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24 MAY, 2022
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Stepping out to school Burnside Primary School pupils, teachers and parents hit the pavement last Friday as part of national Walk to School Safely Day. The day aims to promote healthy habits and road safety. School principal Davide Lombardi said the day was a great opportunity to remind children about safe pedestrian behaviour and road rules. “It’s a really perfect way to start the day by getting some exercise and fresh air, so we’ve got clear minds to start the day,” Mr Lombardi said. “It’s also a great opportunity for some connection after COVID, for families to be able to connect on the way to school.” Mr Lombardi said the pupils were “super excited” to participate in the initiative. “We’ve all got badges, we’ve got passports where they can log their walking to school, our staff getting involved as well, “It’s a whole school community event, which we haven’t had enough of because of COVID, so this is a great opportunity to do that as well.”
Burnside Primary School pupils Islas, Jacob and Bailey. (Damjan Janevski) 279354_01
Olivia Condous
Disability stories wanted By Olivia Condous Moorabool residents who have a disability are being encouraged to learn about an ongoing public inquiry that could affect their future. An independent disability advocacy organisation will hold an information session this week in Bacchus Marsh about the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with a Disability, in order to help residents to share their stories. Grampians disAbility Advocacy chief executive Deborah Verdon said one of the main factors impacting people with disabilities in regional areas was the increased
pressure on health services and the residential market, after many metropolitan dwellers sought a “tree change” during the pandemic. “There are people with disabilities who struggle to find affordable rental … and worse than that, an accessible rental,” Ms Verdon said. “If you have certain access requirements, not every rental is going to be something that you can even get into comfortably, so that’s another systemic issue. “There are so many ways that a person with a disability’s life is impacted on a daily basis and it can be a real struggle.” The royal commission is investigating the
mistreatment of people with a disability in all settings, including education, residential and the justice system. Grampians disAbility Advocacy provides free support to Moorabool residents with a variety of services available, including NDIS appeal services and independent living support. The information session will educate people with a disability and their carers on how to access services and the support available for those who are interested in making a submission to the royal commission. Ms Verdon said the organisation hoped that the inquiry would make recommendations for
improved oversight of the disability service system in order to prevent a small number of providers taking advantage of NDIS funding and providing poor quality services. “That’s where a lot of the abuse and neglect and exploitation can come from,” she said. “The disabled person is very vulnerable and very reliant on the services for daily living, therefore they’re really at risk in some ways if someone doesn’t have the best intentions.” The free information session will be held at 207 Main Street. Bacchus Marsh, on Thursday, May 26 at 2pm. Details: https://grampiansadvocacy.org.au/ whats-on/
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