The Monkami Centre is located in Croydon and provides services for adults with intellectual disabilities living in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Monkami’s mission is to provide opportunities and skills for their clients and has a strong emphasis on community development.

This afternoon I attended a tour of Monkami’s facilities to view the range of programs that they offer. These programs include developmental skills, independent living skills, recreation and leisure, as well as pre-vocational training.

Often these programs cover a range of areas, such as the Monkami Drama Group, which not only provides enjoyment but also assists in skills development and fosters stronger connections with the community. Monkami also provides a nursery, woodwork and office administration skills providing their clients with a range of skills and the potential for employment.

This year Monkami is furthering its community connections, through developing a program where their clients will volunteer within the local area and assist our community just like the many other volunteers within Maroondah.

These programs further strengthen Monkami’s connection within the community and it was great to see the Centre during one of its working days where I could meet several of the participants and hear about their experiences.

Organisations like Monkami help remove the barriers that unfortunately still exist for people with intellectual disabilities and ensures that their capabilities are recognised within our community

For further information on Monkami please visit www.monkami.com.