Your Date To Make A Difference

Participant Amy with Shepparton Access Support Worker Adam

As Greater Shepparton Foundation’s annual End Of Financial Year Appeal (EOFY) kicks off, June is your date to make a difference!

Each year via its EOFY Appeal, Greater Shepparton Foundation (GSF) raise funds to support areas of need in our community. This year all tax-deductible donations made to the Appeal will contribute to Shepparton Access’s social enterprise Eco Store and dedicated hospitality training facility, Eco Cafe.

These social enterprises were established for the purpose of providing meaningful training and employment opportunities for participants with a disability within their own community.  They foster and provide opportunities for skill building, work experience, employment, social and community interaction and connection however they currently operate at a loss due to the funding changes in the disability sector.

Shepparton Access is a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation that has been providing services and supports to people with disability within the Goulburn Valley for over 30 years and currently supports 83 participants. It is solely reliant on National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding.

NDIS funding covers direct support hours only, which sees significant overhead expenses, including the social enterprises Eco Café and Eco Store, without funding to continue their important role in training, providing employment and social connection for those with a disability.

Amy a participant that has been attending Shepparton Access for 20 years and loves building her skills in barista work, food preparation and customer service via employment with Eco Café said, “my favourite part is making coffees and working the till.”

Your donations via Greater Shepparton Foundation’s EOFY Appeal will assist to cover the shortfall in NDIS funding that Shepparton Access’s EcoCafe and EcoStore requires to operate and be able to continue to provide vital and necessary supports and wonderful opportunities to its extremely vulnerable participants.

You can donate to the EOFY Appeal here.