Horticulture project for people with intellectual disabilities to boost self-esteem, place in community
Campsie-based, not-for-profit, in-home aged care organisation Multicultural Care, formerly Multicultural Aged Care, has recently become an NDIS provider and is planning to roll out an innovative horticulture project.
The organisation’s chief executive Dr Rosy Walia said the project was aimed at people with an intellectual disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds aged 14 to 64.
The idea is to offer those living in Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield and Liverpool, an opportunity to be involved in horticulture, using community gardens.
The southwest has a high percentage of people from non-English speaking backgrounds, including Canterbury (45 per cent), Fairfield (50 per cent) and Liverpool (36 per cent).
Dr Walia said it would involve planting and caring for vegetables and herbs, as well as flowers and shrubs.
“We would give clients a choice. If it works really well we could the clients involved in selling what they produced,” she said.
The project would boost participants’ self-respect, skills development and involve them in mainstream community activities.
Source: The Daily Telegraph