May 2015
JOURNEY WITH US:
GREAT WALL OF CHINA
CHALLENGE!
12—22 MAY 2016
NADO and Inspired Adventures invite you to
join this amazing fundraising experience.
Journey for 11 days across China—from
modern, fast-paced Beijing to the majestic
Great Wall and beyond! Visit the Forbidden City
and Temple of Heaven while you raise funds to
provide amazing services to people with special
needs in the Nepean area.
This fundraising adventure needs you! Join the
getaway that gives back to the community—
visit http://www.inspiredadventures.com.au/
nado/china2016/ to find out how you can take
a break that supports people with disabilities.
Highlights:
Trek the Great Wall of China as it winds between rural
villages and otherworldly mountains
Experience the contrasts of ancient and modern Beijing,
from Tiananmen Square to the Forbidden City
Discover the history of a thousand years’ past as you
weave through ancient village laneways in a traditional
rickshaw
Help raise $50,000 for a new NADO service centre for
people with high support needs
The Great Wall of China Challenge
helps NADO support people with a
disability and their families to live a
better life.
READ MORE: Pg. 4
Hello Readers,
Let’s start with the BIG news for our region…The National Disability Insurance Scheme is starting in the Nepean and Blue Mountains in September this year for children 0-17. This is indeed exciting news and the beginning of some extraordinary changes ahead
for children and young people with a disability. NADO has been working alongside many families, helping them to prepare for the
changes ahead. We don’t have all of the information about the NDIS yet, but we are happy to talk to you and help you find the
information you need.
Our BIG news is the Adventure Fundraiser Trip to the Great Wall of CHINA! Together with Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy we are
hoping to enlist 10 supporters each to take up the challenge. If you are interested or know someone who would like to be part of
this once in a lifetime trip, call us now or go to our website or facebook for more information.
There’s always something exciting happening at NADO, read on to find out more…..
Linda Wilson
Communications Manager
Planning for the future, getting ready for the NDIS
Hello, my name is Mrs
Brigitte Krstanoski and my
son attends the NADO Day
Program in St Marys.
Through this program I
formed and run the St Marys
Parents and Carers Support
Group. My son is unable to
advocate for himself so I
needed to understand how
to promote his needs and
best interests for the future.
We have recently completed
a six month course on
Planning for the future,
getting ready for the NDIS
with Michaela Kennedy. The
course was once a week,
starting with getting an
understanding of person
centred thinking, then came
the hard part. It was very
intense, where we needed to
think about everything that
is in the day of the lives of
our loved ones, what they
like, dislike, what you do for
them, where they go during
the day, home help, respite,
equipment they may need,
incontinence aids, their circle
of family, friends, what your
plans are for their future for
them, what you would like
“I would like all the
information we can get
about the NDIS. Helping
other carers get ready is
also very important.”
for them within reason,
making sure your loved one
has the life they deserve and
that you as parents can be
assured that they get the
very best.
you can always change or
update as you go on this
journey and then present it
to your planner when the
time comes. But remember
you are doing this so that
you get the right funding
from the NDIS. If you don’t,
there will be a shortfall, so
my advice is to make sure
you put everything down. I Sharing information and ideas:
know it’s going to be hard NADO workshop on the NDIS
and heart wrenching but in
the long run it will be
worthwhile.
The course was really good
and I’d like to thank Denise
heath, CEO for giving the
group the opportunity to
do it.
-Mrs Brigitte Krstanoski
You have the time now to
put the plan on paper and
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“I found the course very
informative, but it was also
very confronting and
emotional seeing my
daughter’s life on paper”
Launch of the Friends of NADO video
The Friends of NADO donation program turned 1 in March and to celebrate we held a Cocktail party to thank our wonderful supporters and
launch our Friends of NADO video, produced and donated by Vision TV. The video is absolutely fantastic! We have shared it on our Facebook
page, and you can view it on YouTube here: http://youtu.be/8ZArCiMNyKo Feel free to share it and help spread our message!
It was wonderful that Angelina Latty owner of the Trevi Restaurant, Penrith hosted the
function for our guests and RWW Legal provided the drinks.
