Welcome to 2017

2017 Let's Go!

 

 

2016 was an amazing year for me as I surrounded myself with amazing talented artists in the Ipswich community.  I enjoyed putting my hand to traditional water colour at BIA; took part in the Ipswich Festival parade, sold my first piece of artwork through Brisbane Rotary Art Exhibition, flew to Sydney to se my artwork display on a graffiti wall.  Attended conferences and workshops on the NDIS; had my first solo exhibition at Drawing Point Gallery,  my art began selling alongside others artists, began designing my own fabric, made my own patchwork quilt, took part in five collaborative art exhibitions and made new friends along the way . . .

 

 

Arts Connect in the Ipswich Festival Parade

 

 

 

Fresh Futures Market 2016

 



The buzz in the disability sector is the arrival of the NDIS and the roll out that commences in July this year. It is a time of anticipation for some and a nervous wait for others. The National Disability Insurance Scheme is not the latest funding reform in disability care.  It is a revolutarily way to empower people living with disability and their families to participate in the life of their communities. Offering them choice and control over the way they are supported to life their best lives. 

 

 

Accessing and participating in the community

 

 

Choices can be made about the types of activities people want to participate in (known as goals); the way the wish to be assisted to participate (know as pathway steps); the types of support, equipment and services the want to be able to reach their goals (known as resources) and who will be responsible for ensuring funding is spent correctly. (known as administration of funding).

 

 

Pathways to choice

 

 

The key agenda in this reform is participation.  The government no longer wants to see people  with disability sitting at home.  The National Disability Insurance Agency wants to see people with disabilities out and about in the community.  This could include employment, self-employment, community work, study, training, life skills development, sports and leisure, art and craft and so much more.

 

 

Part of my NDIS plan is to grow my small business and mentor other artists through Ignite Artists. I am currently writing a number of submissions to enable me to get my venues off the ground, hopefully including some market research to lay a firm foundation for 2018.  Hey!  Rome wasn't built in a day.

In the mean time you can find me or one of the Ignite Artist Team in the Ipswich Mall at the Twilight Markets on Friday's between 4 pm and 8 pm.