By CASEY NEILL
A PRIVATE movie screening has given adults with disabilities a chance to showcase newfound skills.
Dandenong-based disability support service Wallara launched its Wallara Ambassador Program last year.
Wallara corporate partnerships and communications manager Karen Scholey said the aim was to build leadership and public speaking skills in 14 young people with different abilities.
“We also wanted to involve these service users more deeply in the running of our service and provide them with hands-on involvement and roles in our events,” she said.
Participants attend training one day per week for a year, on-site at Wallara’s headquarters in Potter Street, Dandenong, and out in the community.
It covers leadership development, public speaking skills, personal confidence building, advocacy, and brainstorming barriers.
Ms Scholey said national facilities management company Access Group Solutions was inspired to give the ambassadors a real training experience, to showcase the skills they had developed through the program.
So on 23 July at Reading Cinemas at Dandenong Plaza, the ambassadors took to the stage and hosted a pre-release private movie viewing for a select group of Wallara families and friends.
“The ambassadors did a fantastic job of welcoming the guests, introducing the movie and telling the audience a little more about the great things happening around their service,” Ms Scholey said.
To find out how to support the ambassador program, call Ms Scholey on 9792 2985 or email kscholey@wallara.com.au.