We also welcomed a new Friend of NADO, Shanaka and Juliet De Silva from Synergy
Accounting joining;
Linda Kemp from Complete Recruitment Solutions
Anthony and Learne Brischetto from RWW Legal
Richard Gurr from Mitronics
Owen Rogers from Remembering a Soldier and The Australian Loan
Andrew and Vanessa Reeves from One Agency
Scott, Jenny and Glen Richardson from Vision TV
Peter and Fiona Belcastro from GBS Partners
Aaron Hadfield and John Incollingo from Reozone
Tim Cheal from Picture Walls.
A massive thank you to these wonderful business owners and directors. We appreciate your
support! If you or someone you know might be interested in becoming a Friend of NADO
please contact Denise Heath or Linda Wilson on 06239855 or email info@nado.org.au
Friends of NADO gathered together to celebrate the
launch of the campaign
Going Stir Crazy—Local Business Pitches In
It’s not every day that you
receive a very large (literally)
and generous donation—but
that is just what happened
this month!
On May 5th, NADO was presented with a
super-sized donation from local
restaurant, Stir Crazy Noodle Bar.
The funds will be used to provide sensory
resources for our Penrith Centre. We are
very grateful for the support, and want to
express our thanks to the team at Stir
Crazy Noodle Bar.
Sensory play is relaxing and fun, and has
many benefits to wellbeing. It is amazing
that we have this wonderful support to
assist us in delivering our sensory
program.
Stir Crazy meets NADO for a wonderful day of giving—
Left to Right: Brett Cheney, Joy Lockyer, Denise Heath, Deborah Smolen (Stir
Crazy Noodle Bar), Karen Wilson
Thank You, Stir Crazy Noodle
Bar!!
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The Great Wall of China Challenge: the getaway that gives back
RAISE FUNDS AND HAVE THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME!
NADO is the only centre in the Nepean region that specialises in supporting people with very high support needs and
challenging behaviours; however, our current day program building is no longer suitable to meet the needs of our clients. In
partnership with Inspired Adventures, we are offering a unique opportunity to support NADO with The Wall of China
Challenge.
NADO’s Great Wall of China Challenge is a fundraiser like no other – it’s not every day
that you can step into another world far away from home, and bring hope to your
community at the same time. NADO’s Great Wall of China Challenge lets you do just
that. By raising funds and promoting the profile of NADO, you can help ensure the
much-needed upgrade to our facilities, and introduce a wider community to the
benefit we bring to people with support needs. The Great Wall of China Challenge is
an amazing way to be a part of the NADO family. Our
to support more people
with very
support needs
your hands.
With every step you take along the Great Wall, you will bring us one step closer to
raising $50,000 to upgrade our new centre. As you work towards your goal, raising
funds and preparing for your journey, you also highlight the role of NADO in the
Nepean community – while helping to provide for our expanding needs.
Feeling of achievement: trekking the Great Wall of
China. Image courtesy of Inspired Adventures
To find out how you can get involved, visit http://www.inspiredadventures.com.au/
nado/china2016/
You can also follow our adventurers on social media: #NADOChinaChallenge
David’s Story
David has a lovely smile and an engaging personality. He also has a
history of frequent and intense behaviours that pose a significant safety
risk to him and others.
David had been refused further service from his previous care provider, and with 72
incidents in the first three months of his time at NADO’s Penrith Day Program, it
appeared that without improvement , David would have limited options in life.
But we didn’t give up and neither did David.
With the commencement of an intensive personal development program, the team at
NADO was able to gain a greater understanding of David’s complex support needs
and an appreciation of his strengths and qualities. Within a year, David was ready to return to the group program and
since then has only experienced one incident. He continues his personal development session two afternoons per week
and, this year, we aim to increase David’s range of physical activities in a
community setting to include swimming, basketball and bike riding.
Although not an easy road for David or his family, the growth and development of this young man is testament to the
dedication of NADO staff. David and his family can now look forward to a happy and stable future.
David’s mother, Jeger says, “This is a great true story. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff at
NADO for their confidence and all the hard work they put into the focus on improving communication between
David and staff.”
*NB name and photo changed to protect privacy.
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NADO Online Auction—Coming Soon!
CALLING FOR AUCTION ITEMS!
We are seeking items for our online auction. Can you help?
The NADO online auction is a fun way to raise funds for ongoing
activities. We require auction items to make the event a success.
