CEO Update 28 November

The Bayley House Annual report has been released and what a great story it tells. Our clients share their journey and many of the exciting things they have achieved and been involved in. What a terrific way to tell the story of Bayley House this year. The Bayley House Annual General Meeting was held (live for the first time in three years) last week and it was such a thrill to get back together and share.

Bayley Arts is on track for a ‘grand opening’ early in 2023. This project has taken longer than we anticipated, but for good reason; this is the first new facility which Bayley House has opened in many years and we are determined to get it right. Our community arts hub will set a new standard for arts based activities, immersed as it will be in the mainstream arts community and offering a stunning, fully accessible building boasting three purpose designed studios, a glorious dedicated art gallery/exhibition space, as well as room for social interaction and a registered Changing Places bathroom. We can’t wait for this dream to become reality and to share it with all our clients, families and supporters.

Coinciding with the upcoming opening of Bayley Arts, this week we launched our annual Christmas fundraising appeal, focusing on ensuring that we have the very best equipment for our talented artists. You can read all about it here. If you are in a position to, we would very much appreciate your support with this.

As we approach the end of the year it is a good time to reflect that we may not be ‘COVID free’ but we are certainly ‘COVID competent’. Thank you to everyone for continuing to abide by the processes and requirements we have in place. In particular please ensure that if you or your loved one has any symptoms of ill health, COVID related or not, that you stay home and get better before coming to Bayley House.

Not COVID….but a reminder that the infamous Melbourne grass pollen season, which runs from October to December each year, brings an increase in asthma and hay fever symptoms. It also increases the risk of thunderstorm asthma. Click on this link to find out more and to ensure that you and your loved ones remain safe.

Member for Goldstein, Zoe Daniel, is hosting a forum on the NDIS on December 14th 6.00 – 7.30pm. Minister for the NDIS, Bill Shorten, will speak and be available to answer questions from the audience. Please click here for more information and to secure tickets for this free event.  On a related theme last week’s Q and A on ABC television was gripping viewing, focusing as it did on the NDIS. Worth a look if you missed it. Bayley House parent, Rebecca Sullivan, raises a question which will resonate with many families of adults with intellectual disability. Whilst her question and comments about Max generated much discussion and supportive commentary I’m not sure that Rebecca’s concerns were adequately addressed.

On other matters NDIS, there are reviews in place for Supported Disability Accommodation (SDA) as well as the NDIS scheme itself. Bayley House is contributing to both these reviews directly and through our peak body, National Disability Services (NDS). I encourage everyone to avail themselves of any opportunity presented to have your say in these reviews. The NDIS is a wonderful model but its implementation has been truly problematic. This is the best chance we have to ensure that the NDIS delivers for people with disabilities as it was designed to do.