Page 166 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 15 February 2006
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of this wonderful organisation can teach us all that involvement and inclusion will reduce the likelihood of barriers in all areas of our society.
Being long established in the Canberra region signifies that Koomarri is the leading service provider for people with disabilities and their families, and is one of the largest non-government employers. Its work to provide over 300 jobs in the Canberra marketplace, with the majority of these positions being for people with a disability, implies to me that this commitment will continue for a long time to come.
Koomarri has identified the need to embrace change and to tackle this challenge in a proactive way. I understand that it is undertaking ongoing internal reviews of its services, business and systems, proving that as an organisation it must identify how it can best assist people with a disability to lead, as it puts it, full and abundant lives.
This association has always reached out to the broader community, playing not only the role of ambassador for, but encouraging people to learn more about, the association and its people. To my mind, such a proactive approach has ensured its ongoing success as one of the leading organisations in the sector. Ultimately, the standards that have been set by Koomarri will naturally ensure that the support for people with disabilities and their families will continue.
I commend the good work of this association and all that it does, and it is surely noted by all members in the Assembly. In closing, again I just wanted to highlight that all of us, each one of us, can look at Koomarri and its staff and the way that they handled adversity. It just shows how tough human nature can be, and it was really heartening in difficult times to see the resilience of the organisation and its staff, and the support of the business community and the community at large. We have gone through rough times, but we have proven to be a tough community and we can come through. I commend Ms MacDonald for the motion and I commend the work of Koomarri and wish it every continuing success.
MR HARGREAVES (Brindabella—Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services, Minister for Urban Services and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (5.20): I thank Ms MacDonald for raising this topic in the Assembly today, and I wholeheartedly support her motion.
The Stanhope government supports the vision that all people with disabilities achieve what they want to achieve, live how they choose to live and are valued as full and equal members of the ACT community. We believe it is important that all Canberrans are supported to make the most of their talents and abilities. We are committed to supporting people with a disability to participate in our community, and I acknowledge the significant contribution Koomarri has made, and continues to make, in assisting those with disabilities to achieve their goals.
As has been noted, Koomarri, under one name or another, has provided services in Canberra since 1952. In that time it has become one of Canberra’s prominent service providers for people with a disability and their families. Koomarri has become a well-known name around Canberra and one that is held in high regard throughout the community. It has, through the years, touched many people’s lives and I am sure will continue to do so.
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