Your donation will help to make a difference to our clients through
the services we provide every day. We welcome donations of items
and services, big and small.
If you would like to donate an item please contact Linda Wilson:
Email: lwilson@nado.org.au
Tel: 9623 9855
NADO’s Bike Zone
Our team are always coming up with new
ideas to increase skills, confidence and
mateship with our participants.
Andrew Sanders came up with Bike Zone as a way to teach
people with disabilities new skills they can put into practice
every day. Andrew sees the restoration of push bikes as a
way to increase self-esteem and self-worth, taking broken
and scratched bikes and making them rideable and as a
bonus…saleable.
Everybody is enjoying the hands-on process, and it’s great to
get old pushbikes working again! Bike Zone is a wonderful
way to teach some practical skills, patience, and enjoyment
of reversing the rubbish cycle.
Would you like a recycled bicycle from the Bike Zone? Have
you got a bike that needs fixing? Why not contact us?
info@nado.org.au
Hard at work—recycling and repairing in Bike Zone
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Shop with Shopnate and raise funds for NADO:
Imagine being able to donate to NADO every time you shop online! Well you
don’t have to imagine—Shopnate makes it possible!
Shopnate works with an amazing number of big brands, both locally and
internationally. They have all made an agreement to make a small donation
every time you buy online through Shopnate. Best of all, there is no additional
cost—the donation is included in the price. Just remember to choose NADO
as your preferred charity when you shop!
Visit www.shopnate.com.au and shop from your favourite retailers today!
Men’s Shed comes to NADO
The Penrith Men’s Shed got involved in a
NADO program, helping young men with a
disability to build a garden wall at our
Macquarie Avenue Day Program. Over two
weeks, they worked as a team to build a
vertical garden. The process was engaging
and everyone got a real buzz out of the
final product. The guys from the Men’s
Shed said they were looking forward to
coming back in July to do another project
with NADO. We can’t wait to see them
again! Thank you to all of the Men’s Shed
team!
Has NADO made a change
in your life? Feel like sharing
your story? We’d love to
hear from you!
If you have a story that you
would like to share in our
next newsletter, please send
it to Linda Wilson at NADO:
lwilson@nado.org.au
Follow
The Men’s Shed team at work with young men from our Macquarie Avenue Day Program
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NADO supports Seniors Week 2015
NADO held a successful Seniors Week event in the Blue
Mountains. It was a unique and enjoyable event for the
26 participants with poetry from Greg North, poet, writer
and performer of Australian bush poetry and yarns.
Suzanne Giordano, NADO Coordinator devised a tricky
Trivia session with lots of prizes. Jason Benedet did a
sterling job, using his hospitality training to prepare and
serve Devonshire Teas.
It was an amazing experience for everyone involved—we
can’t wait to do it all over again!
Attendees were delighted with NADO’s involvement
in Senior’s Week 2015
Cooking up a Storm—Brooke Wilkie’s fundraising challenge begins!
Our very own Brooke Wilkie is
starting on a fundraising spree for
the NADO Great Wall of China
Challenge—help her reach her goal!
Recreation and Respite Manager, Brooke
Wilkie, is about to have a new focus in life:
raising funds for her Great Wall of China
Challenge. Brooke is one of the first to take
on the Challenge, and she’s out of the gate
running fast and furious with a bunch of BBQs
and a merchandising sale! Go Brooke!
umbrellas—at $25.00 they’re the
most stylish way to show you care
about your community! Brooke is
working towards a goal of raising
$3,500.00 for NADO—and she’s
not alone! We have a few new
Great China Challenge Heroes—if
you want to take a look at who is
participating, and sponsor them in their
efforts, visit:
www.everydayhero.com.au/event/
nadogreatwallchinachallenge
To purchase a NADO umbrella,
contact: info@nado.org.au
If you are interested in joining NADO’s
Great Wall of China Challenge, visit:
www.inspiredadventures.com.au/nado/
china2016/
Brooke will be cooking up a storm at
Bunnings every other Friday for the lunchtime
crowd—if you’re in the area, look out for
Brooke and her enormous NADO tablecloth!
We’ll be sharing stories of all our
fundraisers in the coming months, so
stay tuned!
Brooke is also selling these nifty NADO golf
Empowering People
with Disabilities
Follow us on
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