McCallum clients make Community Connections Online

MCCALLUM Disability Services is digitally keeping their customers engaged and connected with one another, and the support agency, while day programs can’t run.

Jade Morrison, manager lifestyle options and teleconnect said staff established virtual program, Community Connections Online, to ensure their clients aren’t socially isolated during the challenging COVID climate.

“We have studios on site, and run a month-long calendar for our customers to choose from. We have five or six video sessions a day,” she said.

“We have social meet-ups designed for people to jump on and talk to their friends, facilitated by a disability support worker.

“There’s movement to music, story time, interactive games and learn to draw, through to hands-on activities like craft, where our guys and girls have been handmaking cards.”

McCallum delivers the resources customers need to dial in and follow their instructors.

“Every Friday afternoon, we have a super popular session called Friday Footy Fanfare,” Ms Morrison said.

A highlight for McCallum staffers and customers is a weekly Celebrity Chat where disability support workers conduct an interview with Ballarat personalities. Clients interact live.

“We’ve had Tessa from The Waggery, who brought dogs along, PT from 3BA, Dave from Avalon Nursery, Cr Des Hudson and Erin from Zumba Ballarat,” Ms Morrison said.

“For our customers, it provides a highlight in what can be a very isolating day. Some of our customers are doing two to three sessions a day to stay connected.

“It’s a real joy and privilege to see members of the Ballarat community volunteer their time to join some of McCallum’s customers online for an hour, have a laugh, answer some questions and have a really good time.”

McCallum have invested in a learning management system to deliver the customer-first, online program as professionally as possible, with Zoom as the platform.

Ballarat personalities interested in Celebrity Chat can contact [email protected].