FOR three years, Vivid Kerang has provided 24-year-old Natasha Moloney with the opportunity to gain employment and build friendships within the community.
After leaving school in 2020, Natasha has become a reliable member of Vivid’s work crew, as well as participating in supported group activities.
The registered Australian Disability Enterprise allows local residents who live with a disability to gain meaningful employment within their town.
Natasha has been earning money through her work every Monday and Wednesday since 2021, painting survey pegs within the workshop before they are sold to surveyors.
Nathasha’s mother, Sharon Fulton said her daughter was always eager to get to the workshop every morning.
”She really loves coming here to be a part of the Vivid work crew,” she said.
“Natasha is always waking up early in the morning, ready to get to work for another day – she never likes missing a day.
“This is something she wanted to do as soon as she left school, she wanted to get her badge and uniform, and just have a job like other people.”
But another part of Vivid’s weekly group activities has become a real passion of Natasha’s – the organisation’s Seed to Plate program.
Natasha immerses herself in Vivid’s outdoor garden each week, exploring her love of gardening at every step of the journey.
Participants in the Seed to Plate program have the opportunity to learn about growing their own cooking ingredients, from planting, growing and harvesting to eating.
Another skill Natasha has picked up through Vivid’s support has been photography, undertaking a three-week course that saw her learn her way around a camera.
After learning about lighting, focus and how to operate a camera, a selection of Natasha’s photos were then part of an exhibition at Sir John Gorton Library last year.
It’s not all work and learning at Vivid Kerang though, as Natasha grows her social skills as part of Vivid’s flexible support programs.
One of Natasha’s yearly highlights at Vivid is the annual Dinner Dance in Echuca, a chance for Natasha and other people with disabilities to catch up and get their boogie on.
She also takes part in the supported group activities and participates in flexible support days, including day trips to Bendigo and other local excursions.
Whether attending a show at the Swan Hill Town Hall, or simply walking down the street to buy her favourite sweet-treat, jelly slice – Vivid Kerang are there to assist Natasha.
Natasha’s mother said that without the support from the NDIS and Vivid, her daughter’s life would look much different.
“It’s really important that Natasha gets this help from the NDIS,” Ms Fulton said.
“Thanks to the NDIS, Natasha has access to a communication tablet, which she uses to buy what she wants down the street each Wednesday.
“She wouldn’t be getting the chance to do all these great things if it wasn’t for that support.”
