Such is the Helping People Achieve (HPA) pathway, which started with the vision, passion and impactful determination of the late Peggy and Harold Garner.
Helping People Achieve (HPA) has provided supported employment and accommodation to Territorians with disabilities since 1963.
The aim of HPA’s employment service is to benefit the community through the creation and development of employment opportunities for people with disabilities and to facilitate supported accommodation. But where did this impactful journey start and who were the people behind this visionary concept?
Driven by the care and need of a son with a disability the Garners founded the current services commenced in 1963 as the Mentally Handicapped Persons’ Association and immediately opened a school for “retarded children”.
In 1965, the school was taken over by the Education Department and the Association undertook to build a pre-school, hostel, sheltered workshop and training centre. The Association also underwent a name change to the Slow Learners Association.
It is important to reflect that the development of more appropriate and respectful terminology around disability is a measure of our society’s success in breaking down stigma. At times, it is a little confronting to review historical terms that were used.
Ausdesigns opened in June by the Hon. Jane Aagaard, Minister for Northern Territory Department of Health &community services. Also in this year, the official opening of Darwin Accommodation Services. The complex was named “Garner Court” in honour of our Founding President, Harold Garner and his wife, Peg Garner
The Covid-19 pandemic has tested the agility of our network, the resilience of our business model and our ability to respond to unforeseen challenges while maintaining a clear focus on our key priorities – keeping our employees safe, serving our customers and creating return value for the company.
Consumer demands with the role out of the NDIS continues to create both uncertainty and real opportunity for HPA. The NDIS transition has gained significant momentum over the past year. We have continued to invest significant time and resources in supporting our customers to successfully transition into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDS )
2020
