FestABLE, a one-day event event for people with disability designed, managed and rolled out by people with disability is back by popular demand.
Held at the Seafront Oval, Hervey Bay on 28 September 2023 from 2pm - 7pm, FestABLE promises to be bigger and better in 2023.
FestABLE was created last year by APM Communities who delivers NDIS Partners in the Community services from local offices in Pialba and Maryborough and attracted more than 2,500 people to this family friendly community event.
This year, the event has been sponsored by the Fraser Coast Regional Council allowing more exhibitors to highlight community services for people with disability, live entertainment and food trucks.
Everyone who attends FestABLE receives a free booklet which lists all the service providers and community services available to people with disability and their families, and who have a stall at the event, plus other information useful to the disability community.
Other event highlights will be artwork on display by people with disability, the chance to win great prizes in a Tombola, live performance stage, connecting people to local service providers and organisations, and micro enterprises of people with disability.
Plus the event will be livestreamed for people who are unable to attend.
Sarah Reed, local area coordinator from APM Communities said "we had received feedback from our participants that previous events to connect people with disability to community services and providers were unsatisfactory."
"Our inaugural event was so well received with an accessible community space on the Oval where attendees could feel safe, and easily access transport and pathways to and from the event. It also provided an opportunity for people with disability and their families to connect with and find out about what local service providers they can access."
"We were blown away at the response from FestABLE 2022 and have already started working with our community stakeholders for the 2023 event including local service providers such as Fraser Coast Regional Council, Hervey Bay Disability Interagency Networking group (HB-DING), My Hero, Accessible Globe TV, Disability Support Network Fraser Coast and Hervey Bay Disability Consultancy and Innovations Group" Sarah added.
APM Communities coordinates subgroups of people with disability in working parties who have responsibility over several categories of the FestABLE event including:
- Stage, sounds and livestreaming
- Tombola prize
- Sensory tent
- Show team meet and greet
- Event Concierge
- Welcome to Country
- Booklet and calendar
- Art Prize
Sarah noted that the Art Prize working party have already started marketing the FestABLE Art Competition, with the winner’s artwork being displayed on the front cover of the FestABLE booklet and all submissions on display at the event.
To register for a stall at FestABLE 2023 or to find out more about this amazing community event, please contact Sarah via email sarah.reed@apm.net.au.