About
Who Is
OVOC?
Our Vision,
Mission
and Values
The Six
Service
Standards
Our
Promises
Meet Our
Team
OUR VOICE OUR CHOICE IS ABOUT
OPPORTUNITY, RESPECT & EQUALITY
Our Voice Our Choice was established to provide support and facilitation to individuals wishing to attain goals and objectives across all aspects of their lives.
The underlying principal is to provide ‘enabling’ resources and support in line with people’s wishes and needs.
We recognise and affirm that every individual has equal value, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, culture or ability and seek to deliver the most positive outcome possible for any person utilising Our Voice Our Choice services.
OUR VISION
A world full of Real, connected communities that celebrate diversity, humanity and accessibility.
Equality between all people in a non-discriminative world.
That we all enable everyone to feel valued in society.
OUR MISSION
To walk with, and alongside, people seeking Real Opportunites.
Real inclusion, Real true-life experiences, with Real achievements, Real connections, Real homes,
Real employment, Real choice and Real outcomes.
OUR VALUES
Professionalism and Dedication
Continuous Improvement
Quality, for every person, every time
Accountability and Transparency
Understanding and Compassion
Creativity and Innovation
Community Participation and Teamwork
THE SIX SERVICE STANDARDS
Our Voice Our Choice operates under the 6 Service Standards…
Rights
The service promotes individual rights to freedom of expression, self-determination and decision making and actively prevents abuse, harm, neglect and violence.
Participation and Inclusion
The service works with individuals and families, friends and carers to promote opportunities for meaningful participation and active inclusion in society.
Individual Outcomes
Services and supports are assessed, planned, delivered and reviewed to build on individual strengths and enable individuals to reach their goals.
Feedback
Regular feedback is sought and used to inform individual and organisation wide service reviews and improvement.
Service Access
The service manages access, commencement and leaving a service in a transparent, fair, equal and responsive way.
Service Management
The service has effective and accountable service management and leadership to maximise outcomes for individuals.
OUR PROMISES
Our Voice Our Choice will:
- Support people with a disability to fully partake as citizens in our community
- Always act with compassion, integrity and transparency.
- Deliver quality services, driven by the aspirations and needs of people we support and families.
- Demonstrate strong leadership and foster harmonious relationships.
- Proactively support and encourage staff and volunteers to achieve their full potential.
- Promote opportunities for people with a disability through community partnerships that recognise mutual benefit.
- Assist with decisions today that will have a positive impact on the future of our service users.
- Provide an environment where the individual’s right to experiences and risk is recognised.
MEET THE TEAM
Our team is comprised of highly skilled individuals with years of experience in disability support.
Nadine Soper
Director
I started Our Voice Our Choice as I passionately believe in ensuring people with a disability have a voice that is heard – my company is for the people!
“We – myself as Director, and all my staff and volunteers – are not here to just ‘babysit’ or take care of people’s basic needs, but educate society to accept each individual and assist them to have a sense of belonging and to feel worthwhile, that they are valued. Being part of the community is the most important step for inclusion for everyone, and community includes ALL people.
The driving force in my career is to be driven only by the people’s voice and their desire for choice, so they know they are listened to and respected as valuable members of the community.
Personally, my most important achievements have not come from educational success but from making a difference to people’s lives…
A man with no words taught me the most valuable lesson in life … empathy and true compassion. He taught me to listen to someone that could not talk, to see that we are all worthy no matter how different we are. Whilst he had no “verbal voice”, his words spoke clearly to me, he held his voice in his smile and heart … but so few took the time to listen. And that is what I want to change.
I want to make a difference. Welcome to Our Voice Our Choice.”
Nadine is well qualified in Behavioural Management and Disability Services with a Diploma in Community services, Level IV Mental Health and Addictions Certificate, Level IV Social Services Certificate, Level IV Aged Care and Disabilities Certificate as well has being extensively trained in Non-Violent Intervention and Complex Behavioural Therapy.
Nadine is involved in all aspects of the planning and implementation of supports for Residents, and is dedicated to a person centred approach.
Nadine is also a pioneer in different and exciting approaches for Community Participation for residents, and ensures their goals are establish, their voice is heard and their choice of provider is clear.
Kyle Prasser
Chief Operating Officer
I have oversight of Our Voice Our Choice Pty Ltd (OVOC) operationally; My focus is on interweaving the services we provide to our participants with our business systems, including finance and business operations, policy and procedure, compliance and – ultimately – delivering against our strategy.
So what lead you to join OVOC?
When I saw the opportunity at OVOC, it really seemed an organic transition from my previous role in the area of mental health, and what Nadine does really resonates with me.
