A Circle of Support is a group of people who gather together with purpose – to support an individual to live the life they choose. Circles bring together family, friends, allies and other community members in an organised way to support the person to develop, support and take action on their goals and dreams.
Circles of Support have been running all over the world since the 1980s. We are bringing Circles of Support to the Hunter so that people with disability can take their rightful place as full and equal citizens in our community.
Circles of Support can help people achieve a greater sense of purpose, connection and control. They can support you to:
People say that their Circles of Support have helped them in lots of ways to have a better life. They also help people to take more control of directing their supports and their lives and act as a safeguard for the future.
With the introduction of the NDIS, people with disability have had the chance to do more things as part of their community. But some people don’t have anyone, except paid support workers to help them with this. Some people have no-one in their life who is not paid to be there.
Circles of Support are important because we all need people in our lives who aren’t paid to be there. At Hunter Circles, we believe that having a network of caring, freely given relationships is the key to living a good life. We work alongside people who have limited access to unpaid supporters to build their Circle of Support. Building support networks takes time and intentional effort but is essential for fostering safety, security and belonging in our community.
The purpose of a Circle is to bring people together to think and plan in a way that also builds the capacity of our community to be inclusive.
Hunter Circles is committed to working with people who have limited access to community life. We support people to build and nurture networks that reflect their unique lives, aspirations, gifts and needs. Through collaboration with individuals and communities, we:
A strong community created this way can provide opportunities, connections and safety for everyone, just like it did for Rob. With the support of his Circle, Rob now lives the life he wants.
Circles of Support foster connection and belonging. They create more opportunities and safeguards for people, just as they did for Rob, who is now living life on his own terms.
Hunter Circles is seeking local community members who are keen in connecting with a person with intellectual disability. Many people we work with do not have links to the community and may only have paid supporters in their life. By getting to know each other and exploring shared interests together, everyone benefits.
We will talk to you about your interests, skills and networks and decide together how to best use them to make a difference in our community, your own life and the life of a fellow citizen.
We carefully screen all our volunteers at Hunter Circles and provide you with ongoing supervision, support and training. You will be playing a direct part in making our community more inclusive as each person moves towards the change they want to make happen in their life.
At Hunter Circles, we always put people first and we work one person at a time.
Join us by building a one-to-one supportive relationship with a person who shares your interest. By opening yourself up to a relationship with someone, you can play a direct role in creating social change and making our community more inclusive!
Is this for you?
You’ll become part of a movement to create a more inclusive Hunter where everyone belongs!
Join a small group of supporters who socialise together, make plans and take action to support someone to make their own decisions and expand their networks.
Is this for you?
If you believe in the power of relationships to drive social change and want to make a difference, join us! All it takes is a willingness to listen, share your skills, and take some action. Let’s make a difference together.
Join us as a Circle Facilitator and work directly with a person with disability to build their own Circle of Support. By networking with their existing and potential supports, you will assist in planning and facilitating their dreams and goals in a person-centred and flexible way.
Are you ready?
As a Facilitator, you will guide purposeful conversations, ensure everyone’s voice is heard and support the person to work towards their goals. You’ll receive ongoing training and support, and be part of a network of passionate people who care about making a difference.
“Look around yourself for an opportunity to enter into a relationship with someone who has been exiled. Act on the faith that this person has dreams and hopes much like your own and that this person has meaning in his or her life that can be conveyed to you and that has the power to enrich your life and the lives of others.
Understand that this person may be the bearer of a deep and creative dream. Bend your will and inner and outer ear to listen to this dream. Walk into the daily activities and environments of life with this person as dream and reality interact in a creative dance that expresses the meaning of life.
Try this and may you rejoice in all that you create together.”
We offer a range of input to help you get started with developing your Circle of Support. We will talk to you about your ideas for your Circle, including how to get your Circle started.
We can also help you to facilitate your Circle meetings. You can contact us to submit an expression of interest for a Circle facilitator. Priority will be given to people with disability who only have paid supports in their life – no friends, no family and whose decisions are made for them by the state. As we grow, we aim to make Circles of Support to be available to anyone who wants one.
There are no age limits. You are never too young or too old to live life on your own terms.
At Hunter Circles, we always put people first. We focus on individuals and we work one person at a time.
Circles of Support can be funded through an NDIS Plan. We would love to find out more about what you need support with and how we can help. As part of our initial conversation with you, we will talk to you about your NDIS funding and how you can use it to achieve your goals in ways that are unique and meaningful to you.
There are many ways you can contribute to building a more inclusive Hunter. We invite you to:
Contact us about how you would like to make your contribution, we’d love to hear from you!
There is no justice in this country without First Nations justice.
We acknowledge that we live and work on the stolen lands of the Awabakal and Worimi people. We acknowledge Traditional Owners across the country and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We recognise that sovereignty was never ceded and we pay our respect to Elders past and present. This is, was and always will be Aboriginal land.
