Ms Eckermann founded the program with incorporated partners New South Wales’ disability charity organisation Where There’s A Will and Warracknabeal disability service-provider Woodbine.
She said Rainbow desperately needed a program that would include people with a disability within the community.
“We don’t have supports here for people living with a disability and I thought this would be fantastic,” she said.
“Right now, we’re focusing on Rainbow to get it started, but we hope to reach other towns including Hopetoun and Jeparit.”
Ms Eckermann became involved with a Where There’s A Will cause in early 2019 when she re-purposed cricket bats as works of art and auctioned them off to raise money for people living with a disability.
Where There’s A Will founder Ange Clarke then worked with Ms Eckermann to extend fundraising efforts across western Victoria, inviting artists to take part and help raise money for the Rainbow community.
Combined efforts raised more than $10,000 towards the development of the centre, which is part of Rainbow’s multi-purpose Oasis Centre.
Ms Eckermann said she hoped programs could start in September after the official launch, originally planned for March, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said when it started, she would guide participants through various art projects or aid development of their own artistic ideas that could be contributed to the development of the sensory garden.
“We’re trying to aid people to do things that others might take for granted and do that in a safe and inclusive environment,” she said.
“Art is seen to be a good form of therapy, because you can express yourself visually. You don’t necessarily have to have the ability to draw traditional artwork, there’s so many ways you can express that.”
Mentors
Ms Eckermann said mentors would help participants gain social support, work experience and training or assistance with daily living, such as personal care, social support, community access, household tasks and life transitioning.
“Some might want assistance with day-to-day finances and how to manage their budget or they might be suffering from depression. We can be a sounding board to help them connect with the right place,” she said.
“If there’s anything that’s beyond what we’re qualified for, we can seek that help for them. We also envisage doing a social enterprise, where they can start growing things in the sensory garden, like herbs, and dry, package and sell them,” she said.
Woodbine participants interested in art are encouraged to attend sessions on a bi-weekly basis when the program starts.
Chief executive Bernie O’Connor said the program represented the core values Woodbine stood for.
“This is contributing to the community, making friendships and learning along the way,” he said.
“That is what Woodbine lives and breathes for – being included as standard members of the community.”
Mr O’Connor said the centre would extend to provide an opportunity for people with a disability and others in Rainbow and surrounding district.
“We’ve got vulnerable people in our community and Rainbow is a little more remote from some bigger towns,” he said.
“We thought arts and craft would be an effective way for engaging the community, not just for people with a disability, but for anyone to join in.”
Mr O’Connor said the program could possibly expand and even become a model for other communities.
“It might end up being music as well, we’re not limiting our focus to art. We do really well with music and dancing at Woodbine,” he said.
“It has potential to be adopted by other communities and involve people in the district who have a disability who might not be aware of the activities they can do.”
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