Individual Me Disability Support CEO Nathan Aherns inside The Oaks Collective secondhand shop. Photo: Kellie O’Brien.
A new secondhand clothing store in Oak Flats run by and for people with a disability is proving fashion can change lives as it prepares to expand by opening its doors to the wider community in November.
The Oaks Collective, part of Individual Me Disability Support, offers an innovative approach to employment and skill development for people with disabilities through hands-on retail training, skill-building, and connection.
CEO Nathan Aherns worked for disability support organisations for more than 20 years, before starting NDIS provider Individual Me in 2022 offering participants assistance with daily tasks, social and community participation, supported independent living, individual and group activities such as art classes and experiences, and an employment and skills hub.
Nathan said it was the employment side that prompted the idea to open The Oaks Collective last month, which offers more inclusive and flexible work opportunities for people with disabilities.
He said participants could work in short intervals, with some engaging in community activities alongside shop work.
“Starting a place where we can provide employment skills for people that had unique support needs was vital,” he said.
“They may only have concentration to do something for 10 minutes and then need to have a half hour break.
“Bigger employment organisations, because of their machinery, their ratios, and the other participants, just can’t provide that. That was one of the shortfalls I saw in the industry.
“There wasn’t that in-between workplace where they could come and get those skills, develop those skills, and then transfer those skills on to somewhere else.”
Nathan said the store helped participants develop workplace abilities through washing, sorting, pricing, and selling donated clothing.
He said another employee was brought on to help pick up donations and operate the rag pile, where clothing not suitable for donation or sale were turned into rags and sold off to cleaners, mechanics, and manufacturers.
He even has one participant who designs and produces pencil cases, drink bottles and cups to sell through the shop.
“While it’s good to get participants out in the community, it’s also good to watch them develop new skills that are practical, and that are focused on them meeting their NDIS goals or their greater goals for what they want to achieve throughout life,” he said.
Beyond the employment, the store has been offering affordable clothing to people with a disability through its “Thrifty Thursday” events.
“We opened it for people with disabilities to come in with their support workers,” he said.
“They were coming in to do some shopping as an activity.”
He said from 10 November, the shop would expand to four days a week and welcome the wider community after repeated requests from the general public.
Plans are afoot to also provide clothing vouchers for vulnerable community members, including those on disability support pensions.
With an abundance of clothing sourced entirely from community contributions, the shop also supports charitable organisations, including sending baby clothes to the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre.
The Oaks Collective and Individual Me Disability Support are located at 46 Central Ave, Oak Flats. The Oaks Collective opens on Thursdays from 10 am to noon for people with a disability and their support worker, and will expand to four days a week and be open to the wider community from 10 November.
Learn more about upcoming programs through its Facebook page.
