Karinya's Disability Program

The disability program at Blackburn North is well established and has a reputation for providing excellence in group-work, individual counselling and professional development. Karinya is a Centre where people with disabilities are welcomed, affirmed and cared for in a manner which enables them to open up areas of their lives that may otherwise have remained hidden and buried. On the other hand, it may be a recent event or crisis that brings clients to Karinya. Whatever the reason, the client’s “story” is listened to and responded to in a manner that focuses on the individual’s unique spiritual, emotional and psychological needs.

People with disabilities experience all the same joys and sorrows, heartaches and challenges as everyone else, but Karinya Centre is one of the few counselling centres in Melbourne where counsellors are dedicated to work with this client group – a worthwhile ministry for the Church! Often a client’s limitations of expression and/or physical barriers, combined with reduced resources, has inhibited opportunities for clients to experience the growth and freedom that counselling can provide.

Karinya has successfully run a Grief Awareness Group for people with disabilities for a number of years. It is an 8 week course for people with an intellectual disability providing an opportunity for people to discuss and better understand their experiences of grief and loss.

The grief and loss program can be tailored to particular group's needs.