The tour group, made up of 41 clients with intellectual disabilities, headed off with 9 support staff for a four day tour to Canberra where they experienced the Zoo, Questacon, Parliament House and a three-course Silver Service Dinner.
The program is part of Flexible Options under the agency's Aged & Disability Services and plays a vital role in ensuring adults with disabilities have the opportunity to mix socially and develop independant skills. The program focuses on creating and supporting person-centred approaches that enable each individual client to experience new activities as well as reconnect with any lost interests.
Priority for seats on the bus were given to clients with challenging behaviours, who have a mental illness, who have never been away or live in isolation or have an ageing carer. To ensure smooth sailing for this huge logistical undertaking, CatholicCare developed comprehensive support plans to monitor and manage the identified risks, in order to ensure clients achieved their individual outcomes.
According to Dan "I had the best holiday - it was great hanging out with friends".