FOR those with children with a disability, the assembled services at Richmond High last week represented a goldmine of opportunity.
A total of 17 disability service providers crowded out the Trades hall at the school, as parents trickled in to find out what help was available in areas such as finding jobs and finding accommodation when they leave home.
The first Hawkesbury Community Disability & Post-school Expo to be held, it was launched by Macquarie MP Susan Templeman who enthused about the comprehensive assembly of disability services.
“It’s one of the challenges we have in the community, to get people together,” she said.
Richmond High principal Cliff Ralph said “there’s support out there, but people don’t know how to make contact”.
Director of Public Schools NSW Kerri Brickley addressed the assembled students from the school’s support unit and thanked the event’s organiser.
“This is about supporting you as you move out into the world of work,” she said. “It’s great to have such a range of services here. Congratulations to Jenny Herring for organising this.”
Ms Herring who is Richmond High’s head teacher in special education, previously told the Gazette she felt compelled to organise the expo as, while other expos were regularly held at Blacktown and Penrith, parents at Richmond High didn’t tend to access these, for a variety of reasons.
Providers at the event included NDIS, Uniting, AbilityOptions, Thorndale Foundation, Afford, Secret Garden, OSAN, NOVA Employment, NSW Fair Trading, AbilityLinks, PhysioInq, Break Thru, OCTEC Employment Services, Ors Group, Bridges Disability Services, Autism STEP and OSAN.