Taree and Port Macquarie will host two free community expos in the same week next month, connecting locals with disability and aged care providers from across the Mid North Coast.
The Taree Community Disability Expo will be held at Club Taree on Friday, 28 August, from 10am to 1pm, followed two days earlier by the Port Macquarie Community Aged Care Expo at the Westport Club on Wednesday, 26 August, also from 10am to 1pm.
Both events are run by sister organisations, the Disability Events Community (DEC) and the Aged Care Events Community, which bring free expos to regional towns rather than expecting people to travel to the city.
“We really noticed how sometimes there’s these big disability expos in the central cities, but they’re not actually accessible for the people that need it,” said Yasmin Bourne, Community Engagement Coordinator with the DEC.
The Taree expo currently has 36 providers registered, spanning allied health, in-home support, mobility equipment, meal preparation and community access services. Four spaces remain for local community groups wanting to take part.
Ms Bourne said the decision to bring the expo to Taree came after strong interest from locals who attended the DEC’s Port Macquarie disability event in May.
“So off the back of that is why we decided to come to Taree,” she said.
Accessibility has been built into the event from the ground up, with lift access to the venue and parking directly outside. A quiet hour has also been set aside for attendees who prefer a calmer environment.
“We have a quiet hour between 12 and 1pm, and this means that those that don’t want to get overstimulated or need a bit more kind of accessible walkways, we also recommend coming within that 12 till 1pm window too,” Ms Bourne said.
The National Disability Insurance Agency will also have a presence on the day, alongside numerous NDIS-registered providers, at a time when many participants have questions about changes to their plans.
“I think it’s particularly important at this time to have events so that those with disability know that the support is not going anywhere,” Ms Bourne said.
She said face-to-face conversations often uncovered support options people did not know existed.
“You don’t know what support you need until you speak to someone and they’re like, oh no, you could get access to this,” she said.
For first-time attendees feeling unsure where to start, Ms Bourne suggested taking it slow.
“I often say, do a little walk around the room first, kind of get your bearings, see kind of who’s there in the space, and then go back and speak to specific providers,” she said. “It’s not something to feel nervous about. It’s only there to help and support.”
The expo is also open to support workers and disability professionals looking to connect with other providers in the region.
“We definitely do encourage those working in the field to attend as well,” Ms Bourne said.
Meanwhile, the Port Macquarie Community Aged Care Expo will bring together local providers covering in-home care, mobility aids, residential options, health services, financial planning and more, aimed at older Australians and their families preparing for the future.
“We have the two brands of disability and aged care,” Ms Bourne said, explaining the connection between the two events.
The first 200 attendees at the Port Macquarie event will receive a free barista-made coffee, while the first 100 attendees in Taree will also receive a complimentary coffee thanks to Breakthru.
Registration is free for both events via Humanitix, though attendees who have not booked ahead are still welcome to register on arrival. The Taree expo can be booked at https://events.humanitix.com/taree-community-disability-expo, while the Port Macquarie event can be booked at events.humanitix.com/port-macquarie-community-aged-care-expo.
“I think the main thing is community and connection, bringing people together so that they feel empowered and they can ask questions of themselves and see what support is available to them in their community,” Ms Bourne said.
Something going on in your part of the North Coast people should know about? Let us know by emailing newsdesk@nctimes.com.au