IDS Update (09-10-20)

To members of the IDS Family,

We hope you are keeping well. Can you believe there are only 11 weeks until Christmas!? With all that has happened this year, it is no surprise 2020 has flown by.

With the continuing drop in COVID-19 numbers, we are confident that the restrictions will soon be easing and everyone will be able to expand their activities. We encourage you to plan ahead, so please contact one of our Team Leaders to discuss any additional hours or supports you might like, as we move back to ‘normal’!

World Mental Health Day / Week

World Mental Health Day on 10 October kicks off a week-worth of celebration and awareness of the importance of looking after your mental health. Mental Health Australia lists a range of helpful resources for you to share with loved ones or utilise for yourself. We personally love the October calendar with suggested activities for each day of the month. Check it out here!

National Carers Week

11-17 October is National Carers Week, a time for all Australians to celebrate the important contributions of carers within our community. It is also a great opportunity to raise awareness about the diversity of carers and their roles!

On behalf of IDS, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all carers for their commitment to ensuring every person has the opportunity to live a full and enriched life.

If you want to get involved, below are some great online events courtesy of Carers Victoria:

National Carers Week Launch Event | 11 Oct, 3-4pm

Join via Zoom to celebrate the launch of National Carers Week. The event will be followed by comedic entertainment from the star of Good News Week and co-host of The Great Australian Bake Off, Claire Hooper!
> Register for free
Young Carers ISO Zoom Evening | 15 Oct, 5-6pm

A free evening of entertainment for young carers, featuring social commentary from comedian and cooking sensation “Nat’s What I Reckon” and stories from young carer ambassador, Michael. Learn how to stay connected with other young carers via Little Dreamers’ “Dreamer Hub”, too!
> Register for free
Breakfast with Champions: Disability and Carers | 15 Oct, 8-9:30am

Tune in from the comfort of home to hear from four incredible guest speakers as they chat about disability and carers. They will discuss how the sector has fared amidst COVID, changing attitudes towards disability in today’s society, how we can become a more inclusive society, and more!
> More information and to purchase tickets

Invitation to Become a Member of IDS’ Audit and Risk Committee

IDS was founded by people with a disability, for people with a disability. Our organisation’s constitution requires representation on our Board by people with disability. This is to ensure our organisation is led by people who understand the needs of our clients.

We are seeking to fill a vacant position on our Audit and Risk Committee (ARC). The ARC is a sub-committee of the Board and oversees finance, risk and compliance. One of the requirements of the ARC is to have an independent member who is not on the Board.

In keeping with our philosophy of providing opportunity for engagement and representation, we are advertising this position to clients, carers and families who may be interested. You do not need a strong finance or risk background, however you must feel comfortable in understanding and discussing finances, working as part of a Committee, and contributing to its work.

For more information or to submit an expression of interest in this position on the ARC, please contact our Chair, John Baker.

Your Ideas, Feedback, Further Information

We always encourage and welcome from our clients, families, carers and staff:

ideas on how we can improve our service
how we can better support you
your feedback/comments (good or bad)
any requests for further information

I invite you to personally contact me directly at any time, on 0425 837 624. You can also phone the office on 9340 5100 or send an email to feedback@idsa.org.au.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and remember we are always here for you

Renzo Sgarbossa
Chief Executive Officer