Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine

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A True Partnership

01 April 2008

In a concerted effort to get Bond students to fully understand disabilities and the ways they affect people, a working partnership has been forged between Bond and the Gold Coast Recreation and Sport, a community based organisation providing sporting and recreational opportunities to people with disabilities.

Bond students are attending information sessions with people affected by a wide range of disabilities, such as Aspergers Syndrome and Noonan’s Syndrome.

They hear direct from these people about the way the disability affects their lives.

Assistant Professor Caroline Fewster, Coordinator of Children’s Services, said that students from various disciplines, including Business, Human Services, Sports Management and Children’s Services are all gaining exceptional insight into disabilities.

“This is a unique thing we’re doing and the students are saying that prior to attending such sessions, they had no understanding of the depth of the effects of disabilities,” A/Prof Fewster said.

Gold Coast Recreation and Sport’s Director, Marian York, said the program with Bond is wonderful, with positive feedback from both students and clients.

“It’s a win-win situation because the students usually say they’ve learned more in the space of an hour from a client than they would from reading an entire textbook. Then the clients get something out of it because they feel like they’re being listened to and their difficulties understood,” Ms York said.

“If the clients touch even half the group of students then they’ve achieved something.”

As well as attending information sessions, the students are assisting in activities organised by the Recreation and Leisure Centre.

At a recent swimming carnival for over 80 disabled athletes, students helped with organisation, time keeping and even got into the pool to encourage the athletes in their races.

Students have also raised money to support a disabled soccer player in attending the World Games.

“We try and support The Centre so it is a true partnership in every sense,” A/Prof Fewster said.

“The Centre is very responsive to community needs and I think the students are learning so much about these needs.”

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