Hireup, has announced the nine recipients of its inaugural Impact Grants Program, designed to fund activities not covered by a NDIS plan and not just those who use the Hireup platform. Individuals, project and community groups and organisations were encouraged to apply. Two community focused projects and seven individuals were among the winners.
The grants will see the recipients develop individual skills, purchase equipment that will improve their quality of life, and engage in enriching and valuable experiences so they can better connect with, and immerse themselves within their communities,” Hireup co-CEO Laura O’Reilly said.
The successful recipients are:
Community focused projects
• Tanika Davis (NSW): Tanika is founder of The I Am, Movement, that provides Indigenous families and children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other disabilities with culturally safe resources and tools that provide support and empowerment.
• Elide Christoffersen (NSW): Applied on behalf of her son, Jesse Delmas, to buy a beach wheelchair for his disabled peer group to access the beaches on the Central Coast.
Individual
• Moenika Hubsch (Vic): Funding for the purchase of adaptive clothing, including ring splints and full body braid, to enable her to participate in a sailing crew at a local yacht club.
• Chelsey Barnes-Shipley (NSW): Chelsey applied on behalf of her daughter, Coco, for funding support for an adaptive tricycle.
• Susan Johnson (WA): Funding for the purchase of a lymph pump that will aid in reducing the pain caused by lipoedema, so she can continue attending events at her community centre.
• Sue Dymond (Vic): Applied on behalf of her daughter, Chloe, a multitalented 30-year-old artist who has Down syndrome.
• Dorothy Jones (ACT): Applied on behalf of her son, Dean, for funding for singing lessons and studio time to enable him to develop new music and sing at events.
• Kevin Beckerleg (Vic): Applied on behalf of his son, Jay, for an assistance dog to help him manage his PNES, as the dog would be trained to do deep pressure therapy and alert someone if he has seizures.
• Kayleigh Bryant (SA): Applied on behalf of son Braxton, for an iPad to enable him to better communicate with friends at his playgroup.
Caption: Tanika and Adrian Davis with their son Slade