this dream become reality. Matty joined Interchange Australia in August 2022 after learning about how the Music, Drama and Radio programs available could help him on his journey of producing sound and music for both theatre and radio.