Kildare College

This year as we immerse ourselves in the Year of Hope we continue to discern about the meaning of the word. Is “Hope” a feeling or a nice idea that we want or is the word much more? When we reflect on the word “Hope” within our Christian principles it becomes a very real and spiritual energy that is referred often within the Bible.

This real energy can be seen within review of practice and development of change for more improved outcomes. One such review of practice that connects to holistic learning outcomes and the well-being for students with disabilities is the roll out of the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme). As Gabrielle Kelly (Director of the Wellbeing and Resilience Centre at SAHMRI) stated, “This is a once in a lifetime reform by the federal government for a national overhaul of services for people with disabilities. This reform is constantly changing to meet the needs of clientele and government strategies.”

The NDIS has been implemented to support people (referred to as participants) with a disability to have equity, to make meaningful decisions to empower themselves to have choice in the process of decision making within their own life. This social reform invests in a sustainable future to improve the well-being of participants to be more productive, to achieve better outcomes in education, the community and employment for life-long learning. The NDIS provides participants with individualised support and the flexibility to manage their supports to help them achieve their individual goals.

Whilst the NDIS continues to evolve this reform embraces hope towards a better society in Australia. In reference to Hebrews 6:19 Hope is called the anchor of the soul, because it gives stability to Christian life. This stability is not a good feeling or a nice idea, rather it is that which embraces a better world connected to the Gospel values and promise of the future that God has made. For more information on the NDIS please access the following link https://ndis.gov.au/index.html

Cherrell Murray
Director of Learning Enrichment