General News
17 August, 2022
Local service providers nominated for awards
Two local businesses have been nominated for 2022 Victorian Community Achievement Awards for their ongoing efforts in the disability sector. Wattle Tree Country Retreat has been nominated for a Business Achievement Award in the Regional Development...
Two local businesses have been nominated for 2022 Victorian Community Achievement Awards for their ongoing efforts in the disability sector.
Wattle Tree Country Retreat has been nominated for a Business Achievement Award in the Regional Development Victoria category, while Asteria Services has been nominated for the same as well as for the Ricoh Australia Customer Service Award.
Asteria Services provides disability support services, including accommodation and employment and CEO Annie Constable said it was “humbling” to be nominated.
“To be nominated for these awards is very humbling. We don’t of course set out to win awards and it is nice that the hard work of our team is recognised and appreciated,” she said.
“Asteria is a significant operation and major player in the Goldfields community. We focus strongly on community based activities and meaningful employment opportunities for our participants. We provide direct support, group activities, carer respite, supported accommodation and supported employment.
“Our support coordinators help people manage their NDIS funds by providing a bridge between the NDIS and the services participants need to access in order to thrive.”
Wattle Tree Country Retreat, located in Amherst, provides respite and short term accommodation for people with disabilities, psychosocial disabilities and acquired brain injuries aged 18 to 65.
Opening in April last year, owner Chelsea Thompson said it was a surprise to be nominated but that the retreat has been going from strength to strength.
“This is the first time we’ve been nominated for this award, it was a surprise, but a good one,” she said.
“The retreat been going really well, we’re really busy and get booked up quickly.”
The retreat is based on a farm and offers activities including camping, campfire cooking, fishing, yabbying and feeding the farm animals — something Ms Thompson said makes it unique.
“A lot of our clientele come from Melbourne and having a farm offers a different experience,” she said.
“We’ve also found some clients lived on a farm when they were younger and haven’t been able get back to the land and this way they can.
“It’s very tailor-made respite, it’s about what the client wants to do. We do activities like horse riding, spending days in Bendigo, going to Sovereign Hill.”
Victorian Community Achievement Awards winners and finalists will announced on November 11.