Singleton Launch: A Community Welcome to Mai-Wel’s Newest Site
On Wednesday 25 March, Mai-Wel officially celebrated our Singleton launch, welcoming local organisations, businesses, families, and community members to 13 Campbell Street for our Singleton Open Day.
The response from the community was fantastic and it was great to see so many familiar and new faces on the day.
Official Opening
Mai-Wel CEO, John Cleary welcomed guests and spoke to what the Singleton launch means for the region, before Area Managers Jane Hill and Racheal Blaxell introduced the programs now available locally.
Jane spoke to Inclusive Employment Australia and Social, Community and Creative Pathways, while Racheal covered Parent Pathways and Transition to Work. Together these programs, among others, support people with disability, young people, parents, and job seekers to build skills, confidence, and pathways to work and community participation.
We were also honoured to hear from Belynda Davies, CEO of Huntlee Academy and a Mai-Wel Employer Ambassador. Belynda spoke about nearly a decade of partnership with Mai-Wel and the real impact inclusive employment has had on their organisation and the people they support.
The morning wrapped up with an official ribbon cutting, with John, Jane, Racheal, and Belynda marking the occasion together.
On the Day
Guests explored program preview stations, took part in site walkthroughs, and connected with our team. The Social, Community and Creative Pathways (SCCP) team ran an interactive gratitude card activity, giving visitors a hands-on taste of the kinds of creative opportunities available through SCCP. The Parent Pathways team ran an Easter colouring in activity that was a hit with visitors of all ages.
Catering was taken care of by our participants from Thrive Catering, who served up a free BBQ sausage sizzle and sweet treats on the day, and we were also joined by a very special visit from the Easter Bunny!
Newcastle Weekly also joined us on the day to help share the story of what Mai-Wel is building in Singleton with the wider community.
What the Singleton Launch Means for the Community
Having Mai-Wel services available in Singleton is significant. For families, participants, job seekers, and young people in the Upper Hunter, access to quality, locally delivered supports has not always been straightforward. The Singleton launch brings a range of programs and services within reach of the local community, and the Open Day was an opportunity to show exactly what that looks like.
We offer a range of programs and supports for individuals, families, and businesses in the region including Inclusive Employment Australia, Parent Pathways, Transition to Work, and Social, Community and Creative Pathways. To find out more, visit mwlfs.com.au/contact-us/ or call us on 02 4015 8400.
A big thank you to everyone who attended, to our team on the day, to Belynda Davies and Huntlee Academy for their ongoing partnership, and to Newcastle Weekly for their coverage.