I’m learning more and more daily about what OVOC means to people and the unique way we go about delivering our services; there is so much to like about OVOC.
It’s this difference – where lots of other agencies that I know of claim to do great things, OVOC actually does them – and works for people who have been marginalised. It’s the uncompromising focus on our participants and delivering real opportunities to them that is central in all the decisions we make.
It’s realistic to see OVOC continue to grow, including interstate. It’s an exciting time, and we are placing no limitations on what OVOC – or its people – can do.
Aydan Mussen
Resident Services Coordinator
Being part of an organisation that provides high quality service to residents and participants that are in the centre of all planning and supports. Having staff motivated to encourage our residents/participants achieve their goals
I started with OVOC a few years ago as a Support Worker. I really wanted to start a career path that enabled me to help others achieve their life goals and experience real life inclusion in the local community and OVOC has proven to be the perfect workplace to do this. I have been able to help people to better themselves, become confident in making their own decisions and be their voice for change when they needed me to be. I have a certificate 4 in Community Service and am currently studying a Diploma along with many other industry specific qualifications and training. In January 2020 I was awarded Student of the Year by Reach for Training.
In my current role as Resident Services Coordinator I have oversight of the houses, Senior Support Workers and support staff working with our participants. I coordinate all recruitment and onboarding to ensure that we have the right people representing us and working in our houses, ensuring our staff agree and are passionate about our vision and mission is important to us here at OVOC. Another factor of my role is assisting with the transitional process to help our participants to be discharged from acute care facilities to help them achieve their goals of living within the community independently and I love that I am able to do this.
Shane Woseen
Participant
Meet Shane. Shane is one of our long-standing participants here at OVOC having been with us for approx. 1.5 years after suffering from a brain injury at the tender age of 17. Shane lives with support from (OVOC), he is learning life skills as well as finding his passion for table tennis again, after turning his back on it all the years he has been in pain.
Our Voice Our Choice gives people with disabilities their voice back. Their perseverance with encouraging all people to find their strengths again, to feel they belong in their community, to find their worth again, is extra-ordinary. Read about Shane’s personal experience with OVOC below;
Can you tell us a little bit about your time with OVOC?
My lifestyle before OVOC, was unmanageable due to mental health issues and drug dependency after my accident. OVOC gave the me opportunity to be supported to live a clean life.
What do you think is the best thing about OVOC?
They care about me as a person and they do not judge me on my past. OVOC has given me the tools to be able to support myself and to improve my life. I’m very grateful that I am here.
Can you tell us about any friendships you have made through OVOC and why this has bee important to you?
I have met fellow participants that have ended up becoming friends. This is important because we all go through similar situations and we can offer support to each other.
What important goals have you been able to achieve with the support of OVOC?
Before I came to OVOC I had no contact with my family because of my lifestyle choices. OVOC has supported me to get those relationships back and to maintain them and I now have my family back in my life again.
Trudi is a long-standing participant with us here at OVOC, having been with us almost since the beginning! Gaining independence in everyday life and making healthy lifestyle choices have been some of the most important goals Trudi has had since living in her SIL home and with the continued support from our valued and committed staff members, she has been able to achieve so much. The induction process is a chance for OVOC to understand the needs of each person and who they would best suit living with, as well as the most appropriate staff allocation. A house can be many things to many people, but OVOC creates homes that are person centered and respectful of everyone’s choices. How long have you been with OVOC? Can you tell me a bit about your time with us? I have been with OVOC for 4 years. Good staff have helped and motivated me with household skills and healthy eating and with daily living and fun activities. Can you tell me what you think the best thing about OVOC is? Can you tell me about any friendships that you have made through OVOC and why this has been important to you? I have made friendships with the ladies at my home and I love the outings that we go on with other participants and staff. We also celebrate birthdays and milestones with others. It is important for my mental health and physical wellbeing. Has OVOC helped you in achieving any goals that have been important to you? If so, can you please tell us a little bit about it? OVOC has helped me to take pride in my house and supported me to perhaps live independently in the future. Staff have helped me with healthy eating and weight loss which was a goal of mine. They always motivate me to do daily activities. What do you hope OVOC is able to help you achieve in the future? To live independently and volunteer in a women’s shelter.
Trudi Manning
Participant
Great staff that promote independence. They encourage and support me with things I like to do such as gardening and craft activities. I also love getting out in the community and going on weekly outings.
WE ARE A REGISTERED NDIS PROVIDER
OVOC provides Disability & Mental Health Services in Newcastle, Maitland and the Lake Macquarie area. We specialise in Community Access, Supported Group Accommodation (Holidays), Capacity Building & Support Coordination. We are a registered NDIS provider.
