Fighting Chance

Opportunity & Inclusion

Northern Beaches local, Laura O’Reilly, recalls the devastation her family faced when her younger brother graduated from high school, and he was unable to find a place in the world. As a young man with profound cerebral palsy, he was on the cusp of adulthood and looking at a future of closed doors.

Laura knew Shane’s disability was the least of him. His abilities and his potential were who he was. Moved by the unfairness of her brother being denied opportunities, Laura was determined to change things - not only for Shane but for thousands of other Australians excluded and defi ned by their disability.

Laura and her other brother, Jordan, saw the power of social enterprise to address these gaps in opportunity and create a truly inclusive economy. In 2011, they founded ‘Fighting Chance’ and began to support ten people with disability to gain work experience in Brookvale on the Northern Beaches. “Society should be supporting every person to be their maximum selves. Instead of waiting for that to happen, we decided to do something about it,” says Laura.

Eleven years on, there are fi ve social enterprises in the Fighting Chance group which create opportunities in employment, microbusiness, community participation and supported independent living. They serve over a thousand people with disability across thirteen locations in four states.

Despite its rapid expansion, Laura and Fighting Chance still call the Beaches home. All fi ve of Fighting Chance’s enterprises are embedded in the welcoming, inclusive community on the Beaches, supporting 463 people and employing 376 (including over 40 with disability).

Fighting Chance’s newest enterprise is Plus, which the team is building to be Australia’s leading integrated program for people with complex behaviours. It will integrate a world-class life skills day program with therapeutic, allied health and clinical supports. Base Housing Collective is also a new player, reimagining the approach to supported independent living. One of the gaps in everyday opportunity for people with disability is being able to choose where to live and with whom. This is exacerbated by very limited disability housing options on the Northern Beaches. Base is ensuring people with disability can live independently whilst remaining close to their families and support networks here. In partnership with Specialist Disability Accommodation provider Casa Capace, Base is building three new state-of-the-art homes in Beacon Hill, due to open in 2023.

Eleven years ago, Laura and Jordan set their sights high, envisioning the new future for disability they could build through Fighting Chance. In 2021, Laura received an OAM for her service to the disability sector. Her pride in receiving the award, and her drive to continue her work, are tied to her brother Shane’s legacy.

“Shane died when he was 21 years old. It was six months; after that we started Fighting Chance. Shane had picked out his desk, ready to join us, but he never truly got to see the life he inspired, a life that has helped so many to be included in society. He would be smiling down on us.” •

UNIT 5A, 10 RODBOROUGH RD, FRENCHS FOREST, 2086 (02) 9905 0415 // INSTA: @FIGHTINGCHANCEAU

A new and reimagined approach to supported independent living, has rare SDA housing vacancies on the Northern Beaches, and is looking for housemates.

Base has partnered with Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) provider, Casa Capace, to build three new, state-of-the-art homes for people with disability in Beacon Hill on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. All base homes are designed to put people living with disability at the centre of decision-making, providing them with the foundations and support they need to make their own future.

Find out more at: www.base.org.au Call 02 9190 2790

An inclusive space where people with complex behaviours are valued for who they are as individuals.

Plus aims to integrate a world-class life skills day program with therapeutic, allied health and clinical supports, so participants can improve their daily living skills, increase their independence and nd well-being through a sense of purpose and belonging.

Visit plusdisability.com.au or call 1300 166 715 NOW OPEN IN Frenchs Forest!