MIROMA Incorporated has cemented its position as a valued provider within the Mount Gambier disability sector after it was named the most outstanding disability support team in Australasia.
The Mount Gambier based not-for-profit organisation received the accolade at the 2019 Enablement Awards, held in Melbourne earlier this month.
The group was recognised for the services and programs it provides for people of all ages living with disability in Mount Gambier.
Miroma Inc, chief executive Anneliese Bates said the announcement came out of nowhere.
“It was a huge surprise when we found out, we were nominated by an anonymous person who obviously knew the awards were taking place,” Ms Bates said.
“The awards celebrated and rewarded excellence, innovation and exemplary achievements in the disability sector.
“To be up against a number of other bigger disability support services from both Australia and New Zealand and then be recognised was a great achievement.”
Miroma Inc has over 30 years of experience and Ms Bates believes the unique size of the service it has provided over the course of time may have stood out.
“We are still a service where people can come and walk through the door and relate to us,” she said.
“We are here, they see us and they do not have to go up any other level or jump through any more hoops to access our service.”
Miroma Inc has a heavy emphasis on ensuring all staff understand the “ethos” of the organisation.
Ms Bates said it allowed staff to provide the highest quality support and care to clients who access the service.
“Each day we are very aware that we need to have attention to detail in relation to the care we provide to our participants,” she said.
“That has ultimately led to long-term and extensive relationships with our families because they are reassured that we will provide them with the best quality service that we can.”
Ultimately, the award was significant reward for effort for the entire staff at Miroma Inc.
Ms Bates said the group was given a chance to celebrate the achievement at a local event last week.
“A number of distinguished guests and all our disability support staff and people connected with Miroma Inc. were there and it was a really positive vibe,” she said.
“The international enablement editor came down at the last minute and gave a positive and uplifting speech before presenting the award, which was just fantastic.”
Ms Bates said emotions began to “trickle out” during the celebration.
“You do not realise the significance of it until you get all the people involved in one room,” she said.
“That emotion and sense of pride that we are making a difference in people’s lives was definitely evident last Thursday.”
Ms Bates hoped the award would spur the organisation to strive even harder to continue to deliver a high-quality service.
“To be acknowledged in this way, it makes you so much more aware of everything you do and how much effect your actions can have,” she said.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that our vulnerable cohort stay safe, happy and free from isolation.”
While the recognition clearly meant a lot to everyone involved with Miroma Inc., Ms Bates said helping people was what gave staff the most satisfaction.
“To feel that you are making a difference and getting some reward from what you are doing is important,” she said.
“This award is just reaffirms that what we are doing is having an impact.”
