For decades, the Collingwood Children’s Farm in Melbourne has been a beacon of hope and inclusivity for people with disabilities. This beloved community farm has provided a serene and welcoming environment for children, school students, and individuals with disabilities to connect with nature, animals, and each other. However, the farm’s decision to cease its volunteer program for people with disabilities has left many in the community dismayed and concerned for the future.
The farm’s volunteer program, which was specifically designed for people with disabilities, provided a unique opportunity for participants to engage in hands-on farm activities, such as caring for animals, gardening, and creating birdhouses. For many participants, including Lucille Le Meledo, who has autism, the program was a lifeline that provided a sense of purpose and belonging. “As an autistic person with severe mental health issues, studying or working full-time in my current state is near impossible,” Le Meledo says. “My experiences volunteering at the farm were immensely healing and productive.”
The program’s abrupt cessation in June has left many in the community reeling. Le Meledo and her mother, Debra Byrne, have taken matters into their own hands, securing two seats on the farm’s committee of management. Their goal is to reinstate the program and ensure that the farm remains a welcoming and inclusive space for people with disabilities. “It is a unique place,” Byrne says. “It’s the perfect place for people with sensory issues to be included and grow their confidence.”
The farm’s decision to cease the program was reportedly due to financial constraints. However, many in the community are questioning the farm’s commitment to inclusivity and social responsibility. “What the farm was doing is the only of its kind,” says Chloe Paul, founder of Having a Yarn, a company that provides support work and counseling for people with disabilities. “Finding long-term volunteering opportunities for our clients that allow for some flexibility of hours is extremely difficult.”
As the farm navigates this uncertain period, it is clear that the community will not go quietly into the night. Le Meledo and Byrne’s determination to save the program is a testament to the power of grassroots activism and the importance of inclusive and accessible community spaces. As Le Meledo so eloquently puts it, “The farm is my sole excuse to leave my house and socialize. It’s a place where I can be myself and feel a sense of belonging.”
The fate of the Collingwood Children’s Farm’s volunteer program for people with disabilities hangs in the balance. Will the farm find a way to reinstate the program and maintain its commitment to inclusivity and social responsibility? Only time will tell.
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