Our Community, Our Stories

With a background in marketing and disability services, as well as formerly being a carer, it’s safe to say Scott Torcetti is well and truly qualified for his new role as Disabilities Manager at IMPACT Community Services.
Scott grew up having a brother with spina bifida and mental deficits which allows him to connect with NDIS participants with a lived understanding of the challenges they face.

Reeanna Luxton has always been passionate about helping people with disabilities and now she is bringing her expertise to those who need it. Thanks to recommendations from friends, Reeanna recently completed the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) at IMPACT Community Services (RTO Code 0115) and is now working her dream job.

Welcome to the latest instalment in our Awkward Conversations series. Awkward Conversations is an IMPACT Community Services' initiative where we explore some of the challenging issues happening in homes across the region. Today we look at a mental health scenario and the thought that can sometimes cross our minds: "What's the point?"

IMPACT Community Services is in the business of improving the lives of people in the Bundaberg community. We are change-makers, forward thinkers and here to support people in need. Here are five people whose lives have been changed for the better thanks to a partnership with the dedicated support workers and trainers who work at IMPACT.

Today, R U OK? Day and World Suicide Prevention Day both fall within Child Protection Week. Here at IMPACT Community Services we thought it fitting to speak with our Intensive Family Support unit to identify when someone might need assistance and how they can go about seeking that help.

IMPACT Community Services MD Tanya O'Shea will tomorrow speak at CQUniversity’s Festival of Change where she will discuss the conception of one of the organisation’s social enterprises. The festival is a learning opportunity facilitated by CQUniversity’s Office of Social Innovation and runs from August 31 through to September 18.

Over $7 million has been injected into the local community after the 70 millionth eligible container was returned through the Containers for Change scheme in the Bundaberg area last week. Bundaberg’s four Container Refund Points (CRPs) have been providing locals with 10 cent refunds on eligible containers as part of the Containers for Change scheme, driving the $7 million back to individuals, charities and community groups.

Young children are innocent, honest and easily influenced. That’s why it’s so important to protect our future leaders from harm, abuse and neglect. Next week, from September 6 to 12, IMPACT Community Services will light up their windows to raise awareness for Child Protection Week. One of IMPACT’s valued programs, Cooee, started as an arts and crafts class for NDIS participants and people with mental health concerns. The groups now tend to focus on specific causes to raise public awareness.

Julia Cole was facing a career change with a little trepidation, but after signing up at IMPACT Community Services, all her fears were laid to rest. After being made redundant at her former job, Julia took the news as an opportunity to further her education and enter a new field in Aged Care.

Welcome to the latest instalment in our Awkward Conversations series. Awkward Conversations is an IMPACT Community Services' initiative where we explore some of the challenging issues happening in homes across the region. Today we look at how to get back out into social life after the passing of a long-time partner.

Chris Curd has worked most of his life as either a mechanical or a hydraulic fitter, but when he started thinking about a new career, he knew exactly what he wanted to do.

Chris has two brothers with a disability and they made the decision easy.

Sharon Bengtsson-Meehan's career dreams were shattered by a head-on auto collision. But she's risen above her own disability and her experience has made her want to become a carer herself.

And now she's on the way to becoming the state's top student, having been named Equity VET Student of the Year and a Regional Finalist for the Darling Downs South West region in the Queensland Training Awards.

It's no secret IMPACT Community Services employs some of the best trainers in Bundaberg, and one appreciative graduate has sung the praises of our Certificate III in Individual Support educator Vicki Lyons.  Rachel Johnson recently completed our Home and Community training course and said she had an amazing experience with IMPACT.

The call has gone out for volunteers in the Gayndah and Monto communities to join IMPACT Community Services’ AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ) (ACVVS). The scheme links volunteers with residents in aged care facilities, including Gunther Village in Gayndah and Ridgehaven in Monto.  ACVVS can also link volunteers to clients in their homes who receive a Home Care Package.

You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl. At least that’s the lived experience of IMPACT Community Services’ new Finance Manager Juanita Farley. Juanita brings a mountain of experience to her new role at IMPACT from a wide variety of jobs both around Australia and the world.