Kelly Vincent – 5RPH Interview on Motivation Australia
25/03/2015
Richard Morgan: Time to welcome to 5RPH Dignity for Disability MLC Kelly Vincent. Hi Kelly.
Kelly Vincent: Hi Richard, how’s it going?
Richard Morgan: Good thank you. Now today Dignity for Disability introduced a motion to Parliament about the work of Motivation Australia. I also understand you’re their ambassador,
Kelly Vincent: That’s right.
Richard Morgan: tell us; who are Motivation Australia and what do they do?
Kelly Vincent: Well Motivation Australia is many things to many people, and does a lot of very good, important work. Primarily it’s a not-for profit development organisation, a registered charity, and a member of the Australian Council for International Development, and the organisation works in partnership with local organisations to enhance the quality of life for people with mobility related disabilities specifically in the Asia-Pacific region, including rural and remote areas of Australia. So helping to provide mobility equipment and training to use that equipment for some of the people who need that assistance most in Asia-Pacific region.
Richard Morgan: Now, if Motivation Australia work in developing countries in the Pacific, do they do any work in Vanuatu and has Cyclone Pam had any impact on the work there.
Kelly Vincent: Yes, they do do a good deal of work there, and unfortunately the services in Vanuatu servicing people with disabilities over there have been very damaged, taken a lot of damage in Cyclone Pam. Some of the work they do through the Vanuatu Society for Disabled People. The Vanuatu Society for Disabled People has unfortunately lost their home in the Cyclone, and I’ve seen photos of buildings that have been completely flattened by the winds which is obviously devastating, because in a country like Vanuatu, where it’s difficult for people with disabilities to get the rights and the assistance that they require in the first place to have what they do have taken away from them in these circumstances is devastating, so if people do want to get on board with helping the Vanuatu Society for Disabled People back on its feet they can donate to Motivation Australia here in Australia, which is a fully deductable donation and the website address is mycause.com.au, that’s mycause.com.au, and they just need to put “Motivation Australia” into a search to find the right link to send them to where they need to go to donate directly to the Vanuatu Society for Disabled People.
Richard Morgan: Does Motivation Australia have any local events coming up that listeners can support and is there anything else they can do to get involved to support their work.
Kelly Vincent: Absolutely, I’m sure you won’t be surprised that there is. We have a Walk for Wheels event coming up, which is an event where people walk around the Aldinga Beach area to raise money to go towards Motivation Australia’s important work, we’re also asking people to spread awareness of the fundraising campaign that Motivation Australia is running in the wake of Cyclone Pam, which is again all fully tax deductable, and be aware of other organisations that can support people with disabilities in developing countries, particularly in events such as natural disasters, because as I say, we have a tough enough time for people with disabilities here in Australia, it’s difficult to imagine what it must be like for many people globally who are already doing it so much tougher than we are who lose what they do have in these circumstances, so we’re certainly encouraging people to get involved in those causes, but if they do also want to support Motivation Australia at a local level, they can join us for the Walk for Wheels event in May at Aldinga and you can find the details about that on the Motivation Australia website or Facebook page
Richard Morgan: Now perhaps give us that web address again.
Kelly Vincent: Sure, so to donate to the Vanuatu Society for Disabled People to help them rebuild after Cyclone Pam visit mycause.com.au that’s my, m y, cause, c a u s e .com.au, and you just need to put “Motivation Australia” into the search on that website to find the right fund.
Richard Morgan: Good on you, thanks for talking to us tonight Kelly.
Kelly Vincent: It’s a pleasure. Thanks for your interest, Richard
Richard Morgan: Dignity for Disability MLC Kelly Vincent.
