Welcome back, one and all. Happy new year!
As some of you may have noticed, during the Christmas and New Year break we promoted tickets to a number of forthcoming Sydney Festival events.
Event organisers have generously provided free entry to the following four events:
- King Stingray: Friday 14 January, 8:45pm @ Speakers Corner Corner of College Street & William Street
- Casey Donavon: Saturday 15 January, 7:45pm @ Speakers Corner Corner of College Street & William Street
- B Wise and Friends Present Jaime: Saturday 22 January, 7:45pm @ Speakers Corner Corner of College Street & William Street
- Yung Lung: Sunday 23 January, 7pm @ -23rd of January 7pm @ Bay 17 Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh
Limited tickets are available for each. Please note, we’re not promoting these via the Gig Buddies shop. In order to be eligible for a free ticket(s) you are required to be a fully signed up user of the Gig Buddies program.
For more information about each event, load up the links above. And to reserve your place, get in touch - either via Facebook Messenger, email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org or via text or phone call on 0422 061 990.
Please note, Gig Buddies staff WILL NOT be in attendance for these gigs. Once you have confirmed your place we’ll email a copy of the ticket(s). In the event that any performance is cancelled, we'll be in touch.
We can’t thank Sydney Festival enough. Once again they’ve generously provided us with free access to a number of top-notch gigs, and we’re throughly looking forward to kicking things off this Friday.
Front and centre
The four events listed above are in addition to two other gigs we’re serving up this month.
This Friday we head to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) to check out internationally renowned artist Doug Aitken's groundbreaking exhibition - New Era.
And, we’ve missed the buzz of live music so much that we’ll be in attendance for the following Sydney Festival event:
Unfortunately the Emma Donavan event has been cancelled. To those who have bought tickets, we will be in touch.
What about Covid?
With regards to Sydney Festival’s Covid policy, all attendees must follow NSW Health guidelines and their own Covid Safe practices.
For all Sydney Festival ticketed events, a face mask is required at all times while inside foyers, theatres and outdoor venues; masks must also be worn during performances. All patrons are required to check in via the Service NSW QR Code and confirm their double vaccination status or provide documentation for a medical exemption.
Likewise, face masks are mandatory at the MCA, and all attendees must show proof of their vaccination status. For more information on their Covid policy, click here.
Drawing against the clock ✏️
To mark our first online social event for 2022, we invite buddies to join us on Zoom for a game of Pictionary.
Pens and paper at the ready, we’re drawing objects against the clock. If you’d like to join us on Thursday, click on the link listed below:
Thursday 13/1
- 4pm: Gig Buddies Pictionary
The Sunday session
And this forthcoming Sunday (16/1) we’ll be streaming live from the Gig Buddies Sydney Facebook page - bringing house music vibes from midday.
Get ready to crank the speakers for a daytime mix. To register, jump on the link below:
Sunday 16/1
Our Pictionary event will take place via Zoom. For information on how to use Zoom, load up the following easy read guide written by Learning Disability Wales. Alternatively, click here to check out our 'how to use Zoom' video.
The Sunday DJ doof will be live streamed via the Gig Buddies Sydney Facebook page. For information on how to access the gig, load up the event link above.
If you have any questions or would like more information, send us an email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org or info@gigbuddiescentralcoast.org or call/SMS us on 0402 708 814.
Chat is back
Our online social chats are back.
The first chat for 2022 takes place at 4pm today. They then rotate; next week’s takes place on Tuesday (18/1) and the following week reverts back to Monday (24/1).
Our chats take place via Zoom and are facilitated by either Bec, Chelsea, Tony, Carol or myself. They run for 30 minutes and always start at 4pm.
Each week we discuss a different topic, and to make things easier we use the same Zoom link for every meeting.
If you would like to chat with your fellow buddies and staff, get in touch. Send us an email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org, reach out on Facebook Messenger or contact us via text or on the phone on 0422 061 990.
Two we made in 2021
Just before we knocked off for the Christmas break, we had time to finalise another two matches.
Our final two for 2021, we’re delighted to welcome Harriet and Danielle (left, L - R) and Colin and Kieran (right, L - R) to the family.
New year, new NDIS plan dates?
Just a friendly reminder for our buddies that have NDIS plans.
If you have an unscheduled plan review or the dates/details of your plan change for any reason, it’s very important you let us know.
Any changes to an NDIS participants’ plan dates will automatically make your Gig Buddies service agreement void.
We need to be informed of any date changes so we can update your service agreement and ensure you’re still covered by our public liability insurance when out with your volunteer.
If there have been any changes to your plan or if you’re unsure about your current service agreement, please contact Chelsea, our NDIS Coordinator, either via email: chelsea@assistcom.org or phone: 0412 145 819 or 02 9419 6951 (Tuesday - Friday, 9am - 5pm).
A word from the pros
We had hoped 2022 would be different, but given the rise in Covid numbers we’re going to continue pushing referral services for those who may be struggling.
Mental Health First Aid Australia have issued the following guidelines on assisting someone distressed by the Covid-19 pandemic, and they’re also providing mental health first aid in the time of ‘social distancing. Additionally, the team from ideas.org.au have shared their ‘look after your mental health in the COVID-19 crisis’ list of ideas.
reachout.com have also released their 10 ways to take care of yourself during coronavirus guide, while for those of you now working from home, Black Dog Institute have put together the following checklist to support your mental health.
We’re here to chat
From our perspective, while we’re not trained professionals, we are available for a chat.
For anyone experiencing increased social isolation, send a text or call us at 0422 061 990 (Gig Buddies Sydney) or 0402 708 814 (Gig Buddies Central Coast).
Alternatively, feel free to get in touch via Facebook Messenger or connect courtesy of email: info@gigbuddiessydney.org or info@gigbuddiescentralcoast.org
And finally….
We want to wish all buddies, family members and supporters a happy new year. We’re looking forward to connecting with our growing community and pairing up more participants in 2022.
Matthew, Carol, Tony, Bec and Chelsea
Would you like more information about Gig BuddiesSydney? You’re only a click away. Connect with us via the links below.
Fancy revelling in legendary status? If so, please support us in our cause to get more people out to live events in Sydney.
Donations over $2 are tax deductible and all are gratefully received.
The Gig Buddies Sydney project is an initiative of ACL Disability Services.
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