Fighting Chance Australia

Exciting News: The National Autism Strategy is Here! We are excited to see the launch of the first National Autism Strategy this week, a major step towards creating a safer, more inclusive Australia where Autistic people can thrive. With a vision focused on empowerment, the strategy aims to improve the quality of life for Autistic individuals in ways that matter most to them. Key goals of the strategy include improving social and economic inclusion, enhancing access to timely diagnoses and neurodiversity-affirming services, and fostering greater autism awareness across society. We are particularly encouraged by the emphasis on partnership, ensuring that Autistic voices guide the development of supports and services. With the release of the first National Autism Strategy, our optimism grows for a more inclusive and equitable future for all Autistic Australians. Learn more and contribute at https://lnkd.in/gF8KMNz5

The Fighting Chance Group (Avenue, Jigsaw Australia, Plus and Base Housing Collective) congratulates the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP on her appointment as Minister for the #NDIS following the retirement of the Hon Bill Shorten MP. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Hon. Bill Shorten Shorten MP for his dedicated service as Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Under his leadership, he has overseen significant reforms to strengthen the NDIS and enhance outcomes for participants. We wish him all the best for the future and thank him for his unwavering commitment to the disability sector. 🙏 Congratulations to the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP. Minister Rishworth’s extensive experience as Minister for Social Services provides a strong foundation for tackling the challenges and opportunities ahead. We look forward to continuing to work with the NDIS Minister to progress the reform agenda, particularly around an NDIS that allows choice and control, innovation, and quality to thrive, and one that adequately safeguards participants. #NDIS #NDIA #disability #advocacy

Today is International Day of People with Disability. We are celebrating this year’s theme: 'Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for a sustainable and inclusive future', by sharing the inspiring story of Simone—our ‘Queen of Plus’! 👑 With her leadership and organisational skills, Simone plays a key role in keeping the Plus hub running smoothly every day. As Tom, a Behaviour Support Practitioner at Plus, puts it: "Simone is really consistent when it comes to getting things done, which has been a huge help at the hub. We rely on her to keep everyone on track and make sure everything is running smoothly, especially when things need organising." To read more about Simone's story, head to our blog: https://lnkd.in/gY8r5a2R #IDPWD2024 #InclusiveFuture

✨ Today is International Day of People with Disability, and we are celebrating this year’s theme: ‘Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for a sustainable and inclusive future’, by sharing the inspiring stories of our participants. ✨ Simon, a participant at Avenue Parramatta, shines across three teams—Hub Management, Animals, and Social—where his leadership and organisational skills are invaluable. From managing lunch orders to leading dog walks and empowering his teammates, Simon's ability to connect and motivate is truly exceptional. Through his journey, Simon has honed skills in patience, budgeting, and communication, while building his confidence as a leader. As he puts it, “Leadership keeps the hub running smoothly and helps keep the group together and on track.” To read more about Simon's story, head to our blog: https://lnkd.in/gRkhmZir ID: Simon is standing in front of a wall, smiling at the camera.

Today is International Day of People With Disability, and this year's theme is 'Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for a sustainable and inclusive future'. Our organisation is lucky to have many persons with disability taking on impactful roles as leaders, but today we wanted to highlight the story of Conor Merrigan. Conor is a Jigsaw graduate working at Westpac in their Records Management department. With the recent transition of four new Jigsaw graduates to the Records Management team, Conor has stepped up into a mentor role, providing support and guidance to his newest team members to ensure a smooth and successful transition. “Moving to a new job can sometimes be nerve-racking. It's important to provide support because it helps boost confidence. All four of the graduates have been showing improvements in this area during their time with Westpac,” said Conor. To read more about Conor's story of leadership and professional growth, head to our blog: https://lnkd.in/gaqGmVxq Let’s continue working together to create opportunities for people with disability to thrive in leadership roles. ID: Six Westpac employees are standing together in front of a wall that has signage on it.

