George Gray Centre webpage
Our facility provides vocational and life skill activities for adults with one or more of the following: intellectual, physical or psychological disabilities. We also Commonwealth funded to provide supported employment to persons with a disability. At present we run a Café and Gardening Crews staffed by supported employees and instructors.
We aim to provide activities based on individual needs, with focus being on the enhancement of personal development, increased independence and the promotion of community inclusion.
Some of the activities we provide are:
- Person Centred Planning
- Sport and Recreation
- Cooking and kitchen skills
- Life Skills
- Grooming and presentation
- Literacy and Numeracy skills
- Communication assessments and aids
- Music
- Drama
- Art
- Self Advocacy
- Men’s group
- Women’s Group
- Craft
- Contract work
- Computer and Multimedia Studies
- Access to Vcal and Tafe studies
- Volunteer work
- Vocational training
- Sensory Awareness
- Leisure and Games
- Senior Relaxation-fishing, walking, visiting etc
- Community Access
Placement Details
Placement at our organisation would give medical student a good overview of the whole person.
They would see the need for social interaction for the continuation of good mental health as well as physical health.
The close relationship between staff and clients enables staff to be aware of any changes that may precede a medical issue such as increased confusion, weight loss etc.
Medical students would learn that communication is a key factor when trying to gather information from a person with a disability. At our centre they would witness varied forms of communication. For example Makaton signing is used throughout our centre, only one or two instructions are given at a time to prevent confusion and wherever possible we use easy read English in written notes and policies.
We have had some success with accessing our local community but students would also learn of difficulties our participants have in accessing the broader community. These reasons are many and include transport, limited opportunities, community’s inability or reluctance to welcome people with disabilities and of course our rural position limits the amount social inclusion in the broader community.
Students may also have the opportunity to join in on Person Centred Planning. During this planning a detailed personal history is collected and clients are encouraged to dream and plan for the future. The difficulties are many and vary considerably depending on the client and their degree of disability. I’m sure that by observing how questions are framed and the forms of communication used would benefit the students. This may be a good topic for a project.
Placement Parameters
- After an initial induction students will be encouraged to take initiative and work with minimal supervision.
- They may wish to work on a project such as Person Centred Planning and history gathering.
- A Communication project may also be of interest.
- Staff will be available for supervision or assistance if required.
- Hours would be 9:00am – 3:00pm but may be altered if inconvenient
Selection Criteria
- Students will need to be open minded and be able adapt to different situations quickly.
- Familiarisation with epilepsy and first aid would be beneficial
- Students will need to be flexible and have a sense of humour
Location: 24 Foster Street, Maffra
Contact Person: Kerrie Miller, Program Manager
Phone: 5147 2221
Places Filled: 0/2 |
