Sydney Community College

What is the Inclusive Community Education program?

The ICEP is a two-year pilot program funded by Aging, Disability and Home Care: Family and Community Services. It is a flexible respite program that aims to give carers a break by providing recreation and leisure courses for adults with a disability. It also aims to give people with a disability an opportunity to build social networks with their peers outside usual service hours.

Sydney Community College specially tailor courses to meet the needs of the individuals with a disability who have an interest in engaging with their peers in new learning environments.

Professional tutors and support staff are employed to ensure quality education and assistance whilst participating in the adult learning environment. Please note that unless otherwise specified, all ICEP courses are designed for people with an Intellectual Disability.

Please note there is no cost throughout the course of the 2 year pilot.

Who can access ICEP?

The ICEP pilot is for people with a disability who:

• are aged 18+
• have an unpaid carer (people who are recipients of the Carers Allowance or other benefits are considered to be unpaid carers e.g. parent or other relative)
• are living in the community. People who currently live in ADHC funded or operated accommodation are not eligible as the focus is to provide respite to an unpaid carer.
• live in one of the following local government areas covered in Metro South: Ashfield, Botany Bay, Burwood, Canada Bay, Canterbury, City of Sydney, Leichhardt, Marrickville, Randwick, Rockdale, Strathfield, Waverly, Woollahra

Please note, priority will be given to those not already accessing services and who are seen as socially isolated.

Fees/Cost

There is no course fee for students. However, depending on the course there may be a contribution towards the cost of materials (e.g. ingredients for cooking classes). This will be advised prior to enrolment.

Referrals

There are two ways referrals can be made:

1. By ADHC and NGO staff

ADHC / NGO staff can refer eligible clients directly to the Community College by phone or email. Priority will be given to these referrals.

1. By individuals

Individuals can contact Community College directly to apply.

Community College Details

To make a referral to Sydney Community College, please contact:

Name: Duncan Rose, Social Inclusion Program Coordinator
Email address: duncan.rose@scc.nsw.edu.au
Phone Number: 8752 7571

What happens next?

After referral the Sydney Community College will contact the client directly to complete a College enrolment. The enrolment process will determine if there is a course suitable for the potential student. The College will keep waiting lists if there is no current place/course available.

Courses

Please note all our current courses are full. Courses for Term 2 will be released in March, so check back with us then.

All our courses are 3 hours long over 10 week terms.

Participants in the ICEP program also have the option to move to what is called the ‘Mainstream Options’ Program. This is for students who wish to further their skills and/or social development by attending a mainstream college course.

ICEP staff will actively support individuals with a disability to access the mainstream options program and to be socially included within the college community.