A message of inclusion, understanding and connection came to life on 30 October when CatholicCare Sydney’s Disability Services Centre at Belmore opened its doors to the community for an open day.
The event offered a powerful disability immersion experience, bringing together local residents, disability services staff, workplaces, local MP Sophie Cotsis, the Mayor of Canterbury-Bankstown Bilal El-Hayek, with people with disability and their families.
“It was a joyful celebration of the incredible talents, creativity, and potential of CatholicCare’s participants, and a reminder that inclusion thrives when we connect with one another,” said Kelly Turner, director of Disability Services at CatholicCare Sydney.
“Seeing our participants, families, and local community come together in such a joyful way truly reflects what inclusion is all about.”
The day featured a petting zoo, live entertainment, creative activity stations, a lively re-creation of Club DCI (CatholicCare’s disability inclusive disco initiative) which had everyone on their feet dancing.
There were also some special moments of recognition, with speeches from the civic leaders present, as well as a message of support shared from NSW Premier Chris Minns that applauded CatholicCare’s ongoing commitment to supporting people with disability and helping to build an inclusive community across Sydney.
CatholicCare Disability Services provides tailored programs that promote inclusion, independence, and opportunity.
As a registered NDIS provider, CatholicCare offers a wide range of supports that empower individuals to live life to the fullest, including employment skills and training, social and recreational programs, inclusive work opportunities, and health and wellbeing supports.
It’s disability support programs include employment skills and training to help young people prepare for meaningful work through School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) and Finding and Keeping a Job (FAKJ) programs and disability inclusive employment, providing supported roles in office and home cleaning, administration, gardening, and the much-loved BariStars Coffee enterprise
There are also groups and social programs fostering life and social skills through cooking, digital literacy, gardening, arts, culture, and community outings, and NDIS allied health – providing a range of allied health services, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy.
Finally, Club DCI is a quarterly all-inclusive social disco where persons with disability 16+ come together to dance, meet new friends, and celebrate life through music.
For CatholicCare, inclusion isn’t just a value – it’s a daily practice. Through events like the open day, that message continues to ripple through the community, inspiring understanding, empathy, and joy for all.
For any further information about CatholicCare Sydney Disability Services, call 13 18 19 or visit catholiccare.org.
