Interchange Adventures, More Than Just Fun!

Interchange Adventures, more than just fun!

Humans are inherently social creatures, for as long as the human race has been in existence we have travelled, sought companionship and thrived in social groups.

People with disability can sometimes have a much smaller social circle and can become isolated due to their inability to travel without assistance, difficulty in communicating and networking with others, health and a need for support to participate in social activities. Feeling socially connected, especially in an increasingly isolated world is more important than ever.

Upcycling and recycling with Courtney

Interchange Australia runs a large range of programs focused around participants achieving both NDIS and personal goals. Many of these programs cross over with one another which helps our participants understand how each activity they take part in has a flow on effect in various other areas of life. Amongst these programs there is Be My Best which covers a range of different topics throughout the year addressing key issues one might experience throughout life. We help our participants with learning communication and social skills in various settings, how they can contribute to the community and we also cover topics like hygiene, personal care and safety.

Understanding Sexuality and People with Disability

Sexuality amongst people with a disability is often a topic left unspoken – but the more we talk – the easier it gets.

What actually is sexuality?

It is the way that people experience and express themselves sexually. We express our sexuality in many ways, through thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles and relationships. Sexuality is integral to a person’s identity and develops throughout life, from birth to death. It is natural for people across all ages to express their sexuality through their behaviour.

Speaking with Interchange House Coordinator Angela Smith on digital client service delivery

I was a few moments late logging on, I knew the session had already started, but the internet had been playing up for months. I was greeted by a cacophony of noise and chaos as I tried to work out what was going on. It didn’t take me long. One of the clients was showing everyone her pet guinea pig, and it was causing huge excitement and laughter. It was a timely reminder how important our work is, even when delivering an online format…..

Zoom into Day Programs – why not give it a try!

For the past eighteen months life as we knew it has changed dramatically, and right now in NSW we are currently in the hardest lockdown we have experienced to date!

To most of us feeling isolated is new, we have been living our lives able to go wherever we want, whenever we want, hanging out with friends and family, going out for dinner, travelling if we want to, even simple things like going shopping and much more.

Pandemic or an Epidemic?

The difference between a pandemic and an epidemic, is that a pandemic has spread across multiple countries and geographical areas.

Sometimes here at home, COVID-19 has felt more like an epidemic, as the initially effective policies of state and international border closures and low case numbers lulled us into a false sense of security. The Delta variant has burst our bubble.