Impact Stories 2024
Inclusive Education
Hearts beat loud!
At the heart of what we do, you'll find champions who make it all possible—you our volunteers, and donors.
Your contributions, often made quietly and without seeking recognition, are the spark of so many of our initiatives and improvements that support individuals with disability and their communities.
This year, we welcomed volunteers from Citi Australia, who chose to spend a day with us as part of their global community commitment. Their involvement provided a fresh perspective on the power of lending a hand and the difference a group of dedicated individuals can make.
The Citi team supported our Work & Study participants — young individuals eagerly pursuing work experience and vocational training. This program is also lucky to receive support from a grant from the Citi Foundation, which is crucial for empowering youth to build the confidence and skills to be job-ready.
Empowering youth and building community
Mark Woodruff, CEO of Citi Australia, embraced an active role, sharing his experience and career advice with the participants while offering practical tips on job interviews and resume writing.
Citi’s people also got stuck in revitalising our sensory garden, planting vegetable seedlings to be harvested and enjoyed later by our regular cooking programs. They also supported Life Skills participants on their art and film project, leaving a tangible representation of their visit and a memorable day of creativity and connection.
The Citi team’s willingness to volunteer combined with the ongoing support from our donors is a clear reminder of the quiet yet profound impact of collective efforts. It's not just about the big gestures; every small act of kindness and support contributes significantly to our work and makes our community more inclusive.
"I can see potential in these young adults and enjoyed chatting to them." Simon, Citi Volunteer.
We are grateful to all our volunteers, donors, and corporate friends. Your generosity and commitment do not go unnoticed. You are a precious ally to Northcott. We lean on this to continue our work to empower people with disability to live the life they choose.
Gifts from Citi staff brighten the day of others in Kempsey.
Did you know buying May Gibbs products benefits Northcott?
Many local and international artists are driving philanthropy in the art world, but here at Northcott, we’re celebrating May Gibbs, Australia’s iconic author, illustrator, and cartoonist.
She beautifully captured the essence of Australian fauna and flora through her enchanting tales and whimsical illustrations.
After her death in 1969, Gibbs generously bequeathed royalties from her creations jointly to the Northcott Society and Cerebral Palsy Alliance. Her legacy continues through numerous local brand collaborations and retail partnerships. In recent years, you may have purchased baby care products, fabrics, apparel, toys, stamps, stationery and home décor featuring licensed May Gibbs artwork from retail partners like BIG W and Spotlight as well as specialty stores like Ministry of Chocolate and Bondi Wash.
Every May Gibbs product you’ve purchased has supported our work at Northcott. Thanks to your support, we earned $431,946 in royalties for FY 2023 alone. We appreciate you using your purchasing power for good and making a difference in supporting people with disability.
We encourage you to explore the May Gibbs collection when you shop, knowing that when you buy May Gibbs, you’re supporting Northcott. You can find licensed May Gibbs products in stores like Spotlight, BIG W and Scholastic. You can even scan the QR code to browse fashion and homewares online at the May Gibbs store.
Scan the QR code to browse fashion and homewares online at the May Gibbs store.
Peaches & Cream: A triumph in disability awareness
The film features diverse talents including actors living with disability to authentically explore consent, intimacy and online communication through the story of a young couple with intellectual disability navigating a long-distance relationship. The film’s concept was developed during a workshop with people with disability, allowing award-winning writer Emily Dash to create the script based on their lived experiences.
Accessible resources
The Peaches and Cream film and accessible resources were made possible thanks to funding from the auDA Foundation and the Profield Foundation. Recognising a gap in resources catered to people with intellectual disability (ID) Northcott partnered with Bus Stop Films to develop an accessible short film, lesson plan and resource pack. These resources, which show how to safely use the internet and understand consent, empower people with ID to advocate for themselves and their need for tailored and accessible education surrounding relationships, consent and sexuality.
Young people with ID experience difficulties understanding online content; social norms; appropriate and inappropriate behaviours; appropriate and inappropriate content sharing. Sexting in particular can place young people with ID at risk due to a lack of understanding of privacy, consent, and appropriate actions.
“People with disability are often vulnerable when it comes to navigating online communication. However, we should be able to explore our sexuality in a safe and positive environment. In order to do so we need either our parents to assist with providing education on that, or our support workers, disability networks, friends or extended family,” says Brandon Fairley, Peaches and Cream lead actor with ID.
