108 Bargara Rd
Bundaberg East, Qld, 4670
By Tanya O'Shea, IMPACT Community Services' Managing Director.
"STRONGER TOGETHER" is a weekly column where Tanya explores key issues. This week Tanya focuses on IMPACT's recent annual celebration and the organisation's vision - Improving Lives.
The law of inertia states that a body at rest or moving at consistent speed will remain in that same state unless it is acted upon by a force – a change, an impact.
Arguably, the same can be said for visions of a more inclusive and safer future.
Action is what can turn an idea into reality.
Imagine a world where everyone who wanted to work had a job.
Imagine a world where everyone was welcomed, accepted and respected, free from fear of judgement, discrimination, harassment and bias.
Imagine a world where children and young people didn’t fear being hurt or killed – in their own home.
These scenarios are the things that the IMPACT Community Services team imagine every day.
They are aligned to our vision of Improving Lives and are the reason why we do what we do.
Reflecting on the last 12 months ahead of the IMPACT annual celebration, it was undeniable that the current environment brings challenges that many of us have never faced before.
Lockdowns, separation from loved ones, loss of power and control in decision-making, loss of income and a loss of connection with others.
Amid these challenges, people are facing an increased levels of uncertainty, anxiety, and concern for the future.
From an early age, we are taught to break problems apart to make complex subjects and tasks more manageable. The reality however is that problems never exist in isolation – they are always surrounded by other problems.
If we think about these intertwined complex issues at a global level, it feels completely overwhelming.
Yet, at a local level IMPACT is dedicated to our vision of improving lives and supporting people to change their world every day.
This vision is implemented through our Live, Grow, Prosper pillars; every IMPACT program and service must fit within our vision and align to at least one of the pillars.
In reviewing the year that was, the annual celebration was an opportunity to shine a spotlight on who we are and what we do.
Three of our staff members, Clayton, Jarrod and Luke, shared their inspiring stories of resilience, bravery and determination, so that they might be of help to others.
We can never underestimate the power of our real personal stories and lived experience.
These three men reminded us that it is about grit, persistence, compassion, resilience and the learnings, and drawing on all of that to create change.
They stepped into their personal power, which reminds us that even though we cannot always control what happens to us, we can control how we react to it – even when it appears that we do not have a choice.
Leaning into our personal story and truly owning it is a gift.
Their embodiment of our vision and continued growth is the reason we are here.
This celebration also saw the launch of our Culture Book; a new digital experience illustrating the essence of IMPACT – our people and how they epitomize our values.
Much like our organisation, the Culture Book is an abundance of personality, sincerity and compassion. You can view our inspiring staff stories and the Culture Book on our website.
Please note: This website may contain references to, or feature images, videos, and voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have passed away.