Supporting Vicki and Sonia to get out in the community

Aboriginal sisters, Vicki and Sonia, are long-term Northcott customers who access our Tamworth Life Skills service and enjoy short stays at our Respite house.

Accessing Northcott Life Skills and Respite

The pair travel 40 minutes from their small hometown of Quirindi to attend Life Skills three days a week. While they enjoy participating in our centre-based programs to build their practical and communication skills, it is the community outings in Tamworth’s town centre that Sonia and Vicki enjoy the most.

“I like walking and going out exploring in the community. I like shopping at Big W and Kmart to find the bargains,” Sonia explains. “We also like making crafts for the market. We make key rings with beads. And I enjoy going bowling.”

Vicki says she enjoys the iPad and Technology program as well as walking in the community.

This year, the women have been accessing Northcott’s Respite house in Tamworth for a change of scenery from their hometown. Coming from Quirindi, Sonia and Vicki don’t have many opportunities to go out and socialise. When they stay at our Respite house, they enjoy going out in Tamworth to experience different activities and spend time with their friends.

“The house is good; it’s nice and quiet. It’s different to being at home. We go to West Leagues for the raffle draws,” Sonia says.

NAIDOC Week activities

Every year in the first week of July, Vicki and Sonia join Northcott staff and other customers to participate in Tamworth’s NAIDOC Week March and Family Day. The event is an important activity for Tamworth’s Aboriginal community, providing a way to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Sonia sees the day as a chance to spend time with the Aboriginal community. “We like walking in the parade for NAIDOC Week. We catch up with family. We like to be there with our Aboriginal family,” she explains.

Northcott Senior Support Worker, Jodie says the Life Skills team from Tamworth participate in the parade to support their Aboriginal customers and the wider community.

We believe it is important to have some Aboriginal or cultural elements in our programs.

“In the past, the team has arranged Aboriginal speakers to come to teach Indigenous language. Customers have been supported to learn rock painting, decorating stones and then placing them all around the town,” Jodie says.

“We’ve also taken Sonia and Vicki to community days at the Coledale Hall with the Coledale Aboriginal Group. And on Tuesdays in Quirindi, Sonia and Vicki visit Elders and take part in activities at the Aboriginal Community Centre.”

Northcott is committed to supporting Aboriginal people with disability to have equal access to services and supports so they can live the life they choose. We tailor our services to each individual’s cultural needs, including providing opportunities to take a short break. If you – or somebody you support – is planning a weekend away, our Short Stays service in Wagga Wagga, Tamworth or the Gold Coast could be just what is needed.

Short Stays Life Skills