Gellibrand’s Client Committee meets monthly to organise fun events that all Gellibrand Clients can attend.
Committee Members arrive at the Mary Burbidge Hub in small groups and, after bright hellos, they’re soon ready to sit together and discuss this month’s agenda items with team members Sarah and Kristen.
There are ten clients at tonight’s meeting – Craig, Bridgit, Tim, Bernie, Xenophon, Stephen, Glen, Helen, Melanie, and Sophie – but sometimes more come along. It’s a popular event in clients’ monthly calendars, an opportunity to put into action Gellibrand’s commitment to ensuring clients have maximum control and choice in their lives.
“I’ve been coming since the start of it,” says Melanie, a Gellibrand client since 2013, before the meeting gets underway. Stephen says he attends “quite regularly” because he finds it a good opportunity to “get out of the house” and talk through any issues clients might have. “And we get to socialise and eat together,” he adds.
The meeting starts with a reminder of the rules for their monthly gatherings, including not talking over the top of each other, being polite, and bringing their diaries and pens to record meeting notes. Tonight’s the night that the 2024 diaries, all with clients’ names embossed on them, have arrived and so clients are happy to get their hands on them.
The Client Committee aims to plan and run six events for all Gellibrand’s clients every year. Tonight’s meeting starts with a debrief of the last event they held – a green-themed St Patrick’s Day disco. All agreed the night was a success and that the main learning take away was that it couldn’t have gone any better.
After everyone on the committee has had their say, they reach a consensus on ideas for three upcoming events, all to be held at the spacious Mary Burbidge Hub: an animal farm; a pyjama party dress up movie night; and an AFL-themed disco in September. Food options are widely discussed for all events, with hot dogs, party pies, lollies, and popcorn getting the nod. And, of course, plans are put in place for when the committee will need to arrive for and leave all these events: members are in charge of set up and pack up.
As reward for all their hard work during the year, the Client Committee also organises an event just for its members. Last year’s was a trip to Puffing Billy, which Melanie remembers was “really good”, and tonight the committee puts some thought into what this year’s might be – a trip away for a night was an option – but they agree to work on it more next month.
A meeting can only go on so long before it’s time for dinner. The committee recently voted to make sure their post-meeting meals were healthier, so tonight there are two pastas to choose from along with fresh salad. Over her meal, committee member Sophie says she – and all committee members – find the meetings “highly valuable”.
“It’s good to be able to organise events for all the clients to come together and have fun,” she says.
Click on the images below to view our gallery:
