Personal Advocacy Service WA (PASWA) have recently been the recipients of a $1000 People of Post Grant from Australia Post.
The People of Post Grants gives Australia Post workforce members the opportunity to nominate a local organisation for a grant of up to $5000 for an approved project.
With the aim of strengthening local organisations by supporting projects that connect, are driven by, and create positive outcomes for communities and community members, grants from Australia Post have so far helped dozens of worthwhile initiatives.
This is the second time PASWA were nominated by Bibra Lake Business Centre’s Malcolm Sequeria, the husband of PASWA’s Willetton Thursday group, Gladys Sequeria.
“The Personal Advocacy Service is a very active organisation in my community, providing one on one friendships and advocacy support for people with intellectual disabilities” Mr Sequeria said, in nominating PASWA for the grant.
“The(previous) grant helped PAS partially fund an Inclusivity Project bringing together all the Willetton branch registered members for a joint fellowship.
“I would certainly encourage my colleagues to nominate as it is so fulfilling and rewarding to support programs that create meaningful impact in your community “.
While the PASWA team has yet to finalise how the grant money will be used, previous grants have used to increase and spread awareness and inclusion by taking their friends with disabilities to a wonderful musical and dinner at Bentley Pines Restaurant.
Established in 1989 in response to parents seeking enrichment for their children living with intellectual disabilities, PASWA provides a unique type of advocacy that is based on one-to-one relationships between people with disabilities and volunteers from the local community.
With local Personal Advocacy groups made up of six advocates and six friends with disabilities, they come together regularly under the guidance of two specifically trained leaders or facilitators to provide friendship, support and enable those with disabilities to participate more fully in the spiritual life of the Church and the social life of the wider community.
For many people with intellectual disabilities living independently or isolated from family contact, this ongoing friendship/relationship is perhaps one of the only constants in their lives.
Being in a small group and linked one to one with volunteers from the local community encourages a variety of relationships to develop and the growth of trust and faith.