Special feature – Redland Originals
STAR Community Services
Since 1996
WITH the numbers of the ageing population growing and the roll out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), STAR Community Services remains at the forefront of ensuring transport and quality home care services to the aged and people with disabilities in the Redlands.
When it first began in 1996, it aimed to provide assistance to the transport disadvantaged.
Twenty years on it has become a leading community group providing not only transport, but quality home care such as home care packages, home maintenance, companionship and respite, which makes a real difference in the lives of thousands of Redlands residents.
Underpinning STAR is the belief that inclusive communities thrive; community members work for the community to benefit the community.
More than 120 volunteers assist STAR by dedicating their time, skills and resources.
One of those volunteers is Kaylene Forbes, a companionship volunteer.
This advertising feature is sponsored by the following business celebrating more than 25 years operating in the Redlands:
Each Wednesday she devotes her time to two STAR clients, providing friendship over coffee with one and the chance to help the other with their weekly groceries.
While she provides just a few hours a week of her time, to those clients her visit means the world.
“What we do is very important; for some of these people we might be the only person they see all week and they are lonely,” she said.
“We offer them a chance to get out of the house, to do something different.”
For 74-year-old Robyn Bree the assistance of STAR Community Services meant fulfilling her dream of studying law.
Finding it hard to continue with her study due to blindness, STAR stepped in to support her.
“STAR came to my aid,” Mrs Bree said.
“They found me a voluntary reader-writer who accompanies me to my weekly Legal Studies program.
“Now, I can keep up with my fellow members, participate in discussions and confidently find new friendships.”
STAR Community Services general manager Patsy Wilshire said this is the reason why the organisation is so important for the Redlands community.
“We are so proud to enable Robyn and many other seniors of our community, maintain physical and emotional wellbeing and live life to the fullest,” she said.
“Our care services are completely focused on supporting our elderly to maintain an independent and comfortable lifestyle, whether by simply helping them with their weekly shopping, or as in Robyn’s case, thinking out of the box and finding a unique solution to her care needs.”
To date STAR has provided more than 700,000 services to help Redland seniors enjoy an independent lifestyle.
It looks forward to meeting the one millionth service milestone in the not too distant future.
Discover more about its services at www.starcommunityservices.org.au.
Find out more about volunteering with STAR by calling 3821 6699 or by visiting www.volunteeringredlands.org.au.
