Interchange Illawarra opens new Wollongong space, launches tailored disability support program

Interchange Illawarra has moved into a new space in Wollongong, which has allowed it to also launch a new support program for people with a disability.

In December, it moved from Kenny Street into a purpose-built community centre and office at 114 Church Street.

Interchange Illawarra CEO Jake Pearson said the move had allowed the not-for-profit group to launch the BestLife Support Program for those over 18 with an NDIS plan and low-to-moderate support needs, with programs starting on 6 January.

“This purpose-built centre allows us to offer people with a disability a brand-new support program called BestLife, which encompasses a wide variety of capacity-building and leisure activities,” Jake said.

“We are excited to offer this innovative program which features a different focus each day, with Active Monday, Life Skills Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Leisure Thursday and Creative Friday.”

Jake said plenty of day programs were available in the Illawarra, but Interchange Illawarra wanted to provide something tailored to specific skills.

“With a lot of the day programs, people rock up and do their activities and that’s fine, they run really well, but what we wanted was to find people that had particular interests or particular skills that they wanted to learn,” he said.

“They can sign up for those particular days that interest them.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity, given we’ve just built a brand-new centre and it’s purpose built, so our opportunity to be able to deliver this for the first time is really exciting.”

Participants will be able to experience a modern, open-plan space to receive individual or group-based support, with indoor and outdoor areas to enjoy. It is also fully accessible with a lift and accessible bathrooms, and is close to public transport and all-day parking.

Designed with high energy-efficiency standards, it incorporates solar power and natural ventilation.

“We’ve been thinking about this for a while, but we just haven’t had the appropriate space to be able to deliver it,” Jake said.

He said the program was particularly important for people with a disability at the moment.

“With the disability industry, there’s still a problem where there’s more demand for services than there is supply,” he said.

“People sit on waiting lists for a long time, and the availability of options that are a little bit more customised, they’re simply not there.

“I think it’s really important for people in the Illawarra to have some opportunities to be able to choose something a little bit different and something that’s new.

“Particularly people that have struggled to find a service for a long time and sat on those waiting lists.”

Interchange Illawarra began operation more than 40 years ago with particular expertise in working with people who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disabilities.

The Wollongong-based disability support organisation is also proud of its Parents/Carer Health and Wellbeing Program, which helps to support parents and carers of Interchange Illawarra participants.

Jake told Region last year that while the NDIS had been beneficial for people with disabilities, it was failing carers.

“We see ourselves as an extension of the family,” he said.

“We know that by and large, carers are quite isolated because of their caring role and because of the intensity and the exhaustion.

“Our experience is that respite [for carers] is generally not valued by the NDIS as being a reasonable and necessary support for carers to maintain the caring role and effort and is seldomly funded appropriately.”

Learn more about Interchange Illawarra and its programs.