Newsletters
2025
Autumn Edition
HomePlace participants are leading the way.
2025
Summer Edition
A new year is a great time to plan goals.
We want to know what you really enjoy and want to keep going.
2024
Spring Edition
We celebrate 2024. We look forward to 2025. We recognise the achievements of the 53 people we support. Many: have made new friends, have experienced new activities, have enjoyed 'doing life' on their terms, can now do tasks that they couldn't do before or need less help to do now, and started new work - including four ladies starting their own small business.
2024
Winter Edition
I’m writing this amazed by the
achievements of Australia’s
Olympians, and full of anticipation
for the Paralympics which start
on 28th August 2024 in Paris. The
Olympics and Paralympics are all
about striving to be the best version
of yourself, unity and inclusion.
2024
Autumn Edition
I recently picked up a family member
from the Adelaide airport and was
delighted to see on large signs, the
Airport’s support for the Hidden
Disabilities Sunflower. What is the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower? The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a
picture that represents that a person
may live with a disability that may
not be easily seen by others. Just
because you can’t see it, doesn’t
mean it is not there.
2024
Summer Edition
Welcome to 2024! After celebrating
participant and staff achievements at
our 2023 Christmas Party (see pages
4-7) and a short quieter period over the
new year, 2024 has started with energy
and excitement for the year ahead.
2023
Spring Edition
International Day of People with Disability aims to increase public awareness, understanding and inclusion of people with disability. Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of watching one of the 11 official national ambassadors compete in the Virtus Global Games for elite athletes with an intellectual impairment – South Australia’s Hugo Taheny.
2023
Winter Edition
I am writing this in the excited glow of
the achievements of Australia’s soccer
team, the Matildas’, over the last month
at the World Cup. Great for the Matildas,
great for women’s sport, and great
for sport as a whole. There have been
a number of news items about how
far they have come — from struggling
to get a win seven years ago and
having a maximum of a few thousand
people watching them at a game, to 7
million viewers tuning in for the semifinal
and more than 75,000 watching
in person at the stadium.
2023
Autumn Edition
We hear often from the people
we support that they really enjoy
HomePlace events. It is a time to catch
up, feast on good food and a good
opportunity to meet new friends, as well
as participate in some fun activities such
as the Trivia quiz.
2023
Summer Edition
Welcome to 2023! After celebrating
participant and staff achievements
at our 2022 Christmas Party (see
pages 6-9) and a short, quieter
period over the new year, 2023 has
started with energy and excitement for
the year ahead.
2022
Spring Edition
Two celebrations and many achievements in a matter of months - it has been an exciting time at HomePlace. On 21 October 2022, we held our Annual General Meeting on the lawn next to our 'home-base' at Woodville. It was fantastic to come together in person after such a long time with Covid restrictions.
2022
Winter Edition
At HomePlace, we are passionate about building each participant’s confidence and
independence in living their lives in ways that they enjoy and have meaning for them.
Everyday, our staff see the talents of the participants we support. This was highlighted
in our first ‘HomePlace has got Talent’ show on 19th August 2022.
2022
Autumn Edition
At HomePlace, we’re passionate about enabling every participant to have warm
inviting living spaces they are proud to call ‘home’. Connection with family, friends
and community is really important, too. This newsletter showcases participants’
achievements in their homes and communities.
2022
Summer Edition
What a start to 2022! The challenges
of COVID-19 came to life all too
strongly just before Christmas. In just
a few months, South Australia went
from being a state that has enjoyed
minimal – although difficult at the
time – restrictions, to feeling the full
force of what our lives will be like
living in a ‘COVID-is-here’ world.
2021
Spring Edition
Hello from Julie! Last week we had our Annual
General Meeting. It was fantastic
to see so many participants, family
members and friends of HomePlace
celebrate the achievements of
the ‘year that was’, hear about our
new Strategic Plan 2021-2025,
and recognise staff who have
excelled in service over many
years, and through providing
support in the ‘HomePlace Way’.
2021
Winter Edition
An update from Julie: I'm writing this edition on what seems like the first day of sunshine that has some warmth to it in ages - a taste of Spring which lies just around the corner. The Tokyo 2020 (+1) Olympics have just finished with inspirational achievements by many athletes from around the world. One of my favourite "Aussie" moments was seeing Decathlete Cedric Dubler sacrifice his own personal athletic ambitions to support, drive and push his mate Ash Malonely achieve his personal best and a bronze medal in the Decathlon.
2021
Autumn Edition
The 15th of May every year is International
Day for Families. This day was recognised
by the United Nations in 1993 to reflect the
importance the international community
attaches to families. The day provides an
opportunity to promote awareness of issues affecting families. The experience of COVID-19 has reinforced to all of us the importance of family and other ways to have circles of support for all of us.
2021
Summer Edition
It’s time to farewell our wonderful Executive Directors, Shirley Paterson and Denice Wharldall, who are both retiring from working life, today. No words will suffice to thank them both for their outstanding contribution to the disability sector in South Australia, their tireless advocacy work and their caring leadership of HomePlace. We are going to miss them very much and we wish them all the best for a happy retirement!
2020
Spring Edition
This time last year HomePlace had just celebrated its 30th Anniversary with a dinner
as part of our AGM and we danced the night away. We were not to know how much
the world would change this year. At this year’s AGM held in October, sadly we had
no dancing and had to follow strict COVID rules. Despite the restrictions it was a
great evening and a chance for us all to catch up.
2020
Winter Edition
There is no doubt the Coronavirus has dominated our world since the last newsletter. While we re-emerge into our wider world, the clear threat of COVID-19 remains. Globally, infections are still growing in several countries, and in our own backyard, authorities in Melbourne are grappling with a sharp rise in cases.
2020
Summer Edition
We trust everyone enjoyed the Christmas/New
Year holidays and life is getting back to normal.
Our thoughts go out to those affected by the
bush fires; it has been a difficult time for many
Australians.
2019
Spring Edition
What a busy few months it has been. HomePlace celebrated its 30th Anniversary at our AGM in September with over 100 people in attendance. We kept formalities to a minimum, so we had a chance to enjoy a delicious roast dinner and wonderful entertainment. It was great to see everyone dancing and having a great time. A thank you to Our Voice for the goodie bags
2019
Winter Edition
Welcome to the first edition of the HomePlace News. We have so much going on at HomePlace, and I’m pleased to be able to share it with you. Preparing for the NDIS has absorbed much of our energy over the past three years, and I am happy to announce that all of our participants have now transitioned, and we are 100% in the new world of the NDIS.