April 2004

CRU residents explore the great outdoors

By Kerrie Soraghan

The physical move to Community Residential Units has been only one aspect of the transition for former residents of the large, institutional ‘Kew Cottages.’

Another aspect has been the challenge of becoming part of an unfamiliar neighbourhood and developing friendships with others in the community—daunting for most of us, let alone for people with disabilities.

In Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, however, some enterprising house supervisors have not waited for the community to come to them and their residents.

With the enthusiastic support of Department of Human Services’ Eastern Region Community Inclusion Officer Silvia Warren, the supervisors and their teams have shown great flair for discovering what’s on in the neighbourhood and getting involved in myriad activities and events.

They have not been hemmed in by notions of traditional ‘suitable’ activities for people with disabilities.

CRU residents have taken part in Australia Day activities and, more recently, Clean Up Australia Day, the annual event during which Australians from all walks of life get together to help remove the accumulated rubbish that builds up at beaches, parks and bushland.

They also participate in indoor cricket teams, art and craft classes and wheelchair soccer teams.

Orienteering, a sport that necessitates the use of maps and compasses, might not immediately spring to mind as an ideal activity for people with a range of intellectual and physical disabilities.

Yet, this summer, nine former KRS residents have had a great time learning to navigate bush terrains around Ringwood and other eastern suburbs.

Vision impairments and wheelchairs have been no dampener on the excitement of crossing the finish line.

The CRU residents have been accepted with a great deal of warmth by the other orienteering enthusiasts—Orienteering Victoria has been very welcoming—who trade high-fives and share a friendly, sociable atmosphere.

More than 80 residents of Kew Residential Services (KRS) have now moved into their new homes in the community with a further 50 preparing to move over the next three months.

This is part of an ongoing redevelopment of services, which will see the closure of KRS by the end of 2006.