This project has been inspired by the efforts and achievements of our children.
Like all parents, including those with special needs children, we’ve faced much uncertainty yet both of our families feel incredibly grateful for the same opportunities:
We feel very fortunate our children won’t be subjected to a lifetime of unfulfilling factory style work or unemployment. This fortune compells us to pass on the clarity of vision that allowed them to flourish and to share a mindset that accepts nothing less.
Teachers that don’t want to lose their jobs
Employees that don’t want to be bullied by their colleagues
Parents that don’t demand fair wages for their children’s efforts because they don’t want them to lose whatever opportunities they currently have
School leavers that don't want a disability/special needs label
Gail is both a visionary and a doer in the world of disability. Gail has a unique empathy and understands the gaps that individuals with disabilities and their families experience. Change doesn’t usually fit the current paradigm or procedure so Gail’s proficient at creating opportunities through a well connected network that’s taken decades to develop.
Since Phil’s AFL career he’s immersed himself in a variety of community support roles. He is acutely aware that a lack of educational opportunities and positive family support can have a devastating life-long effect. Indigenous youth, along with those affect by disabilities, are particularly vulnerable. Phil shares our vision of creating relevant opportunities for our communities most vulnerable.
Elly learnt from a very young age that challenging yourself, and stepping outside of your comfort zone, is the only way to improve your skills and independence. Elly started physio therapy at the age of nine months and her strong work ethic has continued to shape her experiences. Her proudest achievement is securing a paid traineeship in child care for her first year out of high school and the many hundreds of hours of voluntary work that it took to build her resume.
Patrick’s incredible story of hard work and determination with a single focus from a very young age led to full-time employment as a fully qualified bus driver at the age of 26. Patrick’s family credits the resourcefulness of a dedicated careers mentor for his against-the-odds achievements and the fulfilment he’s now enjoying.