Exciting SDA Housing Opportunities in Beacon Hill – Vacancies Available! Base currently has two vacancies in beautiful SDA homes in Beacon Hill, available from mid-December 2024. If you already have (or may qualify for) NDIS SDA funding at High Physical Support or Fully Accessible level, we’d love to hear from you! 1. A vacancy in a three-person Supported Independent Living (SIL) share house for a female, joining two young women in their new home. 2. A vacancy in a two-person Supported Independent Living (SIL) share house, joining a single male housemate. These homes offer an excellent opportunity for independent living in a supportive environment. Head to our website to learn more: https://lnkd.in/g-jsK5XF

This week, SSI released their report titled Pathway to Possibilities: Harnessing the Economic Potential of People With Disabilities, which presents practical strategies for tapping into a workforce of 110,000 skilled job seekers with disability. Jigsaw’s General Manager, Valerie Richards, attended the report launch alongside other industry leaders. The event was a chance to share best practices, explore new opportunities, and celebrate the collective progress in driving change within the disability employment sector. “I was delighted to attend the launch of SSI's 'Pathways to Possibilities: Harnessing the economic potential of people with disability' report. It was a valuable continuation of the conversations at the symposium in February, and we were thrilled to feature it in the report with our partner Allianz,” said Valerie.   “I met some incredibly driven individuals at the event who are taking action in the disability employment space. We will certainly be working with our corporate and government clients to instil and uphold the four commitments outlined in this report. As the brilliant Daniel McDonald  said at the event, 'the time is now'. Unemployment rates for people with disability have not significantly changed in over 30 years, but I truly believe that together, we can take action and finally start to move the dial.” To read the report head to: https://lnkd.in/gQuEwnf9

🌟 Last chance to register! Join us next week at Avenue Botany’s Social Open Day! 🌟 📅 Date: Thursday, 5 December ⏰ Time: 11am - 1pm What to expect at this FREE event: 🎨 Creative Corner – Get crafty with clay moulding, painting, and making Christmas ornaments ⚽ Sports Activities – Get active and join in on our fun, team-based games 💪 Group Fitness – We’ve partnered with Bright Wellness: Disability Fitness Service to lead an inclusive fitness class suitable for all abilities! It’s the perfect chance to meet new friends, learn about our unique social program, and see how we combine skill-building with fun activities. 🤝 Don't miss out. 👉 Register your spot on our website: https://lnkd.in/g_eDfe-Y

Today is World Social Enterprise day and we think that’s cause for celebration! On World Social Enterprise Day, we celebrate the power of innovation to create a more inclusive economy. Fighting Chance, founded by siblings Laura and Jordan O'Reilly, began with a simple yet powerful vision: to provide people with disability the opportunities and dignity they deserve. Through our social enterprises, including Avenue, Jigsaw, Plus and Base Housing Collective, we’ve reimagined disability services and created pathways to empowerment and purpose. As Paul Brown, our former CEO said, “People with disability don’t need charity. They simply have the right to the same opportunities that society affords the mainstream.” “A social enterprise model looks at the ways in which traditional structures, attitudes and workflows prohibit people’s participation, and redesigns them. For Fighting Chance, this offers a mechanism to empower people with opportunities to contribute, generate revenue, create value for business and individual customers, build their skills and find purpose and fulfillment.” To read more about why Fighting Chance chooses to harness the power of social enterprise, head to our blog: https://lnkd.in/g2yzyjcx Let’s continue to push for a world where everyone can contribute, generate value, and build meaningful futures. 

After 12 years of incredible leadership, Paul Brown is stepping down as CEO of Jigsaw and Group GM of Fighting Chance. Paul co-founded Jigsaw in 2014 and has been instrumental in its growth, supporting over 1,500 people with disability and reaching a $10M+ milestone in wages paid. While we’ll miss him in this role, Paul will stay connected through our Board and explore new philanthropic opportunities. We’re excited to welcome Valerie Richards as Jigsaw’s new GM and Nina Murphy as the new CEO of Fighting Chance Group. Both bring extensive experience and a deep passion for social justice, and we’re confident they will continue to lead us toward even greater impact. Read more about these changes and the bright future ahead! 👉https://lnkd.in/gc7U8DQ4 ID: Val, Paul and Nina are sitting in front of a window, smiling at the camera.