Address by Chris Campbell, CEO of
The Junction Works
At the Casula
Powerhouse Arts Centre
on the occasion of the 2015 International Day of People
with Disability and the Junction All Stars performance of Joy
3 December 2015
Friends,
families and all of our guests, welcome to this special performance of Joy by the Junction All Stars.
My
name is Chris Campbell and I am the CEO of The Junction Works. I am delighted
that you are joining with us today to witness and celebrate the talent, skills
and perseverance of the men and women of the Junction All Stars on this
International Day of People with a Disability.
Supported
by the United Nations since 1992, International Day of People with Disability aims
to make all of us more aware of the tangible and intangible structures within
our community which undermine the dignity, rights and well-being of people with
a disability.
The All Stars performance in this theatre today
exemplifies the gains all of us derive from the integration of people
with a disability in every aspect of community life.
As you
would be aware the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will commence in
South West Sydney from July 2016. The NDIS is about supporting the
integration of people with a disability into community, and about them having
more choice and greater control about how they want to live their life.
At The
Junction Works we have been working steadily to ensure a smooth transition for
the people we support to the NDIS. And
we will continue to do this until all our families have comfortably
transitioned to the scheme.
In
February (25th and 26th February) we will be holding another
series of Family Forums to keep you updated about the latest NDIS news and to explain
how The Junction Works will be supporting families through the transition
period.
My message to families is this: The Junction Works is here
to support you and we will provide you with the assistance you need to ensure a
successful transition to the NDIS.
Finally,
before we move on to the performance I would like to acknowledge Edna and
Steven Troy who are with us today. In September this year Edna and Steven lost
their beloved son Edmon.
Edmon
was a real character, full of life and opinions, especially about football. And we miss him very much.
The
Junction All Stars are paying tribute to their friend and good mate in their
performance today, through the inclusion of photos and footage. It is fitting that this concert – dedicated to
Edmon - is all about ‘Joy’.
So sit
back and prepare to be challenged and inspired.