The Compass Institute Inc

The Compass Institute Inc.

The Compass Institute
Motto "Exploring the Art of Life"
Founder David Dangerfield
Focus Further education, training and vocational pathways for young people with disabilities
Location
  • Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Area served
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Services Disability service
Mission To provide life long learning to young people with disabilities
Formerly called
 The Aikido Institute
The entrance to the Dojo and The Compass Institute's Palmwoods centre
The entrance to the Dojo and The Compass Institute's Palmwoods centre

The Compass Institute Inc. is a unique charity organisation dedicated to providing real futures for young Queenslanders with a disability. It is Australia's first accredited Disability Service based on the principles of Japanese Budo.[1] Compass is a registered member of the National Disability Services, providing post-school services for young people with an intellectual disability.[2] Compass is a leading edge service for people with an intellectual or physical disability in Australia.[3]

Compass has been operating as a not for profit organisation since the early 90's.[1] It began in 1991 as 'The Aikido Institute' providing alternative education and intervention programmes to school-aged children.[4] Between 1992 and 2006 over 7000 children participated in the intervention programmes.[1][5][6] In 2003 The Aikido Institute became The Compass Institute Inc., and began providing post-school education, training and vocational opportunities to young people with intellectual and/or physical disabilities.[1][7]

While policy changes over the last 50 years has led to positive changes in the lives of people with disabilities, full social inclusion has not yet been reached.[8] Support and integrated employment programs are still lacking.[9] There is a need within the disability service sector for more positive social relationships, independence and meaningful activity.[10] Compass provides a developmental and transition focused service.[3] Programs are based wholly around learning for life, catering to individual learning goals and providing skill development, independent living skills and vocational skills, rather than focusing on amusement and respite.[1][11]

In 2013 Compass is a registered charity employing 30 specialist staff and supporting over 70 young people with intellectual and/or physical disabilities through 6 centres from Gladstone to Gympie.[12] One of these centres is a working farm, which provides opportunities for around 20 young people to gain access to further training in animal husbandry, horticulture, nursery work, and property maintenance.[12]

In 2014, The Compass Institute was awarded at the Sunshine Coast Business Awards. The first part of the process was based on an exhaustive written application where the Institute made it as a finalist in the category – Knowledge Industries and Professional Services. This category was one of the largest with 16 other finalists. Stage two was a 45-minute interview with 3 members of the judging panel. Winning this award signifies the hard work of the Institute as well as being strong recognition of its work within the community.

In 2015, Compass was once again nominated for 4 prestigious awards at the Sunshine Coast Business Awards and was very grateful to be the receiver of 3 of these awards. The Compass Institute was awarded in the categories of Leadership, Social Responsibility and Not For Profit. " It’s a humbling experience just to be nominated for these prestigious awards and of course becoming one of the finalists was really exciting for the whole team at Compass. Winning one award would have to be considered a real honor, so taking out three awards in the same year was just amazing. It’s a testament to the pride, passion and dedication of every staff member. " - David Dangerfield, CEO.

Education

The Compass Institute Inc. provides further education in a broad range of subjects. The goal of the Institute is to provide real life skills with a focus on personal development and independent living. This includes literacy, numeracy, communication, fitness, social skills, food preparation, personal grooming, transport and community participation.[13]

Fundamental to the mindset that has made Compass so successful is the re-imagination of the roles of both staff and the young people that attend Compass. Compass employs staff in roles such as teachers, trainers, coaches and mentors, similarly those that attend Compass are students or 'Trainees' and not referred to as 'clients'.

Training and vocation

The organisation works on making pathways for disabled young people to become increasingly independent.[14] Central to Compass training and vocation units is the provision of "real further education, skills-based training and vocational opportunities as part of a structured pathway to social and economic participation".[14] Through the vocational pathways Compass provides, people with a disability have successfully been placed into appropriate and rewarding work.[14][15] The Compass Institute Inc. is involved in setting up social enterprises as vocational pathways for its trainees. These are ‘real life’ businesses that are integrated into the local community, including lawn and garden maintenance, Vehicle detailing, business support services, art and craft markets and the Compass Farm.[16]

The purchase of an 8 hectare property enabled the organisation to set up an innovative educational and vocational setting, known as the Compass Farm.[12] At this facility trainees can undertake vocational training, work experience and therapy.[17] In 2011, 20 people with disabilities, ranging in ages from 20 to 30 undertook training and work programs at the property.[12] Activities range from animal husbandry, mixed horticulture, nursery work and property maintenance work.[12][18]

Martial values

Underpinning the structure and organisation of both the service provision and management of Compass are the philosophies of Japanese Budo.[1] The early work of the Aikido Institute (now The Compass Institute Inc.) involved running intervention programs and life skills classes that used Aikido and Budō to help students with goal setting, anger management, time management, and self-defence.[19] These “unique experiential programs” employed the principles of traditional martial arts philosophy and practice to engage students.[5] From here Compass branched out into the disability service, but the role of Aikido and budo philosophy has never ceased to have an important role in the running of Compass.

Compass CEO David Dangerfield has been using martial arts to help build physical skills and self-confidence in people for over 30 years. He saw the potential to do the same with people with both physical or intellectual disabilities.[1] "These individuals are always reminded of what they can't do, Martial arts is something they can do. It's a great physical outlet..."[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Engel, Nicky (November 2008). "The Compass Institute- Charting a Course for Change". Business Matters Magazine.
  2. ↑ "National Disability Services". NDS website.
  3. 1 2 Powell, Andrew. "Visit to Compass Institute Palmwoods". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "Aikido School Makes a Difference for Disabled". Blitz Australasian Martial Arts Magazine. March 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Support a Local Charity...Win a Diamond!". Sunshine Valley Gazette. 27 March 2013.
  6. ↑ Hall, Peter (21 June 2002). "Students Make a Stand for Brian". Sunshine Coast Daily. p. 10.
  7. ↑ Fudge, Nicole (March 23, 2011). "Sporting Chance for Compass to Hit Goals". Caloundra Weekly. p. 7.
  8. ↑ Dagnan, D; Ruddick, L. Jones, J. (1995). "Changes in the quality of life of people with learning disabilities who moved from hospital to live in community-based homes". International Journal of Rehabilitation Research. 18: 115–112. Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help)
  9. ↑ Murphy, S.; Rogan, P. (1995). Closing the Shop: Conversations from Sheltered to Integrated Work. Baltimore: Brookes Publishing Co.
  10. ↑ Salvatori, Penny; Mary Tremblay; Joyce Tryssenaar (2003). "Living and Aging with a Developmental Disability: Perspectives of Individuals, Family Members and Service Providers". Journal on developmental disabilities. 10 (1).
  11. ↑ "Education". Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Bode, Mark (Thursday June 16). "Compass on Course". Sunshine Coast Daily. p. 8. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ↑ "School Transitions". Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  14. 1 2 3 Campion, Alice (23 February 2013). "Funding a Must for Disabled Teens". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  15. ↑ "Ignoring fears pays off in staff addition". Sunshine coast Daily. September 23, 2011. p. 7.
  16. ↑ "Community Enterprises". Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  17. ↑ "Fencing for Compass". Sunshine Valley News. 30 September 2011.
  18. ↑ "Compass Farm". Retrieved 3 July. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  19. ↑ "Students Learn to Hold Heads High". Sunshine Coast Daily. June 21, 2001. p. 12.
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