The Sunshine Coast community came out for a night of generosity in support of STEPS Pathways College for its annual Grand Winter Ball.
The Ball – held on Saturday 27 July – is the college’s major fundraising event and was hosted this year by media personality Melissa Doyle.
Thanks to the generous contributions of guests, sponsors and donors, the event raised an impressive sum to support STEPS Pathways College, which supports young people with disabilities and autism to learn the holistic skills they need to achieve and maintain lifelong independence.
Carmel Crouch, STEPS managing director and founder of STEPS Pathways College, told Link the College appreciated the generosity of everyone involved in making the night so successful, including key sponsors like Ken Mills Toyota.
She said it had been “a fabulous night”, with the college’s 22 students in attendance.
“I think it’s really wonderful for the people who are supporting us to actually have contact with our students and be able to see who they’re actually supporting, it makes a huge difference,” Crouch said. “We know that these young people can be more, do more, and achieve more in life, and it’s so wonderful to have the community stand with us and help us make this a reality for our students, and all young people with a disability and autism.”
STEPS Pathways College, located on the Sunshine Coast, is the only disability boarding college in the southern hemisphere, Crouch said. The students are a diverse bunch; some have Down syndrome, some have autism, some have other diagnoses. Staff are trainers rather than support workers and teach students the skills they need to live independently, including looking after a small home, writing a meal plan, shopping, budgeting and cooking. They also learn socialisation skills.
The boarding college is currently home to 22 students but has room for 24. They come from all around Australia, from as far away as Tasmania; Crouch said many students come from areas that don’t have access to the same supports and services that STEPS can offer and also has a day program available.
Crouch said the STEPS community is now looking ahead to its autism treehouse Christmas party, which is always a special occasion.
“It’s one of my favourite days of the year, to see a thousand kids come through our Christmas party to just have a day that they can’t have anywhere else,” she said. “We’ll just keep doing what we’re doing. It’s a really important program, and there’s nothing else like it around.”
Photo: Carmel Crouch with young ambassador
Photo: Mellissa Doyle with STEPS student