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A clear vision for the future
The results of one of Lotterywest’s largest single grants are now coming to fruition with the recent launch of the Association for the Blind of WA’s wonderful new Centre of Excellence in Victoria Park. With the number of West Australians living with vision loss expected to rise dramatically in the coming decades, the timing could not be better.
The Association for the Blind of WA first approached Lotterywest about this project several years ago when their idea for a Centre of Excellence was only just beginning to take shape. CEO Dr Margaret Crowley remembers, “We had spent a great deal of time thinking about what we were facing in terms of the future community need for our services as well as new models of service. From that a vision emerged but it was a rather overwhelming vision, the sort of vision where we didn’t even know if it was possible. We knew that what we were hoping to achieve had not really been done before and our biggest dilemma was knowing where to start.”
Making things possible
The Association was thankful that their capital campaign was given a kick start by early contributions from philanthropists Stan Perron and Dr Haruhisa Handa as well as a commitment from the State Government to the new library but it was not until they went to talk to Lotterywest that the vision really started to seem do-able. They didn’t start with a grant application but just with a conversation about how they saw the challenges and opportunities ahead in supporting people who are blind or vision impaired. “In hindsight this was the best approach as Lotterywest were able to help us crystallize our vision and from the outset they gave us the sense that it was in fact possible.” Says Dr Crowley.
From that conversation and many more through the application process the Association refined their plans and were thrilled to receive a $6 million grant over several years. This Lotterywest support gave the capital fundraising campaign the important momentum needed to attract funds from other sources. The Association then worked very hard on several more years of fundraising to raise nearly $15 million to make their dream of a fully integrated community resource a reality.
Responding to demand
“We help anyone who is blind or vision impaired. Our clients include children who were born blind, people of all ages with conditions which limit or deteriorate their sight, people with vision loss from accidents or ageing. Even before this new building was here we were seeing 75 new clients each month and the need for our services increases each year.” says Dr Crowley.
This world-first new Centre of Excellence is a landmark in the organisation’s 94 year history. It features several facilities integrated into the one building so that people with a vision impairment and their families can access a range of support services in the one location. These include:
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Lotterywest Children’s Centre with club rooms, recording studio and Megatheatre
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Handa Hall & Recreation Centre
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Confident Living Centre offering social interaction, recreation and learning through art and craft
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The Shed providing safe manual arts opportunities such as woodworking
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State-of-the art Braille and Talking Book Library servicing the entire state
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Industry Skills Training Centre offering a range of accredited training programs
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Wesfarmers Theatrette and Conference Centre
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Woodside Guide Dog Discovery Centre
Dr Crowley also says that this integrative nature is incredibly important to the new facility. “It is hard to describe just how valuable it is for people to have such a great range of world-class support services in the one location. Integrating everything we do together is transforming both the way we provide services and the actual range of services themselves. For new clients it is wonderful to arrive somewhere that symbolically says that people with a vision impairment are valued members of the community. For existing clients they can now visit the library, take a class in our Confident Living Centre, visit the gym and catch up with friends at the café – even if what they came in for was a vision management appointment. This facility is all about possibility; about making things possible for people who are blind or vision impaired and their families.”
Sharing resources
Even more than the cold-hard stuff needed to get a rather ambitious project like this off the ground, working with Lotterywest from the outset helped the Association to evolve the project beyond the initial concept. For example, it has ensured that the Association’s move to new premises would benefit other community sector agencies, too. Uniting Care West has moved into the Association’s previous “HQ” and library buildings adjacent to the new Centre of Excellence and the Child Migrant Trust is setting up home in another of the Association’s previous buildings.
The Guide Dog Discovery Centre and Conference Centre is a key feature that may be of interest to other community groups. It has its own entrance and foyer, the fully-equipped new Wesfarmers Theatrette seats 120, there are three conference rooms, a break-out area and catering is available. This centre has to be self-sustaining and will be available for hire by any organisations but the Association is especially keen that it can create new opportunities for WA’s busy community sector to share knowledge and ideas.
Find out more by contacting the Association for the Blind of Western Australia on (08) 9311 8202 or visiting www.abwa.asn.au