A Short History of Disability Groups in Ross House.

Disability groups have been a significant part of Ross House’s identity since first opening in 1987. Among the first tenants to move in were Deaf Services Network (DNS) on the ground floor and the Disability Employment Action Centre (DEAC) on the first floor. DEAC soon became Ross House’s largest tenant, helping to establish the building as a vital hub for disability support services.

When the upper floors opened in 1989, disability groups continued to move in, including Action for More Independence & Dignity in Accommodation (AMIDA), Reinforce, and STAR, who are still all tenants today!

Today, Ross House is proud to remain home to a vibrant disability community. Our members and tenants provide vital support in broad range of sectors, including health and legal support services, peer and friendship groups, self-advocacy organisations, government consultations, and disability arts and media organisations.

Ross House artwork by Aunty Jane

The artwork above, painted by Ross House community member Aunty Jane, portrays Ross House as a welcoming place for people with different disabilities from different cultures to visit with any problems they have. The hands represent the varied cultures and needs of people who seek assistance at Ross House. Sistergirls are depicted sitting in yarning circles on the grass under the shade of trees, discussing their diverse health needs. On the left, is Aunty Jane’s clan emblem from the Yorta Yorta tribe, the long-neck turtle.

The Ross House Disability Community Over the Years

Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to welcome a large number of disability organisations as members or tenants. To learn more about our current community members, visit the Our Community page. The following list is taken from the Annual Report Members lists dating back to 1987.

AbleLink

Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO)

Action for More Independence & Dignity in Accommodation (AMIDA)

Voice at The Table (VATT)

Aussie Hands

Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)

Brain Injury Matter (BIM, formally Bear in Mind)

Blind Sports Australia

Charles Bonnet Syndrome Foundation

Deafblind Victoria (DBV)

Disability Discrimination Legal Service

Deaf Blind Association – The Link

Deaf Services Network

Deaf Victoria

Deafblind Victorians (DBV)

Disability Advocacy Victoria

Disability Employment Action Centre  (DEAC)

Disability Support Pensioners

Disability Media

Disability Resources Centre

Disabled Wintersports Australia

Freedom and Choice Treatment Services (FACTS)

Housing Resource and Support Service

Interchange

Jobnet

Lotus Group Projects

Lupas Australia Association Inc.

Macular Vision Loss Support Society of Australia

Mixed Nuts Media

Narcolepsy and Overwhelming Daytime Sleep Society (NODSS)

OMABI

Positive Powerful Parents (PPP)

R.P Society

Rainbow Rights

Reinforce

Retina Australia

Self Advocacy Resource Unit (SARU)

Schizy Inc.

Spina Bifida Foundation of Victoria

STAR

Tenants Rights Project For People With Disability

Travellers Aid Victoria

United Brains

Victorian Lupus Association

Victorian Action on Intellectual Disability

Victorian Council of Deaf People (DSN)

Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council

Villamanta

WIN support services