Endeavour Foundation
Disability Service Provider Endeavour Foundation is embarking upon Australia’s largest Virtual Reality (VR) rollout in its sector and the new technology has just arrived at its Castle Hill service.
The VR learning programs will benefit 40 Hills locals with disabilities from the Castle Hill Learning and Lifestyle hub, as well as around 100 students from 12 local schools.
The exclusive Virtual Reality suite, which was rolled out earlier this month, features all of Endeavour Foundation‘s leading VR learning programs, including:
- catching public transport
- how to cross a road through pedestrian safety
- how to use an ATM
- navigating café and barista training
- forklift driving and warehouse safety
- as well as a driving simulation focussing on car license preparations, driving at night, highway driving and parking.
Sixty Endeavour Foundation disability service sites will receive the new tech, directly assisting close to 3,000 people with disability to develop work and life skills.
Endeavour Foundation’s Service Design Manager, Chris Beaumont said: “The size of this roll out has been simply staggering. It’s an enormous feat, and certainly the largest in the disability sector, but we couldn’t do this without support.
“Our VR technologies allow Endeavour Foundation to create new possibilities for people with disability, whether it is improving life skills in our Learning and Lifestyle Hubs or gaining some skills towards sustainable employment while in a safe environment.
“School students can also explore new tasks in a controlled environment, before attempting these activities in real life.”
The mass VR release is the result of a generous $200,000 donation to the leading disability service provider, by its flagship charity car-rally of 35 years, ‘Great Endeavour Rally’, with an additional grant of $8,250 from the Australian Government’s Stronger Communities Program.
Federal Member for Mitchell, the Hon Alex Hawke MP, helped to launch the VR suite at Endeavour Foundation Castle Hill on Wednesday 19th June, also presenting service awards to people employed in the local Disability Social Enterprise.
“I was proud to support the Stronger Communities grant application as a way of building the skills and capability of people with disability in our electorate,” he said. “The service awards are a terrific way to acknowledge the employees’ achievements and I am pleased to be able to share this moment with all the recipients.”
Endeavour Foundation has a range of technologies and programs that help people with disability to live their best lives.
“The tech comes with the additional support of our exclusive 2D video based THRIVE learning platform, enabling another way for people to upskill at their own pace, without the virtual reality setup,” Mr Beaumont added.
Castle Hill Learning and Lifestyle Operations Manager, Palani Subramanian, said “not only can our participants enjoy our fabulous Learning and Lifestyle centre, but they can enhance their abilities through different ways of learning while using the VR suite.
“We are very grateful to the Australian Government for their contribution. We’re also incredibly grateful for the support from locals and other businesses who contribute to Endeavour
Foundation to help create possibilities for people with disability,” he said.
