Café Our Way
Café our Way is a First Peoples Disability Network initiative to provide a safe space for Aboriginal people living with disability and Elders to come together as a community, have a yarn, share stories and build relationships.
Café our Way provides an opportunity for people to learn about how the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) works and Community Connectors link participants with supports and services available in local communities. Café our Way Peer networks are starting monthly meetings in NSW, SA, WA, QLD and NT.
Tweed Heads NSW
The “Cafe Our Way” group on the Tweed Coast of NSW has a monthly gathering with their Community Connector Tracy Barrell.
The gathering of local Aboriginal people with disability and Elders, is supported by Tracy who has her own portable coffee van. This enables Tracy to set up peer to peer yarning groups along the coast, at the locations chosen by the groups to yarn about how best to access the community and planning for the NDIS.
The First Peoples “Cafe Our Way” groups now have their own Facebook page to discuss Information Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) topics and themes, in between the meetings and form new friendships.
The monthly meetings all have a different topic to discuss, following the format of the ILC themes. This agenda is to encourage conversation and help the Aboriginal community think about what supports they may have in their local community to link to their individual needs.
The monthly meetings have been well supported, with the outdoors concept allowing the natural cultural connection to happen, this being what the community wanted, to feel more comfortable, in choosing a location that was accessible to all and a safe environment for conversations to happen freely.
The First Peoples Disability Network resource the “Proper Way” planning book, is used in these meetings. The group uses picture stickers from the planning book to help people tell their story and assists people to think about what keeps them strong in community, while planning for a supported life of ability.
Peer Connect heard from Community Connector; Tracy Barrell about the first meeting of the Tweed Heads group.
“Today was the first Tweed Heads group for the Cafe Our Way. Not only was I proud to be yarning about the NDIS to members of my local community, I was also able to host the event at the newly opened #CrackedBeans coffee van and open air cafe. There was lots of community support in this more comfortable setting that made everyone feel at ease, the relaxed vibe made talking about the NDIS easy for people with mental health and grandparents to understand information about assistance for their disabled grandkids.
The information shared today was valuable for members as they had concerns about support needs and would they be able to get back to their homes after a social outing. Other important needs were mobility aids to get connected directly into community and visit grave sites unable to be accessed without the mobility aid.
All the group are excited to come again to the safe place created for the Tweed Cafe Our Way.”
If you would like to attend future Tweed Heads Café Our Way networks or have any further enquiries please contact tracyb@fpdn.org.au