As 2020 draws to a close, it seems fair to say that it has been a year like no other. With the bushfires and then the COVID-19 pandemic, the year has offered challenges that few of us saw coming.
Right upfront, I would like to thank you for your support during 2020, which has helped us continue to provide support to participants despite the challenges faced.
The OC Connections’ team have valued your words of encouragement, your compliments, and your suggestions. Your encouragement has meant so much to us during this year. We have done our best to continue to support participants and families, albeit at a reduced level throughout each stage of lockdown.
As Victorians, we have all faced and overcome challenges this year. We have experienced loss and grief, hardship, loneliness, and frustration with reduced mechanisms for support from our family and friends. We have managed lockdown, homeschooling, masks, and sanitisers. We have also survived the disconnection from family and friends and of course, the COVID tests which are an unpleasant experience!
I will remember the overwhelming resilience and adaptability of participants, families and staff. Our community has been fantastic this year, and the human spirit has been courageous, determined and strong.
Our staff have remained committed during this challenging time, often going above and beyond what is expected of them. Several times this year, I have been humbled by staff commitment. Their willingness to work together to maintain high-quality support for participants during the lockdown, including creating new routines and tasks related to COVID, as well as working in PPE and maintaining a positive spirit.
As an organisation, we have learned many lessons, reconnected with community, and shown goodwill to fellow Victorians. We’ve also increased our IT skills, learned to communicate with face masks, and importantly, learned to enjoy the simpler things in life.
Thank you to all members of the OCC community for taking this journey with us in 2020. It has not been easy, but we have done very well.
No matter if you celebrate Christmas, Chanukkah or other cultural or religious events, I know we can all join together to celebrate what we have achieved in Victoria during 2020.
Here’s to a wonderful 2021!
Therese Desmond
CEO OC Connections
