Members

In the spotlight…

Candice de Chalain January 15, 2012

2 min read

The purpose of our association is to…

Provide support and empower men and women who have spinal cord injuries, post polio and Transverse Myelitis so they can live as independently as possible.

Our members…

Inspire us each day. They live their lives to the fullest, just differently than they used to. They have husbands and wives and families. They have exciting jobs and careers, play sports, travel overseas and enjoy a wide range of hobbies. Our 2,000 members and clients are based in cities and towns across Queensland and contribute to their local communities in all sorts of ways.

The biggest challenge our membership faces is…

Receiving adequate support and access to services to allow them to remain living as independently as they would like – in their own home and with the ability to work, study or get out and about with ease. The current discussion around implementing a National Disability Insurance Scheme is wholeheartedly supported by our association as it would have a monumental effect on our members.

Member benefits include…

Service and support from the time they’re newly injured or diagnosed, and then as often as they require assistance over their lifetime. Our services include personal assistance in the home, employment assistance, advocacy on a wide range of issues, and healthcare and lifestyle advice. But we are so much more than just a service provider. We are there for our members when they need us, from injury to independence.

We advocate strongly for…

Equity and inclusiveness. These are the fundamental values that drive our association. We provide advocacy for individuals and groups on a broad range of issues and ensure that the needs and concerns of our members are represented at all levels of decision making within government, business, the judiciary and the community.

Our greatest achievement…

Since our association was established more than 50 years ago, we have consistently achieved significant change that has improved the quality of our members’ lives. From our first meeting of a dozen people on 9 March 1960, we have grown to become a well-known and highly-respected service provider with 700 staff across Queensland providing practical, quality support to enhance the lives of our members.

Our events…

Our two major fundraising events each year are the Classic Wallabies Rugby Luncheon in April and the Gala Dinner during Spinal Injuries Awareness Week in November. Both are held in Brisbane and attract hundreds of people. Our annual Inclusive Community Champions Awards are held in twelve regions across Queensland each October, and we also have many other one-off and ongoing events that raise further awareness of, and funds for,
our members.

As an association it is important to…

Treat each member as an individual. We don’t make decisions for our members – they’re capable enough to know what they need.